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Published online before print April 19, 2007
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From the Departments of Dermatology* and Microbiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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Abstract |
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Chronic allergic dermatitis such as chronic contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by extreme pruritus and chronically relapsing inflammation. Chronic contact dermatitis includes occupational contact dermatitis and housewives’ dermatitis and is characterized by chronic cutaneous inflammation due to repeated contact with allergen; such conditions are examples of recalcitrant skin diseases. Patients with awareness of their sensitivity may manage to avoid further allergen contact, but this is often difficult. AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with high serum IgE levels, positive immediate-type hypersensitivity to environmental allergens, and eosinophilia.9 Th2-dominant immune responses to allergens in the skin based on undefined genetic predispositions are the central feature of AD.10 In these diseases, scratching due to severe itch often results in excoriation and subsequent platelet aggregation at the inflamed lesion. Although platelets have been shown to play a role in cutaneous inflammation through direct activation of local vascular capillary endothelial cells and attraction of effector T cells into the tissue,11-15 the role of platelets in chronic allergic skin inflammation is poorly understood.
Many animal models of chronic allergic dermatitis have been reported, including a mouse model in which a chronic contact hypersensitivity reaction is induced by repeated epicutaneous application of hapten.16 Chronic elicitation leads to a shift in the time course of chronic hypersensitivity responses from a typical delayed-type to an early-type response.16 The development of a chronic phase results in a shift in the local cytokine pattern from a Th1-type to a Th2-type profile,17 and the mouse model of chronic contact hypersensitivity is similar to many events seen in humans with chronic allergic dermatitis.
In the current study, we investigated the effects of platelet depletion and restoration on cutaneous inflammatory reaction and leukocyte recruitment in a mouse model of chronic contact hypersensitivity. We then evaluated the effects of repeated allergen exposure to skin on P-selectin expression on platelets and platelet-leukocyte complexes in the blood and the effects of deleting and blocking platelet P-selectin on leukocyte recruitment into skin. The effects of mediators released from activated platelets on leukocyte recruitment in the skin were also examined in this model. In addition, we examined whether treatment of platelets with antiplatelet compounds suppresses leukocyte recruitment to the skin.
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Materials and Methods |
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Male BALB/c mice were obtained from Shimizu Laboratory Supplies (Kyoto, Japan) and used at the ages of 6 to 8 weeks. Male P-selectin knockout (P-selectin–/–) mice and control wild-type C57/BL6J mice were obtained from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME) and used at the age of 6 to 8 weeks in studies of platelet restoration in platelet-depleted mice. P-selectin–/– mice were generated as described previously18 and backcrossed between 10 and 12 generations onto the C57BL/6J genetic background. All mice were housed in a specific pathogen-free barrier facility and screened regularly for pathogens. This experimental procedure was approved by the Committee for Animal Research, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine.
Contact-Sensitizing Agent
2,4,6-Trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB) was obtained from Tokyo Kasei (Tokyo, Japan). TNCB was dissolved in acetone/olive oil (4:1) as a 1% solution and used for sensitization and elicitation.
Sensitization and Elicitation Procedure
BALB/c mice were sensitized with 20 µl (10 µl on the dorsal side and 10 µl on the ventral side) of 1% TNCB solution applied to the right ear as described previously.16 Starting 7 days after sensitization, 20 µl of 1% TNCB solution was repeatedly applied to the original sensitized right ear at 2-day intervals for 8 weeks until day 56. An identical amount of acetone/olive oil (4:1) was administered to the left ear as the control.
Ear thickness was measured with a dial thickness gauge (Shinwa Rules, Niigata, Japan) under light ether anesthesia every 7 days. The increase in ear thickness was defined as the difference between ear thickness before elicitation on day 0 and that on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56. The ear swelling response was measured before and at 6-hour intervals after elicitation on days 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56 and was defined as the difference in ear thickness before and after elicitation.
Isolation of Murine Platelets
Blood was obtained by cardiac puncture from anesthetized mice, mixed with acid citrate dextrose (Sigma-Aldrich, Poole, UK) at a 9:1 ratio, and then centrifuged at 150 x g for 10 minutes. The platelet-rich plasma obtained was washed using the method of Mustard et al.19 Washed platelets were suspended in minimal essential medium (Gibco, Grand Island, NY) containing 300 ng/ml prostaglandin I2 (Sigma-Aldrich) and 10% fetal calf serum (ICN Biomedicals, Aurora, OH). The cellular content of the suspension was greater than 99% platelets, as demonstrated by flow cytometry light scattering analysis. Contamination with leukocytes and erythrocytes represented less than 1% of the cellular content (data not shown).
