Expression of Platelet Collagen Receptor Glycoprotein VI in Coronary Heart Disease: Interaction between Platelets and Endothelial Cells.

BACKGROUND

1) To investigate the expression of platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) on the surface of platelets in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). 2) To investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) on the surface of endothelial cells after exposure to subjects' platelets.

METHODS

Platelets were extracted from blood samples of 97 subjects including 43 with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 21 with stable angina pectoris (SAP), and 33 serving as controls in which CHD was excluded. Using flow cytometry, we measured the expression of GPVI and platelet degranulation markers CD62P and CD63. In addition we quantified expression of endothelial cell ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.

RESULTS

A higher expression of platelet GPVI was observed in ACS compared with SAP and control groups. The expression level of platelet GPVI significantly correlated with CD62P and CD63 in the CHD population (r = 0.713 and 0.615, both p < 0.01). Significantly higher ICAM-1 expression was observed in endothelial cells after interaction with platelets from the ACS population. In the CHD subjects, the surface expression of platelet GPVI correlated with the level of ICAM-1 in endothelial cells (r = 0.371, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Platelet GPVI associated with platelet activation and endothelial inflammation is a vital index for predicting CHD occurrence and severity.