Summary
Platelet-derived microparticles (PDMPs) are produced by platelet activation or physical
stimulation under various conditions. To evaluate changes in platelet and chemokine
function in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA),
we measured and compared levels of PDMPs and a C-C chemokine, regulated on activation
normally T-cell express and secreted (RANTES), by ELISA. Levels of PDMP and RANTES
in patients with acute coronary syndrome were significantly higher than those in the
control groups (PDMP: 20.1 ± 2.9 vs 80.4 ± 7.3 U/ml, p < 0.001; RANTES: 18.6 ± 3.7
vs 52.1 ± 4.6 ng/ml, p < 0.01), but did not differ between the control groups and
patients with stable angina. PDMP levels were higher in patients with acute myocardial
infarction (AMI) than in patients with unstable angina (PDMP:115.0 ± 7.1 vs 63.9 ±
6.2 U/ml, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the RANTES levels, however, between
patients with AMI and patients with unstable angina. PDMP and RANTES levels were significantly
decreased after PTCA (PDMP, p < 0.001; RANTES, p < 0.05), but without differences
between the two groups. In addition, the level of PDMP was significantly correlated
with that of RANTES or soluble CD40 ligand. These findings suggest that PTCA may prevent
the development of AMI-associated complications in which activated platelets and RANTES
play roles. Our ELISA method appears to be sufficient for monitoring PDMP and RANTES
levels after PTCA in patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Keywords
Platelet-derived microparticle - acute coronary syndrome - RANTES - ELISA - PTCA