title: An ultrastructural analysis of platelets, erythrocytes, white blood cells, and fibrin network in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The study suggests that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) present with distinct inflammatory ultrastructural changes such as platelets blebbing, generation of platelet-derived microparticles, spontaneous formation of massive fibrin network and fusion of the erythrocytes membranes. Lupoid platelets actively interact with other inflammatory cells, particularly with white blood cells (WBCs), and the massive fibrin network facilitates such an interaction. It is possible that the concerted actions of platelets, erythrocytes and WBC, caught in the inflammatory fibrin network, predispose to pro-thrombotic states in patients with SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Arcadia, 0007, South Africa, resia.pretorius@up.ac.za.
authors.forename: Etheresia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: du Plooy
authors.forename: Prashilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soma
authors.forename: Armen Yuri
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Gasparyan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058621:Blood Buffy Coat / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D005337:Fibrin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015539:Platelet Activation; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin