Abstract 13094: Extracellular Vesicles Associate With Cardio-Metabolic Status and Endothelial Dysfunction in a Cohort of African-American Women

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as promising biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and contributors to CVD pathogenesis. Plasma EVs access the endothelium from various vascular beds allowing them to impact endothelial function and inform on the global particulate secretome produced by parenchymal, vascular and immune cells. In this study we examined associations between plasma EVs and biochemical and physiological parameters in a cohort of African American (AA) women at risk for CVD. We also examined EV effect on coronary endothelial function. This study will serve as baseline data for a longitudinal study aimed to determine the effects of exercise on EVs and endothelial function in a similar cohort.A cohort of 24 AA women between 22-71 yrs, with BMI between 26-47 kg/m 2 and ASCVD risk scores between 2.3-22.1 were included in the study. EVs were isolated from fasted heparinized plasma using size exclusion chromatography. EV size and numbers were determined using nanoparticle tracking analysis. Lipids, inflammatory cytokines, and metabolic panels were measured at the time of blood draw. Human coronary endothelial cells were treated with EVs from participants and endothelial barrier function and migration were measured using ECIS technology. Associations were determined using multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusted for BMI and ASCVD risk.We found a negative association (beta=-0.712, p<0.01) between total triglycerides (TG), TG rich lipoprotein (Lp), and EV size; EV concentration was positively associated (beta= 0.51-0.61, p<0.01) with TG rich Lp, LDL cholesterol and TNFa. Reduced endothelial barrier function due to EVs was positively associated with monocyte counts (beta=0.42, p<0.05). EVs effect on increased endothelial migration was strongly and negatively associated with monocyte counts (beta=-0.85, p<0.001), IL8 and CXCl10 (beta=-0.56-0.46, p<0.05).Collectively these data show that EVs number and size strongly associate with circulating lipids, while EV impact on endothelial dysfunction is associated with inflammatory markers. EVs are therefore promising indicators of endothelial dysfunction that associate with inflammatory and metabolic markers even after adjusting for BMI and ASCVD risk.