Thromb Haemost 1997; 77(06): 1077-1080
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1656115
Clinical Studies
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Soluble P-selectin in Atherosclerosis: A Comparison with Endothelial Cell and Platelet Markers

Andrew D Blann
1   The City Hospital, Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, Univ. Dept of Medicine, Birmingham, UK
,
Gregory Y H Lip
1   The City Hospital, Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, Univ. Dept of Medicine, Birmingham, UK
,
D Gareth Beevers
2   Department of Medicine, The City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
,
Charles N McCollum
3   Department of Surgery, University Hospital of South, Didsbury, Manchester, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 21 May 1996

Accepted after resubmission 13 February 1997

Publication Date:
12 July 2018 (online)

Summary

von Willebrand factor and soluble thrombomodulin are established plasma markers of endothelial cell dysfunction, whilst beta thromboglobulin is an established plasma marker of platelet activity. Soluble P-selectin may be the product of either or both types of cell and levels of all four molecules have been previously found to be increased in atherosclerosis. To determine the relationship of soluble P-selectin to the endothelial cell and platelet products, we measured the four indices in a case control study of 55 patients with peripheral vascular disease and 55 age and sex matched controls, von Willebrand factor (p <0.0001), beta thromboglobulin (p = 0.0006), soluble P-selectin (p = 0.0021) and soluble thrombomodulin (p = 0.021) were all raised in the patients. Soluble P-selectin correlated with beta thromboglobulin (r = 0.34, p = 0.019) but failed to correlate with either endothelial cell marker. Co-culture of endothelial cells in vitro with bovine thrombin resulted in increased levels of von Willebrand factor in the supernatants but levels of soluble thrombomodulin and soluble P-selectin were not enhanced. Exposure of endothelial cell monolayers to elastase resulted in different patterns of release of von Willebrand factor, soluble thrombomodulin and soluble P-selectin. We suggest that soluble P-selectin is unlikely to arise from the endothelium and may be a new marker of platelet activation in atherosclerosis.

 
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