Microvesicles

Cardiovascular disease

Microvesicles are involved in cardiovascular disease initiation and progression. Microparticles derived from monocytes aggravate atherosclerosis by modulating inflammatory cells. Additionally, microvesicles can induce clotting by binding to clotting factors or by inducing the expression of clotting factors in other cells. Circulating microvesicles isolated from cardiac surgery patients were found to be thrombogenic in both in vitro assays and in rats. Microvesicles isolated from healthy individuals did not have the same effects and may actually have a role in reducing clotting. Tissue factor, an initiator of coagulation, is found in high levels within microvesicles, indicating their role in clotting. Renal mesangial cells exposed to high glucose media release microvesicles containing tissue factor, having an angiogenic effect on endothelial cells.