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Altered profile of circulating microparticles in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Javier Rodríguez-Carrio1, Mercedes Alperi-López2, Patricia López1
1*Area of Immunology, Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
Abstract:
Microparticles (MPs) could be considered biomarkers of cell damage and activation as well as novel signalling structures. Since rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by immune and endothelial activation, the main aim of the present study was to analyse MP counts in RA patients. Citrated-blood samples were obtained from 114 RA patients, 33 healthy controls (HC) and 72 individuals with marked cardiovascular (CV) risk without autoimmune manifestations (CVR). MPs were analysed in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) and different subsets were identified by their surface markers: platelet- (CD41+), endothelial- (CD146+), granulocyte- (CD66+), monocyte- (CD14+) and Tang- (CD3+CD31+) derived. Disease activity score (DAS28), clinical and immunological parameters as well as traditional CV risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity) were registered from clinical records and all data were integrated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Absolute MP number was increased in RA patients compared with HC and positively correlated with traditional CV risk factors, similar to that of CVR subjects. In addition, frequency of the different MP subsets was different in RA patients and significantly associated with disease features. Moreover, in vitro assays revealed that MPs isolated from RA patients were able to promote endothelial activation and exhibited detrimental effects on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-I) endothelial cell functionality. Circulating MPs from RA patients displayed quantitative and qualitative alterations that are the result of both disease-specific and traditional CV risk factors. Accordingly, this MP pool exhibited in vitro detrimental effects on endothelial cells, thus supporting their role as biomarkers of vascular damage.
Insights
Microparticles (MPs) are elevated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, correlating with cardiovascular risk factors. These MPs show altered subsets and promote endothelial cell damage, indicating their role as biomarkers for vascular damage in RA.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Microparticles (MPs) are cell-derived vesicles implicated in cell damage, activation, and signaling.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by immune and endothelial activation.
- Cardiovascular (CV) risk factors are prevalent in RA patients, contributing to disease complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate microparticle (MP) counts and subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
- To explore the association between MPs, disease activity, and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in RA.
- To evaluate the in vitro effects of MPs from RA patients on endothelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MP levels and subsets (platelet-, endothelial-, granulocyte-, monocyte-, T-cell derived) in plasma from RA patients, healthy controls (HC), and cardiovascular risk (CVR) individuals.
- Correlation of MP data with clinical parameters (DAS28), immunological markers, and traditional CV risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity).
- In vitro assays to assess the impact of RA-derived MPs on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-I).
Main Results:
- Absolute MP numbers were significantly higher in RA patients compared to HC and correlated positively with CV risk factors.
- Specific MP subsets showed altered frequencies in RA patients, associated with disease features.
- MPs isolated from RA patients demonstrated pro-inflammatory effects, promoting endothelial activation and impairing endothelial cell function in vitro.
Conclusions:
- Circulating MPs in RA patients exhibit quantitative and qualitative changes driven by both RA-specific factors and traditional CV risk factors.
- These altered MPs contribute to endothelial dysfunction and vascular damage, supporting their utility as biomarkers in RA.
- MPs represent a potential link between systemic inflammation in RA and increased cardiovascular risk.
