Figure 1: Depletion of platelets in mice enhances mortality and worsens organ failure induced by LPS.

(a) C57BL/6 mice were injected with 4 μg g⁻¹ of body weight of a rat antimouse GPIbα monoclonal antibody (n=7) or control rat IgG (n=8) by i.p. Platelets counts were measured with a HEMAVET HV950FS multispecies haematology analyser before and 4 h after injection of antibody. Values are means±s.d. (b) Mice were then injected with LPS (10 mg kg⁻¹). Survival rate was observed for up to 3 days. P-value was calculated by Wald’s test in a discrete time hazard model using version 9.2 of SAS software. (c–f) Eight hours after LPS treatment, plasma from mice receiving anti-GPIb antibody or IgG control were collected and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; c), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; d), LDH (e) and CK (f) concentrations in plasma were measured. Values are means±s.d. (n=4). Differences between two groups were assessed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. (g,h) Mice were injected i.p. with a rat antimouse GPIbα monoclonal antibody or rat IgG control. After 4 h, mice were injected i.p. with LPS (10 mg kg⁻¹). Fifteen hours after LPS injection, mice were killed and the lungs were collected (g). Sections of lungs were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and images were captured. Scale bar, 0.5 mm (h).