Adhesion of red blood cells to thrombin activated endothelial cells in plasma like suspensions.

Abstract

In the cardiovascular system, adhesive interactions between RBCs and ECs are necessary in processes such as inflammation and hemastasis. However, abnormal RBC-EC interactions also occur, causing tissue damage or death. As such, this project was carried out to determine the effects of plasma proteins on abnormal RBC-EC interaction in blood, under in-vitro conditions. The effect of plasma proteins on thrombin treated RBCs and ECs were studied using a parallel plate flow chamber system. Variables used in determining the effect of thrombin and plasma proteins on RBC-EC adhesion included: Thrombin concentration, shear stress and Dextran molecular weight. Experimental results concluded that thrombin induces RBC-EC adhesion. The effect of increasing thrombin concentration on RBC-EC adhesion followed the trend of a bellshaped curve, which peaks at thrombin concentration of 0.05 U/ml. Upon introducing the influence of dextran to thrombin treated RBCs and ECs, strength of RBC-EC adhesion increases significantly, possibly due to depletion interaction facilitating the adhesion process.