Endothelial Microparticles as Potential Biomarkers in the Assessment of Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypercholesterolemia

Background and Objectives: Endothelial microparticles (EMP) particularly CD31(+)/42(-)/AV(+), CD144(+)/AV(+) and CD62e(+)/AV(+) have been reported as having increased in cardiovascular-related diseases, making them potential biomarkers for endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to compare these EMPs in patients with hypercholesterolemia and healthy controls and to correlate their levels with endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) assessed via pulse wave analysis (PWA); an established method of assessing endothelial function. Materials and Methods: EMPs from 88 subjects (44 hypercholesterolemia patients and 44 controls) were quantified from whole blood using flow cytometry analysis. Endothelial function was determined using PWA combined with pharmacological challenge. Results: CD31(+)/42(-)/AV(+) (3.45 +/- 4.74 count/mu L vs. 1.33 +/- 4.40 count/mu L; p = 0.03), CD144(+)/AV(+) (7.37 +/- 12.66 count/mu L vs. 1.42 +/- 1.71 count/mu L; p = 0.003) and CD62e(+)/AV(+) (57.16 +/- 56.22 count/mu L vs. 20.78 +/- 11.04 count/mu L; p < 0.001) were significantly elevated in the hypercholesterolemic group compared with the controls, respectively. There was a significant inverse moderate correlation between all circulating EMPs and EDV: CD31(+)/42(-)/AV(+) (r = -0.36, p = 0.001), CD144(+)/AV(+) (r = -0.37, p = 0.001) and CD62e(+)/AV(+) (r = -0.35, p = 0.002). Conclusions: All EMPs were raised in the patients with hypercholesterolemia, and these values correlated with the established method of assessing endothelial function.