The role of heterogeneous nucleation in the activation of blood cells

The processes of receptors clustering on the surface of blood cells are considered in the nucleation theory framework. In the absence of ligands, the characteristic time of homogeneous nucleation of receptors clustering was assumed to be much longer than a cell's life. By varying the kinetics of the bonds' formation and breaking during receptor clustering, it was possible to describe the activation conditions experimentally observed for several types of blood cells. It was shown that the heterogeneous nucleation characteristic time leading to receptors clustering in the presence of exogenous ligands can be less than one minute. Parametric diagrams are constructed that display the effect of a number of examined ligands on the receptor system. The possible clinical significance of the results is discussed.