This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 23/9/1697    most recent 01.ATV.0000087035.46547.89v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Steiner, S. Articles by Kopp, C. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Steiner, S. Articles by Kopp, C. W. Related Collections Thrombin Platelets

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:1697.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Thrombosis

Effect of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Antagonist Abciximab on Monocyte-Platelet Aggregates and Tissue Factor Expression

Sabine Steiner; Daniela Seidinger; Kurt Huber; Christoph Kaun; Erich Minar; Christoph W. Kopp

From the Divisions of Angiology (S.S., D.S., E.M., C.W.K.) and Cardiology (K.H., C.K.), 2nd Department of Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria.

Correspondence to Christoph W. Kopp, MD, 2nd Department of Medicine, Division of Angiology, University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. E-mail christoph.kopp{at}univie.ac.at

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Objective— Activated platelets rapidly adhere to monocytes and upregulate the expression of tissue factor (TF), the major trigger of the coagulation cascade. In this study, we examined the effect of abciximab, a nonselective glycoprotein IIb/IIIa-receptor antagonist, on monocyte TF expression in thrombin receptor activator–stimulated whole blood in vitro.

Methods and Results— Abciximab (50 µg/mL) reduced the mass of platelets attached to monocytes, measured by the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD42b on CD14⁺ cells, 1 (CD42b, 471±197 versus 1073±217 MFI, mean±SD, P<0.05), 5, and 10 minutes after thrombin receptor activator stimulation of whole blood to the same extent as anti–P-selectin (50 µg/mL; 288±177 MFI, P<0.05) when determined by flow cytometry. In parallel, the expression of the platelet activation marker P-selectin colocalized with CD14⁺ monocytes was reduced up to 25% by abciximab at the same time points. Expression of monocyte TF antigen (CD14⁺/TF⁺, 39.9±8.7% versus 66.3±19.9%, P<0.05), chromogenic TF-activity (TF, 8.4±1.9 versus 13.2±2.8 U, arbitrary units, P<0.05), and TF mRNA was suppressed in the presence of abciximab as a consequence of reduced platelet mass attached to monocytes.

Conclusions— Our data suggest that heterotypic monocyte-platelet aggregates are a target for abciximab, which suppresses monocyte TF because of a reduction of monocyte-platelet cross talk.

Key Words: tissue factor • glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition • abciximab • monocyte-platelet aggregates • flow cytometry

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Activated platelets expressing P-selectin (CD62P) rapidly adhere to human blood leukocytes by interacting with leukocyte P-selectin glycoprotein (GP) ligand-1 (PSGL-1).¹ As a consequence of platelet-leukocyte cross talk, tissue factor (TF), the major initiator of blood coagulation,² was reported to be induced.^3,4 In thrombin receptor activator (TRA)-stimulated whole blood, induction of monocyte TF was shown to depend predominantly on P-selectin/PSGL-1 counterligation and to a minor degree on the interaction of leukocyte CD40 with the platelet activation marker CD40 ligand (CD40L).⁵

Abciximab, a nonselective GP IIb/IIIa-receptor antagonist, inhibits platelet aggregation⁶ and reduces ischemic complications after percutaneous coronary interventions.^7–10 In addition, abciximab was shown to suppress leukocyte Mac-1 expression in patients with acute myocardial infarction by reducing the amount of platelets attached to leukocytes.¹¹ These data suggest that GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors may regulate adhesive processes of leukocytes in acute coronary syndromes by targeting monocyte-platelet aggregate (MPA) formation.

In this study, we show that abciximab suppresses monocyte TF in TRA-stimulated whole blood by reducing the mass of platelets attached to monocytes. We used whole blood flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, chromogenic activity assay, and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to demonstrate this effect of the GP IIb/IIIa-antagonist abciximab on TRA-dependent TF induction and compared it to the extent of monocyte TF suppression achieved by P-selectin. Because TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI) regulates TF activity,¹² we additionally studied monocyte TFPI expression in response to TRA-induced monocyte-platelet cross talk.

