The influence of chronic stress on platelet activation marker‘s expression in groups of younger and middle-aged males

The Influence of Chronic Stress on Platelet Activation Marker‘s Expression in Groups of Younger and Middle-aged Males Stress is an inevitable part of everyday life. This state of body and mind can be divided into two kinds – the acute and chronic stress. The latter one is especially harmful since the stress response is always activated and therefore affecting many parts of human body. Stress is associated with cardiovascular diseases; different stressors can affect neuroendocrine, immune, central nervous systems. Moreover, stress has the impact on hemostasis and the process of thrombosis. Although it has long been known that stress alters with cardiovascular system, there are very few researches on how stress influences platelets. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of chronic stress on platelet activation marker’s expression in groups of young (25 – 39 years old) and middle-aged (40 – 55 years old) males. Patients and Methods: Participants were 138 healthy males aged 25 – 55 years. They were divided into young and middle-aged groups. Venous blood was drawn without putting participants into stressful environment. Afterwards, platelet activation markers and platelet-leukocyte aggregates were analyzed using flow cytometry. Blood parameters and platelet counts were measured using automated hematology analyzer. The statistical analysis was performed using R program and GraphPad Prism 6. Results and Conclusions: No significant influence of age on platelet activation markers CD63, CD107a, PAC-1 and platelet-leukocyte aggregates was found. Increased platelet activation markers CD107a and PAC-1 in response to platelet agonists have been found among young males. There was no significant impact of chronic stress on the increase of aggregation or secretion of platelet activation markers in both age groups. Significantly increased platelet activation marker CD63 in response to platelet agonist thrombin receptor-activating peptide has been found in smoking males and males working nightshifts. No correlation between CD63, CD107a, PAC-1 platelet markers and anthropometric data, biochemical and inflammatory mediators has been found. Correlational analysis showed a positive relationship between platelet count and platelet-leukocyte aggregates. Positive relationship was determined between mean platelet volume and secretion of platelet activation markers but MPV negatively correlated with aggregates. Correlation between aggregates and biochemical risk factors of atherosclerosis was determined