Neutrophil secretion during blood coagulation: evidence for a prekallikrein independent pathway

In association with blood coagulation, neutrophils undergo a secretory response (Plow, J Clin Invest 69: 564, 1982) and it has been suggested that plasma kallikrein is responsible for inducing this reaction (Wachtfogel et al., J Clin Invest 72: 1672, 1983). To assess the contribution of kallikrein to this response, the capacity of normal and prekallikrein-deficient blood and plasma to support secretion has been compared utilizing elastase as a marker of secretion. Serial dilutions of prekallikrein-deficient plasma were as effective as normal plasma in supporting neutrophil release of elastase. The extent of elastase release in spontaneously clotting normal and prekallikrein-deficient blood was similar. At 37 degrees C in whole blood or at 22 degrees C in plasma, prekallikrein activators had the same effect in neutrophil secretion in normal and prekallikrein-deficient blood and plasma samples. Taken together, these results provide evidence for the existence of a prekallikrein independent pathway that can function as a predominant mechanism for induction of neutrophil secretion during blood coagulation.