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Deficiency of P62, a putative collagen receptor, in platelets from a patient with defective collagen-induced platelet aggregation.

Recently, we described a platelet antibody against a putative collagen receptor (P62), which was found in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) (Blood 69:1712). We now report a deficiency of the P62 receptor in a young man whose platelets showed defective collagen-induced platelet aggregation. He had a mild bleeding tendency and slight thrombocytopenia. The results of coagulation and fibrinolysis studies were normal. The patient's platelets were partially unresponsive to collagen, although aggregation in response to ADP, thrombin, ristocetin, and calcium ionophore (A23187) was almost normal. Adhesion of his platelets to bovine collagen was markedly reduced. Addition of collagen caused no synthesis of thromboxane (TX)B2 in platelet rich plasma (PRP) from this patient. Furthermore, collagen produced no rise of cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in fura2-loaded platelets. In contrast, thrombin caused TXB2 formation and an increase of [Ca2+]i in his platelets. These results suggest defective interaction between the platelets and collagen. The IgG from the ITP-patient induced irreversible aggregation in normal PRP, but caused no aggregation of the young man's platelets. Immunoblot studies showed that normal platelets had antigens with a molecular weight of 62 KDa under reducing conditions and of 57 KDa under nonreducing conditions. In contrast, the young man's platelets had no P62 band, although GPIa/IIa and thrombospondin were normally present. These results indicate that impaired collagen-induced aggregation in the patient's platelets was due to a deficiency of P62 and confirm that P62 may play a crucial role as a collagen receptor in platelet activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Platelet adhesion, release and aggregation in flowing blood: effects of surface properties and platelet function.

Platelet adhesion to natural and artificial surfaces and adhesion-induced aggregation were investigated in vitro using an annular perfusion chamber. The surfaces were exposed to anticoagulated blood under identical flow conditions (approximately arterial shear rates). The initial attachment of platelets (contact) appeared less surface specific than spreading and release. Fibrillar collagen was the most powerful inducer of platelet degranulation whereas elastin, microfibrils and epon were virtually inactive. Fibrillar collagen caused release also in the absence of spreading. Surface coverage with platelets did not exceed 25% unless spreading occurred. Perfusion with platelet-free plasma or platelet-poor blood did not remove adhering platelets. However, platelets were translocated from mural thrombi to the surface by such perfusion. In addition, platelets which detached from mural thrombi adhered more readily to elastin or microfibrils than platelets from the circulating blood. The initial attachment of platelets to subendothelium was inhibited in von Willebrand's disease, the Bernard-Soulier syndrome and at high concentrations of dipyridamole; spreading was inhibited in storage pool disease of rats, at low temperature (20 degrees C), with EDTA (3 MM) and Prostaglandin E1 (1 muM); and adhesion-induced aggregation was inhibited in thrombasthenia, storage pool disease and after ingestion of sulfinpyrazone or Aspirin. It is concluded that the initial attachment (contact) of platelets, spreading and surface-induced release of platelet constituents are at least partially indendent phenomena, the latter two being highly surface specific. At flow conditions which cause the disappearance of platelet adhesion appears as an irreversible process.

Animals

Function and ultrastructure of platelets of neonates: enhanced ristocetin aggregation of neonatal platelets.

We have investigated platelet morphology and function in human maternal-newborn pairs. Fibrinogen concentration and factor-VIII activity in plasma were also determined. Our results showed that, compared to maternal platelets, neonatal platelets were poorly responsive to adenosine diphosphate, adrenaline and collagen. Uptake of labelled serotonin by neonatal and maternal platelets was the same, but release of the radioactivity was reduced in the former. Phagocytic activity of neonatal platelets, demonstrated with latex particles, was similar to that of maternal platelets. Although the ultrastructure of neonatal platelets approximated that of maternal platelets, immature appearing platelets were occasionally found in the neonatal samples. An unanticipated finding was that platelet aggregation induced by ristocetin was more vigorous in neonatal than in maternal platelet-rich plasma samples. Furthermore, neonal -lasma, which had lower fibrinogen and factor-VIII content than maternal plasma, facilitated maternal platelet aggregation by ristocetin and showed a greater ability than maternal plasma to promote ristocetin-induced aggregation of platelets of a patient with von Willebrand's disease. These results indicate that the plasma of neonates contains large quantities of the ristocetin-dependent platelet aggregation factor (RAF), probably more than is in maternal plasma, despite the higher levels of factor-VIII procoagulant activity in the latter. Thus, in the newborn, there is a clear dissociation between factor-VIII clotting activity and the RAF activity.

