Visualization of neutrophil-platelet tether dynamics under flow

Adhesion and aggregation of platelets and neutrophils to each other and to the vessel wall are critical events in inflammation and thrombosis. Using a novel microslide flow chamber, we have performed high speed (240 frames per second), high resolution (63X, 1.4 NA) differential interference contrast (DIC) videomicroscopy of the short-lived adhesive interactions between individual neutrophils and platelets under flow. We detected short-lived (150-700 msec), membrane tethers (1-20 μm) between free-flowing neutrophils (wall shear rate=100 to 300 s^-1) and spread platelet, consistent with the half-life of the P-selectin/PSGL-1 bond