Young male smokers have altered platelets and endothelium that precedes atherosclerosis

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research 2004-02, Vol.116 (2), p.227-233
• Main Authors: Casey, R.G., Joyce, M., Roche-Nagle, G., Cox, D., Bouchier-Hayes, D.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Diphosphate - pharmacology; Adult; aggregation; Antigens, CD - blood; Arteriosclerosis - etiology; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Platelets - drug effects; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Blood Platelets - pathology; Cardiology. Vascular system; CD62; endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; General aspects; Humans; Integrin beta3 - blood; Male; Medical sciences; nitric oxide; Peptide Fragments - pharmacology; Platelet Aggregation - drug effects; Platelet Function Tests; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; Receptors, Thrombin - chemistry; smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; Tetraspanin 30; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology; von Willebrand Factor; von Willebrand Factor - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-4804(03)00343-3

Cigarette smoking results in abnormalities of platelets and endothelium with platelet dysfunction implicated in vascular complications. Healthy endothelium plays a pivotal role in regulating hemostasis via the inhibition of platelet activation and aggregation. Thus, we examined if platelet dysfunction correlated with serum vWF levels—a circulating marker of endothelial dysfunction. We tested this hypothesis in young male smokers. The parameters of platelet function tested included: CD62/CD63; Glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa; Platelet function analzyer (PFA) studies, platelet aggregometry, flow assessment of platelet microparticles, platelet-leukocyte interactions and receptor numbers. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed with serum von Willebrand Factor (vWF). There was a significant increase in platelet CD62 receptor expression and aggregation with an associated delay in time to aggregation using PFA. Endothelial dysfunction was represented by higher serum levels of von Willebrand Factor. All other platelet parameters tested were within the standardized reference range. These initial data suggests that anti-platelet therapy may have a role in reduction of platelet activation and aggregation in young smokers and possibly alter vascular endothelial abnormalities.