Increased circulating leukocyte-derived microparticles in ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Objectives: Circulating leukocyte-derived microparticles act as proinflammatory mediators that reflect vascular inflammation. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that the quantity of leukocyte-derived microparticles is increased in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and investigated utility of various phenotypes of leukocyte-derived microparticles as specific biomarkers of vascular inflammation injury. Additionally we focused on identifying leukocyte-derivedmicroparticles that may be correlated with stroke severity in acute ischemic stroke patients. Methods: The plasma concentration of leukocyte-derivedmicroparticles obtained by a series of centrifugations of 76 consecutive patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases and 70 age-, sex-, and race-matched healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry. Results: Significantly elevated numbers of leukocyte (CD45+), monocyte (CD14+), lymphocyte (CD4+), granulocyte (CD15+) derived microparticles were found in the plasma samples of patients ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the plasma levels of CD14+ microparticles were significantly correlated with stroke severity (r = 0.355, p = 0.019), cerebral vascular stenosis severity (r = 0.255, p = 0.025) and stroke subtype (r = 0.242, p = 0.036). No association with stroke was observed for other leukocyte-derived phenotypes. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that circulating leukocyte-derived microparticles amounts are increased in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, compared with healthy controls. As proinflammatory mediators, leukocyte-derived microparticles may contribute to vascular inflammatory and the inflammatory process in acute ischemic stroke. Levels of CD14+ microparticles may be a promising biomarker of ischemic severity and outcome of stroke in the clinic. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.