Ultrastructural changes of platelets and fibrin networks in human asthma: a qualitative case study

Platelets and fibrin networks play an important role in asthma and the BALB/c asthmatic mouse model has previously been successfully used to study platelet ultrastructure. In control BALB/c mice, major, thick fibers and minor thin fibers and tight, platelet aggregates with typical pseudopodia formation, are present. Minor fibers of asthmatic mice have a netlike appearance covering the major fibers, whereas the platelets seem to form loosely connected, granular aggregates. The question that now arises is whether platelets and fibrin networks of humans with asthma will have the same ultrastructure as seen in the BALB/c asthmatic model. In order to answer this question, ultrastructure of platelets and fibrin networks from two participants (controlled asthma and uncontrolled, chronic asthma) were studied and compared with that of human controls and BALB/c asthmatic mice. Peak flow measurements of the controls and patients were also assessed. Results showed that similar platelet and fibrin network ultrastructure is found in uncontrolled, human participants and BALB/c asthmatic animals. The challenge when using animal models is always whether the model adequately mimics the human disease; the current research, therefore, shows morphological support for the use of this model in the study of asthma. These morphological results may also provide additional information to plan treatment regimes for sufferers of this very debilitating disease.