Expression of Genes for Platelet Aggregation Up Post-CABG

FRIDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, there is increased expression of genes involved in platelet aggregation, including cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1), glycoprotein (GP)IIb and GPIIIa, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

To investigate whether post-CABG surgery platelets are associated with a prothrombotic state, Sarah-Jayne Reilly, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues sampled blood and purified platelets from 11 patients before and three to six days after CABG. For seven of the patients, gene expression profiling was performed using low density array plates.

The researchers found that, of the 45 genes examined, those that were significantly up-regulated were GPIIb, GPIIIa, and COX-1. In four additional patients, the results were confirmed, including flow cytometry of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor.

"CABG surgery up-regulates mRNA and protein levels of proteins that are key players in platelet aggregation," the authors write. "Marked elevation of GPIIb/IIIa mRNA levels results in significantly increased GPIIb/IIIa expression in platelets post-CABG surgery, which may be a reason for increased thrombus formation and myocardial infarction after CABG."

Abstract
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