In-vivo platelet activation correlates with red cell anionic phospholipid exposure in patients with beta-thalassaemia major.
Several clinical and laboratory findings suggest the presence of a chronic hypercoagulable state in patients with beta-thalassaemia major (TM). We have previously shown that isolated TM red blood cells (RBC) strongly enhance prothrombin activation, suggesting an increased membrane exposure of procoagulant phospholipids (i.e. phosphatidylserine). In this study we quantitated the procoagulant activity of RBC in TM and thalassaemia intermedia (TI) patients. We also determined the fraction of activated platelets expressing p-selectin (CD62p) or CD63 in these subjects. Both assays were performed by dual-colour flow cytometry. A significantly (P < 0.01) higher fraction of FITC-annexin V-labelled RBC was found in TM and TI patients, compared to the controls. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found in TM patients between the number of RBC-bound annexin V molecules and the fraction of CD62p (p-selectin) or CD63-positive platelets. This association between annexin V binding to TM RBC and the expression of platelet activation markers was also found in individual TM patients over time. Thus, the procoagulant surface of TM RBC may accelerate thrombin generation in vivo which, in turn, triggers platelet activation.
Ruf
A
A
Institute of Haematology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Pick
M
M
Deutsch
V
V
Patscheke
H
H
Goldfarb
A
A
Rachmilewitz
E A
EA
Guillin
M C
MC
Eldor
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*
D017304:Annexin A5; D015703:Antigens, CD; C554586:CD63 protein, human; D019007:P-Selectin; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D060149:Tetraspanin 30