Abstract-Platelets at injured vessel wall form an adhesive surface for leukocyte adhesion. The precise relation between platelet adhesion and activation and leukocyte adhesion, however, is not known. We therefore used various models of injured vessel wall to form different patterns of platelet adhesion. The interaction of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) was subsequently studied under flow conditions. In the absence of platelets, not only endothelial cell, smooth muscle cell, and fibroblast matrices but also purified matrix proteins (fibrinogen, collagen, and fibronectin) barely support PMN adhesion. The presence of platelets, however, strongly enhances PMN adhesion. PMN adhesion shows a proportional increase with platelet coverage up to 15%. Although PMNs roll over the scarcely scattered platelets, they speed up again when encountering surfaces without platelets. This "hopping" interaction of PMNs vanishes with platelet coverage Ͼ15%. Unobstructed rolling of PMNs is than observed and soon leads to a maximal adhesion of 1000 to 1200 cells/mm 2 . The mean rolling velocity of PMNs continues to decrease with higher platelet coverage. Platelet aggregate formation is an accepted indicator of platelet activation. The presence of platelet aggregates instead of contact or spread platelets, however, does not increase PMN adhesion. Also, additional stimulation of surface-associated platelets by thrombin fails to influence PMN adhesion. Moreover, indomethacin as an inhibitor of platelet activation and aggregation does not change the subsequent PMN interaction. In conclusion, approximately 15% of platelet coverage is sufficient for optimal PMN adhesion. Increasing platelet coverage increases the availability of platelet-associated receptors that lower PMN rolling velocity. Additional activation of adherent platelets makes no difference in the expression of relevant adhesion receptors. Therefore, minimal vascular damage in vivo and only scarce platelet adhesion will already evoke significant colocalization of leukocytes. Key Words: platelet adhesiveness Ⅲ thrombosis pathophysiology Ⅲ vascular injury Ⅲ leukocyte adhesion Ⅲ flow P latelet adhesion at the injured vessel wall was convincingly shown to support leukocyte adhesion under flow conditions. 1-3 The observed colocalization of the hemostatic and inflammatory response in thrombosis, vasculitis, and atherosclerosis in vivo supports the role of these interactions in pathophysiology of these diseases. 4 -6 Recent research both in vivo and in vitro in perfusion chambers showed that platelets at the injured vessel wall form an extremely powerful substrate for leukocyte, eg, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) adhesion under flow conditions. The first step in PMN adhesion consists of a rolling or tethering interaction involving P-selectin 1-3 expressed by activated platelets and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 by leukocytes. Firm adhesion follows by integrin-ligand interactions. Mac-1 (CD11bCD18) was identified to be the main leukocyte 2 integrin that binds to the platele...