Detection of surface-adsorbed (lipo)proteins by means of a two-step enzyme-immunoassay: a study on the Vroman effect.

In view of reports on the involvement of high-molecular-weight (HMW) kininogen and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the Vroman effect, we studied the adsorption of fibrinogen, HMW kininogen, HDL and several other proteins from pooled human plasma and congenitally HMW kininogen-deficient plasma onto glass and low-density polyethylene, both as a function of the plasma concentration and the contact time. Mixtures of purified (lipo)proteins were also included in the study. Protein adsorption was determined by means of a two-step enzyme-immunoassay. Our results support the hypothesis that HMW kininogen is involved in the displacement of fibrinogen, which is almost instantly adsorbed from normal plasma onto glass. On hydrophobic polymers like polyethylene, the low amounts of adsorbed fibrinogen and HMW kininogen from plasma and concentrated plasma solutions may be due to a preferential adsorption of HDL.