	Methods

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Blood Collection and Cell Preparation
Blood was drawn from the antecubital vein with loosened tourniquet to minimize platelet activation from healthy volunteers who had not taken aspirin or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs within the past 14 days. After discarding the first 2 mL, blood was collected into syringes prefilled with recombinant desulphatohirudin (Refludan, Hoechst Marion Russel; final concentration, 900 anti-IIa U/mL) for flow cytometry. For isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and platelets, citrate (Vacutainer tubes containing 1/10th volume of 3.8% trisodium citrate; Becton Dickinson) was used as anticoagulant. PBMCs for coculture experiments were isolated by density gradient centrifugation on Ficoll (Pharmacia Biotech) and resuspended in RPMI 1640 (Gibco) after 3 washes. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was prepared by centrifugation at 200g for 10 minutes at 4°C, and platelet count was adjusted to 2x10⁵/µL with autologous platelet poor plasma (PPP; centrifugation at 2000g for 10 minutes at 4°C). All samples were processed immediately.

Flow Cytometry
For whole blood flow cytometry, aliquots of hirudin anticoagulated blood (0.5 mL) were placed into sterile polystyrene tubes (Becton Dickinson) and preincubated for 10 minutes with either c7E3 Fab (0 to 50 µg/mL; abciximab, Centocor) or anti-CD62P (0 to 50 µg/mL; Instrumentation Laboratories) or anti-CD11b (50 µg/mL; Calbiochem) or control antibody (mouse IgG1, 50 µg/mL; clone, 2T8–2F5; Instrumentation Laboratories). After addition of TRA (final concentration, 12.5 µmol/L; Calbiochem) for platelet activation, whole blood was additionally incubated for up to 1 hour at 37°C in 5% CO₂ in air.

One hundred microliters of whole blood was stained with saturating concentrations of the following fluorochrome-conjugated monoclonal antibodies (mAb): FITC-labeled mAb for TF (American Diagnostica), PE-Cy5–labeled mAb for monocyte CD14 (endotoxin receptor), PE-labeled mAb for the platelet activation marker CD62P (P-selectin), PE-labeled mAb for CD40L (CD40 ligand; all Ab from Instrumentation Laboratories), APC-labeled mAb for the constitutive platelet marker CD42b (GP Ib of von Willebrand factor receptor complex; Becton Dickinson) and corresponding isotype controls. After 10 minutes of preincubation with antibodies in the dark at room temperature, the samples were fixed and erythrolysed with Optilyse B (Instrumentation Laboratories). For analysis of TFPI, cells were incubated with biotinylated (BiotinTag micro Biotinylation Kit (Sigma), anti-TFPI mAb (American Diagnostica), and PE-conjugated streptavidin (Instrumentation Laboratories), both for an additional 15 minutes. Flow cytometry was performed on a FACS-Calibur (Becton Dickinson). A minimum of 5000 CD14⁺ events was acquired. Although pilot studies showed no significant inhibition of MPA formation by labeled anti–P-selectin mAb and anti-CD40L mAb, only double staining (anti-CD14 and anti-CD62P mAb) was performed to measure P-selectin expression on monocytes. Inhibition of P-selectin expression by anti-P-selectin preincubation was not evaluated because of binding-site interference of the inhibitory and detecting antibody.

TFPI expression was additionally studied in PBMC platelet coculture (cell ratio, 1:20) stimulated with TRA (12.5 µmol/L) or LPS (100 ng/mL) as a control for 24 hours at 37°C in 5% CO₂ in air. Before coculture, platelet suspension was preincubated with abciximab (50 µg/mL), anti-CD62P (50 µg/mL), or control antibody (mouse IgG1; 50 µg/mL). Before and after staining with biotinylated anti-TFPI and anti-CD14-PE-Cy5, cells were washed with PBS-BSA-NaN₃/10% AB serum and then incubated with PE-conjugated streptavidin for an additional 15 minutes at room temperature.

Characterization of Monocyte-Platelet Interactions by Flow Cytometry
Monocytes were identified by gating CD14⁺ events, and all additional analyses were performed on this population. The negative and positive delineator was determined by gating 2% background staining on the isotype control fluorescence. Monocyte-platelet interactions were analyzed in 2 ways (Table 1). First, the percentage of MPAs characterized by the relative number of monocytes coexpressing the constitutive platelet marker CD42b (CD14⁺/CD42b⁺%) or either one of the platelet activation markers CD62P (CD14⁺/CD62P⁺%) or CD40L (CD14⁺/CD40L⁺%) was measured. Second, the mean channel fluorescence intensity (MFI) of constitutive and platelet activation markers was determined, gating on CD14⁺ events. Whereas CD42b MFI characterizes the mass of platelets attached to monocytes, CD62P MFI is a measure of the mean epitope density of P-selectin molecules on the platelet surface, which provides a parameter of platelet activation within the MPA.¹³

