Platelet-Leukocyte Cross Talk in Whole Blood

Abstract

Abstract —Thrombosis and inflammation involve complex platelet-leukocyte interaction, the details of which are not fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated cross talk between platelets and leukocytes in whole blood, under the following physiological conditions: at 37°C, with normal calcium concentrations, and with shear force. Platelet P-selectin and leukocyte CD11b expression were used to monitor platelet and leukocyte activation, respectively, and platelet-leukocyte aggregation (PLA) was analyzed. The leukocyte-specific agonist N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (10 −6 mol/L) increased P-selectin–positive platelets from 2.5±0.1% to 5.1±0.6% ( P <0.05). The increase was inhibited by either the platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist SR27417, the superoxide anion scavenger superoxide dismutase, the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor Zileuton, or the 5-lipoxygenase–activating protein inhibitor MK-886, suggesting the involvement of PAF, superoxide anion, and 5-lipoxygenase products in leukocyte-induced platelet activation. The platelet-specific agonist collagen (1 μg/mL) increased leukocyte CD11b expression from 2.94±0.52 to 3.81±0.58 ( P <0.05); this was not inhibited by the thromboxane A 2 receptor antagonist ICI 192.605 or the PAF antagonist SR27417. Platelet P-selectin expression induced by N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and leukocyte CD11b expression induced by collagen could be suppressed by glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockade or P-selectin blockade. This study documents platelet-leukocyte cross talk under conditions that mimic a physiological state and suggests that this involves multiple mediators and mechanisms. Furthermore, new evidence of integrin and selectin involvement in intracellular and intercellular signaling during platelet-leukocyte cross talk is provided.