CD36+/CD61+ Microparticles Correlate with the Risk of Percutaneous Cardiac Interventions in Coronary Artery Disease Patients and the Effects of Ticagrelor.

Purpose: The CD36 scavenger receptor is a mediator of both atherogenesis and thrombosis. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of CD36+ microparticles (MPs) released from platelets for cardiovascular event presentation in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and the effects of different antiplatelet drugs on MPs.

Methods: A total of 101 aspirin-treated CAD patients, who were planned to undergo coronary angiography (CAG), were randomized to either a standard clopidogrel regimen or ticagrelor treatment. Total Annexin V-(AV)+ MPs, CD61+/AV+ MPs, and CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs were quantified by flow cytometry at baseline, before and immediately after the operation. The ADP-induced platelet inhibition rate was measured by thromboelastogram (TEG) examination 1 h before the operation.

Results: The baseline levels of CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs were significantly increased in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients (n = 52) compared to no-PCI patients (n = 49) (p < 0.05). A ROC-curve clustered model for CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs at baseline predicted an increased risk of PCI [p = 0.009, AUC = 0.761 (95%CI: 0.601 to 0.922)]. Moreover, TEG examination showed that the preoperative proportion of CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs was significantly negatively correlated with R time and K time (r = - 0.236, p = 00.026; r = - 0.288, p = 0.006), and positively correlated with MA (r = 0.226, p = 0.045). Subgroup analysis of PCI group showed that the platelet inhibition rate of ticagrelor was significantly higher (66.05% ± 28.76% vs.31.01% ± 27.33%, p < 0.001), and the number of AV+ MPs, CD61+/AV+ MPs, and CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs before the operation was significantly lower than clopidogrel (p < 0.05, all).

Conclusion: The high levels of CD36+ MPs derived from activated platelets are related to an increased risk of PCI in CAD patients. Ticagrelor significantly reduced the number of CD61+/AV+ MPs and CD36+/CD61+/AV+ MPs. This trial registration number is ChiCTR1800014908 and the date of registration is 2018.05.01.