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 1. Characterization of Monocyte-Platelet Interactions by Flow Cytometry

TF Activity in PBMC Platelet Coculture
TF activity of PBMC platelet coculture was measured by a chromogenic assay. Platelet suspension was preincubated with either control antibody (50 µg/mL), abciximab (50 µg/mL), or anti-CD62P (50 µg/mL) before activation by TRA (12.5 µmol/L) and coculture with 1x10⁶ PBMCs at a ratio of 1:20 for 5 minutes. PPP served as a control for PRP. After centrifugation at 200g for 10 minutes at 4°C, samples were resuspended in assay buffer (pH 7.4; 10 mmol/L) containing HEPES, 137 mmol/L NaCl, 5 mmol/L KCl, 0.75 mmol/L Na₂HPO₄, 11 mmol/L glucose, 2.5 mmol/L CaCl₂, and 0.5% fatty acid–free BSA. Assay buffer was supplemented with hirudin (900 anti-IIa U/mL) to inhibit factor X cleavage and platelet activation by thrombin. After 30 minutes, incubation of the samples with purified coagulation factor VIIa (7 nmol/L; Calbiochem) and factor X (300 nmol/L; Calbiochem) at 37°C, amidolytic activity of generated factor Xa on Spectrozyme-Xa (125 µmol/L) was recorded using a kinetic plate reader (DIAS, Dynatech). Factor Xa activity was compared with a standard curve generated with relipidated TF/VIIa complex and factor X and was converted to arbitrary units of TF activity. TF-dependent Xa generation was shown by omitting factor VIIa in these incubations.

Immunocytochemistry and Confocal Laser Microscopy
PBMC and platelet isolation was performed as described above. PRP (2x10⁵/µL) was preincubated with abciximab (50 µg/mL) or control antibody (mouse IgG1, 50 µg/mL; clone, 2T8–2F5; Instrumentation Laboratories) for 10 minutes at room temperature before coculture of platelets (2x10⁶) with PBMCs (1x10⁵) at a ratio of 1:20. PPP served as control for PRP. Cocultures were stimulated with TRA (12.5 µmol/L) for 5 minutes at 37°C in 5% CO₂ in air and were seeded on adhesion slides (Bio-Rad) and fixed with cold acetone for 10 minutes at 4°C. Unspecific binding was blocked with PBS-BSA-NaN₃/10% AB serum for 15 minutes at room temperature. For detection by confocal laser microscopy (Zeiss, Axiovert), samples were incubated with anti-TF polyclonal Ab (rabbit anti-human IgG, American Diagnostica) or control antibody (IgG; Sigma) overnight at 4°C. TRITC-labeled, goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody (Sigma) incubated for 45 minutes at room temperature served as secondary antibody.

Monocyte TF mRNA
Hirudin anticoagulated whole blood was stimulated with TRA (12.5 µmol/L) for 45 minutes with or without abciximab preincubation at 37°C and 5% CO₂ in air. LPS stimulation (100 ng/mL) served as positive control. Monocyte isolation from 100 µL whole blood was performed by immunomagnetic separation followed by mRNA extraction (Monocyte mRNA Isolation Kit; Dynal).

TF mRNA expression was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR, amplifying a 282-bp fragment specific for human TF using 5'-CTA CTG TTT CAG TGT TCA AGC AGT GA-3' as forward and 5'-CAG TGC AAT ATA GCA TTT GCA GTA GC-3' as reverse primer in 30 cycles at 55°C annealing and 72°C extension temperature. Amplification of cloned TF cDNA served as positive control. A 266-bp fragment specific for the housekeeping gene GAPDH was amplified using the same cycle conditions with 5'-ACA GTC CAT GCC ATC ACT GCC-3' as forward primer and 5'-GCCTGC TTC ACC ACC TTC TTG-3' as reverse primer. The intensity of electrophoresed TF PCR bands corrected for GAPDH was compared using NIH image. Gene Amp PCR System 2400 (Perkin Elmer Applied Biosystems) was used as a cycler.

