The interaction of platelets and exogenous antigenic factors in the causation of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease

Glanmor Rees, B. W. (1984). The interaction of platelets and exogenous antigenic factors in the causation of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. PhD thesis The Open University.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.000100dd

Abstract

This work describes aspects of the role of platelets in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). Emphasis is on the involvement of "young" platelets, which are metabolically more active than the other population of these cells and are consequently termed "active" platelets. Aggregation investigations were used to detect an increase in this fraction of the platelet population and electron microscope studies confirmed that these aggregation results reflected the total activity of the platelets. Surveys performed in conjunction with the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit showed abnormal results in approximately 18% of the normal population and in approximately 90% of CHD patients. This latter group was tested at least twelve months after recovery from the heart attack (myocardial infarction).

There are immunological factors which may be important and are investigated in this work. The involvement of these factors are indicated by the report relating antibody to whole dried milk with CHD. This original observation was confirmed in surveys performed in collaboration with the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit. Because of the large number of specimens involved in these surveys, an automated method was developed. This method was also used to survey the distribution of food antibodies in the normal population.

It was found that the milk antibody originally related to CHD was produced in response to an antigen present in the cream portion of milk. It was determined that the antigen resided in the bovine milk-fat globule-membrane. Because it has previously been shown that cross-reactivity exists between membranes of different species, the possibility of antibody to bovine milk-fat globule-membrane reacting with human platelets was considered and the resulting investigations, which demonstrated this occurrence, are described.

The possibility is considered that increased platelet turnover in this disease, with an increased percentage of "active" platelets, may well be the result of the action of antibody to bovine milk-fat globule-membrane. Interaction between membranes may therefore play a role in the development of atherosclerosis.