Circulating CD36+ microparticles are not altered by docosahexaenoic or eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids alter the number, fatty acid profile and coagulatory activity of circulating and platelet-derived extracellular vesicles: a randomized, controlled crossover trial

BACKGROUND

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are proposed to play a role in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and are considered emerging markers of CVDs. n-3 PUFAs are abundant in oily fish and fish oil and are reported to reduce CVD risk, but there has been little research to date examining the effects of n-3 PUFAs on the generation and function of EVs.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to investigate the effects of fish oil supplementation on the number, generation, and function of EVs in subjects with moderate risk of CVDs.

METHODS

A total of 40 participants with moderate risk of CVDs were supplemented with capsules containing either fish oil (1.9 g/d n-3 PUFAs) or control oil (high-oleic safflower oil) for 12 wk in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover intervention study. The effects of fish oil supplementation on conventional CVD and thrombogenic risk markers were measured, along with the number and fatty acid composition of circulating and platelet-derived EVs (PDEVs). PDEV proteome profiles were evaluated, and their impact on coagulation was assessed using assays including fibrin clot formation, thrombin generation, fibrinolysis, and ex vivo thrombus formation.

RESULTS

n-3 PUFAs decreased the numbers of circulating EVs by 27%, doubled their n-3 PUFA content, and reduced their capacity to support thrombin generation by >20% in subjects at moderate risk of CVDs. EVs derived from n-3 PUFA-enriched platelets in vitro also resulted in lower thrombin generation, but did not alter thrombus formation in a whole blood ex vivo assay.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary n-3 PUFAs alter the number, composition, and function of EVs, reducing their coagulatory activity. This study provides clear evidence that EVs support thrombin generation and that this EV-dependent thrombin generation is reduced by n-3 PUFAs, which has implications for prevention and treatment of thrombosis.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03203512.

Dietary modulation of large extracellular vesicles: the good and the bad for human health

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) encompassing nanovesicles derived from the endosome system and generated by plasmatic membrane shedding are of increasing interest in view of their ability to sustain cell-to-cell communication and the possibility that they could be used as surrogate biomarkers of healthy and unhealthy trajectories. Nutritional strategies have been developed to preserve health, and the impact of these strategies on circulating EVs is arousing growing interest. Data available from published studies are now sufficient for a first integration to better understand the role of EVs in the relationship between diet and health. Thus, this review focuses on human intervention studies investigating the impact of diet or its components on circulating EVs. Because of analytical bias, only large EVs have been assessed so far. The analysis highlights that poor-quality diets with elevated fat and sugar content increase levels of circulating large EVs, and these can be partly counteracted by healthy food or some food micronutrients and bioactive compounds. However, knowledge of the content and the biological functions of these diet-induced EVs is still missing. It is important to address these aspects in new research in order to state if EVs are mediators of the effects of diet on health.

One year of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation does not reduce circulating prothrombotic microvesicles in elderly subjects after suffering a myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Circulating microvesicles (cMV) are both effectors and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the effects of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3 PUFA) in MV shedding are not yet well known. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of long-term n3 PUFA supplementation on cMV release from cells of the vascular compartment in elderly subjects at very high risk of CVD.

METHODS

We included 156 elderly patients 2-8 weeks after suffering an acute myocardial infarction from the OMEMI cohort. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive 930 mg EPA + 660 mg DHA (n3 PUFA intervention) or corn oil (56% linoleic acid, 32% oleic acid, 10% palmitic acid) used as placebo daily for two years. At inclusion and after one-year follow-up, prothrombotic [annexin V (AV)⁺] cMV derived from blood and vascular cells were phenotyped by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

No differences were observed in the levels of cMV between the randomized groups at inclusion in the study. After one-year follow-up, total AV⁺, platelet-derived CD61⁺/AV⁺, and endothelial-derived CD31⁺/AV⁺ and CD31⁺/CD42b^-/AV⁺ cMV increased significantly in both groups. In the n3 PUFA supplemented group, platelet-derived CD62P⁺/AV⁺, CD42b⁺/AV⁺ and CD31⁺/CD42b⁺/AV⁺; leukocyte-derived CD62L⁺/AV⁺, CD45⁺/AV⁺, and CD11b⁺/AV⁺, as well as endothelial derived CD146⁺/AV⁺, CD62E⁺/AV⁺, and CD309⁺/AV⁺ cMV also increased significantly. No significant differences were however, observed in the changes of cMV levels between groups.

CONCLUSION

In elderly Norwegians who have suffered a recent acute myocardial infarction and treated as per guidelines, long-term supplementation with 1.8 g/day n3 PUFA does not modulate prothrombotic MV release from blood and vascular cells.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01841944.

