MODULATION OF BOVINE PLATELET-FUNCTION BY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN

The addition of C-reactive protein (CRP) to bovine platelets suspended in homologous plasma consistently produced a reversible aggregation r esponse following stimulation with either platelet activating factor o r adenosine diphosphate while untreated control samples exhibited irre versible aggregation. This deaggregation response was independent of t he amount of CRP incorporated into the platelet aggregates but did app ear to be mediated through a component either present in bovine plasma or loosely bound to the exterior platelet membrane, The aggregation r esponse of bovine platelets, separated from plasma by gel-filtration, was not affected by the addition of CRP to the platelet suspensions. I t is proposed that one of the physiological actions of bovine CRP is t o modulate platelet function.