Figure 2: The effects of thrombocytopenia on plasma TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations.

(a,b) Mice were injected i.p. with a rat antimouse GPIbα monoclonal antibody or rat IgG control. After 4 h, the mice were injected i.p. with LPS (10 mg kg⁻¹). Blood was collected from these mice before or at 1, 2.5, 4 and 8 h after LPS injection. TNF-α (a) and IL-6 (b) concentrations in plasma were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Values are means±s.d. (n=6). Differences between two groups were assessed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. (c,d) Mice were injected retro-orbitally with clodronate (40 mg kg⁻¹) or control liposome. Blood was collected from the mice at 24 h after injection of clodronate or liposome. Representative flow cytometry plots of monocyte subsets (c) and quantification of monocyte subsets (d) (n=3) are shown. Error bars indicate s.d. Difference was assessed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test. (e,f) Mice were injected retro-orbitally with clodronate (40 mg kg⁻¹) or control liposomes at 24 and 4 h before LPS injection. The mice were also injected i.p. with a rat antimouse GPIbα monoclonal antibody or rat IgG control at 4 h before LPS injection. Blood was collected before or at 1, 2, 4 and 8 h after LPS injection, and plasma TNF-α (e) and IL-6 (f) concentrations were measured. Values are means±s.d. (n=5). Differences between two groups were assessed using unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test.