Diets and Cellular-Derived Microparticles: Weighing a Plausible Link With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) represents a spectrum of pathological processes of various etiologies affecting the brain microcirculation that can trigger neuroinflammation and the subsequent neurodegenerative cascade. Prevalent with aging, CSVD is a recognized risk factor for stroke, vascular dementia, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease. Despite being the most common neurodegenerative condition with cerebrocardiovascular axis, understanding about it remains poor. Interestingly, modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diet including high intake of processed food, high-fat foods, and animal by-products are known to influence the non-neural peripheral events, such as in the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular stress through cellular inflammation and oxidation. One key outcome from such events, among others, includes the cellular activations that lead to elevated levels of endogenous cellular-derived circulating microparticles (MPs). MPs can be produced from various cellular origins including leukocytes, platelets, endothelial cells, microbiota, and microglia. MPs could act as microthrombogenic procoagulant that served as a plausible culprit for the vulnerable end-artery microcirculation in the brain as the end-organ leading to CSVD manifestations. However, little attention has been paid on the potential role of MPs in the onset and progression of CSVD spectrum. Corroboratively, the formation of MPs is known to be influenced by diet-induced cellular stress. Thus, this review aims to appraise the body of evidence on the dietary-related impacts on circulating MPs from non-neural peripheral origins that could serve as a plausible microthrombosis in CSVD manifestation as a precursor of neurodegeneration. Here, we elaborate on the pathomechanical features of MPs in health and disease states; relevance of dietary patterns on MP release; preclinical studies pertaining to diet-based MPs contribution to disease; MP level as putative surrogates for early disease biomarkers; and lastly, the potential of MPs manipulation with diet-based approach as a novel preventive measure for CSVD in an aging society worldwide.

The Mediterranean diet decreases prothrombotic microvesicle release in asymptomatic individuals at high cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Circulating microvesicles (cMV) are small phospholipid-rich vesicles that contribute to the atherothrombotic process, and are biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and progression. Diet is a cornerstone for CVD prevention, but dietary effects on cMV shedding are poorly characterized. We aimed at assessing the long term effects of a Mediterranean diet compared to a low-fat diet (LFD) on MV shedding by cells of the blood and vascular compartments in patients at high cardiovascular risk treated as per guidelines.

METHODS

A total of 155 participants from the PREDIMED trial free of cardiovascular events after a mean follow-up of 5 years (n = 53 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil -EVOO-; n = 49 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts -Nuts-; and n = 53 from the LFD) were included in the study. At baseline and after one-year intervention, cMV were quantified and characterized by flow cytometry to identify their activated parental cell origin and prothrombotic potential by Annexin V (AV) binding.

RESULTS

After one year of dietary intervention, platelet-derived PAC-1⁺/AV⁺ and CD62P⁺/AV⁺ cMV concentrations were lower in the Nuts group compared with the LFD and EVOO interventions (P = 0.036 and 0.003, respectively). In addition, prothrombotic cMV carrying tissue factor (CD142⁺/AV⁺) and CD11a⁺/AV⁺ cMV derived from activated cells, were significantly lower in both Mediterranean diet (EVOO and Nuts) interventions compared to one year of LFD (P < 0.0001 and 0.028, respectively). SMAα⁺/AV^- cMV were lower in the LFD compared to the Nuts group after one year of intervention (P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

cMV are markers of cell activation and vascular injury that appear to be sensitive to dietary changes. Following a Mediterranean diet rich in EVOO or nuts is associated with lower cell activation towards a pro-atherothrombotic phenotype, suggesting a delay in the development of CV complications.

Circulating ectosomes: Determination of angiogenic microRNAs in type 2 diabetes

Ectosomes (Ects) are a subpopulation of extracellular vesicles formed by the process of plasma membrane shedding. In the present study, we profiled ectosome-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and analyzed their pro- and anti-angiogenic potential. Methods: We used different approaches for detecting and enumerating Ects, including atomic force microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Furthermore, we used bioinformatics tools to analyze functional data obtained from specific miRNA enrichment signatures during angiogenesis and vasculature development. Results: Levels of miR-193b-3p, miR-199a-3p, miR-20a-3p, miR-26b-5p, miR-30b-5p, miR-30c-5p, miR-374a-5p, miR-409-3p, and miR-95-3p were significantly different between Ects obtained from patients with T2DM and those obtained from healthy controls. Conclusion: Our results showed differences in the abundance of pro- and anti-angiogenic miRNAs in Ects of patients with T2DM, and are suggestive of mechanisms underlying the development of vascular complications due to impaired angiogenesis in such patients.

Nano-delivery system targeting to cancer stem cell cluster of differentiation biomarkers

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are one of the most important origins of cancer progression and metastasis. CSCs have unique self-renewal properties and diverse cell membrane receptors that induced the resistance to the conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, the therapeutic removal of CSCs could result in the cancer cure with lack of recurrence and metastasis. In this regard, targeting CSCs in accordance to their specific biomarkers is a talented attitude in cancer therapy. Various CSCs surface biomarkers have been described, which some of them exhibited similarities on different cancer cell types, while the others are cancer specific and have just been reported on one or a few types of cancers. In this review, the importance of CSCs in cancer development and therapeutic response has been stated. Different CSCs cluster of differentiation (CD) biomarkers and their specific function and applications in the treatment of cancers have been discussed, Special attention has been made on targeted nano-delivery systems. In this regard, several examples have been illustrated concerning specific natural and artificial ligands against CSCs CD biomarkers that could be decorated on various nanoparticulated drug delivery systems to enhance therapeutic index of chemotherapeutic agents or anticancer gene therapy. The outlook of CSCs biomarkers discovery and therapeutic/diagnostic applications was discussed.