Elevated Circulating Microparticle Subpopulations in Incidental Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities: A Multimodal...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Asymptomatic cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is often detected incidentally via white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on MRI.
• Early identification of CSVD is crucial for managing cardiocerebrovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate associations between white matter integrity markers and cardiocerebrovascular risk factors in asymptomatic individuals.
• To explore microparticle (MP) titers as potential surrogate markers for silent CSVD.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 60 asymptomatic subjects with low-moderate QRISK2 scores.
• Conducted neurocognitive evaluations, collected peripheral blood for MP analysis, and performed 3T MRI with diffusion MRI (dMRI).
• Analyzed white matter integrity using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and correlated findings with QRISK2 scores, neurocognition, and MP subpopulations (CD62P, CD62L, CD146).

Main Results:

• White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) were found in 33% of subjects, more prevalent in older individuals with higher QRISK2 scores and reduced processing speed.
• Older subjects showed significantly higher levels of platelet (CD62P)- and leukocyte (CD62L)-derived MPs.
• Reduced white matter integrity in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (LSLF) correlated with higher QRISK2 scores, total MPs, CD62L, and endothelial cell-derived MPs (CD146).

Conclusions:

• Multimodal associations including MP titers show promise as surrogate markers for early, silent CSVD in neurologically asymptomatic adults.
• This study is the first to report elevated CD62P and CD62L MP counts in asymptomatic CSVD, warranting further investigation.