Thrombin-induced interleukin 1beta synthesis in platelet suspensions: impact of contaminating leukocytes

A controversial discussion as to whether human platelets are capable of regulated protein synthesis has been ongoing for over half a century. A previous study has suggested that human platelets synthesize large amounts of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) in response to external cues and in a physiologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Platelets (Edinburgh) 2007-03, Vol.18 (2), p.119-127
Main Authors: Pillitteri, Daniele, Bassus, Steffen, Boller, Klaus, Mahnel, René, Scholz, Thomas, Westrup, Dagmar, Wegert, Wolfgang, Kirchmaier, Carl M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood Platelets - metabolism
Humans
Interleukin-1beta - metabolism
Leukocyte Reduction Procedures
Leukocytes - metabolism
Platelet-Rich Plasma - cytology
Platelet-Rich Plasma - metabolism
Receptor Cross-Talk - immunology
Reproducibility of Results
Thrombin - physiology
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Summary:A controversial discussion as to whether human platelets are capable of regulated protein synthesis has been ongoing for over half a century. A previous study has suggested that human platelets synthesize large amounts of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) in response to external cues and in a physiologically significant manner. However, cytokines such as IL-1beta are generally considered to be products of leukocytes and it could not be completely excluded that contaminating leukocytes may have contributed to the IL-1beta results in platelet preparations. It was therefore our intention to investigate whether residual leukocytes had an impact on thrombin-induced IL-1beta synthesis. Using various methods to reduce the level of contaminating leukocytes, we found that IL-1beta production in platelet-rich suspensions is dependent on the presence of leukocytes, as it was decreased by reducing the number of leukocytes. In addition, we found that thrombin-induced IL-1beta synthesis was completely eliminated in leukocyte-free platelet preparations and could be restored by adding leukocytes. IL-1beta synthesis could be detected in platelet suspensions contaminated with at least 1 leukocyte per 10(5) platelets. This study demonstrated that platelets are incapable of synthesizing detectable amounts of IL-1beta on their own. We suggest that any IL-1beta synthesis detected is a by-product of leukocytes contaminating the platelet preparations. Thus, the hypothesis that platelets producing IL-1beta, provide a new link between thrombosis and inflammation needs to be reconsidered.
ISSN:0953-7104