Role of Microparticles in Cardiovascular Disease: Implications for Endothelial Dysfunction, Thrombosis, and Inflammation

Abstract

Microparticles are small cell vesicles that are derived from the cell membrane in response to different biological processes. There is growing evidence supporting the association between microparticles and cardiovascular disease, as their pathophysiology commonly includes endothelial damage and chronic inflammation which also promote a prothrombotic state. The direct causal link between the release of the different subtypes of microparticles and their implications on physiological and pathological conditions is still not completely elucidated. However, evidence suggests microparticles released from platelets, leukocytes, and endothelium may help to evaluate vascular health as they have a relevant role in inflammation, endothelial function, and thrombosis. This review aims to provide a short overview of the biogenesis, characteristics, and detection methodology of microparticles with a special focus on their possible implication in cardiovascular settings.

Circulating platelet‐derived extracellular vesicles correlate with night‐time blood pressure and vascular organ damage and may represent an integrative biomarker of vascular health

“…The differences between studies might be related to different patient cohorts included, the use of unattended AOBP, the EVs subtype (eg, platelet‐derived, endothelial‐derived) and surface markers analyzed across different studies. Alternatively, this could reflect a different underlying mechanism responsible of EVs release (eg, acute or chronic damage, vascular injury, and others) as it has been shown that the stimuli involved in their genesis has an important effect on determining the antigens that EVs express 13 . Sasone and associates showed elevated levels of EVs expressing CD62 + and CD144 + during hypertensive emergencies with a decrease in their levels after BP normalization.…”

“…Increased circulating EVs have been related to various clinical conditions impacting on vascular integrity, endothelial function, inflammation, and thrombosis, such as hypertension, 19–22 atherosclerosis, 17,18 heart failure, 23,24 and others 25–28 . EVs can originate from different cells including platelets, and their release can be promoted by coagulation, shear stress, hypoxia and proinflammatory mediators 13,14,29,30 . Consequently, it has been proposed that circulating EVs may reflect the overall status of vascular health by integrating the endothelial, thrombotic, and inflammatory status in an individual 13,14,18 .…”

“… 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 EVs can originate from different cells including platelets, and their release can be promoted by coagulation, shear stress, hypoxia and proinflammatory mediators. 13 , 14 , 29 , 30 Consequently, it has been proposed that circulating EVs may reflect the overall status of vascular health by integrating the endothelial, thrombotic, and inflammatory status in an individual. 13 , 14 , 18 While some studies have demonstrated an association between blood pressure and endothelial EVs, the relation between BP and platelet derived extracellular vesicles (pEVs) has not yet been investigated in detail.…”

Effects of Postprandial Lipemia Combined With Disturbed Blood Flow on the Flow-Mediated Dilation, Oxidative Stress, and Endothelial Microvesicles in Healthy Subjects

“…EMVs are small membrane vesicles (< 1.0 μm) released into the circulation in response to injury, activation, and apoptosis ( Dignat-George and Boulanger, 2011 ; Schiro et al, 2014 ), then, they have been used as a systemic marker of endothelial phenotype ( Lugo-Gavidia et al, 2021 ). Previous evidence has demonstrated an association of fat overload or DBF and increases in circulating EMV levels.…”

ncRNAs and polyphenols: new therapeutic strategies for hypertension

“…HTN is a complex and multifactorial illness attributed to both genetic and/or environmental factors involving persistent elevation of systemic blood pressure (BP) [ 2 ]. Despite a large degree of available therapeutic options, the prevalence of HTN is predicted to be increased over the next decade [ 3 ].…”