Synergism between interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha for neutrophil-mediated platelet activation.

We previously showed that two polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-derived proteinases, namely cathepsin G (Cat. G) and elastase (HLE), acting in synergy activated nearby platelets in vitro. This cellular interaction could result in a pathology such as the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Since elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected in these patients and therefore could be involved in this disease, we looked for their effects in the PMN-platelet cooperation system. Addition of IL-8 to mixed suspensions of PMN and platelets induced weak but significant platelet aggregations. Upon preincubation with TNF-alpha, aggregations triggered by IL-8 were significantly increased. The targets of these cytokines were not the platelets but the PMNs. This was shown by following beta-glucuronidase release and more interestingly by measuring the enzymatic activities of Cat. G and HLE in the supernatant. Inhibition of the platelet response upon addition of a serine proteinase inhibitor, eglin C, clearly demonstrated the involvement of these two enzymes. Taken together, these results constitute an additional argument for the role of the PMN-platelet interaction in ARDS.