Modulation of P-selectin expression on isolated human platelets by an NO donor assessed by a novel ELISA application

Adhesion molecules such as P-selectin are potential markers for evaluating platelet activation and studying the role of cell-cell interactions in numerous biological processes related to hemostasis and inflammation. The expression of P-selectin and related molecules has previously been quantified with different techniques. As an alternative to the most common method, flow cytometry, we have developed a useful ELISA method to simultaneously analyse 96 samples for platelet expression of P-selectin. Samples may be stored for at least 7 days at 4 degrees C prior to analysis. The method is simple, reproducible, flexible and requires only standard equipment. Washed platelets (WP) from healthy male volunteers, at a concentration of 1 x 10(7)/microtiter plate well, were stimulated with various known platelet activators and fixed with 0.1% formaldehyde for 10 min. The fixed WP were centrifuged to form a confluent layer in the wells and then incubated with optimal dilutions of primary antibodies (1/2000) directed against P-selectin, CD41, CD9 and secondary antibodies conjugated with alkaline phosphatase. Our results show that P-selectin expression on WP increases significantly upon stimulation with thrombin (0.1-1.0 U/ml), ADP (10 mu M) and epinephrine (100 mu M). The induction of P-selectin expression by thrombin is fast and has different kinetics depending on the concentration of the agonist. Prior incubation with the nitric oxide donor SNAP (10 mu M) inhibits the up-regulation of P-selectin induced by sub-maximal concentrations of thrombin (p < 0.05). This ELISA is suitable for studying the expression and regulation of P-selectin and other surface molecules on human platelets in various pathological states.