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Updated: Sep 25, 2026

Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Under Flow using Microfluidic Flow Cells
Published on: October 26, 2009
Coimmobilized native macromolecular heparin proteoglycans strongly inhibit platelet-collagen interactions in flowing
P Kauhanen1, P T Kovanen, R Lassila
1Wihuri Research Institute, Helsinki, Finland.
Abstract:
We coimmobilized mast cell-derived heparin proteoglycans (HEP-PGs) of very high molecular weight (750 kDa) or unfractionated heparin (UFH) on coverslips together with collagen without altering the amount of immobilized collagen. Subsequently, platelet-collagen interactions were studied under both flowing and static conditions in D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone-anticoagulated blood and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), respectively. At a high shear rate (1600 1/s), the mean platelet deposition (PD) on collagen monomers was 7.5+/-6.1x10(6)/cm(2) (n=5). When the monomers were coimmobilized with UFH, PD was inhibited by 73% (2.0+/-1.2x10(6)/cm(2)), whereas HEP-PG completely blocked it (0. 42+/-0.38x10(6)/cm(2); P<0.05). Also, when collagen fibrils were used for coating, HEP-PG significantly inhibited PD. At a low shear rate (200 1/s) and under static conditions in PRP, the inhibitory effect of HEP-PG on PD was less marked. Inhibition of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa did not affect PD on coimmobilized HEP-PG in contrast to coimmobilized UFH or collagen alone. As a sign of inactivation, platelets adhering to the HEP-PG surface released considerably less beta-thromboglobulin than did those adhering to pure collagen. In summary, immobilized HEP-PG strongly inhibited PD on collagen by attenuating adhesion-induced platelet activation. The stronger effect on collagen monomers suggests the inhibition of glycoprotein Ia/IIa-mediated activation.
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