Objective To establish a cell line stably expressing the human CD36 by using TA clo-ning and cell transfection technology and to analyze its application to the detection of anti-CD36 antibodies. Methods Total RNA was isolated from human platelets and then used to synthesize complementary DNA ( cDNA) . Sequence of the gene encoding CD36 on human platelets was obtained by PCR amplification. The recombinant vector was transformed into TOP10 E. coli after TA cloning. The positive recombinant pcDNA3. 1/V5-CD36 plasmid was screened out by blue-white selection and then sequenced. The correctly constructed plasmid coated with Effectene? Transfection Reagent was transferred into HEK293T cells. Fluo-rescence-activated cell sorting was performed to screen out the cell line that could stably express the CD36 on human platelets. The transfected cell line-based flow cytometry analysis and antibody capture assay ( ACA) were established and used for antibody detection in nine serum samples positive for anti-CD36 antibodies. Results The HEK293T cell line stably expressing the recombinant CD36 was successfully established. Compare with the monoclonal antibody immobilization of platelet antigens assay ( MAIPA) , anti-CD36 anti-bodies could be easily identified in nine serum samples by using the transfected cell line-based flow cytome-try analysis and ACA. Conclusion This study suggests that the HEK293T cells stably expressing the re-combinant CD36 could be used in flow cytometry analysis and ACA for the detection of anti-CD36 antibod-ies. It also paves the way for further researches on the mechanism of CD36 in other diseases.

Antibodies against human CD36 are responsible for several immune-mediated disorders. The detection of anti-CD36 antibodies using the standard monoclonal antibody (mAb) immobilization of platelet antigens (MAIPA) assay is hampered by a high frequency of false-negative results, most likely due to competitive inhibition of the mAb used as the capture antibody. We generated a panel of mouse mAbs against CD36 and seven hybridomas (GZ-3, GZ-13, GZ-70, GZ-143, GZ-413, GZ-507, and GZ-608), which were selected for MAIPA assays, as they reacted with mouse and human CD36. Fourteen anti-CD36 sera were assayed; all of which showed a positive reaction in a PakPlus (Immucor GTI Diagnostics, Inc., Waukesha, WI, USA) ELISA-based screening (optical density: 0.257–2.292). When the reference anti-CD36 mAb FA6-152 was used in the MAIPA assay, only 6/14 (42.9%) sera displayed a positive reaction. In contrast, anti-CD36 antibodies were detected in 13/14 (92.9%) sera when GZ-70 and GZ-608 mAbs were used. This significant improvement resulted in the identification of anti-CD36 antibodies by an antigen capture assay. Since patient’s platelets possibly carrying rare native antigens are used, this method will facilitate the identification of new platelet antibodies against CD36 that are involved in immune-mediated thrombocytopenia and other diseases, such as transfusion-related acute lung injury.