Influence of sex on circulating endothelial microparticle number and microRNA expression in middle-aged adults

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine: 1) if circulating concentrations of endothelial microparticles (EMPs) differ in middle-aged men compared with women; and 2) whether there are sex-related differences in microRNA expression in EMPs. Peripheral blood was collected from 30 sedentary adults: 15 men (52 ± 8 yr) and 15 women (52 ± 8 yr). EMPs were defined by markers of activation (CD62e⁺) or apoptosis (CD31⁺/CD42b⁻) by flow cytometry. MicroRNA (miR-34a, 92a, 125a, and 126) expression in activation- and apoptosis-derived EMPs was measured by RT-PCR. Circulating activation- (33 ± 31 vs. 39 ± 35 MP μL⁻¹) and apoptosis- (49 ± 54 vs. 42 ± 43 MP μL⁻¹) derived EMPs were not significantly different between men and women. miR-125a expression (2.23 ± 2.01 vs. 6.95 ± 3.99 AU) was lower (∼215%; P < 0.05) in activation-derived EMPs; whereas, expression of miR-34a (1.17 ± 1.43 vs. 0.38 ± 0.35 AU) was higher (∼210%; P < 0.05) in apoptosis-derived EMPs from men than women. microRNA expression in circulating EMPs may provide novel insight into sex-related differences in cardiovascular disease.

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