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Age-related changes in platelet function are more profound in women than in men

Jonathan Cowman1, Eimear Dunne1, Irene Oglesby2

  • 11] Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland [2] Biomedical Diagnostics Institute, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.

Scientific Reports
|July 17, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Aging significantly impairs platelet function, reducing their ability to interact with von Willebrand Factor under arterial shear. These age-related changes in platelet behavior are more pronounced in women than men.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Hematology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Age is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • The precise impact of aging on platelet function under physiological conditions remains incompletely understood.
  • Platelet function assays ideally mimic in vivo flow and shear stress.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of aging on platelet translocation behavior.
  • To characterize age-related changes in platelet function using a novel flow-based assay.
  • To determine if gender influences age-related alterations in platelet-von Willebrand Factor interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a novel flow-based assay with minimal blood volume (<200 μl).
  • Assayed platelet function under arterial shear conditions (1,500 s⁻¹).
  • Perfused blood from male (n=53, 19-82 years) and female (n=56, 21-70 years) donors over immobilized human von Willebrand Factor (VWF) in parallel plate flow chambers.

Main Results:

  • Aging led to a significant reduction in platelet tracks and translocating platelets.
  • Unstable platelet interactions with VWF were markedly decreased in older individuals.
  • Age-related declines in platelet function were more pronounced in women compared to men.

Conclusions:

  • Aging significantly alters platelet function, specifically their interaction with VWF under shear stress.
  • Gender plays a role in the age-related changes observed in platelet behavior.
  • These findings highlight the impact of age and gender on platelet interactions relevant to cardiovascular health.

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