Membrane microparticles are submicron fragments of membrane shed into extracellular space from cells under conditions of stress/injury. They may be distinguished from other classes of extracellular vesicles (i.e. exosomes) on the basis of size, content and mechanism of formation. Microparticles are found in plasma and other biological fluids from healthy individuals and their levels are altered in various diseases, including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, pre-eclampsia and hypertension among others. Accordingly, they have been considered biomarkers of vascular injury and pro-thrombotic or pro-inflammatory conditions. In addition to this, emerging evidence suggests that microparticles are not simply a consequence of disease, but that they themselves may contribute to pathological processes. Thus microparticles appear to serve as both markers and mediators of pathology. The present review examines the evidence for microparticles as both biomarkers of, and contributors to, the progression of disease. Approaches for the detection of microparticles are summarized and novel concepts relating to the formation of microparticles and their biological effects are examined.
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Review Article|
December 07 2012
Microparticles: biomarkers and beyond
Dylan Burger;
*Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
Correspondence: Dr Dylan Burger (email [email protected]).
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Sarah Schock;
Sarah Schock
†Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Charlie S. Thompson;
Charlie S. Thompson
†Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Augusto C. Montezano;
Augusto C. Montezano
‡BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, U.K.
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Antoine M. Hakim;
Antoine M. Hakim
†Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Rhian M. Touyz
Rhian M. Touyz
*Kidney Research Centre, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
‡BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
June 12 2012
Revision Received:
September 25 2012
Accepted:
October 02 2012
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2013 Biochemical Society
2013
Clin Sci (Lond) (2013) 124 (7): 423–441.
Article history
Received:
June 12 2012
Revision Received:
September 25 2012
Accepted:
October 02 2012
Citation
Dylan Burger, Sarah Schock, Charlie S. Thompson, Augusto C. Montezano, Antoine M. Hakim, Rhian M. Touyz; Microparticles: biomarkers and beyond. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 April 2013; 124 (7): 423–441. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20120309
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