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Updated: Jul 13, 2025
Flow Cytometry Analysis of Tissue Factor Expression in Human Platelets
Published on: November 22, 2024
Platelets as Potential Non-Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factor-Analysis Performed in Healthy Donors
Patrycja Szymańska1, Bogusława Luzak1, Przemysław Siarkiewicz2
1Department of Haemostasis and Haemostatic Disorders, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Medical University of Lodz, Mazowiecka 6/8, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Platelets, beyond traditional risk factors, show links to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specific platelet markers correlate with cholesterol, glucose, and weight, aiding in identifying high-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Hematology
- Metabolic syndrome
Background:
- Traditional cardiometabolic risk factors include abnormal lipid profiles, elevated glucose, and high body weight.
- The role of platelets in cardiovascular disease (CVD) development is gaining recognition.
- Identifying novel risk factors is crucial for proactive cardiovascular health management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify platelet-related parameters associated with increased cardiovascular risk in healthy individuals.
- To explore the relationship between platelet indices, inflammatory markers, reactivity, and ROS generation with cardiometabolic factors.
- To evaluate the potential of platelet parameters as non-traditional CVD risk indicators.
Main Methods:
- Assessment of platelet indices, inflammatory markers, reactivity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.
- Correlation analysis with traditional cardiometabolic risk factors (lipids, glucose, body mass index).
- Evaluation of specific ratios like mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-HDL-cholesterol.
Main Results:
- Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol associated with platelet aggregation and ROS generation.
- Triglycerides, glucose, and BMI linked to multi-inflammatory indices (MII-1, MII-3).
- Platelet-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio identified as a potential prognostic cardiometabolic indicator.
Conclusions:
- Platelet parameters, particularly molecular ones, show associations with cardiometabolic risk factors.
- Platelets represent a non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor and are key in identifying high-risk individuals.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the role of platelets in CVD development and risk stratification.
Abstract:
Abnormal lipid profile, increased glucose level, and elevated body weight are traditional cardiometabolic risk factors; however, the role of platelets in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasingly being highlighted. The aim of this study was to select platelet-related parameters (non-genetic molecular and routine laboratory measurements) that may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk among healthy populations. We evaluated the level of platelet indices, platelet-based inflammatory markers, platelet reactivity parameters, and platelet reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in relation to selected cardiometabolic risk factors. We noted the association between total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol with platelet aggregation and platelet ROS generation. We found the relationship between triglycerides, glucose, and body mass index with the relatively new multi-inflammatory indices (MII-1 and MII-3). Moreover, we noticed that the mean platelet volume-to-lymphocyte ratio in healthy subjects is not a good source of information about platelets and inflammation. We also highlighted that platelet-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio may be a promising prognostic cardiometabolic indicator. The association between platelet-related (especially molecular) and cardiometabolic parameters requires further research. However, the goal of this study was to shed light on the consideration of platelets as a non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor and a crucial element in identifying individuals at high-risk of developing CVD in the future.
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