Platelet Depletion
Antiplatelet antisera (APAS) were prepared as previously described.20 Washed platelets (3 x 109) were isolated from normal BALB/c mice. Platelets were homogenized in Freund’s complete adjuvant and injected subcutaneously in rabbits. A second immunization was performed 10 days later by intramuscular injection of washed platelets in Freund’s incomplete adjuvant. Thirty days after the second immunization, the rabbits were bled, and antiserum was inactivated at 56°C for 60 minutes and stored at –70°C. Nonimmune serum obtained from nonimmunized rabbits served as control serum (CS). Anesthetized BALB/c mice were injected intramuscularly every 3 days (from 24 hours before the first challenge to 30 minutes before the last challenge) with 0.1 ml of APAS or CS. Alternatively, busulfan (Sigma-Aldrich) was used to deplete platelets, as previously described.21 Anesthetized BALB/c mice received busulfan or vehicle on days –4, –2, 1, and 8, and then every 2 weeks over the chronic challenge period (25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally).
Blood Sampling for Platelet, Leukocyte, and Serum IgE Profiles
Blood (50 µl) was collected from the lateral caudal vein and mixed with acid citrate dextrose at a 9:1 ratio. Platelets were counted using the method of Brecher and Cronkite.22 In brief, blood was diluted 1:20 with 1% ammonium oxalate in saline solution to hemolyze erythrocytes. Platelets were counted under a hemocytometer using a thin coverslip (thickness 1) with a phase microscope, dark contrast, x40 objective after allowing the platelets to settle for 20 minutes. For total leukocyte counts, blood was mixed with hemolysis solution at a 9:1 ratio. The number of platelets and leukocytes was counted before and every 5 days after the first intraperitoneal injection in busulfan-treated mice or 24, 48, and 72 hours and every 5 days after the first intramuscular injection in APAS-treated mice. For measurement of serum total IgE, blood (0.5 ml) was taken from mice by cardiac puncture 6 hours after challenge on day 56. Levels of serum total IgE were analyzed using an IgE detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (BD PharMingen, San Diego, CA).
Histological Examination
The ears were excised 6 hours after challenge on day 56, fixed with 10% formalin, and embedded in paraffin. Sections (5 µm) were cut using a microtome and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for general histological evaluation, toluidine blue for mast cell staining, and Luna solution for eosinophil staining. For immunohistochemistry, deparaffinized sections were autoclaved in citric buffer and incubated in phosphate-buffered saline (Sigma-Aldrich) containing 5% normal rabbit serum (10 minutes, 37°C) to block nonspecific staining. They were then incubated with rat anti-CD4 (clone GK1.5, 10 µg/ml; eBioscience, San Diego, CA) or rat anti-CD8 antibody (clone 53-6.7, 10 µg/ml; eBioscience) overnight at 4°C. Rat IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, West Grove, PA) was used as a control for nonspecific staining. Sections were then incubated sequentially (20 minutes, 37°C) with biotinylated rabbit anti-rat IgG (Vectastain ABC kit; Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA) and then horseradish peroxidase-conjugated avidin-biotin (Vectastain ABC kit; Vector Laboratories). Sections were developed with 3.3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and hydrogen peroxide and then counterstained with hematoxylin. Dermal infiltration of total leukocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells was evaluated by averaging the number of leukocytes present in 10 high-power fields (0.07 mm2).
cDNA Microarray Analysis
The ears were removed 6 hours after challenge on day 56 and immediately homogenized. Total RNA was extracted with TRI Reagent (Sigma-Aldrich). Poly(A) messenger RNA (mRNA) was purified using oligo(dT) attached to magnetic beads and hybridized with a GEArray S Series Mouse Autoimmune and Inflammatory Response Gene Array (MM-602.3; SuperArray, Bethesda, MD) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Positive spots on the array were scanned and quantified using ScanAlyze and GEArray Analysis Suite software.
