Abstract
Summary and conclusions
Aggregation of human and pig platelets by antigen-antibody complexes is probably induced by release of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) during phagocytosis of the complexes in vitro. The in vitro aggregation is associated with release of histamine, serotonin and ADP. The aggregation can be inhibited by iodoacetate, EDTA, adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine. During anaphylaxis in the rabbit induced by intravascular antigen-antibody interaction and precipitation, aggregated platelets in pulmonary vessels contain phagocytosed antigen-antibody complexes. During aggregation in vitro and in vivo the platelets become degranulated and probably release their lysosomal enzymes. This, together with degranulation of PMN-leukocytes, may be a significant pathogenetic mechanism in anaphylaxis and other hypersensitivity reactions.
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