Platelets in Early Antibody-Mediated Rejection of Renal Transplants

Antibody-mediated rejection is a major complication in renal transplantation. The pathologic manifestations of acute antibody-mediated rejection that has progressed to functional impairment of a renal transplant have been defined in clinical biopsy specimens. However, the initial stages of the process are difficult to resolve with the unavoidable variables of clinical studies. We devised a model of renal transplantation to elucidate the initial stages of humoral rejection. Kidneys were orthotopically allografted to immunodeficient mice. After perioperative inflammation subsided, donor-specific alloantibodies were passively transferred to the recipient. Within 1 hour after a single transfer of antibodies, C4d was deposited diffusely on capillaries, and von Willebrand factor released from endothelial cells coated intravascular platelet aggregates. Platelet-transported inflammatory mediators platelet factor 4 and serotonin accumulated in the graft at 100- to 1000-fold higher concentrations compared with other platelet-transported chemokines. Activated platelets that expressed P-selectin attached to vascular endothelium and macrophages. These intragraft inflammatory changes were accompanied by evidence of acute endothelial injury. Repeated transfers of alloantibodies over 1 week sustained high levels of platelet factor 4 and serotonin. Platelet depletion decreased platelet mediators and altered the accumulation of macrophages. These data indicate that platelets augment early inflammation in response to donor-specific antibodies and that platelet-derived mediators may be markers of evolving alloantibody responses.     

Physiology of cold-stored platelets

Platelet transfusions are a life-saving medical intervention used for the treatment of thrombocytopenia or hemorrhage. Extensive research has gone into trying to understand how to store platelets prior to the transfusion event. Much has been learned about storage bag materials, synthetic solutions, and how temperature impacts platelet viability and function. While room temperature storage of platelets preserves 24-hour in vivo platelet recovery and survival there is a greater risk for bacterial growth. Therefore, cold storage of platelets has become attractive due to the reduction in potential bacterial proliferation and the maintenance of platelet function beyond 5 days of storage. Cold stored platelets, however, have their own set of challenges. Cold stored platelets become activated through several mechanisms. The morphological and molecular changes that occur due to cold exposure enhance their ability to participate in the hemostatic process at the cost of rapid clearance from circulation. This review focuses on the underlying mechanisms leading to cold platelet activation and the receptor modifications involved in platelet clearance.     

Platelet interactions with viruses and parasites

Abstract

While the interactions between Gram-positive bacteria and platelets have been well characterized, there is a paucity of data on the interaction between other pathogens and platelets. However, thrombocytopenia is a common feature with many infections especially viral hemorrhagic fever. The little available data on these interactions indicate a similarity with bacteria-platelet interactions with receptors such as FcγRIIa and Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) playing key roles with many pathogens. This review summarizes the known interactions between platelets and pathogens such as viruses, fungi and parasites.     

A new aspect of in vitro antimicrobial leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma activity based on flow cytometry assessment

The current literature suggests that the antibacterial effect of leukocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) is directly related to platelet and leukocyte concentrations. The aim of this study was twofold: first, to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of L-PRP against selected bacterial strains in vitro, and second, to correlate this effect with leukocyte and platelet content in the final concentration. Blood was collected from 20 healthy males, and L-PRP, acellular plasma (AP), and autologous thrombin were consecutively prepared. Flow cytometry analysis of the blood, L-PRP, and AP was performed. The L-PRP gel, liquid L-PRP, and thrombin samples were tested in vitro for their antibacterial properties against seven selected bacterial strains using the Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion method. There was notable antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial strains. No statistically significant correlations between antimicrobial activities and the platelet concentration in L-PRP were observed. Statistically significant positive correlations between selected leukocyte subtypes and antimicrobial activity were noted. A negative correlation was found between elevated monocyte count and antimicrobial activity of L-PRP against one bacterial strain studied. L-PRP possesses antimicrobial activity and can be potentially useful in the fight against certain postoperative infections. The bactericidal effect of L-PRP is caused by leukocytes, and there exists a relationship among selected leukocyte subtypes and L-PRP antimicrobial activity.     

