Background:Prior studies evaluating whether platelet collagen receptors affect risk of myocardial infarction (MI) have used common polymorphisms thought to affect receptor density, and have yielded conflicting results. Our objective in the current pilot study was to obtain preliminary information on the relationship between platelet collagen receptor density and prior MI.Material/Methods:We measured glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and integrin α2β1 density by flow cytometry using FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies in consecutive subjects from an outpatient cardiology practice. We used a case-control design to match 77 patients with prior MI to 77 control patients. Matching was performed on the basis of traditional risk factors for MI.Results:The mean GPVI density was 14% higher in those with prior MI (P=0.098), and the α2β1 density was 6% higher in those with prior MI (P=0.49). A GPVI or α2β1 density within the lowest decile was associated with a lower MI prevalence (OR=6.3, 95% CI: 1.3-29.2 P=0.009).Conclusions:Our preliminary data suggests that platelet collagen receptor density, when measured directly, may be related to prior myocardial infarction. An appropriately sized clinical study using this methodology is warranted to further investigate whether collagen receptor density serves as a novel risk factor for myocardial infarction.

Keywords: Integrin alpha2beta1 - blood, Myocardial Infarction - blood, Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics, Receptors, Collagen - blood, Receptors, Collagen - genetics, Blood Platelets - metabolism, Case-Control Studies, Genotype, Integrin alpha2beta1 - blood, Myocardial Infarction - immunology, Pilot Projects, Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Collagen - genetics