Chitosan enhances platelet adhesion and aggregation

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 302; no. 3; pp. 480 - 483
• Main Authors: Chou, Tz-Chong, Fu, Earl, Wu, Chang-Jer, Yeh, Jeng-Hsien
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 14.03.2003
• Subjects: Aggregation; Animals; Calcium - metabolism; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Chitin - analogs & derivatives; Chitin - metabolism; Chitin - pharmacology; Chitosan; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flow Cytometry; Fluorescent Dyes - pharmacology; Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa; Integrin beta3 - biosynthesis; Intracellular calcium level; Platelet adhesion; Platelet Aggregation - drug effects; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex - metabolism; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb - biosynthesis; Rabbits; Temperature; Time Factors; Aggregation; Platelet adhesion; Chitosan; Intracellular calcium level; Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-291X(03)00173-6

In this study, chitosan (MW=50,000) was tested for its enhancing platelet activity in rabbit platelet suspensions and the possible mechanisms involved were further investigated. Our results showed that after initial (5 min) and long-term (30 min) contact of platelets with chitosan, the platelet adhesion to chitosan-coated microtiter plates was dose-dependently increased compared to that of solvent control. Similarly, chitosan also dose-dependently increased the platelet aggregation and the intracellular free Ca 2+ rise of Fura-2-AM loaded platelets. Additionally, in the presence of FITC-labeled anti-CD41/CD61, chitosan significantly enhanced the expression of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex assayed by a flow cytometer. It is concluded that chitosan is an effective inducer for platelet adhesion and aggregation and the mechanisms of action of chitosan may be associated, at least partly, with the increasing [Ca 2+] i mobilization and enhancing expression of GPIIb/IIIa complex on platelet membrane surfaces.