Alteration in Plasma Proteins and Platelet Functions with Aging and Cigarette Smoking in Healthy Men

Blood samples were obtained on four different occasions from 18 cigarette smoking and 34 non-smoking healthy men (age 40-69) and analyzed to assess age- and smoking-associated changes in plasma proteins, blood coagulation and platelet functions. Collagen-induced platelet aggregation was significantly increased with aging in non-smokers. Significant changes in chronic smokers were increases in platelet count and fibrinogen in plasma; elevation of platelet factor-3 (PF-3) activity in platelet-poor plasma (PPP); increase in serum levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin and properdin factor B; and shortening of the lag period of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Filtration of PPP through Millipore filters removed PF-3 membranes. The differences in PF-3 activities in filtered plasma were no longer significant between smokers and non-smokers. Results suggest that chronic smokers have higher levels of acute phase proteins reflecting underlying inflammatory processes, and higher levels of PF-3 activity in plasma due to liberation of PF-3 membranes from platelets.