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Endothelial Microparticles

Meaning

Endothelial Microparticles (EMPs), also known as microvesicles, are small, submicron membrane vesicles shed from the cell surface of activated or apoptotic endothelial cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels. These circulating entities serve as critical, quantifiable biomarkers reflecting the current state of vascular health and endothelial damage or repair within the circulatory system. The concentration and molecular cargo of EMPs provide valuable diagnostic information regarding cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk.