Name: live-cell imaging of platelet degranulation and secretion under flow
Uploaded: 2017-07-10T10:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow at JoVE.com

CM acknowledges financial support from the International Patient Organization for C1-Inhibitor Deficiencies (HAEi), Stichting Vrienden van Het UMC Utrecht, and the Landsteiner Foundation for Blood Transfusion Research (LSBR).

The local Medical Ethical Committee of the University Medical Center Utrecht approved the drawing of blood for ex vivo research purposes, including those of this study.
1. Solution Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) Tyrode&#39;s buffer by dissolving 10 mM HEPES, 0.5 mM Na2HPO4, 145 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 1 mM MgSO4, and 5.55 mM D-glucose in distilled water.
	<ol>
		<li>Make two vari...

<ol>
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L., Flaumenhaft, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Platelet+granule+exocytosis:+a+comparison+with+chromaffin+cells.">Platelet granule exocytosis: a comparison with chromaffin cells.</a> Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 4, 11 (2013).</li><li>May, B., Menkens, I., Westermann, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differential+release+of+serotonin+and+histamine+from+blood+platelets+of+the+rabbit+by+aliphatic+and+aromatic+amines.">Differential release of serotonin and histamine from blood platelets of the rabbit by aliphatic and aromatic amines.</a> Life Sci. 6 (19), 2079-2085 (1967).</li><li>Schmaier, A. H., Smith, P. M., Colman, R. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Platelet+C1-+inhibitor.+A+secreted+alpha-granule+protein.">Platelet C1- inhibitor. A secreted alpha-granule protein.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 75 (1), 242-250 (1985).</li><li>Battinelli, E. M., Markens, B. A., Italiano, J. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Release+of+angiogenesis+regulatory+proteins+from+platelet+alpha+granules:+modulation+of+physiologic+and+pathologic+angiogenesis.">Release of angiogenesis regulatory proteins from platelet alpha granules: modulation of physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis.</a> Blood. 118 (5), 1359-1369 (2011).</li><li>Kamykowski, J., Carlton, P., Sehgal, S., Storrie, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantitative+immunofluorescence+mapping+reveals+little+functional+coclustering+of+proteins+within+platelet+&#945;-granules.">Quantitative immunofluorescence mapping reveals little functional coclustering of proteins within platelet &#945;-granules.</a> Blood. 118 (5), 1370-1373 (2011).</li><li>Sakariassen, K. S., Aarts, P. A., de Groot, P. G., Houdijk, W. P., Sixma, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+perfusion+chamber+developed+to+investigate+platelet+interaction+in+flowing+blood+with+human+vessel+wall+cells,+their+extracellular+matrix,+and+purified+components.">A perfusion chamber developed to investigate platelet interaction in flowing blood with human vessel wall cells, their extracellular matrix, and purified components.</a> J Lab Clin Med. 102 (4), 522-535 (1983).</li><li>Van Aelst, B., Feys, H. B., Devloo, R., Vandekerckhove, P., Compernolle, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microfluidic+Flow+Chambers+Using+Reconstituted+Blood+to+Model+Hemostasis+and+Platelet+Transfusion+In+Vitro.">Microfluidic Flow Chambers Using Reconstituted Blood to Model Hemostasis and Platelet Transfusion In Vitro.</a> J Vis Exp. (109), (2016).</li><li>Nesbitt, W. S., Westein, E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+shear+gradient-dependent+platelet+aggregation+mechanism+drives+thrombus+formation.">A shear gradient-dependent platelet aggregation mechanism drives thrombus formation.</a> Nat Med. 15 (6), 665-673 (2009).</li><li>Mitchell, J. L., Lionikiene, A. S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Polyphosphate+colocalizes+with+factor+XII+on+platelet-bound+fibrin+and+augments+its+plasminogen+activator+activity.">Polyphosphate colocalizes with factor XII on platelet-bound fibrin and augments its plasminogen activator activity.</a> Blood. 128 (24), 2834-2845 (2016).</li><li>Park, Y., Schoene, N., Harris, W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Mean+platelet+volume+as+an+indicator+of+platelet+activation:+methodological+issues.">Mean platelet volume as an indicator of platelet activation: methodological issues.</a> Platelets. 13 (5-6), 301-306 (2002).</li><li>Sixma, J. J., de Groot, P. G., van Zanten, H., IJsseldijk, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+new+perfusion+chamber+to+detect+platelet+adhesion+using+a+small+volume+of+blood.">A new perfusion chamber to detect platelet adhesion using a small volume of blood.</a> Thromb Res. 92, S43-S46 (1998).</li><li>Slack, S. M., Turitto, V. T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Flow+chambers+and+their+standardization+for+use+in+studies+of+thrombosis.+On+behalf+of+the+Subcommittee+on+Rheology+of+the+Scientific+and+Standardization+Committee+of+the+ISTH.">Flow chambers and their standardization for use in studies of thrombosis. On behalf of the Subcommittee on Rheology of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the ISTH.</a> Thromb Haemost. 72 (5), 777-781 (1994).</li><li>Oreopoulos, J., Berman, R., Browne, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spinning-disk+confocal+microscopy:+present+technology+and+future+trends.">Spinning-disk confocal microscopy: present technology and future trends.</a> Methods Cell Biol. 123, 153-175 (2014).</li><li>Nishibori, M., Cham, B., McNicol, A., Shalev, A., Jain, N., Gerrard, J. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+protein+CD63+is+in+platelet+dense+granules,+is+deficient+in+a+patient+with+Hermansky-Pudlak+syndrome,+and+appears+identical+to+granulophysin.">The protein CD63 is in platelet dense granules, is deficient in a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, and appears identical to granulophysin.</a> J. Clin. Invest. 91 (4), 1775-1782 (1993).</li><li>Ruiz, F. A., Lea, C. R., Oldfield, E., Docampo, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Human+platelet+dense+granules+contain+polyphosphate+and+are+similar+to+acidocalcisomes+of+bacteria+and+unicellular+eukaryotes.">Human platelet dense granules contain polyphosphate and are similar to acidocalcisomes of bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 279 (43), 44250-44257 (2004).</li><li>Tersteeg, C., Fijnheer, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Keeping+von+Willebrand+Factor+under+Control:+Alternatives+for+ADAMTS13.">Keeping von Willebrand Factor under Control: Alternatives for ADAMTS13.</a> Semin Thromb Hemost. 42 (1), 9-17 (2016).</li><li>Tersteeg, C., de Maat, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Plasmin+cleavage+of+von+Willebrand+factor+as+an+emergency+bypass+for+ADAMTS13+deficiency+in+thrombotic+microangiopathy.">Plasmin cleavage of von Willebrand factor as an emergency bypass for ADAMTS13 deficiency in thrombotic microangiopathy.</a> Circulation. 129 (12), 1320-1331 (2014).</li><li>Basir, A., de Groot, P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+Vitro+Hemocompatibility+Testing+of+Dyneema+Purity+Fibers+in+Blood+Contact.">In Vitro Hemocompatibility Testing of Dyneema Purity Fibers in Blood Contact.</a> Innovations (Phila). 10 (3), 195-201 (2015).</li></ol>

Worldwide, thrombosis is a leading cause of death and morbidity, and platelets play a central role in its development. This work describes a method for the live-cell imaging of platelet degranulation under flow. It is generally assumed that, when platelets become activated, all granular contents are directly released into solution. The accompanying results suggest that this is not necessarily the case. During adhesion and degranulation, platelets retain a significant amount of polyphosphate (Figure 4). A...

Platelets are anucleate cells that circulate in the blood stream. Their main function is to seal vascular breaches at sites of injury and to prevent blood loss. At these sites of injury, subendothelial collagen fibers become exposed and are subsequently covered by the multimeric protein, von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWF interacts with the platelets in circulation in a mechanism that depends upon the glycoprotein Ib&#945;-IX-V complex on the cell surface1, slowing down the speed of the platelets. This is particularly important at high shear rates. The platelets subsequently undergo morphological changes while receiving activating impulses from collagen. This leads to irreversible spreading and eventually to platelet aggregation. Both processes depend upon the secretion of granule contents to facilitate platelet-platelet crosstalk. Amongst others, platelet &#945;-granules contain fibrinogen and VWF to assist platelet adhesion and to bridge platelets together in an integrin-dependent manner. The platelet-dense granules contain inorganic compounds2, including calcium and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which help to reinforce platelet activation. Furthermore, platelets contain mediators of (allergic) inflammation3, complement-controlling proteins4, and angiogenesis factors5,6, raising the questions of whether and how these contents are differentially released under varying conditions.
Since the 1980s, the study of platelet function in flow models has been valuable to the investigation of thrombotic mechanisms7. Since then, much technical progress has been made, and flow models that include fibrin formation are currently developed to assay the hemostatic potential of therapeutic platelet concentrates ex vivo8 or to investigate the influence of disturbances in shear rates on thrombus morphology9. The differences in the molecular and cell-biological mechanisms that drive stable adhesion and physiological thrombus formation (hemostasis) versus pathological thrombus formation (thrombosis) may be very subtle and motivate the development of flow models that allow for the real-time visualization of these subcellular processes.
An example of a process for which such a setup would be valuable is the (re)distribution of intracellular polyphosphate and the recruitment of clotting factors to uncover the time-dependent impact that this has on fibrin ultrastructure10. Studies are often limited to end-point analyses. The main aim of the described method is to enable the real-time visual investigation of dynamic subcellular processes that take place during platelet activation under flow.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1340">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">441476L</td>
			<td style="width:372px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Na2HPO4</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">S-0876</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">31434</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">KCl</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">31248</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;">MgSO4</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Merck KGaA</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">1.05886</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">D-glucose</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Merck KGaA</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">1.04074</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Prostacyclin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Cayman Chemical</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">18220</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tri-sodium citrate</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Merck KGaA</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">1.06448</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Citric acid&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Merck KGaA</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">1.00244</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cover glasses</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Menzel-Gl&#228;ser</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">BBAD02400500#A</td>
			<td>24x50mm, No. 1 = 0.13-0.16 mm thickness.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:447px;">Chromosulfuric acid (2% CrO3)</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Riedel de Haen</td>
			<td>07404</td>
			<td>CAS [65272-70-0].</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Von Willebrand factor (VWF)</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">in-house purified</td>
			<td style="width:227px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Fibrinogen</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Enzyme Research Laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">FIB3L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4 well dish, non-treated</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">267061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Human Serum Albumin Fraction V</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Haem Technologies Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">823022</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Blood collection tubes, 9 ml, 9NC Coagulation Sodium Citrate 3.2%</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Greiner Bio-One</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">455322</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="20">
			<td height="20" style="height:20px;">Cell analyser&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Abbott Diagnostics</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">CELL-DYN hematology analyzer</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>30525-89-4&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;">Syringe pump</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Harvard Apparatus, Holliston, MA</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">Harvard apparatus 22</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">10 mL syringe with 14.5 mm diameter</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">BD biosciences</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">305959</td>
			<td>Luer-Lok syringe</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Anti-CD63-biotin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Abcam&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">AB134331</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Anti-CD62P-biotin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">Dy137</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4&#8217;,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI)</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Polysciences Inc.&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">9224</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Streptavidin, Alexa Fluor 488 conjugate</td>
			<td>Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td>S11223&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Immersion oil</td>
			<td>Zeiss</td>
			<td>444963-0000-000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Detergent solution</td>
			<td>Unilever, Biotex</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glycine</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>56-40-6&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Polyvinyl alcohol</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>9002-89-5</td>
			<td>Mowiol 40-88.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tris hydrochloride</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>1185-53-1&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO)</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma</td>
			<td>280-57-9</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sheep Anti-hVWF pAb</td>
			<td>Abcam&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">AB9378</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Alexa fluor 488-NHS</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">A20000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Glycerol</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">15523-1L-R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Parafinn film</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Bemis</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">PM-996</td>
			<td>4 in. x 125 ft. Roll.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Silicone sheet non-reinforced</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Nagor</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">NA 500-1</td>
			<td>200mmx150mmx0.125mm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="19">
			<td height="19" style="height:19px;width:447px;">Customized cut silicone sheet with perfusion and vacuum channels</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">in-house made</td>
			<td style="width:227px;"></td>
			<td>Made of Silicone sheet non-reinforced (Nagor, NA 500-1)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">1.5 mL tubes</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Eppendorf AG</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">T9661-1000AE</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Fluorescent microscope</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Zeiss Observer Z1&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:227px;"></td>
			<td>Equiped with LED excitation lights.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Microscope software</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Zeiss ZEN 2</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">blue edition</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">18 G needle (18 G x 1 1/2&#34;)</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">BD biosciences</td>
			<td>305196</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">NaCl</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Riedel de Haen</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">31248375</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Tris</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Roche</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">10708976</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Plastic pasteur pipet</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">612-1681</td>
			<td>&#160;7 ml non sterile, graduated up to 3ml.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Silicone tubing</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">228-0656</td>
			<td>Inner diamete. x Outer diameter x Wall thickness = 1.02 x 2.16 x 0.57 mm.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:447px;">Microscope slides</td>
			<td style="width:295px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:227px;">ABAA000001##12E</td>
			<td>76 x 26 x 1 mm, ground edges 45&#176;, frosted end.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

