Increased circulating CD31+/CD42- microparticles are associated with impaired systemic artery elasticity in healthy subjects

BACKGROUND: Impaired artery elasticity has been found in various pathological conditions related to endothelial dysfunction. Recently, CD31+/CD42- microparticles (MPs) emerged as a marker of endothelial injury. Whether CD31+/CD42- MPs, generated under physiological conditions, are correlated with artery properties has not been reported. METHODS: We evaluated brachia-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) (n = 76) and C1 large-artery and C2 small-artery elasticity indices (n = 56), using noninvasive devices for pulse-wave analysis in a group of healthy persons. The number of circulating CD31+/CD427- MPs (n = 76) was measured by flow cytometric analysis. RESULTS: Circulating CD31+/CD42- MPs were positively correlated with values of baPWV (r = 0.371, P = .008) and with C1 large-artery and C2 small-artery elasticity indices (r = -0.294, P = .037; and r = -0.310, P = .027, respectively). Multivariate analysis identified CD31+/CD42- MPs as potent contributors to the development of impaired systemic artery elasticity. CONCLUSIONS: The level of circulating CD31+/CD42- MPs, an important biomarker of dysfunctional endothelium and vascular injury, is closely associated with impaired systemic artery elasticity in healthy subjects. The present study suggests that CD31+/CD42- MPs may be a novel surrogate marker for the clinical evaluation of vascular damage.