visualizing-leukocyte-rolling-adhesion-angiotensin-ii-infused-mice

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls

Epifluorescence intravital video microscopy (IVM) of blood vessels is an established method to evaluate the activation of immune cells and their ability ...

visualization-neutrophil-extracellular-traps-mesenteric-venules-after

Visualization of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Mesenteric Venules After Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Intravital Microscopy

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is an acute condition characterized by tissue damage resulting from restricted blood flow to the mesenteric ...

University Medical Center Mainz

University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhine-Main

Under ischemic conditions, tissues are exposed to hypoxia. Although human physiology, to a certain extent, can adapt to hypoxic conditions, the impact of low oxygen levels on platelet function is unresolved. Therefore, we explored how reduction of atmospheric oxygen levels to 1% might affect agonist-induced aggregation and static adhesion of isolated human platelets. We uncovered that isolated, washed human platelets exposed to hypoxic conditions show reduced thrombin receptor-activating peptide-6 (TRAP-6) and convulxin-induced aggregation. Of note, this hypoxia-triggered effect was not observed in platelet-rich plasma. Independent of the agonist used (TRAP-6, ADP), activation of the platelet fibrinogen receptor integrin αIIbβ3 (GPIIbIIIa, CD41/CD61) was strongly reduced at 1% and 8% oxygen. The difference in agonist-induced integrin αIIbβ3 activation was apparent within 5 minutes of stimulation. Following hypoxia, re-oxygenation resulted in the recovery of integrin αIIbβ3 activation. Importantly, platelet secretion was not impaired by hypoxia. Static adhesion experiments revealed decreased platelet deposition to fibrinogen coatings, but not to collagen or vitronectin coatings, indicating that specifically the function of the integrin subunit αIIb is impaired by exposure of platelets to reduced oxygen levels. Our results reveal an unexpected effect of oxygen deprivation on platelet aggregation mediated by the fibrinogen receptor integrin αIIbβ3.

Hypoxia impairs agonist-induced integrin αIIbβ3 activation and platelet aggregation.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is the carrier protein of the anti-haemophilic Factor VIII (FVIII) in plasma. It has been reported that the infusion of FVIII concentrate in haemophilia A patients results in lowered VWF plasma levels. However, the impact of F8-deficiency on VWF plasma levels in F8-/y mice is unresolved. In order to avoid confounding variables, we back-crossed F8-deficient mice onto a pure C57BL/6J background and analysed VWF plasma concentrations relative to C57BL/6J WT (F8+/y) littermate controls. F8-/y mice showed strongly elevated VWF plasma concentrations and signs of hepatic inflammation, as indicated by increased TNF-α, CD45, and TLR4 transcripts and by elevated macrophage counts in the liver. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed that expression of VWF antigen was significantly enhanced in the hepatic endothelium of F8-/y mice, most likely resulting from increased macrophage recruitment. There were no signs of liver damage, as judged by glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase (GPT) and glutamate-oxalacetate-transaminase (GOT) in the plasma and no signs of systemic inflammation, as white blood cell subsets were unchanged. As expected, impaired haemostasis was reflected by joint bleeding, prolonged in vitro clotting time and decreased platelet-dependent thrombin generation. Our results point towards a novel role of FVIII, synthesized by the liver endothelium, in the control of hepatic low-grade inflammation and VWF plasma levels.

Klytaimnistra Kiouptsi

Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Mainz

University Medical Center Mainz

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls

Visualization of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Mesenteric Venules After Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Intravital Microscopy

Klytaimnistra Kiouptsi

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University Medical Center Mainz

Visualizing Leukocyte Rolling and Adhesion in Angiotensin II-Infused Mice: Techniques and Pitfalls

Visualization of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Mesenteric Venules After Mesenteric Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via Intravital Microscopy

Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Mainz