Pregnancy history and blood-borne microvesicles in middle aged women with and without coronary artery calcification

• Published in: Atherosclerosis 2016-10, Vol.253, p.150-155
• Main Authors: Miller, Virginia M, Garovic, Vesna D, Bailey, Kent R, Lahr, Brian D, Mielke, Michelle M, White, Wendy M, Jayachandran, Muthuvel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Calcinosis; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cell-Derived Microparticles - metabolism; Coagulants - chemistry; Coronary Artery Disease - pathology; Coronary Vessels - pathology; Disease Progression; Extracellular vesicles; Female; Flow Cytometry; Glucose; Humans; Hypertension; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Microparticles; Middle Aged; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - blood; Principal Component Analysis; Reproductive History; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Waist Circumference
• ISSN: 0021-9150; 1879-1484; 1879-1484
• DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2016.09.006

Abstract Background and aims Having a history of preeclampsia increases the risk for future coronary artery calcification (CAC). This study evaluated the association of blood-borne, cell-derived microvesicles (MV) with CAC in middle-aged women. Methods Twelve pre-selected, antigen-specific MV were measured by digital flow cytometry in the blood of age- and parity-matched women (median age 60 years) without a history of cardiovascular events, but with either a history of preeclampsia (PE, n = 39) or normotensive pregnancy (NP, n = 40). CAC was determined by computed tomography. Results CAC scores ranged from 0 to 47 and 0–602 Agatston Units in the NP and PE groups, respectively. Waist circumference and insulin resistance were greatest in PE women with CAC. MV positive for tissue factor or stem/progenitor cell antigen (CD117) differed between NP and PE groups. In univariate analysis, those positive for tissue factor, ICAM-1, stem cells, and adipocytes (P16-set) antigens associated with CAC in the PE group. Principal components (PC) analysis reduced the MV variables to three independent dimensions. PC1 showed a modest correlation with CAC scores in the PE group (ρ = 0.31, p  = 0.06) and associated with CAC in a multivariable model on pooled groups that included all 3 PC variables when adjusted for pregnancy status ( p  = 0.03). The association was lost when corrected for body mass index or waist circumference. Conclusions In women with a history of PE and elevated metabolic risk profile, a group of specific antigen-positive MV associated with CAC. These MV may reflect cellular processes associated with CAC. Their diagnostic potential for CAC remains to be determined.