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Updated: Jan 23, 2026
Paper-Based Preconcentration and Isolation of Microvesicles and Exosomes
Published on: April 29, 2020
Cell-derived microvesicles in infective endocarditis: Role in diagnosis and potential for risk stratification at
Milton Henriques Guimarães Júnior1, Teresa Cristina Abreu Ferrari1, Andréa Teixeira-Carvalho2
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infectologia e Medicina Tropical e Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Objectives:
To characterize the plasmatic profile of cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) at diagnosis and during the treatment of patients with infective endocarditis (IE).
Methods:
Blood samples from 57 patients with IE were obtained on 3 consecutive moments: upon admission (T0), at 2 weeks (T1), and at the end of treatment (T2), and were compared with 22 patients with other bacterial infections. MPs were measured by flow cytometry and labeled for specific cell markers of CD45 (leukocytes), CD66b (neutrophils), CD14 (monocytes), CD41a (platelets), CD51 (endothelial cells), CD3 (T lymphocyte) and CD235a (erythrocytes).
Results:
MVs from platelets (pltMVs), leukocytes (leukMVs), neutrophils (neutMVs), monocytes (monoMVs) and lymphocytes (lymphMVs) were significantly more elevated in the patients with IE, compared to the patients with other bacterial infections, despite comparable age, sex, blood counts and C-reactive protein levels. MVs values revealed a relatively stable pattern over time in IE, except for a significant increase in leukMVs and neutMVs in T1. LeukMVs (p = 0.011), neutMVs (p = 0.010), monoMVs (p = 0.016) and lymphMVs (p = 0.020), measured at admission, were significantly higher in IE patients that died during hospitalization in comparison with those that survived. In a multivariable analyses, the levels of neutMVs remained as an independent factor associated with mortality (odds ratio 2.203; 95% confidence interval 1.217 - 3.988; p = 0.009), adjustment for heart failure during the treatment.
Conclusions:
Plasma levels of pltMVs, leukMVs, neutMVs, monoMVs and lymphMVs were significantly more elevated in patients with IE than in patients with other bacterial infections at hospital admission. Furthermore, neutMVs at admission have been identified as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with IE. Thus, cell derived MPs may become an important tool in the differential diagnosis and mortality risk assessment early in the course of IE suspected cases.
Insights
Elevated levels of cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) can aid in diagnosis. Neutrophil microvesicles (neutMVs) at admission predict mortality in IE patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection affecting heart valves.
- Cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) are implicated in various pathological processes.
- Understanding MV profiles in IE may offer diagnostic and prognostic insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the plasmatic profile of cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE).
- To assess MV levels at diagnosis and during IE treatment.
- To evaluate the association of MVs with IE diagnosis and patient mortality.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 57 IE patients at three time points and compared to 22 patients with other bacterial infections.
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify microvesicles (MVs) labeled for specific cell markers (leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, lymphocytes).
- Statistical analyses, including multivariable analysis, were performed to determine associations with IE and mortality.
Main Results:
- Platelet-, leukocyte-, neutrophil-, monocyte-, and lymphocyte-derived MVs were significantly elevated in IE patients compared to controls.
- Leukocyte- and neutrophil-derived MVs showed a transient increase at two weeks of treatment.
- Elevated levels of leukocyte-, neutrophil-, monocyte-, and lymphocyte-derived MVs at admission were associated with higher mortality in IE patients.
Conclusions:
- Plasma levels of various cell-derived MVs are significantly higher in IE patients upon admission.
- Neutrophil-derived MVs (neutMVs) at admission are an independent predictor of mortality in IE.
- Cell-derived MVs show potential as tools for differential diagnosis and early mortality risk assessment in suspected IE cases.
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