Atherosclerotic patients have lower levels of BLTR1 expressing microvesicles compared to healthy individuals

Background: Monocytes/macrophages play a crucial role in the development, progression, and complication of atherosclerosis. In particular, foam cell formation driven by CD36 mediated internalisation of oxLDL leads to activation of monocytes and subsequent release of monocytederived microvesicles (MMVs). Further, pro-inflammatory leukotriene B4 derived from arachidonic acid (AA) promotes atherosclerosis through the high-affinity receptor BLTR1. Thus, we aimed to investigate the correlation between different MMV phenotypes on the one hand, and AA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) contents in different compartments including atherosclerotic plaques, plasma and granulocytes on the other. This might elucidate the potential of CD36 and BLTR1 bearing MMV phenotypes as novel biomarkers in predicting atherosclerosis. Methods: Plasma samples from 48 subjects with femoral atherosclerosis and 24 healthy controls were analysed on an Apogee A60 MicroPLUS flow cytometer. Platelet-poor plasma was labelled with lactadherin-FITC, anti-CD14-APC, anti-CD36-PE and anti-BLTR1-AF700. MVs were defined as phosphatidylserine-exposing (PS+) events