| Summary: | In the cardiovascular system, adhesive interactions between RBCs and ECs are necessary in processes such as inflammation and hemastasis. However, abnormal RBC-EC
interactions also occur, causing tissue damage or death. As such, this project was carried out to determine the effects of plasma proteins on abnormal RBC-EC interaction in blood, under in-vitro conditions. The effect of plasma proteins on thrombin treated RBCs and ECs were studied using a parallel plate flow chamber system. Variables used in determining the effect of thrombin and plasma proteins on RBC-EC adhesion included: Thrombin concentration, shear stress and Dextran molecular weight.
Experimental results concluded that thrombin induces RBC-EC adhesion. The effect of
increasing thrombin concentration on RBC-EC adhesion followed the trend of a bellshaped
curve, which peaks at thrombin concentration of 0.05 U/ml. Upon introducing the
influence of dextran to thrombin treated RBCs and ECs, strength of RBC-EC adhesion
increases significantly, possibly due to depletion interaction facilitating the adhesion process.
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