Antibody-independent thrombocytopenia in lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus-infected mice.

Su, Dan Musaji, Andrei Legrain, Sarah Detalle, Laurent van der Kaa, Jos Verbeek, J Sjef Ryffel, Bernhard Coutelier, Jean-Paul [UCL] et al.[show all]

Previously we demonstrated that antibody-mediated thrombocytopenia is strongly enhanced by lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) infection. Here we report that mice infected with LDV develop a moderate thrombocytopenia, even in the absence of immunoglobulins or Fc receptors. A similar decrease of platelet counts was observed after mouse hepatitis virus infection. LDV-induced type I interferon-independent thrombocytopenia was partly suppressed by treatment with clodronate-containing liposomes. Therefore, we conclude that the thrombocytopenia results from increased phagocytosis of nonopsonized platelets by macrophages.