Role of platelets in tissue factor expression by monocytes in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects. In vitro effect of cerivastatin

Thrombosis is a complication of atherosclerosis and monocytes play a determinant role either in the progression of atherosclerotic plaque or in blood coagulation by way of tissue factor expression. Platelets play a direct role in thrombosis and a hyperfunctional state has been described in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Moreover, platelets seem to be able to enhance monocyte activity. Cholesterol-lowering molecules (statins) are reported to reduce cardiovascular risk, either by decreasing the circulating level of cholesterol or by non-lipidic actions such as the reduction of monocyte and platelet activity. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of platelets on the expression of tissue factor by monocytes and the effect induced by cerivastatin. We measured tissue factor levels by ELISA and the procoagulant activity of stimulated monocytes by a clotting assay on cellular preparations and whole blood in 40 hypercholesterolemic subjects (22 male, 18 female, mean age 52.7+/-12 years, total cholesterol 251.6+/-19.9 mg/dl) before and after cerivastatin addition. Tissue factor expression was enhanced in hypercholesterolemic subjects compared with normal subjects (31.6+/-7.6 vs. 23+/-5.8 pg/cells, P<0.01). The presence of platelets increased the amount of tissue factor (55.3+/-7.3 pg/cells, P<0.001) and cerivastatin reduced the expression of tissue factor in isolated monocytes, in the mixed cellular system, and in whole blood (19.6+/-4.1 pg/cells, P<0.001). In conclusion, tissue factor expression by monocytes is enhanced in hypercholesterolemic subjects compared with normal controls. Platelets enhance monocyte production of tissue factor, and cerivastatin is able to counteract this prothrombotic mechanism.