Platelet Microparticles Regulate Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Acute Pancreatitis
Qinqin Qi1, Bin Yang, Huihui Li
1From the Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and the Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Anhui Province, Hefei, China.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore the clinical significance of the increase of platelet microparticles (PMPs) in acute pancreatitis (AP).
Methods:
Clinical data and plasma samples from patients with AP were collected, and healthy subjects were controls. The PMPs were detected by flow cytometry; meanwhile, the ability to promote neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation was investigated. Neutrophils from healthy subjects were co-cultured with PMPs from AP patients. The NETs were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In the supernatant of cell co-culture, myeloperoxidase, neutrophil elastase, and histone H3 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
Patients with AP had elevated plasma levels of PMPs compared with controls; moreover, there were significantly higher PMPs levels in severe AP than mild AP and moderately severe AP. Healthy subjects' neutrophils were stimulated with PMPs from AP patients to release NETs. It was observed that NETs formed in AP group, but not in the controls. Correspondingly, there were higher levels of myeloperoxidase, neutrophil elastase, and histone H3 in AP group than in controls.
Conclusions:
The level of PMPs is a positive correlation with AP severity, which may be related to PMPs-NETs interaction. Platelet microparticles may be a potential predictor of severe AP and promising novel therapeutic target for AP.
Insights
Increased platelet microparticles (PMPs) correlate with acute pancreatitis (AP) severity. PMPs may predict severe AP and offer a new therapeutic target for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Hematology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Platelet microparticles (PMPs) are small vesicles released from platelets.
- Their role in acute pancreatitis (AP) remains under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical significance of elevated PMPs in AP.
- To explore the relationship between PMPs and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in AP.
Main Methods:
- Collected plasma samples from AP patients and healthy controls.
- Quantified PMPs using flow cytometry.
- Assessed PMPs' ability to induce NETs formation in vitro.
Main Results:
- AP patients exhibited significantly higher plasma PMP levels than controls.
- Severe AP cases showed higher PMP levels compared to mild and moderately severe AP.
- PMPs from AP patients induced NETs formation and elevated markers like myeloperoxidase and neutrophil elastase.
Conclusions:
- PMP levels correlate positively with AP severity.
- PMPs may contribute to AP pathogenesis via interaction with NETs.
- PMPs represent a potential biomarker for severe AP and a novel therapeutic target.
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