Dose-dependent decrease of platelet activation and tissue factor by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with advanced chronic heart failure

Thromb Haemost. 2011 Sep;106(3):457-65. doi: 10.1160/TH11-03-0169. Epub 2011 Jul 28.

Abstract

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is characterised by activation of neuroendocrine and inflammatory pathways, and both are linked to a prothrombotic state. Treatment with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) showed significant benefits including mortality reduction in CHF, but exact mechanisms of action are still unclear. We investigated the effects of n3-PUFA on markers of platelet activation and thrombogenesis in patients with severe CHF. Thirty-six patients with non-ischaemic CHF (LVEF<35%, NYHA class>2) under optimised therapy were randomised to supplementation with 1g/day or 4 g/day n3-PUFA, or placebo for 12 weeks. Using whole-blood flow cytometry, monocyte-platelet aggregates characterised by CD14+/CD42b+ co-expression and monocytic tissue factor (TF) were determined. Plasma levels of P-selectin, sCD40L, fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment F1.2, TF and pro-inflammatory markers (high sensitive[hs] interleukin-6, hsCRP, hsTNF-alpha, monocyte chemotactic protein-1) were measured by immunoassay. Supplementation with 1g/day and 4 g/day n3-PUFA but not placebo significantly reduced monocyte-platelet aggregates in a dose-dependent manner (p for trend = 0.02 across the groups). A dose of 4 g/day but not 1g/day n3-PUFA significantly decreased P-selectin (p = 0.03). Plasma TF decreased dose-dependently upon n3-PUFA supplementation (p for trend = 0.02), paralleled by a significant decrease of TF+-monocytes (p for trend = 0.01). The amount of 4 g/day n3-PUFA exhibited modest anti-inflammatory effects with a significant reduction of hs interleukin-6 (p<0.01) and a trend-wise reduction of hsTNF-alpha (p = 0.09). No changes were seen for sCD40L, fibrinogen, hsCRP and monocyte chemotactic protein-1, while F1.2 was decreased by 4 g/day n3-PUFA (P = 0.03). In patients with severe non-ischaemic CHF, treatment with n3-PUFA leads to a dose-dependent decrease of platelet activation and TF. Higher dosage exhibits also anti-inflammatory effects.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects
  • Blood Platelets / metabolism*
  • Blood Platelets / pathology
  • CD40 Ligand / blood
  • Cell Separation
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Progression
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • P-Selectin / blood
  • Platelet Activation / drug effects
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / metabolism
  • Thromboplastin / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
  • P-Selectin
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex
  • CD40 Ligand
  • Thromboplastin