[Cardiovascular risk study in patients with renin-angiotensin system blockade by means of the proteone of circulating extracellular vesicles]

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released to the bloodstream by certain cell types due to transport, activation and cell death processes. Blood count of EVs from platelet and endothelial origin has been proved to be a cardiovascular risk biomarker. Thus, EVs proteome might reflect the underlying cellular processes in hypertensive patients with albuminuria.

Material and methods: Protein content of circulating EVs was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. EVs were isolated by an ultracentrifugation protocol optimized in order to avoid contamination by blood plasma proteins. Purity of the isolated fraction was verified by electronic and confocal microscopy, and by flow cytometry.

Results: We hereby show a method to isolate circulating EVs from hypertensive patients with/without albuminuria with high yield and purity. Besides, we provide a reference proteome of the EVs of these patients, composed of 2,463 proteins, and prove that the proteins carried by these vesicles are associated with crucial processes involved in the inherent cardiovascular risk.

Conclusion: The proteome of circulating EVs is an interesting source of indicators in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients with renin-angiotensin system blockage.