Editorial
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Hematol. May 6, 2013; 2(2): 16-19
Published online May 6, 2013. doi: 10.5315/wjh.v2.i2.16
Circulating microparticles and microRNAs as players in atherosclerosis
Nicoleta Alexandru, Adriana Georgescu
Nicoleta Alexandru, Adriana Georgescu, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, R-6600 Iasi, Romania
Nicoleta Alexandru, Adriana Georgescu, Department of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology Nicolae Simionescu of Romanian Academy, 050568 Bucharest, Romania
Author contributions: Alexandru N and Georgescu A contributed equally to this paper.
Supported by Grants of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, Project ID PNII-CT-ERC-2012-1 (6ERC-like/July 18, 2012), Project ID PN-II-ID-PCE-2012-4-0124; by European Social Fund - “Cristofor I. Simionescu” Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme (ID POSDRU/89/1.5/S/55216), Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013; and by Romanian Academy
Correspondence to: Adriana Georgescu, PhD, Department of Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology Nicolae Simionescu of Romanian Academy, 8, BP Hasdeu Street, PO Box 35-14, 050568 Bucharest, Romania. adriana.georgescu@icbp.ro
Telephone: +40-21-3194518 Fax: +40-21-3194519
Received: January 21, 2013
Revised: March 21, 2013
Accepted: April 27, 2013
Published online: May 6, 2013
Processing time: 154 Days and 13.4 Hours
Abstract

Microparticles (MPs) are extracellular membrane vesicles released from normal, apoptotic and pathological cells following a process of detachment from cells of origin. MPs are typically defined by their size, exposure of phosphatidylserine, the expression of surface antigens, proteins and genetic material, originating from their donor cells, and as important vehicles of intercellular communication across numerous biological processes. MPs contain the major source of systemic RNA including microRNA (miRNA) of which aberrant expression appears to be associated with stage and progression of atherosclerosis. The involvement and influence of miRNA during the onset and progression of atherosclerotic disease have generated a lot of interest in assessing the feasibility of therapeutic regulation of miRNAs to manipulate them with a special focus on cardiovascular disease. We speculate on the future developments of MPs which contain miRNA as new therapeutic targets for proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Microparticles; MicroRNA; Atherosclerosis

Core tip: Circulating microparticles (MPs) and microRNAs (miRNA) play an important role in atherosclerotic disease. MPs contain the major source of systemic RNA including microRNA of which aberrant expression appears to be associated with stage and progression of atherosclerosis. We speculate on the future developments of MPs which contain miRNA as new therapeutic targets for proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.