A preliminary report on phospholipase A2 acidic 1 precursors for the detection of antibody coated platelets

OBJECTIVE It has been reported that several snakes of the Trimeresurus group of the pit viper family produce venoms which have effects on the platelets, such as aggregation or induction of release from of granules. Trimerusus albolabris is a green pit viper commonly found in Thailand. Its venom can cause platelet aggregation. This study attempted to use this function as a tool for the detection of antibody coated platelets from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHOD Platelets from normal healthy individuals and patient with SLE were recovered and washed to remove the fibrinogen. Some of the platelets from the healthy individuals were coated with anti GP IIb/IIIa. The samples of coated and uncoated platelets and those from the patients with SLE were each mixed with a venom fraction containing phospholipase A2 acidic 1 precursors derived from T. albolabris and incubated at 37 degrees C for 30 minutes. RESULTS The samples were observed under light microscope for aggregation of platelets. The uncoated platelets were observed to be aggregated, but there was no aggregation in the samples of coated normal platelets and platelets from the patient with SLE. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary report will open up a new outlook in the area of antibody detection in SLE and it appears that T. albolabris venom may be of use as a tool for monitoring disease activity.