Plasma concentration of platelet-derived microparticles is related to painful vaso-occlusive phenotype severity in sickle cell anemia

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 24;9(1):e87243. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087243. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

High plasma level of microparticles (MPs) deriving mainly from erythrocytes and platelets has been detected in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients. Flow cytometry was used to determine the concentration of MPs in two groups of SCA patients exhibiting marked differences in painful vaso-occlusive crisis rates [a non-severe group (n = 17) and a severe group (n = 12)], and in a control group composed of healthy subjects (n = 20). A 3- to 4-fold increase of total MP plasma concentration was detected in SCA patients. Higher platelet-derived MPs concentration was detected in the severe SCA group while erythrocyte-derived MPs concentration was increased in the non-severe SCA patient group only. Our results suggest that plasma concentration of MPs shed by platelets is a biomarker of the vaso-occlusive phenotype-related severity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / blood
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / complications
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / diagnosis*
  • Anemia, Sickle Cell / pathology
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Platelets / chemistry*
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / metabolism*
  • Cell-Derived Microparticles / pathology
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry*
  • Erythrocytes / pathology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / blood
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain / pathology
  • Particle Size
  • Phenotype
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding

This study was supported in part by the French Embassy in Jamaica, the Université des Antilles et de la Guyane and by the Fonds de Coopération Régionale (FCR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.