Blood Platelets

Decreased platelet thrombogenecity in association with increased platelet turnover and vascular damage.

Platelet turnover is increased when platelets interact with prosthetic surfaces and damaged vessel wall. To determine whether the resulting increase in young platelets is associated with an increased tendency to thrombosis, we induced a state of increased platelet turnover in rabbits by inserting a sterile cannula into the abdominal aorta and tested for platelet thrombogenecity by measuring the deposition of circulating platelets onto a second injury site in the carotid arteries. Platelet half-life was decreased and platelet turnover was increased after the aortic cannulation, although the circulating platelet count remained unchanged. Platelet thrombogenecity determined 20 hr after cannulation was significantly decreased when compared to sham-operated animals. Ear bleeding studies demonstrated that the platelets circulating in cannulated animals were hemostatically less effective than those in sham-operated animals. This effect was intrinsic to the platelet and was associated with a platelet function defect. These data suggest that platelets exposed to a damaged or foreign surface interact with the surface and then circulate in a less reactive state.

Animals

On the analysis of platelet survival curves and the calculation of platelet production and destruction.

Platelet survival, platelet production and megakaryocyte quantifications were studied in control subjects and in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and primary thrombocythaemia (PT). A platelet death probability function (DPF), which gives the expected probability of a randomly chosen platelet to be destroyed within the nextcoming short time interval, was constructed on the basis of the present knowledge of platelet function and the factors that influence its survival. Starting from this function platelet age and life span distributions and the function for the survival curve were derived. Platelet mean life span (MLS) was in controls 6.9d, in PT 5.2Dd and in ITP 0.44d. Determinations of platelet life span and platelet age distributions revealed a considerable variation in platelet life spans about these means and a great difference in platelet age compositions between the 3 groups of subjects studied. The function for the platelet survival curve, derived from the DPF, was employed in the calculation of platelet production and there was a highly significant relationship between platelet production and megakaryocyte volume per microliter bone marrow giving mutual confirmation to the 2 determinations and to the correctness of the death probability function.

Adolescent

An evaluation of the Coulter thrombocounter in counting platelets before and after contact with foreign surfaces and its use in tests of platelet retention.

The counting of platelets by electronic methods has become widely accepted by laboratories and the methods is considered to give better reproducibility than the conventional microscope count. Prompted by an impression that prior contact of whole blood with glass beads or cellulose-based dialysis membranes resulted in platelet counts showing a poor correlation between the electronic and microscopic methods of counting, an evaluation of the Coulter Thrombocounter was carried out with regard to its ability in counting platelets before and after contact with such foreign surfaces in two tests for the measurement of platelet retention. The effect of citrate and heparin anticoagulation with and without the addition of EDTA on the efficiency of the Thrombocounter was also studied. The results indicate that an excellent correlation is obtained between microscopic and electronically estimated platelet counts before foreign surface contact when EDTA is included in the anticoagulation, and that the Thrombocounter gives good reproducibility over a wide range of platelet counts. After contact with the foreign surfaces, the Thrombocounter significantly underestimated the platelet counts and thus overestimated the platelet retention values. Using the membrane test cell system with citrate plus EDTA anticoagulation, platelet retention results estimated by Thrombocounter platelet counts were significantly higher than those estimated by microscopic platelet counts but there was a good linear correlation between the two sets of results. Thus, the Thrombocounter may be used with this method. However, using the glass-bead column technique and the same anticoagulation, although the platelet retention results gave the same mean value with both methods of platelet counting, there was no correlation between the two sets of results indicating that microscopy alone should be used with this method. The other anticoagulant regimens rendered the Thrombocount inefficient for use in these tests of platelet retention.

Blood Cell Count

Hereditary giant platelet syndrome. Absence of collagen-induced coagulant activity and deficiency of factor-XI binding to platelets.

