Measurement of in vivo platelet turnover and organ distribution using 111In-labeled platelets

Microtiter plate immunoassay for the evaluation of platelet adhesion to fibronectin

Investigations of platelet adhesion to adhesive proteins have been pursued to understand the basic mechanisms of hemostasis and thrombosis. Most assays used to determine platelet adhesion under stasis conditions rely on radiolabeled platelets. We describe a new microtiter immunoassay to study platelet adhesion to adhesive proteins under stasis conditions. Direct comparison of platelet adhesion to fibronectin using a standard platelet adhesion assay based on 51Cr-labeled platelets and the new immunoassay showed that the optical density values obtained with the immunoassay are directly proportional to the number of platelets bound. The choice of platelet suspension buffer crucial for the design of such experiments, because the adhesion of resting platelets to fibronectin is increased in response to thrombin stimulation. This increase buffer rather than Tris buffer. Platelet adhesion to fibronectin is increased in response to thrombin stimulation. This increase can be inhibited by synthetic RGD peptides. The thrombin-induced increase of platelet adhesion to fibronectin could be detected with antibodies against actin and glycoprotein IIb-IIIa, but not against the alpha-granule constituent platelet factor 4 (PF4). This assay is very versatile, because it avoids the use of radioactivity, and allows the parallel processing of a large number of samples. In addition, the parallel use of antibodies against different platelet antigens allows the screening for platelet activation events associated with the measured platelet adhesion.

Platelet-leukocyte interaction in adhesion to endothelial cells induced by platelet-activating factor in vitro

1. Platelet-activating factor (PAF, 10 nM) did not induce platelet adhesion to endothelial cells cultured in monolayer but it induced their adhesion to protein-coated plastic. However, PAF induced a marked platelet adhesion to endothelial cells when polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were present. Lyso-PAF had no effect. 2. Phase-contrast microscopic examination showed that single platelets rather than their aggregates adhered to the endothelial cell surface around aggregating and adhering PMNs. 3. Significant platelet adhesion was induced by PAF at concentrations higher that 0.01 nM with the maximal response at 10 nM. Platelet adhesion occurred within minutes after PAF addition, reaching a maximum approximately after 30 min. Platelet adhesion also occurred significantly at a PMN:platelet ratio of 1:800, and linearly up to 1:50. 4. The PAF-induced platelet adhesion was suppressed by three structurally unrelated PAF antagonists, WEB 2086, ONO 6240 and BN 52021, in a concentration-dependent manner. 5. PAF also increased PMN adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers, which was further augmented by the presence of platelets. 6. The present study demonstrates that PAF induces platelet adhesion to endothelial cells in vitro when PMNs are present and that there is a close interaction between platelets and PMNs in their adhesion to endothelial cells. The present study further suggests that PMNs could play a central role in platelet adhesion to vascular endothlium in certain pathological conditions.