TFPI mRNA Expression in PBMC-Platelet Coculture
Induction of TFPI mRNA was detected in PBMC-platelet coculture (cell ratio, 1:20) after 24 hours of TRA stimulation. RNA prepared from LPS (100 ng/mL) stimulated PBMCs or from HUVECs served as positive control. Real-time PCR was performed using LightCycler-RNA Master SYBR Green I (Roche) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. TFPI forward primer (5'-ACA AGA GAT AAT GCA AAC AGG-3'), TFPI reverse primer (5'-GGC ATC CAC CAT ACT TGA A-3'), GAPDH forward primer (5'-ACA GTC CAT GCC ATC ACT GCC-3'), and GAPDH reverse primer (5'-GCC TGC TTC ACC ACC TTC TTG-3') were designed using the LightCycler Probe Design Software Version 1.0 and the Primer3 Software (http://www.genome.wi.mit.edu). The amplification conditions consisted of an initial incubation at 61°C for 20 minutes, followed by incubation at 95°C for 30 seconds, 50 cycles of 95°C for 1 second, the respective annealing temperature for 10 seconds and 72°C for 10 seconds, a melting step from 45°C to 95°C increasing 0.1°C per second, and a final cooling to 40°C. Data were analyzed using LightCycler Software Version 3.5 (Roche).

Endotoxin Contamination
No endotoxin contamination of cell suspensions and buffers was detected. (E-toxate, Sigma).

Statistical Analysis
Values are given as mean±SD. Data were analyzed by Student’s t test or ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Correlation was calculated according to Pearson to assess correlations between TF expression and MPA. Significance was defined as P<0.05. All analyses were made with a SPSS software package 9.0 for Windows.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Abciximab Reduces Platelet Mass and Tissue Factor of MPAs
Monocyte TF expression correlated with the percentage of MPA formation (CD14⁺/CD42b⁺%; r=0.96; P<0.05) and with the mass of platelets attached to monocytes as measured by the MFI of the constitutive platelet marker CD42b (r=0.97, P<0.05) and a platelet activation marker CD62P (r=0.98, P<0.05) 1 minute after TRA stimulation.

In dose-response studies, a significant inhibition of monocyte TF expression as well as monocyte platelet load measured by CD42b MFI and CD62P MFI was observed at abciximab concentrations of 10 to 50 µg/mL (Figure I; see the online data supplement available at http://atvb.ahajournals. org). Because 50 µg/mL abciximab resulted in optimal inhibition of monocyte TF expression, this concentration was used in all additional experiments (Figure 1). Preincubation of whole blood with abciximab or anti–P-selectin suppressed TRA-induced TF expression to a similar extent (Figure 1C) 1, 5, and 10 minutes after stimulation and was paralleled by a significant reduction of monocyte platelet load (CD42b MFI; Figure 1B). No change in MPA formation and TF expression was observed in the presence of a control antibody. Anti–P-selectin blocked MPA formation (CD14⁺/CD42b⁺%) in time course up to 64% immediately after TRA stimulation (Figure 1A). In contrast, abciximab increased MPA formation (CD14⁺/CD42b⁺%) 1 minute after TRA stimulation compared with control antibody (Figure 1A) at low CD42b MFI (Figure 1B), indicating dispersed single platelets attached to CD14⁺ cells. TRA stimulation of whole blood induced activated MPA formation (CD14⁺/CD62P⁺%) to nearly 100% in the presence of both control antibody and abciximab (data not shown). In contrast, activated monocyte platelet load (CD62P MFI on CD14⁺cells) was reduced by up to 25% in the presence of abciximab during the same time course of TRA stimulation, although this was not statistically significant because of high standard deviations (P=0.1; Figure 1D).

View larger version (20K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. MPA formation (CD14+/CD42b+%; A), the constitutive platelet load (CD42b MFI; B), and the activated platelet load (CD62P MFI; D) on monocytes as well as the percentage of TF+ monocytes (CD14+/TF+%; C) were determined in the presence of abciximab (dotted line), anti-P-selectin (broken line), or control antibody (solid line) using whole blood flow cytometry in time course. Data are given as mean±SD. *P<0.05.

