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Published on: March 29, 2020
Platelet activation in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
F Tablin1, T Schumacher, M Pombo
1Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA.
Insights
Platelet activation markers, P-selectin and soluble platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sPECAM-1), are elevated in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). These findings suggest they may serve as useful biomarkers for increased platelet activity in feline HCM.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Hematology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats increases the risk of systemic thromboembolic disease.
- The relationship between platelet activation and cardiovascular parameters in feline HCM is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize platelet activation in cats with HCM.
- To evaluate platelet P-selectin expression and soluble platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sPECAM-1) levels.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to assess platelet P-selectin expression before and after ADP stimulation.
- Western blot analysis was performed to measure sPECAM-1 levels in platelet-poor plasma.
- Echocardiography was used to assess cardiovascular parameters.
Main Results:
- Cats with severe HCM exhibited increased resting and ADP-stimulated P-selectin expression on platelets.
- Elevated P-selectin expression correlated with heart murmurs and end-systolic cavity obliteration.
- sPECAM-1 levels were significantly higher in cats with moderate to severe HCM compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- P-selectin and sPECAM-1 may serve as valuable biomarkers for detecting increased platelet activation in feline HCM.
- These biomarkers could aid in risk assessment and management of thromboembolic events in cats with HCM.
Background:
Cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are at risk for development of systemic thromboembolic disease. However, the relationship between platelet activation state and cardiovascular parameters associated with HCM is not well described.
Objectives:
To characterize platelet activation by flow cytometric evaluation of platelet P-selectin and semiquantitative Western blot analysis of soluble platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (sPECAM-1).
Animals:
Eight normal healthy cats (controls) owned by staff and students of the School of Veterinary Medicine and 36 cats from the UC Davis Feline HCM Research Laboratory were studied.
Methods:
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was used for all flow cytometry studies. Platelet surface CD41 and P-selectin expression were evaluated before and after ADP stimulation. sPECAM-1 expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis of platelet-poor plasma that had been stabilized with aprotinin. Standard echocardiographic studies were performed.
Results:
Resting platelets from cats with severe HCM had increased P-selectin expression compared to controls, and expressed higher surface density of P-selectin reflected by their increased mean fluorescence intensities (MFI). Stimulation with ADP also resulted in significantly increased P-selectin MFI of platelets from cats with severe HCM. Increased P-selectin expression and MFI correlated with the presence of a heart murmur and end-systolic cavity obliteration (ESCO). sPECAM-1 expression from cats with moderate and severe HCM was significantly increased above those of control cats.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
P-selectin and sPECAM expression may be useful biomarkers indicating increased platelet activation in cats with HCM.