Flow Cytometry
Blood (0.5 ml) was obtained by cardiac puncture from anesthetized mice on citrate 6 hours after challenge on day 56 and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled rat anti-CD41 (clone MWReg30; Serotec, Oxford, UK) and rabbit polyclonal anti-CD62P (Chemicon Europe, Hampshire, UK), followed by secondary phycoerythrin-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. These samples were analyzed using a FACScan flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, Heidelberg, Germany). In some experiments, blood was incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-CD41 and analyzed on a FACScan. Live gating was performed for leukocyte-sized events, the forward and side scattering characteristics of which exclude the presence of single platelets alone, as described previously.23 Events in this region, which were positive for CD41, were considered to represent platelet-leukocyte aggregates.
Restoration of Platelet Population in Platelet-Depleted Mice
Washed platelets were isolated from the blood of repeatedly elicited or sham-sensitized BALB/c mice. The resulting platelet suspension or vehicle was injected intravenously into busulfan-treated mice 20 minutes before the final challenge. The skin tissue was examined 6 hours after challenge. The injection volume of 0.1 ml contained 5.5 to 6.0 x 108 platelets. Platelet reconstitution restored the circulating platelet population to 60 to 70% of the control level 20 minutes after injection of the platelet suspension. In some experiments, the platelet suspension obtained from normal BALB/c mice was treated with 100 µg of rat anti-P-selectin blocking antibody (clone RB40.34; Becton, Dickinson and Company, San Diego, CA) before injection. Irrelevant, isotype-matched, purified rat IgG served as the control (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories).
In studies using P-selectin–/– mice, washed platelets were isolated from P-selectin–/– mice and control wild-type C57/BL6J mice. The resulting platelet suspension or vehicle was injected intravenously into busulfan-treated mice 20 minutes before the final challenge. The injection volume of 0.1 ml contained 5.5 to 6.0 x 108 platelets. Platelet reconstitution restored the circulating platelet population to 65 to 70% of the control level 20 minutes after injection of the platelet suspension.
Measurement of Chemokines in Platelet Supernatant
Washed platelets were isolated from the blood of normal BALB/c mice and suspended at a concentration of 1 x 109/ml. Platelets were stimulated with 0.2 U/ml thrombin for 15 minutes at 37°C. In some experiments, washed platelets were mechanically lysed by means of ultrasonic treatment. The levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1
(MIP-1), regulated on activation normal T expressed and secreted (RANTES), and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in the platelet supernatant and lysates were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Supernatant of platelets fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde without stimulation with thrombin served as the control.
Injection of Platelet Supernatant into Ears
Washed platelets were isolated from the blood of normal BALB/c mice and suspended at a concentration of 1 x 109/ml. Platelets were stimulated with 0.2 U/ml thrombin for 15 minutes at 37°C. Thrombin was then inactivated by addition of 10 U/ml hirudin (Sigma-Aldrich). To neutralize chemokines, the supernatant was treated with 10 µg/ml antibodies against MIP-1 (clone 39624, rat IgG; R&D Systems), RANTES (polyclonal rabbit IgG; ProSci, Poway, CA), and/or TARC (polyclonal goat IgG; R&D Systems) for 30 minutes at 37°C. Irrelevant, isotype-matched, purified IgG served as the control (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories). After centrifugation, 50 µl of the supernatant was injected into the ears of busulfan-treated mice just before the final challenge. Supernatant of platelets fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde without stimulation with thrombin served as the control. The skin tissue was examined 6 hours after challenge.
Pretreatment with Antiplatelet Compounds
Washed platelets were treated with 1 mmol/L acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin; Sigma-Aldrich) or vehicle for 30 minutes at 37°C before stimulation with thrombin. In separate experiments, mice were orally dosed with clopidogrel (30 mg/kg/day; Sigma-Aldrich) or vehicle for 2 days, and blood was collected 1 hour after the final dose. Washed platelets were isolated, suspended, and then stimulated with thrombin.
Statistical Analysis
Data from all studies are expressed as means ± SD. Statistical significance was assessed using one-way analysis of variance followed by a Tukey multiple comparison test. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.
