Possible Role of Fibrinogen in the Aggregation of White Blood Cells

Summary

In order to verify whether leukocyte aggregation correlated with aggregation of other cellular elements during inflammation, we examined the state of leukocyte adhesiveness/aggregation (LAA) in the peripheral blood and red cell aggregation. Correlation was found to be significant as was the correlation between LA A and fibrinogen, and with the fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products concentration during various inflammatory states. In vitro leukocyte aggregation was decreased when the cells were suspended in autologous heat defibrinogenated plasma as compared to cells suspended in autologous native plasma. Heat aggregated fibrinogen but not native fibrinogen caused leukocyte aggregation in vitro. Finally, Arvin defibrinogenation in rabbits reduced the state of LAA in endotoxinemic rabbits. Integrating all this information, we assume that fibrinogen participates not only in the aggregation phenomena of red cells and platelets, but also in those of leukocytes.

Keywords

Fibrinogen - Leukocyte aggregation

• References

• 1 Lentnek AL, Schreiber AD, MacGregor RR. The induction of augmented granulocyte adherence bv inflammation. J Clin Invest 1976; 57: 1098-1103
• 2 Harlan JM. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions. Blood 1985; 65: 513-525
• 3 Bedell SE, Bush BT. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. From folklore to facts. Am J Med 1985; 78: 1001-1009
• 4 Carrell NA, Fitzgerald LA, Steiner B, Erickson HP, Phillips DR. Structure of human platelet membrane glycoproteins IIB and Ilia as determined by electron microscopy. J Biol Chem 1985; 260: 1743-1749
• 5 Berliner S, Fishelson Z, Bruhis S, Kaufman K, Pinkhas J, Aronson M. The phenomenon of leukergy; induction and detection of leukocyte aggregation in whole human blood. J Lab Clin Med.. Accepted for publication
• 6 Fleck L, Murczynska Z. The phenomenon of leukergy. Arch Pathol 1947; 47: 261-272
• 7 Kariv N, Medalia O, Aronson M. Leukocyte agglomeration test to reveal bacterial infections in mice. Lab Animal Sci 1983; 33: 361-363
• 8 Berliner S, Abramovitz M, Kariv N, Weinberger A, Yaron M, Lavie G, Pinkhas J, Aronson M. The leukergy test in rheumatic diseases. New implications for an old test. Arth Rheum 1985; 28: 899-903
• 9 Berliner S, Sclarovsky S, Lavie G, Pinkhas L, Aronson M, Agmon J. The leukergy test in patients with ischemic heart disease. Am Heart J 1986; 111: 19-22
• 10 Berliner S, Caspi D, Neuman Y, Ostfeld I, Hod M, Yaron M, Pinkhas J, Aronson M. Aggregation of white cells and C-reactive protein. A study on the relation between these two indices of the acute phase reaction. J Clin Pathol 1987; 40: 103-106
• 11 Dintenfass L. Blood microrheology; viscosity factors in blood flow, ischemia and thrombosis. Buttersouths; London: 1971
• 12 Dintenfass L. Erythrocyte sedimentation rates; a tentative correlation for haematocrit. Rheol Acta 1974; 13: 936-947
• 13 Ratnoff OD, Menzie C. A new method for the determination of fibrinogen in small samples of plasma. J Lab Clin Med 1951; 37: 316-320
• 14 Jacob HS, Craddock PR, Hammerschmidt DG, Moldow CF. Complement-induced granulocyte aggregation An unsuspected mechanism of disease. N Eng J Med 1980; 302: 789-794
• 15 Craddock PR, Fehr J, Brigham KL, Kroneiiberg RS, Jacob HS. Complement and leukocyte-mediated pulmonary dysfunction in hemodialysis. N Eng J Med 1977; 296: 769-774
• 16 Chenoweth DE, Cooper SW, Hugh TE, Stewart RW, Blackstone EH, Kirkin JW. Complement activation during cardiopulmonary bypass. Evidence for generation of C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins. N Eng J Med 1981; 304: 497-503
• 17 Jacob HS. Role of complement and granulocytes in septic shock. Acta chir Scan 1980; suppl 499: 97-106
• 18 Jacob HS. The role of activated complement and granulocytes in shock states and myocardial infarction. J Lab Clin Med 1981; 98: 645-653
• 19 Campana D, Camussi G, Bergui L, Vallauri P, Tesio L, Tetta C, Caligaris-Cappio F. A possible pathogenetic role of cationic proteins (CP) released by stored granulocytes in the development of pulmonary infiltrates after granulocyte transfusion. Scand J Haematol 1985; 34: 29-34
• 20 Rinaldo JE, Rogers RM. Adult respiratory distress syndrome. Changing concepts of lung injury and repair. N Eng J Med 1982; 306: 900-909
• 21 Elliott CG, Zimmerman GA, Orme JF, Morris AH, Mortensen JD. Case report; granulocyte aggregation in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): Serial histologic and physiologic observations. Am J Med Sci 1985; 289: 70-74
• 22 Reed WP, Chick TW, Jutila K, Butler C, Goldblum S. Pulmonary leukostasis in fatal human pneumococcal bacteria without pneumonia. Am Rev Resp Dis 1984; 130: 1184-1187
• 23 Phair JP, Bassaris HP, Morlock BA. Fibrinogen enhances complement-mediated augmentation of retention of polymorphonuclear leukocytes by Nylon columns. Infec Immun 1981; 33: 503-506
• 24 Altieri DC, Manucci PM, Capitanis AM. Binding of fibrinogen to human monocytes. J Clin Invest 1986; 78: 968-976
• 25 Charo IF, Fitzgerald LA, Steiner B, Rail SC, Bekeart LS, Phillips DR. Platelet glycoproteins lib and Ilia: Evidence for a family of immunologically and structurally related glycoproteins in mammalian cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1986; 83: 8351-8355