Circulating microparticles and micro RNAs as players in atherosclerosis

Microparticles(MPs) are extracellular membrane vesicles released from normal, apoptotic and pathological cells following a process of detachment from cells of origin. MPs are typically defined by their size, exposure of phosphatidylserine, the expression of surface antigens, proteins and genetic material, originating from their donor cells, and as important vehicles of intercellular communication across numerous biological processes. MPs contain the major source of systemic RNA including micro RNA(mi RNA) of which aberrant expression appears to be associated with stage and progression of atherosclerosis. The involvement and influence of mi RNA during the onset and progression of atherosclerotic disease have generated a lot of inter-est in assessing the feasibility of therapeutic regulation of mi RNAs to manipulate them with a special focus on cardiovascular disease. We speculate on the future de velopments of MPs which contain mi RNA as new thera peutic targets for proliferative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.