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Results |
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Mice were administered intraperitoneal injections of either busulfan or vehicle over the chronic challenge period, as shown in Figure 1A
. This protocol maintained platelet depletion throughout the period of chronic challenge (Figure 1B)
. In separate experiments, mice were administered intramuscular injection of either APAS or CS on alternate upper hind leg regions every 3 days (Figure 1A)
. Mice were depleted of platelets for up to 72 hours after the first injection of APAS (Figure 1C)
, and platelet depletion was maintained throughout the period of chronic challenge (Figure 1D)
. Circulating leukocytes remained unaffected throughout the period of chronic challenge in busulfan-treated mice (before the first challenge: 6.2 ± 0.3 x 106; after the final challenge: 5.7 ± 0.3 x 106) and in APAS-treated mice (before the first challenge: 6.7 ± 0.5 x 106; after the final challenge: 7.0 ± 0.7 x 106).
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First, we investigated the role of platelets in chronic allergic skin inflammation by estimating ear thickness after repeated elicitation in both thrombocytopenic mice and the controls. Repeated elicitation induced a dramatic increase in ear thickness in the control mice, and administration of busulfan (Figure 2A)
or APAS (Figure 2B)
significantly inhibited this increase. In addition, a detailed time course of ear swelling elicited by repeated TNCB challenge was assessed every 7 days; the swelling underwent a site-restricted shift from a typical delayed-type response (Figure 3A)
to an early-type response that reached a peak 6 hours after challenge (Figure 3, B–E)
, as reported previously.16
More interestingly, both delayed-type and early-type ear swelling responses significantly decreased in busulfan-treated mice compared with controls. These responses also decreased in APAS-treated mice compared with control mice (see Supplementary Figure S1 at http://ajp.amjpathol.org).
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. However, in busulfan-treated mice, only slight acanthosis with less cellular infiltration was observed (Figure 4, D and H)
. In addition, platelet depletion with busulfan significantly reduced the number of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells in the skin after elicitation (Figure 4I)
. The thickness of the epidermis, leukocyte infiltration, and dermal fibrosis also significantly decreased in APAS-treated mice compared with the controls (see Supplementary Figure S2 at http://ajp.amjpathol.org).
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Expression of mRNA Associated with Activated Th2 Is Reduced in Platelet-Depleted Mice
A cDNA microarray analysis was performed to investigate the effects of platelet depletion on expression of genes related to molecular signaling in inflammation in mice treated chronically with hapten. Busulfan- and APAS-treated mice (shown in red in Figure 5
) showed a remarkable decrease in expression of most genes in a visual comparison of expression levels with those in control mice (shown in green in Figure 5
). The locations of genes related to skin inflammation are shown in Table 1
. The expression levels of Th2-type cytokines greatly increased in a visual comparison with those of Th1-type cytokines in chronically challenged mice, as previously reported.17
The mRNAs of Th2-type cytokines and other proinflammatory cytokines decreased in both busulfan- and APAS-treated mice compared with the control mice. Except for the results in Table 1
, only the gene encoding involucrin (208) increased in busulfan-treated mice compared with control mice (density ratio: 1.163). The expression of positive control genes for ribosomal protein L13a (389, 390, 391), GAPDH (392, 393, 394), peptidylprolyl isomerase A (395, 396, 397), and ß-actin (398, 399, 400) remained constant in treated and control mice.
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To confirm that platelets play a role in the induction of chronic hapten-induced dermatitis, the effects of platelet restoration were examined in busulfan-treated mice. Platelets from repeatedly elicited mice and sham-sensitized mice were injected intravenously into busulfan-treated mice before challenge on day 56, and, subsequently, TNCB was applied. The ear swelling response significantly increased after platelet restoration compared with that under thrombocytopenic conditions (Figure 6A)
. In addition, the levels of infiltrated CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, eosinophils, and mast cells in the skin in response to allergen all increased after platelet restoration (Figure 6B)
. No differences between repeatedly elicited mice and sham-sensitized mice as donors were observed in experiments with platelet restoration. These findings suggest that platelets play an important role in leukocyte recruitment in skin.
