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Extracellular Vesicles in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Shruti Chaturvedi1, Ravi Alluri2, Keith R McCrae2,3
1Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis
|May 6, 2017
Summary
Antiphospholipid antibodies activate vascular cells, releasing extracellular vesicles (EVs) like microparticles (MPs). Elevated MPs in patients suggest chronic vascular activation, potentially contributing to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are associated with vascular cell activation.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including microparticles (MPs), are released by activated vascular cells.
- Endothelial and platelet MPs are elevated in patients with aPL.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of EVs, particularly MPs, in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
- To explore the potential pathogenic mechanisms of EVs in APS.
- To assess the utility of EVs as biomarkers for clinical events in APS.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of circulating endothelial and platelet MPs in patients with aPL.
- Assessment of MPs expressing immunological and functional tissue factor.
- Evaluation of the potential prothrombotic and vascular activating properties of EVs.
Main Results:
- Patients with aPL exhibit significantly higher levels of circulating endothelial and platelet MPs compared to healthy controls.
- Elevated MP levels suggest a chronic state of vascular activation in APS, even remote from thrombotic events.
- EVs express bioactive molecules, including microRNA, and may contribute to thrombosis and vascular activation.
Conclusions:
- EVs, particularly MPs, are elevated in aPL and may play a pathogenic role in APS.
- Further research is required to elucidate the precise mechanisms of EV involvement in APS.
- EVs could potentially serve as biomarkers for identifying high-risk patients with aPL.
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