The platelets from two related patients with the hereditary giant platelet syndrome were examined. They were larger than normal but otherwise ultrastructurally normal; they contained increased storage pools of adenine nucleotides and heparin-neutralizing activity and took up serotonin at an increased rate. They aggregated normally with ADP and collagen but failed to aggregate with bovine factor VIII and Ristocetin. Some change in shape occurred with ADP, and the reduction in adenylate energy change after addition of ADP to platelet-rich plasma was smaller than normal. Platelet coagulant activities including contact product forming activity, intrinsic factor-Xa forming activity and platelet factor 3 activity were normal or increased, but collagen-induced coagulant activity was absent whether tested in washed platelet suspensions or platelet-rich plasma. Platelet washing experiments showed decreased binding of factors V and VIII to hereditary giant platelets and no detectable factor XI in washed platelet suspensions. It is concluded that (1) the hereditary giant platelets studied lacked a binding mechanism for factors, V, VIII and XI; (2) the normal development of collagen-induced coagulant activity apparently depends upon the binding of factor XI to the platelet membrane; and (3) the defective prothrombin consumption observed in these patients may have resulted from the failure of their platelets to bind factor XI.

Adenine Nucleotides

Dynamic redistribution of major platelet surface receptors after contact-induced platelet activation and spreading. An immunoelectron microscopy study.

The authors used an immunogold labeling procedure to investigate the redistribution of platelet receptors and their ligands on the surface of contact-activated adherent platelets before and after thrombin stimulation. During the initial stage of platelet adhesion, a typical segregation of receptors occurred. Gold particles identifying glycoprotein (GP) Ib (CD42b) and GPIIb-IIIa (CD41a) remained distributed over the entire platelet surface, whereas gold particles identifying GPIa-IIa (CDw 49b) and GPIV (CD36) were found essentially overlying the granulomere; p24 (CD9) was present at the peripheral platelet rim and over the cell body. An increased labeling of GPIIb-IIIa, GPIV and p24 was also observed on pseudopods, with GPIIb-IIIa and GPIV concentrated at the enlarged extremities and at sites of contact between two platelets, whereas GPIb was absent from pseudopods. After thrombin stimulation of adherent platelets, GPIb underwent a relocation to the cell center, in contrast to GPIIb-IIIa which still remained randomly distributed over the cell body. To investigate whether ligand distribution paralleled this receptor segregation, platelet released von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibrinogen (Fg) and thrombospondin (TSP) were visualized. During the early stages of platelet activation, surface labeling for all three adhesive proteins was minimal and almost undetectable. Occasionally, intragranular Fg and vWF was accessible to gold-coupled antibodies, with vWF exhibiting the typical eccentric alpha-granular localization. At later stages of activation and especially after thrombin stimulation, no surface labeling for vWF was observed, whereas immunogold particles identifying vWF were still present inside enlarged clear vacuoles. In contrast, labeling of Fg and TSP was increased over the granulomere and extended to the cell periphery and the pseudopods, but was absent from the hyalomere, despite the presence of GPIIb-IIIa molecules. Double labeling experiments showed colocalization of Fg and TSP, GPIV and TSP, as well as Fg and GPIIb-IIIa, although no typical coclustering of GPIIb-IIIa and GPIV or GPIIb-IIIa and p24 was apparent. Our results further suggest that 1) on surface activated adherent platelets, not all GPIIb-IIIa molecules become competent to bind Fg, 2) GPIa-IIa is not anchored to the platelet membrane skeleton, and 3) during the early stage of platelet activation, a communication exists between the alpha granules and the platelet surface.

Antigens, CD

Effects of C-reactive protein on platelet function. II. Inhibition by CRP of platelet reactivities stimulated by poly-L-lysine, ADP, epinephrine, and collagen.

