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Published on: October 17, 2017
Circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates with different monocyte subsets and their association with disease severity
Shuang Liang1, Yan-Li Wang2, Ying Ji1
1Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Background:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is usually considered an immune inflammatory disease. Interaction between platelets and monocytes is associated with immune inflammation. Cross-talk between platelets and monocytes is reflected by formation monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs). This study aims to test MPAs and MPAs with the different monocyte subsets to evaluate their association with disease severity in CKD.
Methods:
Forty-four hospitalized patients with CKD and twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled. The proportion of MPAs and MPAs with the different monocyte subsets were tested by flow cytometry.
Results:
The proportion of circulating MPAs in all patients with CKD were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (p<0.001). A higher proportion of MPAs with classical monocytes (CM) was found in CKD4-5 patients (p=0.007), while another higher proportion of MPAs with non-classical monocytes (NCM) was found CKD2-3 patients (p<0.001). The proportion of MPAs with intermediate monocytes (IM) in CKD 4-5 group was significantly higher in comparison to CKD2-3 group and healthy controls (p<0.001). Circulating MPAs were found to be correlated with serum creatinine (r=0.538, p<0.001) and eGFR (r=-0.864, p<0.001). The AUC for MPAs with IM was 0.942 (95% CI 0.890-0.994, p<0.001).
Conclusions:
Study results highlight the interplay between platelets and inflammatory monocytes in CKD. There are alterations in circulating MPAs and MPAs with the different monocyte subsets in CKD patients compared to controls which change with CKD severity. The MPAs may have an important role in the development of CKD or as a predictive marker for monitoring disease severity.
Insights
Monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs) are elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. These aggregates, particularly with intermediate monocytes, correlate with CKD severity and may serve as a predictive marker.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Hematology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is recognized as an immune-inflammatory condition.
- Platelet-monocyte interactions, indicated by monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs), are linked to immune inflammation in CKD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of MPAs and their association with different monocyte subsets in CKD patients.
- To evaluate the correlation between MPAs and CKD disease severity.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to quantify MPAs and MPAs with specific monocyte subsets.
- The study included 44 hospitalized CKD patients and 20 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- CKD patients exhibited significantly higher proportions of circulating MPAs compared to healthy controls.
- Elevated MPAs with classical monocytes (CM) were observed in advanced CKD (CKD4-5), while MPAs with non-classical monocytes (NCM) were higher in early-stage CKD (CKD2-3).
- MPAs with intermediate monocytes (IM) were significantly elevated in CKD4-5 patients and correlated with serum creatinine and eGFR, showing high diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.942).
Conclusions:
- Circulating MPAs and their subsets are altered in CKD patients, with changes reflecting disease severity.
- MPAs, especially those involving intermediate monocytes, may play a role in CKD pathogenesis and serve as a valuable biomarker for monitoring disease progression.
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