Platelet Sensitivity is Increased by Acrolein

Abstract

Acrolein is a toxic environmental aldehyde. It is also produced during lipid peroxidation. Since acrolein exposure is associated with cardiovascular distress, we studied its effect on mouse platelets. In a platelet aggregation assay, acrolein (10–25μM) added to platelets‐rich plasma (PRP) or fibrinogen (fg) (200nM) added washed platelets, 30s prior to 10μM ADP or 250μM arachidonic acid, significantly augmented aggregation (15–20%) when compared with untreated platelets. To study in vivo effects, blood from mice fed with 1–5 mg/kg/day acrolein for 1–3 days was pooled. ADP‐induced platelet aggregation was augmented (10–20%) in a dose and time dependent manner in acrolein treated animals, both in the PRP and washed platelet system. In acrolein treated mice, plasma levels of platelet factor‐4 and P‐selectin were significantly increased, platelet‐monocyte aggregates in blood increased by 15% and the tail bleeding time was shortened by 25% while plasma fg levels were unchanged. Mice exposed to acrolein inhalation for 6h also showed augmented ADP‐induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that acrolein exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations could increase platelet adhesion in vivo and such effects may be responsible in part for the increased thrombogenicity of acrolein containing pollutants such as automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke. The work was funded by NIEHS grant ES11860.