It was recently demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP)4 inhibits the response of human platelets to heataggregated human gamma-globulin and thrombin and that this inhibition is characterized by a dose-dependent reduction in aggregation, activation of platelet factor 3 (PF3), and release of beta-glucuronidase. In the present experiments, CRP was found also to inhibit the ability of washed human platelets to aggregate in response to poly-L-lysine (PLL); in these experiments, the magnitude of the inhibitory effect was dependent upon the m.w. of PLL used as the stimulating agent, and was more effective with low (15,000 daltons) than with high (400,000 daltons) m.w. polymers. CRP similarly inhibited ADP- and epinephrine-stimulated platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and this was characterized by relatively minimal suppression of the primary wave of aggregation. CRP also inhibited the platelet aggregation induced by collagen in PRP, although it had no effect upon the adherence of platelets to collagen. Finally, CRP inhibited the activation of PF3 and the release of serotonin during stimulation of platelets with ADP, and this inhibition was temporally related to the onset of the secondary wave of aggregation. These experiments extend the platelet reactivities inhibited by CRP, show that CRP expresses its inhibitory capacity in platelet-rich plasma as well as upon isolated platelets, raise the possibility that CRP exercises its effects by inhibiting or interfering with the release and/or utilization of endogenous platelet ADP, and support the concept that CRP plays an important role in the control of platelet responsiveness to a variety of stimuli during acute inflammatory reactions.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Platelet cGMP, but not cAMP, inhibits thrombin-induced platelet adhesion to pulmonary vascular endothelium.

We have compared the effects of intracellular pathways initiated by nitric oxide and prostacyclin on thrombin-induced platelet adhesion to endothelial cells. Platelet aggregate adhesion was enhanced when endothelial monolayers were pretreated with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide production. In addition, decreased platelet aggregate adhesion was seen when platelets were pretreated with 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-bromo-cAMP) or 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-bromo-cGMP). Single platelet adhesion in isolated perfused lungs under flow conditions in the presence of shear was also assessed. Pretreatment of platelets with either Iloprost, in a dose sufficient to decrease platelet aggregation, or 8-bromo-cAMP did not affect platelet adhesion. However, pretreatment of platelets with 8-bromo-cGMP significantly reduced single platelet adhesion to endothelium. These studies illustrate that nitric oxide inhibits platelet adhesion to endothelium in the presence of shear. They further indicate that prostacyclin is also a regulator of this response but has effects more specifically related to the inhibition of platelet aggregation than platelet-endothelium interactions.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate

Leukocyte-platelet interaction. Release of hydrogen peroxide by granulocytes as a modulator of platelet reactions.

Because of the many potent biological capabilities of the blood granulocytes, and their contact with platelets in various physiologic and pathologic states, a possible interaction between granulocytes and platelets was investigated. Platelets were purified by gel filtration and via a dialysis membrane were separated from suspensions of autologous granulocytes prepared by dextran sedimentation and resuspended in modified Tyrode's buffer. After 20 min at 37 degrees C platelet aggregation was shown to be diminished by such exposure, as compared to the aggregation of platelets incubated with dialysates of buffer only. When granulocytes were stimulated by the addition of 1.1-muM latex spheres as target particles for phagocytes, the dialysate of these cells exhibited greatly enhanced platelet-inhibitory properties. The addition of catalase to the platelets abolished the effect of exposing these cells to the dialysate of resting granulocytes and markedly inhibited the effect of exposing the platelets to the dialysate of phagocytosing granulocytes. Catalase treated with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole had no platelet-protective capacity. Purified suspensions of lymphocytes released no platelet-inhibitory principle under these experimental conditions. Hydrogen peroxide in the dialysate of granulocytes was measured directly with an assay involving an H2O2-induced decrease in the fluorescence of scopoletin catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase. The dialysate of phagocytosing granulocytes contained 0.86 +/- 0.55 nmol H2O2/2.5 X 10(7) granulocytes when sampled at 20 min. By an alternate measurement technique in which scopoletin and horseradish peroxidase were present in the dialysate from time zero, the mean amount of H2O2 in the dialysate reached 4.0 +/- 1.3 nmol/2.5 x 10(7) granulocytes at 20 min. This discrepancy suggested the consumption of H2O2, possibly mediated by the granulocytes themselves. This possibility was investigated by the addition of exogenous H2O2 to the test system. Both granulocytes and platelets enhanced the disappearance of H2O2 from the dialysate, and the amount consumed was proportional to the amount of H2O2 added to the system. Glucose oxidase at 12 M U/ml plus glucose in excess resulted in the production of H2O2 at a rate and final amount comparable to that produced by phagocytosing granulocytes. This mixture, when substituted for phagocytosing granulocytes in the standard dialysis membrane experiment, induced an inhibition of platelet aggregation similar to that caused by the granulocytes. The observation that the release of H2O2 by the blood granulocyte influences platelet function suggests a potential role for the granulocyte in the regulation of hemostasis or thrombosis.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Relationship between mepacrine-labelled dense body number, platelet capacity to accumulate 14C-5-HT and platelet density in the Bernard-Soulier and Hermansky-Pudlak syndromes.

