Increased circulating platelet microparticles as a potential biomarker in asthma

• Published in: Allergy (Copenhagen) Vol. 68; no. 8; pp. 1073 - 1075
• Main Authors: Duarte, D., Taveira‐Gomes, T., Sokhatska, O., Palmares, C., Costa, R., Negrão, R., Guimarães, J. T., Delgado, L., Soares, R., Moreira, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Adult; apoptosis; Asthma; Asthma - blood; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - pathology; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Blood Platelets - immunology; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Blood Platelets - pathology; Cell-Derived Microparticles - immunology; Cell-Derived Microparticles - metabolism; Cell-Derived Microparticles - pathology; endothelial and platelet microparticles; Female; Humans; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Activation - immunology; sICAM‐1; Up-Regulation - immunology; VEGF; sICAM-1; apoptosis; asthma; endothelial and platelet microparticles; VEGF
• ISSN: 0105-4538; 1398-9995
• DOI: 10.1111/all.12190

Background Endothelial (EMPs) and platelet microparticles (PMPs) have been studied as biomarkers in several inflammatory diseases and as central players in intercellular communication. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to assess microparticle levels in asthma. Circulating microparticles and inflammatory and angiogenic markers were assessed by clinical and laboratorial evaluation, flow cytometry, and immunoassays, in a group of 20 asthmatic and 15 nonasthmatic subjects. Results Circulating levels of PMPs (either CD31+/42b+ or CD31+/42b+/AnV+) were significantly increased in asthmatics (P = 0.021) even after adjustment for confounders. Apoptotic EMPs (CD31+/42b−−/AnV+) were significantly increased before (P = 0.005) but not after adjustments (P = 0.117). Conclusions We propose that PMPs may be putative asthma biomarkers, playing a role in asthma pathophysiology.