Retention in Glass Bead Columns as a Measure of Leucocyte Adhesiveness

Abstract

The influence of platelets and erythrocytes on the retention of leukocytes in glass bead columns was studied. Leukocyte retention increased when platelet retention was stimulated by the presence of erythrocytes. In the presence of only a few erythrocytes, platelet retention was low, and platelets did not influence leukocyte retention. When only a small number of platelets was present, erythrocytes inhibited leukocyte retention. The platelet-dependent leukocyte retention increased as the volume passed through the coluns was increased. The platelet-independent leukocyte retention did not change when the sample size was increased. In blood from patients with thrombocytopenia or defect in platelet function and in normal blood treated with inhibitor of platelet adhesion, neutrophil retention was reduced. Erythrocyte-free leukocyte suspensions from these cases showed normal leukocyte retention. Experiments with whole blood may serve as a model for the study of platelet-leukocyte interaction. For the study of leukocyte adhesiveness per se, isolated leukocytes seem more suitable than whole blood.