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Leukocyte recruitment from the circulation to a site of inflammation is regulated by various mediators, including adhesion molecules.3
In animal models of asthma, circulating platelets bind leukocytes via P-selectin, which induces pulmonary leukocyte recruitment.24
Therefore, we examined the expression of P-selectin on platelets and the presence of platelet-leukocyte complexes in circulating blood of mice on day 56 after repeated hapten application. Expression of P-selectin on platelets significantly increased in mice that underwent repeated allergen challenge compared with sham-sensitized mice (Figure 7A)
. In addition, a significant increase in the percentage of leukocytes positive for the platelet-specific marker CD41 was found in blood taken from mice that received repeated hapten application compared with sham-sensitized mice (Figure 7B)
. To investigate the role of platelet P-selectin on leukocyte recruitment in the skin, a suspension of platelets obtained from P-selectin–/– mice or incubated with anti-P-selectin blocking antibody was injected intravenously into busulfan-treated mice before challenge, and, subsequently, TNCB was applied on day 56. Platelets obtained from P-selectin–/– mice (Figure 7C)
or from incubation with anti-P-selectin blocking antibody (Figure 7D)
suppressed leukocyte infiltration in the skin, whereas injection of platelets obtained from wild-type mice or incubated with a control IgG significantly increased leukocyte infiltration in the skin after hapten application. These results indicate that repeated epicutaneous allergen challenge induces P-selectin expression on platelets and formation of leukocyte-platelet complexes in the circulation in chronic allergic dermatitis. Moreover, platelet P-selectin was shown to be important for induction of leukocyte recruitment in the skin.
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Recent studies have demonstrated that activated platelets can release chemokines and attract leukocytes to a site of injury and inflammation.3,25
Minor hemorrhage caused by scratching and excoriation is often seen in the skin of mice following repeated hapten application, which raises the possibility that chemokines released from activated platelets after hemorrhage and subsequent aggregation in the cutaneous tissue may contribute to establishment of chronic dermatitis. Therefore, we assessed the ability of platelet-derived soluble factors to attract leukocytes into the skin by injection of the supernatant of thrombin-activated platelets into the ear skin of busulfan-treated mice before challenge. First, we examined the release of MIP-1, RANTES, and TARC from activated platelets, since these chemokines have been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic allergic dermatitis in humans.9,13,26
The platelets secreted high levels of these chemokines following stimulation with thrombin compared with unstimulated platelets (Figure 8A)
. As shown in Figure 8B
, injection of supernatant of activated platelets into the ear skin significantly increased leukocyte infiltration in the dermis after hapten application. Pretreatment of the supernatant with neutralizing antibodies against MIP-1, RANTES, and/or TARC significantly suppressed the induction of dermal infiltration after challenge, suggesting that these chemokines are released in cutaneous tissue and contribute to recruitment of inflammatory cells in chronic allergic dermatitis.
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, the release of MIP-1, RANTES, and TARC was largely prevented in platelets exposed to antiplatelet compounds. Finally, we injected the supernatant of thrombin-stimulated platelets treated with antiplatelet compounds into the ear skin of busulfan-treated mice. As expected, pretreatment with antiplatelet compounds resulted in a significant reduction of recruitment of leukocytes into the dermis after hapten application (Figure 8C)
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Discussion |
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also decreased in thrombocytopenic mice, although expression of the gene encoding interferon- slightly increased in APAS-treated mice. The greater decrease of activated Th2 cells in platelet-depleted mice probably accounts for the observed reduction of serum IgE levels. CC chemokines such as macrophage-derived chemokine and TARC and other proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-, IL-1, and IL-3 are increased in skin lesions of chronic allergic dermatitis including AD,9,17
whereas the levels of similar cytokines were decreased in thrombocytopenic mice. The diminished number of mast cells and platelets in the dermis is likely to account for the significantly lower frequency of scratching behavior in busulfan-treated mice, because these cells contain various pruritogenic mediators such as histamine and serotonin. Although a possible effect of busulfan on IgE production and scratching behavior are not excluded, other findings shown in busulfan- and APAS-treated mice strongly suggest that platelets play an important role in chronic allergic dermatitis. Activated platelets have been demonstrated to adhere to monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and T cells.27-30 The interaction with leukocytes occurs via P-selectin, which is expressed on the surface of activated platelets in the circulation, and leads to formation of aggregates that roll along the endothelium.31 This phenomenon enables leukocytes to transmigrate into subendothelial tissue. Indeed, activated platelets have been reported to increase leukocyte rolling in murine skin, and P-selectin expression on platelets increases in the blood of patients with psoriasis in parallel with disease severity.11 In this study, P-selectin expression on platelets and the number of platelet-leukocyte aggregates significantly increased in the blood of mice with chronic hapten-induced allergic dermatitis. Moreover, depletion or blockade of P-selectin expression on platelets decreased leukocyte recruitment in the skin. These results suggest that elicitation of chronic allergic dermatitis in the earlobe induces P-selectin expression on circulating platelets, which contributes to further leukocyte recruitment into the site of inflammation. Although the precise mechanism through which circulating platelets are activated in chronic allergic dermatitis remains to be elucidated, endothelial cells activated by proinflammatory cytokines and platelet-activating factor released during skin inflammation may be involved.32 No difference between chronically challenged mice and sham-sensitized mice as donors was observed in experiments with platelet restoration, suggesting that leukocyte recruitment is dependent simply on the presence of platelets as circulating blood elements. With activation of the immune system, various proinflammatory mediators may induce concomitant activation of platelets.
