Role of platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors in the modulation of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitors type-1 (PAI-1) release

This study was undertaken to determine the role of platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptors in the modulation of plasminogen activator type-1 (PAI-1) release from human platelets as compared to other platelet functions. To address this issue, the effect of various agonists on human platelet aggregation, [ 125I]fibrinogen binding and the release of PAI-1 was examined in normal and Glanzmann's thrombasthenic (GT) platelets. In control subjects, maximum platelet aggregation and PAI-1 secretion were observed within 5 min in response to the different agonists including thrombin, collagen, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and arachidonic acid. Agonist-induced platelet GpIIb/IIIa receptor activation was confirmed by [ 125I]fibrinogen binding analysis. In contrast, platelets from GT subjects demonstrated a lack of fibrinogen binding a lack of an aggregatory response to all agonists tested except to the GPIb- mediated aggregation induced by ristocetin. However, GT platelets demonstrated normal responsiveness in secreting PAI-1 in response to the various agonists. Similarly, when platelet GpIIb/IIIa receptors were blocked in normal platelets by the tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) or the tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) at 10 −3 M, agonist-induced platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding were blocked, but platelet PAI-1 release was not blocked. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis using dual fluorescence markers for the platelet GPIIb/IIIa membrane receptors (FITC-labeled cyclic RGD analog, XL086) and for the alpha granule (PE-monoclonal antibody for P-selectin) demonstrated a dissociation between the platelet GPIIb/IIIa receptors and granular secretion. These results suggest a lack of a role for platelet GpIIb/IIIa receptors in the modulation of platelet PAI-1 release.