Sample size re-estimation for clinical trials with longitudinal negative binomial counts including time trends

In some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, lesion counts obtained from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used as markers of disease progression. This leads to longitudinal, and typically overdispersed, count data outcomes in clinical trials. Models for such data invariably include a number of nuisance parameters, which can be difficult to specify at the planning stage, leading to considerable uncertainty in sample size specification. Consequently, blinded sample size re-estimation procedures are used, allowing for an adjustment of the sample size within an ongoing trial by estimating relevant nuisance parameters at an interim point, without compromising trial integrity. To date, the methods available for re-estimation have required an assumption that the mean count is time-constant within patients. We propose a new modeling approach that maintains the advantages of established procedures but allows for general underlying and treatment-specific time trends in the mean response. A simulation study is conducted to assess the effectiveness of blinded sample size re-estimation methods over fixed designs. Sample sizes attained through blinded sample size re-estimation procedures are shown to maintain the desired study power without inflating the Type I error rate and the procedure is demonstrated on MRI data from a recent study in multiple sclerosis.     

Effect of Shuxinyin (舒心饮) on In-Stent Restenosis after Coronary Artery Stenting

Objective: To evaluate the effect of anti-platelet regimens and it's combination with Shuxinyin (SXY, 舒心饮,) on in-stent restenosis after stent implantation. Methods: Forty-four patients with successful stent implantation in a coronary artery were randomly assigned to the treated group (n=20) and the control group (n=24). The treated group received: SXY and anti-platelet therapy. The control group were treated with anti-platelet regimens only. Platelet activation was assessed before and immediately after the stenting by flow cytometry, the expression of P-selectin (CD62P) and glycoprotein(GP) Ⅱb/Ⅲa receptor. It was reassessed on the 30th day after stenting. Plasma fibrinogen (Fg) and C-reaction protein (CRP) were measured by biuret and laser scattering turbidimetry respectively at the same time. Observation was made on the scoring of the symptoms of Qi deficiency syndrome, Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome and blood stasis syndrome in the two groups. Differences between groups were compared. Results: Compared with the control group, combination with SXY and anti-platelet therapy was remarkable in reducing plasma CRP (P<0.05), and also with the tendency to decrease plasma Fg, GPⅡb/Ⅲa and CD62P. It could also evidently decrease the scoring of Qi-Yin deficiency syndrome, Qi deficiency syndrome and blood stasis syndrome after stenting (P<0.05, 0.01, 0.01) respectively. Follow-up survey found 40% relapse of angina pectoris with 4 cases of in-stent restenosis proved by angiography in the treated group. But the relapse of angina pectoris in the control group was 67% with 2 cases of myocardial infarction (MI), 7 cases of in-stent restenosis proved by angiography and one death. Conclusions: Combination with SXY and anti-platelet regimens can prevent stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis after stent implantation, and it seems superior to anti-platelet therapy only.     

体外循环对TXB2／6—keto—PGF1α的影响

对１３例体外循环病人进行了观察，发现体外循环后ＴＸＢ２／６－ｋｅｔｏ－ＰＧＦ１α显著增高，表明体外循环使血小板受损，而血小板受损是体外循环后失血的主要原因之一。     

大蒜素对脑局灶缺血大鼠血小板活化功能及其结构的影响

目的：观察大蒜素对脑局灶缺血大鼠血小板活化功能或轻药物诱导的血小板活化功能及其结构的影响。方法：（1）将SD大鼠随机分为（空白组、大蒜素大剂量组和小剂量组）3组，于末次给予试药1．5h后颈总动脉插管取血，加入诱导剂二磷酸腺苷（ADP）或胶原，测定血小板最大聚集率；（2）采用化学刺激（FeCl3)诱导血栓闭塞法制备大鼠急性大脑中动脉血栓模型，随机分为（假手术组、模型组、大蒜素大剂量组和小剂量组）4组，给药方法同实验（1），颈总动脉插管取血后分离血浆，测定血浆血栓烷B2（TXB2）、6－酮－前列腺素F1α(6-keto-PGF1α）含量；（3）加入ADP孵育激活性，离心得到血小板沉淀块，透射电镜下观察血小板的超微结构。结果：与空白组或模型组相比，大蒜素大剂量组（10mg/kg)、小剂量组（5mg/kg)均可显著抑制药物诱导的血小板聚集（P＜0．01），且大剂量组显著优于小剂量组（P＜0．05）；均可明显降低模型大鼠血浆TXB2的含量，降低TXB2／6－keto-PGF1α比值，大剂量组还显著升高血浆中6－keto-PGF1α水平（P＜0．05，P＜0．01）；可明显抑制血小板活化过程中超微结构的改变，且有一定的量效关系。结论：大蒜素可能通过抑制血小板聚集，抑制血小板活化时大量释放的活性肽TXA2、促进恢复TXA2／PGI2平衡，抑制血小板激活释放过程中超微结构的改变，从而对脑梗塞起治疗作用。     

