Microparticles in cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Microparticles are membrane vesicles released from many different cell types. There are two mechanisms that can result in their formation, cell activation and apoptosis. In these two mechanisms, different pathways are involved in microparticle generation. Microparticle generation seems to be a well regulated process. Microparticles vary in size, phospholipid and protein composition. They have a potent pro-inflammatory effect, promote coagulation and affect vascular function. Since these processes are all involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and circulating microparticle numbers are altered in many cardiovascular diseases, a role for microparticles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases is likely. Although hard evidence for a role of microparticles in cardiovascular diseases at present is still only limited, new evidence is accumulating rapidly to support this theory. Elucidation of the microparticle composition and the mechanisms involved in exertion of their effects will supply this evidence and enable us to develop additional intervention strategies for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

P2X7 receptors regulate multiple types of membrane trafficking responses and non-classical secretion pathways

“…Stimulus-induced shedding of plasma membrane-derived microvesicles-which bear distinctive complements of membrane markers-has been described in both hematopoietic cell types (platelets, DCs, and neutrophils) and non-hematopoietic cell types (epithelial cells, cancer cells, and neurons) [25][26][27][28][29]. The size of these released vesicles ranges between 100 nm and 1 μm in diameter which distinguishes them from the 1-4-μm apoptotic bodies containing fragmented DNA derived from damaged cells, and from the 30-80-nm exosomes (discussed below) derived from the intraluminal vesicles of endosomal multivesicular bodies (MVB).…”

Thrombocytopenia and hemostatic disorders in chronic graft versus host disease

“…Circulating microparticles are membrane vesicles mainly derived from platelets, but also from erythrocytes, leukocytes, and endothelial cells, 85 released after intensive cell activation, which enhance enzymatic reactions of the coagulation cascade by providing a large phospholipid surface, [86][87][88][89] and activating platelets, 90 thereby increasing the risk of thrombosis. Microparticles are, for example, associated with prothrombotic conditions such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, 86 TTP, 91 paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, 92 and myocardial infarction.…”

Bone marrow‐derived very small embryonic‐like stem cells: Their developmental origin and biological significance

“…Furthermore, it has been recently shown that cells may transiently modify the phenotype of neighboring cells by transferring surface receptors, intracellular proteins, and mRNA in mechanisms that involve exchange of cell-membrane-derived microvesicles (Ratajczak et al, 2006a,b). Shedding of membrane-derived microvesicles is a physiological phenom-enon that accompanies cell growth and cell activation, for example, hypoxia or oxidative injury (Beaudoin and Grondin, 1991;VanWijk et al, 2003;Morel et al, 2004;Hugel et al, 2005 -galactosidase).…”