Effect of fibrinogen fragments D and E on the adhesive properties of human granulocytes to venous endothelial cells.

In hyperfibrinolytic conditions, e.g. in disseminated intravascular coagulation or the adult respiratory distress syndrome, high levels of fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) D and E are found in human plasma. This study investigates the influence of these fragments on cell attachment of human granulocytes in vitro. While leaving unaffected the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on gelatine-coated glass, both FDP fragments at 50 micrograms/ml inhibited granulocyte attachment to glass as well as to HUVEC monolayers. At the same concentration, the fragments diminished the superoxide release of stimulated granulocytes. These results suggest a modulatory role of pathologically elevated FDPs on the granulocyte function cascade.