Diencephalic catecholamine neurons (A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14) show divergent changes in the aged rat

The effects of aging on diencephalic (A-11, A-12, A-13, A-14) catecholamine neurons in the F344 male rat were examined with Falck-Hill?rp histofluorescence. In contrast to the age-related increase in A-12 perikaryal fluorescence intensity previously reported (Hoffman and Sladek: Neurobiol. Aging 1:27-37, '80), incertohypothalamic perikarya showed decreased (A-13) or unchanged (A-11, A-14) fluorescence intensity with age. Cell counts of fluorescent A-12 perikarya disclosed a 47% increase in the number of fluorescent A-12 neurons in 30-month-old F344 rats relative to the 3-month-old controls; numbers of A-11 and A-13 fluorescent perikarya decreased with age, but the declines were not statistically significant. It is unlikely that the age-related increase in number of fluorescent A-12 perikarya is the result of proliferation of neurons in the aged F344 rat. Rather, the greater number of fluorescent A-12 perikarya in 30-month-old F344 rats indicates that some A-12 neurons in 3-month-old F344 rats contain levels of dopamine that are subthreshold for detection with the Falck-Hill?rp fluorescence technique, whereas virtually all A-12 perikarya in 30-month-old F344 rats contain detectable quantities of dopamine. These findings suggest that diencephalic catecholamine neurons exhibit divergent changes in transmitter content and cell number that may reflect varying degrees of functional integrity during brain aging.     

Inhibition and reversal of platelet-rich arterial thrombus in vivo: direct vs. indirect factor Xa inhibition

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of a direct factor (F)Xa inhibitor, ZK-807834, was compared with indirect inhibition by enoxaparin for inhibition and deaggregation of acute platelet-rich thrombi in a well-characterized porcine carotid injury model. METHODS: A crush injury was performed on a randomly chosen carotid artery and the thrombus allowed to propagate for 30 min. Pigs then received intravenous drug for 35 min: ZK-807834-Dose 1 (40 microg kg(-1) bolus + 1.5 microg kg(-1) min(-1) infusion, n=6); ZK-807834-Dose 2 (20 microg kg(-1) bolus + 0.75 microg kg(-1) min(-1) infusion; n=6); enoxaparin (1 mg kg(-1) bolus; n=6); or saline (n=6). Five minutes after drug initiation, the contralateral artery was injured. Thrombus size was monitored by scintillation detection of autologous 111In-platelets. RESULTS: The prothrombin time ratio was 2.2 +/- 0.1; 1.4 +/- 0.3; 1.2 +/- 0.9 and 1.1 +/- 0.2, respectively. ZK-807834-Dose 1 significantly inhibited carotid platelet deposition (525 +/- 226 x 10(6) cm(-2); P = 0.008), whereas ZK-807834-Dose 2 (2325 +/- 768) and enoxaparin (1236 +/- 383) were not different from saline (2776 +/- 642). Thrombus deaggregation was greatest for animals receiving ZK-807834-Dose 1 (473 +/- 185). Neither ZK-807834-Dose 2 (1588 +/- 480) nor enoxaparin (1618 +/- 686) was different from saline control (2222 +/- 598). CONCLUSIONS: Direct FXa inhibition with ZK-807834, at a prothrombin time ratio of 2.2, effectively inhibits thrombosis and promptly deaggregates thrombi induced by arterial injury. In contrast, indirect FXa inhibition with enoxaparin was ineffective.