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Thromb Haemost 1988; 59(02): 273-276
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1642769
Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Do Extra-Platelet Sources Contribute to the Plasma Level of Thrombospondin?

J Dawes
1   The MRC/SNBTS Blood Components Assay Group, Edinburgh, UK
,
D A Pratt
1   The MRC/SNBTS Blood Components Assay Group, Edinburgh, UK
,
M S Dewar
2   The Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
,
F E Preston
2   The Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 16 March 1987

Accepted after revision 21 December 1987

Publication Date:
21 May 2018 (online)

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Summary

Thrombospondin, a trimeric glycoprotein contained in the platelet α-granules, has been proposed as a marker of in vivo platelet activation. However, it is also synthesised by a range of other cells. The extraplatelet contribution to plasma levels of thrombospondin was therefore estimated by investigating the relationship between plasma thrombospondin levels and platelet count in samples from profoundly thrombocytopenic patients with marrow hypoplasia, using the platelet-specific α-granule protein β-thromboglobulin as control. Serum concentrations of both proteins were highly correlated with platelet count, but while plasma β-thromboglobulin levels and platelet count also correlated, there was no relationship between the number of platelets and thrombospondin concentrations in plasma. Serial sampling of patients recovering from bone marrow depression indicated that the plasma thrombospondin contributed by platelets is superimposed on a background concentration of at least 50 ng/ml probably derived from a non-platelet source, and plasma thrombospondin levels do not simply reflect platelet release.

Keywords

Platelet - Thrombospondin - β-thromboglobulin - Marrow hypoplasia
 

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