Extracellular vesicles related to familial hypercholesterolemia

TL;DR

This study found that people with genetic variants linked to familial hypercholesterolemia have higher levels of certain extracellular vesicles, which may contribute to cardiovascular complications.

Contribution

The study identifies specific extracellular vesicles associated with familial hypercholesterolemia and their correlation with LDL cholesterol levels.

Findings

Individuals with FH-related genetic variants had higher counts of PS+-EVs, CardioEVs, EEVs, and TFEVs.

FH patients not on statins had higher EV counts than non-FH patients not on statins.

EV levels were significantly correlated with LDL cholesterol levels.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a group of
carriers of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH)-related genetic variants
compared to those in family members without FH.

Annexin V-positive EVs (PS+-EVs), cardiomyocyte-derived EVs
(CardioEVs), endothelial cell-derived EVs (EEVs), platelet-derived EVs
(PEVs) and tissue factor-expressing EVs (TFEVs) were evaluated to compare
individuals with FH and genetic variants (n = 16) and non-FH patients
without genetic variants (n = 16).

Increased numbers of PS+-EVs, CardioEVs, EEVs and TFEVs were
observed in the group c arrying genetic variants. Furthermore, patients with
FH who did not use statins had higher counts of these same EVs than non-FH
patients who did not use statins. These EVs were significantly correlated
with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) levels.

The data suggest that EVs are related to FH and that their cellular origins
could be related to cardiovascular complications commonly observed in this
disease.

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