Del-etion of microvesicles from the circulation.

Microvesicles (also called microparticles) have become a hot topic recently and transport proteins, mRNA, and microRNA.1–3 They have been proposed to play roles in numerous processes, including coagulation, inflammation, immune response, cell activation, and cancer.1–3 Microvesicles are small (0.1–1 m) membrane vesicles that are released from activated and apoptotic cells. They contain proteins from their parental cell and are characterized by surface exposure of negatively charged phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine. Platelets are the primary source of microvesicles in the circulation of healthy individuals, although other cells also release microvesicles. Increased levels of microvesicles are observed in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including unstable angina, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory vascular diseases. Some microvesicle populations are considered as surrogate biomarkers of vascular disorders and of thrombotic risk.2,3