live-cell imaging of platelet degranulation and secretion under flow

Blood platelets are essential players in hemostasis, the formation of thrombi to seal vascular breaches. They are also involved in thrombosis, the formation of thrombi that occlude the vasculature and injure organs, with life-threatening consequences. This motivates scientific research on platelet function and the development of methods to track cell-biological processes as they occur under flow conditions.
A variety of flow models are available for the study of platelet adhesion and aggregation, two key phenomena in platelet biology. This work describes a method to study real-time platelet degranulation under flow during activation. The method makes use of a flow chamber coupled to a syringe-pump setup that is placed under a wide-field, inverted, LED-based fluorescence microscope. The setup described here allows for the simultaneous excitation of multiple fluorophores that are delivered by fluorescently labeled antibodies or fluorescent dyes. After live-cell imaging experiments, the cover glasses can be further processed and analyzed using static microscopy (i.e., confocal microscopy or scanning electron microscopy).

Figure 1 shows images of the flow chamber and experimental setup; the position and dimensions of the silicon sheet; and tubing connections. Figure 2 provides details on the dimensions of the flow chamber. Figure 3 and Movie 1 show a time-series of images of platelet adhesion and spreading on immobilized VWF. CD63 is a transmembrane protein that is inserted into the membrane of intrac...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow at JoVE.com

Live-cell Imaging of Platelet Degranulation and Secretion Under Flow

This work describes a fluorescence microscopy-based method for the study of platelet adhesion, spreading, and secretion under flow. This versatile platform enables the investigation of platelet function for mechanistic research on thrombosis and hemostasis.

Blood platelets are essential players in hemostasis, the formation of thrombi to seal vascular breaches. They are also involved in thrombosis, the ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells

Platelet aggregation occurs in response to vascular injury where the extracellular matrix below the endothelium has been exposed. The platelet adhesion ...

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There has long been a crucial tradeoff between spatial and temporal resolution in imaging. Imaging beyond the diffraction limit of light has traditionally ...