Activated MPA formation characterized by the percentage of (CD14⁺/CD40L⁺) double-positive events was induced significantly faster in TRA-stimulated samples in the presence of abciximab compared with control antibody (Table 2). TRA-induced platelet activation in whole blood as measured by CD40L immunofluorescence intensity (CD40L MFI) on CD14⁺ cells resulted in a modest 2.1-fold increase, which was not inhibited by abciximab preincubation (Table 2). In contrast, blocking anti–P-selectin antibody significantly suppressed both the percentage (CD14⁺/CD40L⁺%) and immunofluorescence intensity (CD40L MFI) of CD40L on monocytes immediately after TRA stimulation and in time course (Table 2). Inhibition of Mac-1 by anti-CD11b antibody had no influence on MPA formation or TF expression compared with TRA stimulation only (data not shown).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 2. Monocyte CD40L Expression After TRA Stimulation in Whole Blood

Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Expression in MPAs
Monocyte TFPI expression of unstimulated (CD14⁺/TFPI⁺, 2±0.2%) or TRA-stimulated (CD14⁺/TFPI⁺, 1.9±0.2%) whole blood was hardly above background, and no change was observed in the presence of abciximab or anti–P-selectin in time course up to 1 hour. Twenty-four-hour coculture of PBMC and TRA-stimulated platelet-rich plasma did not increase TFPI surface expression compared with unstimulated samples (Table 3) and was not affected by preincubation with abciximab or anti–P-selectin. LPS stimulation for 24 hours resulted in an approximately 1.8-fold increase of TFPI surface expression (P=0.07).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   TABLE 3. TFPI Expression of PBMC-Platelet Coculture After TRA Stimulation

Abciximab Blocks TF Activity
After showing that abciximab suppressed TF antigen expression in TRA-stimulated whole blood, we next examined the effect of abciximab on TF activity in PBMC-platelet coculture by chromogenic assay. TF-dependent Xa generation did not differ between isolated PBMCs and PBMCs in coculture with unstimulated platelets (arbitrary units [U], 4.8±1.6 versus 5.8±0.8 U, P=0.33; Figure 2). TRA stimulation of platelets for 5 minutes significantly increased Xa generation of PBMC-platelet coculture (13±2.8 U, P<0.001) and was dependent on TF because no chromogenic activity was detected in the absence of coagulation factor VIIa. Preincubation of platelets with anti–P-selectin or abciximab significantly blocked TF activity of stimulated PBMC-platelet coculture (anti–P-selectin, 9.0±1.4 U, P<0.05; abciximab, 8.4±1.9 U, P<0.05; Figure 2)

View larger version (47K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. TF activity of PBMC cocultured with PPP, PRP, and TRA-stimulated PRP for 15 minutes at 37°C was determined by chromogenic assay in the presence of factors VIIa and X. TRA-stimulated samples were preincubated with control antibody (IgG1), abciximab, or anti–P-selectin for 10 minutes at room temperature to test inhibition of TF activity. In selected experiments, factor VIIa was omitted (-VIIa) to confirm TF-dependent activity. Data are given as mean±SD. *P<0.05; **P<0.01.

TF Immunocytochemistry
In unstimulated PBMC-platelet coculture, no heterotypic aggregate formation was observed with little monocyte TF expression (Figure 3A). TRA stimulation triggered MPA formation and induced TF expression (Figures 3B and 3D), which was clearly suppressed in the presence of abciximab (Figure 3C).

View larger version (43K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Expression of TF in untreated (A), TRA-stimulated (B and D), and abciximab-blocked, TRA-stimulated PBMC-platelet coculture (C) was assessed by immunocytochemistry and visualized by confocal laser fluorescence microscopy. Scale bar indicates distance at x800 (12.5 µm) and x1800 (25 µm) magnification.

TF mRNA Expression in TRA-Stimulated Whole Blood
Induction of monocyte TF mRNA in TRA-stimulated whole blood was observed after 45 minutes and was suppressed by approximately 80% in the presence of abciximab in 2 independent experiments (Figure IIA; see the online data supplement available at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). LPS stimulation of whole blood and TF cDNA served as positive control. No TF mRNA was detected in monocytes isolated from unstimulated whole blood of healthy volunteers, confirming the lack of monocyte activation by the isolation procedure or the incubation period.

TFPI mRNA Expression in PBMC-Platelet Coculture After TRA Stimulation
The level of TFPI mRNA expression in 24-hour PBMC-platelet coculture was unaffected by stimulation with TRA and the presence of blocking antibodies against GP IIb/IIIa-receptor or P-selectin (Figure IIB; see the online data supplement available at http://atvb.ahajournals.org). LPS stimulation of PBMC-platelet coculture resulted in a significant, approximately 5-fold increase in TFPI mRNA expression (P<0.05). For comparison, the level of TFPI mRNA in cultured HUVECs used as positive control was 190-fold higher than in PBMC-platelet coculture (data not shown).