We have used the mepacrine-labelling procedure to measure the dense body (serotonin storage organelle) content of the platelets of 2 hereditary disorders where abnormalities in dense body number were suspected. The platelets were incubated with mepacrine and examined by fluorescence microscopy. A mean number of 5.4 +/- 0.8 (SD) dense bodies per platelet was calculated from the data obtained using platelets isolated from 40 normal human subjects. In contrast the platelets of 2 patients with the Bernard-Soulier syndrome contained an average of 14 and 17 labelled granules. This increase was associated with a much greater capacity of the platelets to accumulate 14C-5-HT. The opposite result was obtained using the platelets from 2 patients with the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome which contained few granules labelled by mepacrine and took up less 14C-5-HT than normal human platelets. Centrifugation of the patients' platelets on discontinuous sucrose gradients showed that the platelets of the 2 Bernard-Soulier patients were much denser than normal whereas a high proportion of low density platelets was observed in the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. These results further define the platelet abnormalities in the two syndromes and suggest that dense body number may be one of the factors governing platelet density.

Adolescent

Platelet activity ratio. A new approach for quantitation of platelet factor 3.

The ratio of kaolin recalcification time in platelet-poor plasma to kaolin recalcification time in platelet-rich plasma appears to provide a more accurate estimate of platelet factor 3 activity than measurement of kaolin recalcification time in platelet-rich plasma alone. This ratio is termed the "platelet activity ratio." Over a fairly wide range the platelet activity ratio appears to follow a linear log-log relationship to platelet count (platelet counts of 12,500 to 200,000). The use of diluted platelet substitute as artificial standard greatly simplifies preparation of (1) standard curves and (2) quality control plasmas. If platelet activity ratio is expressed as a percentage of normal platelet factor 3 activity, the normal range for "total" platelet factor 3 (PF3t) is 60 to 175% and normal range for "available" platelet factor 3 (PF3a) is 14 to 47%.

Blood Coagulation

Characterization of human platelet proteins solubilized with Triton X-100 and examined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Reference patterns of extracts from whole platelets and isolated membranes.

Whole human platelets and platelet membranes have been solubilized in 1% Triton X-100, and the solubilized proteins examined by crossed immunoelectrophoresis using rabbit antibodies raised against either whole platelets or isolated membranes. 90% of the platelet proteins were solubilized by this extraction. About twenty immunoprecipitates were observed using the extracts obtained from whole platelets, whereas normally eight immunoprecipitates were seen with extracts from isolated membranes. Albumin, factor VIII and fibrinogen were identified with monospecific antibodies. Correlation of the patterns obtained for platelets or membranes was obtained by addition experiments, by crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis and by crossed immunoelectrophoresis of a mixture of extracts from unlabeled whole platelets and membranes isolated from platelets labeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed 125I iodination. Four sialoglycoproteins were identified by their reduced electrophoretic migration after neuraminidase treatment, and six proteins interacted with various lectins, indicating them to be glycosylated. Seven amphiphilic proteins were identified by charge-shift crossed immunoelectrophoresis, and nine by crossed hydrophobic interaction immunoelectrophoresis with phenyl-Sepharose. The topographical arrangement of the membrane proteins was examined with lactoperoxidase-catalyzed 125I-labeled platelets as antigens, and by antibodies absorbed with a suspension of whole platelets. Four and six radioactively labeled precipitates could be identified using the platelet and membrane extracts, respectively, indicating them to be exposed at the outer platelet surface. This was confirmed by the use of antibodies absorbed with intact platelets.

