Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States

Summary

In this manuscript, experimental techniques, including blood preparation, confocal microscopy, and lysis rate analysis, to examine the morphological differences between normal and abnormal clot structures due to diseased states are presented.

Abstract

Fibrin is an extracellular matrix protein that is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of blood clots. Much research has been done on fibrin in the past years to include the investigation of synthesis, structure-function, and lysis of clots. However, there is still much unknown about the morphological and structural features of clots that ensue from patients with disease. In this research study, experimental techniques are presented that allow for the examination of morphological differences of abnormal clot structures due to diseased states such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Our study focuses on the preparation and evaluation of fibrin clots in order to assess morphological differences using various experimental assays and confocal microscopy. In addition, a method is also described that allows for continuous, real-time calculation of lysis rates in fibrin clots. The techniques described herein are important for researchers and clinicians seeking to elucidate comorbid thrombotic pathologies such as myocardial infarctions, ischemic heart disease, and strokes in patients with diabetes or sickle cell disease.

Introduction

Injury to a blood vessel's endothelial lining is repaired through the hemostatic response, or the formation of a blood clot. When blood permeates into the extracellular matrix, tissue factors activate platelets in the blood stream that facilitate initiation of the coagulation cascade. The key mechanical component of this healing process is the fibrin matrix, composed of fibrin fibers that are highly elastic, and can sustain large forces ^1-4. Many researchers have studied the formation structure, and function of fibrin extensively in the past decades ^5-13.

Patients with diseases such as diabetes mellitus and sickle ....

Protocol

NOTE: The following protocol adheres to the guidelines set by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Georgia Tech.

1. Blood Collection and Red Blood Cell Isolation Procedure

1. Collect 40-120 ml of blood from donors in 10 ml heparinized vacutainer tubes. Start PBMC (peripheral blood mononucleated cell) isolation within 4 hr of collection. During this time, keep blood at RT.
   NOTE: O/N storage of blood in RT or in 4 °C is NOT recommended as this will result in lower PBMC yield.
2. Dilute whole blood 1:1 in ice-cold (4 °C) sterile PBS.
3. Pipette 10 ml of ice-cold hydrophilic polysaccharide into an....

Results

Confocal Microscopy Analysis of Glycated Fibrin Clot Structures

The confocal microscopy images of normal and glycated clots are presented in Figure 3. Confocal microscopy analysis of the normal and glycated clots reveals that glycated clots are denser with smaller pores than the normal clots both with and without the addition of FXIIIa during clot polymerization. In Figure 3A and 3B, there is a lower fibrin concentration which created a less d.......

Discussion

To obtain meaningful data about the structure of clotting mechanisms in disease states, it is important to isolate the factors involved in clotting to determine the effects of the proteins and cells in these conditions. This protocol was developed for the purposes of investigating the structure of the fibrin clot in diabetic and SCD states in vitro.

It is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in fibrin formation and fibrinolysis in disease states since altered conditions cau.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
PBS	Life Technologies	10010031
Ficoll-Paque (hydrophilic polysaccharide)	GE Healthcare	45-001-749
10 ml heparinized vacutainer tubes	BD Biosciences	366643
Human Fibrinogen	Enzyme Research Laboratories	N/A
Alexa Fluor 488 human fibrinogen conjugate	Molecular Probes	F13191
0.5 ml graduated microcentrifuge tube	Fisher Scientific	05-408-120
Glucose powder	Life Technologies	15023-02
FXIIIa	Enzyme Research Laboratories	N/A
VIS Confocal Microscope	Zeiss LSM 510	LSM 510
50 mM Tris	Lonza	S50-642
Calcium Chloride (CaCl2)	Sigma Aldrich	449709-10G
Vybrant DiD cell-labeling solution	Life Technologies	L7781
Plasmin	Enzyme Research Laboratories	N/A
Sodium Chloride (5 M NaCl)	Life Technologies	AM9759
Statistical Modeling Software	IBM	SPSS Statistics 22