	Discussion

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
MPA formation was recognized as an early marker of acute coronary syndrome¹⁴ and as a more sensitive parameter for platelet activation than platelet surface P-selectin expression.¹⁵ Rapid induction of monocyte TF mediated by platelet-monocyte cross talk triggered the development of a procoagulant state as a consequence of heterotypic aggregate formation in vitro.⁵ Modulation of platelet-leukocyte interactions by GP IIb/IIIa inhibition was previously shown to regulate leukocyte-adhesive properties by decreasing the expression of monocyte Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) primarily because of a reduction of the platelet mass attached to monocytes.¹¹

In this study, we demonstrated suppression of monocyte TF expression by abciximab in TRA-activated whole blood at early time points. This was attributable to a significant decrease in platelet mass attached to monocytes (56%, Figure 1B) and reduced activation (25%, Figure 1D) of platelets incorporated into these heterotypic aggregates as measured by the expression of P-selectin. These data suggest reduced platelet-monocyte interaction via P-selectin/PSGL-1 in the presence of abciximab.

Rapid induction of monocyte TF expression in TRA-stimulated whole blood was shown to depend largely on P-selectin/PSGL-1 interaction and to a minor extent on CD40L/CD40 cross talk.⁵ Therefore, we compared the effect of abciximab to the effect of blocking anti–P-selectin antibody on MPA formation and TF expression. Although abciximab reduced the mass of platelets attached to monocytes, the percentage of MPA was not diminished. In contrast, anti–P-selectin suppressed both the percentage of MPA formed and the platelet mass attached to monocytes. Despite this different effect on MPA formation, the extent of monocyte TF suppression by abciximab and anti–P-selectin at early time points was comparable, supporting platelet mass as the critical determinant of monocyte TF induction.

In contrast to the platelet activation marker P-selectin, only a minor increase of CD40 ligand expression was observed on MPA after TRA stimulation of whole blood, which did not change significantly with abciximab preincubation (Table 2). This is in line with recent data showing stabilization of CD40L on heterotypic aggregates by abciximab.¹⁶ Furthermore, abciximab was shown to interfere with firm adhesion of platelets to monocytes because of its cross reactivity with Mac-1.¹⁷ However, this interaction does not seem to be crucial for platelet-mediated monocyte TF induction, because we did not find inhibition of TF expression in TRA-stimulated whole blood in the presence of anti-CD11b (anti-Mac-1).

Immunocytochemistry confirmed our observation obtained by flow cytometry showing a decrease of monocyte-platelet coaggregation and TF expression by preincubation of PBMC-platelet coculture with abciximab. In accordance with a previous report, monocytes of unstimulated coculture showed faint TF staining by confocal fluorescence microscopy.¹⁸ TRA stimulation of PBMC-platelet coculture triggered the formation of large MPAs with intense TF expression on both cell types, which was suppressed by abciximab.

In parallel to TF antigen, TF activity was significantly reduced in TRA-stimulated PBMC-platelet coculture by preincubation with abciximab, indicating regulation of TF-dependent procoagulant activity by GP IIb/IIIa inhibition. In addition to early expression of surface TF in MPA, TRA-dependent induction of monocyte TF mRNA in whole blood was reduced in the presence of abciximab, suggesting decreased TF synthesis by GP IIb/IIIa blockade.

No relevant expression of TFPI was detected on MPA in TRA-stimulated whole blood by flow cytometry, although a previous report showed release of TFPI from platelets on thrombin activation.¹⁹ We additionally studied TFPI expression in 24-hour PBMC-platelet coculture by flow cytometry and RT-PCR, because monocyte TF-induction was shown to be antagonized by delayed induction (24 to 48 hours) of monocyte TFPI.¹² In contrast to LPS, TRA-stimulated monocyte-platelet cross talk did not increase monocyte TFPI mRNA after 24 hours, and preincubation with abciximab or anti–P-selectin did not change TFPI mRNA expression significantly.

