Superoxide mediates endotoxin-induced platelet-endothelial cell adhesion in intestinal venules

Platelets have been implicated in the pathogenesis of different diseases of the vascular system, including atherosclerosis, sepsis, and ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, relatively little is known about the factors that regulate the interactions between circulating platelets and the vessel wall. The objective of this study was to define the contribution of superoxide to LPS-induced platelet-endothelial cell (P/E) adhesion in murine intestinal venules. The adhesion of rhodamine-6G-labeled murine platelets was monitored by intravital fluorescence microscopy. Four hours after LPS administration in control [wild-type (WT)] mice, an approximately 10-fold increase in P/E adhesion was detected. This response did not result from LPS-induced platelet activation. The LPS-induced P/E adhesion was greatly attenuated in NAD(P)H oxidase-deficient mice and in WT mice rendered neutropenic with anti-neutrophil serum, whereas the response was unchanged in WT mice receiving a CD18 blocking MAb or in CD18-deficient mice. A chimeric form of MnSOD that exhibits the binding properties of extracellular SOD also attenuated the LPS-induced response in WT mice. These findings indicate that neutrophil-derived superoxide plays a major role in the modulation of endotoxin-induced P/E adhesion.