Effects of surface-bound and intravenously administered heparin on cell-surface interactions: inflammation and coagulation

• Published in: Perfusion Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 263 - 271
• Main Authors: Johnson, G, Curry, B, Cahalan, L, Prater, R, Biggerstaff, J, Hussain, A, Gartner, M, Cahalan, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.05.2013; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Anticoagulants - pharmacology; Blood Coagulation - drug effects; Blood Platelets - cytology; Blood Platelets - metabolism; Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Extracorporeal Circulation; Heparin - pharmacology; Humans; Inflammation; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Monocytes - cytology; Monocytes - metabolism; Neutrophils - cytology; Neutrophils - metabolism; Platelet Activation - drug effects; Surface Properties; heparin; leukocyte activation; flow cytometry; anti-thrombin; platelet activation
• ISSN: 0267-6591; 1477-111X
• DOI: 10.1177/0267659113475834

Intravenous administration of heparin and heparin-bonded extracorporeal circuits are frequently used to mitigate the deleterious effects of blood contact with synthetic materials. The work described here utilized human blood in a micro-perfusion circuit to experimentally examine the effects of intravenous and surface-bound heparin on cellular activation. Activation markers of coagulation and of the inflammatory response were examined using flow cytometry; specifically, markers of platelet, monocyte, polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN), and lymphocyte activation were quantified. The results indicate that surface-bound heparin reduces the inflammatory response whereas systemically administered heparin does not. This finding has important implications for blood-contacting devices, particularly within the context of recently elucidated connections between inflammation pathways and coagulation disorders. Data presented indicate that surface-bound heparin and intravenously administered heparin play distinct, but vital roles in rendering biomaterial surfaces compatible with blood.