Platelets contain various mediators that attract leukocytes,3
and mRNA for several chemokines has been identified in platelets.25
These chemokines, which not only attract leukocytes but also stimulate them and further activate other platelets, have been shown to be important for the pathogenesis of chronic allergic dermatitis such as AD.13,26
In patients with AD, platelets contain high levels of TARC,13
which may result in extravasation of Th2 cells and skin-homing memory T cells expressing CC chemokine receptor 4 and further activation of other platelets.33,34
RANTES and MIP-1, which are powerful chemoattractants for T lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils, have been shown to be present in -granules in platelets and to be released from platelets stimulated with thrombin.35,36
In this study, we confirmed the release of MIP-1, RANTES, and TARC from thrombin-stimulated murine platelets. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time that the injection of activated platelet supernatant into the skin tissue of busulfan-treated mice can restore allergen-induced cutaneous leukocyte recruitment. However, this infiltration was much less than that under nonthrombocytopenic conditions, which indicates that P-selectin expression on platelets and platelet-derived soluble factors are both necessary for cutaneous leukocyte recruitment. In this experiment, platelet-releasing factors seem to have attracted leukocytes to the injected area via P-selectin on few circulating platelets. More interestingly, this effect was blocked by neutralization of MIP-1, RANTES, and TARC in the supernatant, suggesting that chemokines released from activated platelets in the cutaneous tissue may induce leukocyte recruitment at sites of skin inflammation.
Our results suggest that control of platelet activity may lead to regulation of cutaneous allergic inflammation. Antiplatelet drugs, especially aspirin and clopidogrel, have been widely used for preventing thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis. Aspirin preferentially inhibits cyclooxygenase in platelets, which metabolizes arachidonic acid to a variety of prostanoids, including thromboxane A2.37 Clopidogrel is a thienopyridine inhibitor of adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation.38 It has been reported that clopidogrel is activated by cytochrome P450 to give a metabolite that acts as an irreversible P2Y12 receptor antagonist.39 Recently, clopidogrel has also been shown to reduce thrombin-induced thromboxane A2 generation in platelets,40 suggesting that thrombin-induced platelet activation is inhibited not only by aspirin but also by clopidogrel. In this study, pretreatment of platelets with aspirin and clopidogrel inhibited the release of mediators that attract leukocytes. Therefore, these findings suggest that antiplatelet drugs may be useful for treatment of chronic allergic skin inflammation. However, suppressing platelet activity in the whole body can induce spontaneous or excessive bleeding in various organs, because the functions of platelets in hemostasis and inflammation have much in common.3 Therefore, topical application of antiplatelet drugs may be useful for suppression of platelet function at a cutaneous inflammatory site with lesser effects on other organs, and we intend to investigate the effect of epicutaneous application of antiplatelet drugs on chronic allergic skin inflammation.
In conclusion, our data indicate that platelets are important for developing murine chronic allergic skin inflammation, which shares many characteristics with human chronic allergic dermatitis, including frequent scratching, a high serum IgE titer, and delayed-type and early-type inflammatory responses. We have also provided evidence that platelets induce leukocyte recruitment into skin by forming platelet-leukocyte aggregates via P-selectin in blood and secretion of chemokines at inflamed sites. Therefore, control of platelet activity may offer a new strategy for treatment of chronic allergic skin inflammation.
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Footnotes |
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Supported in part by grant 16591110 from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture.
Supplemental material for this article can be found on http://ajp.amjpathol.org.
Accepted for publication March 13, 2007.
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References |
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RI) in human platelets and its intracellular expression in human megakaryocytes. Blood 1999, 93:2543-2551
J, Chlopicki S, Gryglewski RJ: Interactions between human platelets and eosinophils are mediated by selectin-P. Pol J Pharmacol 2002, 54:157-160[Medline] within human platelets and their release during storage. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1995, 107:541-546[Medline]
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