In conclusion, our data provide in vitro evidence for a potential regulation of monocyte TF by abciximab interfering with monocyte-platelet cross talk. Abciximab administered as adjunct antithrombotic therapy in percutaneous coronary intervention improved clinical outcome,^7–10 in particular in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Because MPA formation is an early marker of ACS¹⁴ and TF-dependent procoagulant activity was found induced 48 hours after percutaneous revascularization in patients with acute myocardial infarction,²⁰ it is of interest to what extent adjunct antiplatelet therapy with GP IIb/IIIa antagonists may affect platelet-induced monocyte TF expression in vivo. The clinical relevance of the high abciximab concentration used in this in vitro study was supported by a recent clinical trial showing 50% reduction of major adverse cardiac events in patients with ACS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention by intracoronary application of abciximab compared with intravenous application.²¹ In emergency angioplasty, high local doses of abciximab may facilitate the dissolution of thrombi at the culprit lesion and suppress monocyte-platelet cross talk with reduced TF activity.

	Acknowledgments

 
This study was supported by a grant from the "Buergermeisterfonds der Stadt Wien" (No.1958). The authors are indebted to Drs Tamara Kopp and Christine Bangert for expert assistance in immunocytochemistry and confocal laser microscopy.

Received April 10, 2003; accepted June 10, 2003.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
1. Yang J, Furie BC, Furie B. The biology of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1: its role as a selectin counterreceptor in leukocyte-endothelial and leukocyte-platelet interaction. Thromb Haemost. 1999; 81: 1–7.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

2. Rapaport SI, Rao LV. The tissue factor pathway: how it has become a "prima ballerina." Thromb Haemost. 1995; 74: 7–17.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

3. Celi A, Pellegrini G, Lorenzet R, De Blasi A, Ready N, Furie BC, Furie B. P-selectin induces the expression of tissue factor on monocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994; 91: 8767–8771.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

4. Amirkhosravi A, Alexander M, May K, Francis DA, Warnes G, Biggerstaff J, Francis JL. The importance of platelets in the expression of monocyte tissue factor antigen measured by a new whole blood flow cytometric assay. Thromb Haemost. 1996; 75: 87–95.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

5. Lindmark E, Tenno T, Siegbahn A. Role of platelet P-selectin and CD40 ligand in the induction of monocytic tissue factor expression. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2000; 20: 2322–2328.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

6. Coller BS. Platelet GPIIb/IIIa antagonists: the first anti-integrin receptor therapeutics. J Clin Invest. 1997; 99: 1467–1471.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

7. Lincoff AM, Califf RM, Anderson KM, Weisman HF, Aguirre FV, Kleiman NS, Harrington RA, Topol EJ. Evidence for prevention of death and myocardial infarction with platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade by abciximab (c7E3 Fab) among patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization: EPIC Investigators. Evaluation of 7E3 in Preventing Ischemic Complications. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997; 30: 149–156.[Abstract]

8. Randomised placebo-controlled trial of abciximab before and during coronary intervention in refractory unstable angina: the CAPTURE Study. Lancet. 1997; 349: 1429–1435.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

9. Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade and low-dose heparin during percutaneous coronary revascularization: the EPILOG Investigators. N Engl J Med. 1997; 336: 1689–1696.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

10. Randomised placebo-controlled and balloon-angioplasty-controlled trial to assess safety of coronary stenting with use of platelet glycoprotein-IIb/IIIa blockade. The EPISTENT Investigators: Evaluation of Platelet IIb/IIIa Inhibitor for Stenting. Lancet. 1998; 352: 87–92.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

11. Neumann FJ, Zohlnhofer D, Fakhoury L, Ott I, Gawaz M, Schomig A. Effect of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade on platelet-leukocyte interaction and surface expression of the leukocyte integrin Mac-1 in acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1999; 34: 1420–1426.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. McGee MP, Foster S, Wang X. Simultaneous expression of tissue factor and tissue factor pathway inhibitor by human monocytes: a potential mechanism for localized control of blood coagulation. J Exp Med. 1994; 179: 1847–1854.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Leytin V, Mody M, Semple JW, Garvey B, Freedman J. Flow cytometric parameters for characterizing platelet activation by measuring P-selectin (CD62) expression: theoretical consideration and evaluation in thrombin-treated platelet populations. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2000; 269: 85–90.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

14. Furman MI, Barnard MR, Krueger LA, Fox ML, Shilale EA, Lessard DM, Marchese P, Frelinger AL 3rd, Goldberg RJ, Michelson AD. Circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates are an early marker of acute myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2001; 38: 1002–1006.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

