Alteration in Plasma Proteins and Platelet Functions with Aging and Cigarette Smoking in Healthy Men

Abstract

SummaryBlood samples were obtained on four different occasions from 18 cigarette smoking and 34 non-smoking healthy men (age 4Hl9) and analped to assess age- and smoking-associated changes in plasma proteins, btood coagulation and platelet functions. C-ollagen-induced platele t aggregation was signifi cantly inclreased with agng in non-smokers. Significant gfuanges in chronic smokers were increases in platelet count and fibrinogen in plasma; elevation of platelet factor-3 (PF-3) activity in plateletpoor plasma (PPP); increase in serum levels of a1-antitr,?sin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin and properdin factor B; and sfoeftsning of the lag period of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Filtration of PPP through Mllipore fiIters removed PF-3 membranes. The differen@s in PF-3 activities in fiItered plasma were no longer significant between smokers and non-smokers. Results suggest that chronic smokers have higher levels of acute phase proteins reflecting underlyrng inflammatory processes, and higher levels of PF-3 activity in plasma due to liberation of PF-3 membranes from platelets.