Key result
Greater cardiometabolic risk factor burden was associated with increased platelet size and immaturity, and 100 differentially expressed platelet transcripts (p < 0.01).
Why the study?
While platelets are involved in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, the relationship between cardiometabolic risk factor burden on platelet indices and the platelet transcriptome remains uncertain.
Does cardiometabolic risk factor burden associate with changes in platelet indices and transcriptome in CVD-free adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=141)
Does cardiometabolic risk factor burden associate with changes in platelet indices and transcriptome in CVD-free adults?
Cardiometabolic risk factor burden is associated with an immature platelet profile and altered platelet transcriptome, suggesting a potential mechanism linking risk factors to cardiovascular disease.
May identify novel cardiometabolic risk pathways; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before clinical use.
Cardiometabolic risk factors, obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). While platelets are involved in CVD pathogenesis, the relationship between risk factor burden on platelet indices and the platelet transcriptome remains uncertain. Blood was collected from CVD-free adults, measuring platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV), immature platelet fraction (IPF), and absolute immature platelet fraction (AIPF) by hemogram. Platelets were isolated and analyzed via RNA sequencing. Participants were stratified by number of cardiometabolic risk factors (diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia). We calculated median (IQR) values of platelet indices and p-for-trend via linear regression across risk factor burden. To evaluate the association between risk factor burden and platelet transcripts, we performed multivariable linear regression adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Among 141 participants, (50.5 ± 14.8 years, 42% male, 26% Black) risk factor burden was associated with increasing platelet size, IPF, and AIPF but not platelet count. Platelet RNA sequencing identified 100 differentially expressed transcripts (p < .01; 66 upregulated, 34 downregulated). Gene ontology enrichment analysis demonstrated upregulated pathways of secondary metabolic processes (NES = 1.96, p < .01), and hematopoietic stem cell proliferation (NES = 1.95, p < .01). Greater cardiometabolic risk factor burden is associated with increased platelet size and immaturity and suggesting novel platelet-mediated mechanisms linking risk factor burden with CVD.
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Hamo et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic risk factor burden (n=141). Cardiometabolic risk factor burden vs. Lower cardiometabolic risk factor burden was evaluated on Platelet indices (size, IPF, AIPF) and platelet transcriptome (p=<.01). Greater cardiometabolic risk factor burden was associated with increased platelet size and immaturity, and 100 differentially expressed platelet transcripts (p < 0.01).
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