15. Michelson AD, Barnard MR, Krueger LA, Valeri CR, Furman MI. Circulating monocyte-platelet aggregates are a more sensitive marker of in vivo platelet activation than platelet surface p-selectin: studies in baboons, human coronary intervention, and human acute myocardial infarction. Circulation. 2001; 104: 1533–1537.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

16. Nannizzi-Alaimo L, Alves VL, Phillips DR. Inhibitory effects of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists and aspirin on the release of soluble CD40 ligand during platelet stimulation. Circulation. 2003; 107: 1123–1128.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

17. Altieri DC, Edgington TS. A monoclonal antibody reacting with distinct adhesion molecules defines a transition in the functional state of the receptor CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1). J Immunol. 1988; 141: 2656–2660.[Abstract]

18. Giesen PLA, Rauch U, Bohrmann B, Kling D, Roque M, Fallon JT, Badimon JJ, Himber J, Riederer MA, Nemerson Y. Blood-borne tissue factor: another view of thrombosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999; 96: 2311–2315.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

19. Novotny WF, Girard TJ, Miletich JP, Broze GJ Jr. Platelets secrete a coagulation inhibitor functionally and antigenically similar to the lipoprotein associated coagulation inhibitor. Blood. 1988; 72: 2020–2025.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

20. Ott I, Neumann FJ, Kenngott S, Gawaz M, Schomig A. Procoagulant inflammatory responses of monocytes after direct balloon angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1998; 82: 938–942.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

21. Wöhrle J, Grebe OC, Nusser T, Al-Khayer E, Schaible S, Kochs M, Hombach V, Höher M. Reduction of Major adverse cardiac events with intracoronary compared with intravenous bolus application of abciximab in patients with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina undergoing coronary angioplasty. Circulation. 2003; 107: 1840–1843.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. van Gils, J. J. Zwaginga, and P. L. Hordijk Molecular and functional interactions among monocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells and their relevance for cardiovascular diseases J. Leukoc. Biol., February 1, 2009; 85(2): 195 - 204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. A. Bozza, A. M. Shah, A. S. Weyrich, and G. A. Zimmerman Amicus or Adversary: Platelets in Lung Biology, Acute Injury, and Inflammation Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., February 1, 2009; 40(2): 123 - 134. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Maroney, S. L. Haberichter, P. Friese, M. L. Collins, J. P. Ferrel, G. L. Dale, and A. E. Mast Active tissue factor pathway inhibitor is expressed on the surface of coated platelets Blood, March 1, 2007; 109(5): 1931 - 1937. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Huczek, J. Kochman, K. J. Filipiak, G. J. Horszczaruk, M. Grabowski, R. Piatkowski, J. Wilczynska, A. Zielinski, B. Meier, and G. Opolski Mean Platelet Volume on Admission Predicts Impaired Reperfusion and Long-Term Mortality in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated With Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 19, 2005; 46(2): 284 - 290. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Steiner, W. S. Speidl, J. Pleiner, D. Seidinger, G. Zorn, C. Kaun, J. Wojta, K. Huber, E. Minar, M. Wolzt, et al. Simvastatin Blunts Endotoxin-Induced Tissue Factor In Vivo Circulation, April 12, 2005; 111(14): 1841 - 1846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Straub, H. P. Wendel, R. Azevedo, and G. Ziemer The GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor abciximab (ReoPro(R)) decreases activation and interaction of platelets and leukocytes during in vitro cardiopulmonary bypass simulation Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 2005; 27(4): 617 - 621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. R. Moreno and V. Fuster The year in atherothrombosis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., December 7, 2004; 44(11): 2099 - 2110. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Palmerini, B. S. Coller, V. Cervi, L. Tomasi, A. Marzocchi, C. Marrozzini, O. Leone, M. Piccioli, and A. Branzi Monocyte-derived tissue factor contributes to stent thrombosis in an in vitro system J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 19, 2004; 44(8): 1570 - 1577. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Steiner-Boker, M. Cejna, C. Nasel, E. Minar, and C. W. Kopp Successful Revascularization of Acute Carotid Stent Thrombosis by Facilitated Thrombolysis AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., September 1, 2004; 25(8): 1411 - 1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement All Versions of this Article: 23/9/1697    most recent 01.ATV.0000087035.46547.89v1 Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Steiner, S. Articles by Kopp, C. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Steiner, S. Articles by Kopp, C. W. Related Collections Thrombin Platelets