Blood Platelets

The platelet defect in leukemia. Platelet ultrastructure, adenine nucleotide metabolism, and the release reaction.

The ultrastructure and adenine nucleotide metabolism of platelets from patients with acute leukemia were studied to elucidate possible mechanisms for the platelet dysfunction observed in this clinical setting. Nonstimulated (resting) platelets from leukemic patients varied greatly in size; exhibited marked variation in the number of alpha granules present per cell; had poorly delineated circumferential bands of microtubules; and often grossly dilated open channel systems or cytoplasmic vacuolization. The intracellular concentrations of ATP and ADP were significantly below normal, and the specific radioactivity of ATP and ADP of nonstimulated platelets in leukemia was equivalent to or exceeded that seen in stimulated normal platelets. Addition of ADP or collagen to platelets from leukemic patients was followed by retarded and incomplete shape change, delayed and incomplete centripetal migration of subcellular organelles, impaired degranulation, and the formation of loose aggregates composed of relatively few platelets. Stimulation of "leukemic" platelets with collagen led to the release of significantly subnormal amounts of ATP and ADP and no significant change in the specific radioactivity of the intracellular nucleotides. In contrast to the results in normal platelets, the conversion of ATP to inosine monophosphate and hypoxanthine in platelets in leukemia failed to increase significantly with collagen stimulation. The results indicate that abnormalities exist in the storage pool of adenine nucleotides and the release mechanism of platelets in acute leukemia. These defects appear to contribute to an impairment in the release reaction in these platelets. Many of the ultrastructural and metabolic defects seen in acute leukemia occur in platelets in preleukemia.

Adenine Nucleotides

Further studies on a specific platelet antibody found in Bernard-Soulier syndrome and its effects on normal platelet function.

An IgG antiplatelet antibody found in a multitransfused patient with Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS), reacted with a normal platelet surface antigen of 150 000 daltons which was similar to the glycoprotein missing from BSS platelets. The BSS platelet antibody (BSS-Pab) aggregated all control platelets which then released ADP and 5-HT and synthesized thromboxane. When mixed with the antibody, BSS platelets did not aggregate, did not release ADP and 5-HT and failed to synthesize thromboxane. The BSS-Pab was not inactivated by incubation with BSS platelet stroma. While the antibody did not aggregate thrombasthenic platelets, its aggregating activity was lost after incubation with their stroma. The BSS-Pab did not provoke ADP or 5-HT release or thromboxane synthesis in thrombasthenic platelets or in the platelets of a patient with platelet cyclooxygenase deficiency or in normal platelets treated with indomethacin. The aggregating, release and synthetic responses of platelets after binding of BSS-Pab to its membrane antigen (probably glycoprotein I) requires the presence of glycoprotein IIb and/or IIa and the normal metabolism of arachidonic acid.

Antibodies

Detergent-resistant cytoskeleton of the surface-activated platelet differs from the suspension-activated platelet cytoskeleton.

This study contrasts the protein composition of the detergent-resistant cytoskeleton of platelets fully spread on glass with the cytoskeletal composition of resting platelets and platelets aggregated in suspension with thrombin. Complete Triton X-100-insoluble cytoskeletons were isolated from spread, resting, and suspension-activated platelets in the presence of protease inhibitors, solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate/EDTA and analyzed on reduced, one-dimensional polyacrylamide gels. The protein composition of the cytoskeletons differed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Most notable were more extensive incorporation of total protein, talin, and vinculin into the cytoskeleton of spread platelets than the cytoskeleton of suspension-activated platelets. Varying the concentration and time of exposure to thrombin during suspension activation did not mimic the cytoskeletal changes of surface activation. Scanning electron microscopy, measurement of lipid phosphorus content, and varying the duration of Triton extraction did not show incomplete solubilization or nonspecific trapping of constituents in the spread platelet cytoskeleton. Proteolysis of talin was minimal in suspension-activated platelets and in platelets spread for 50 minutes. The differences in the detergent-resistant cytoskeletons of surface- and suspension-activated platelets indicate significant divergence in the physiologies of platelet spreading on surfaces and platelet activation in suspension.

Adult

Inhibition of adenylate cyclase by adenosine analogues in preparations of broken and intact human platelets. Evidence for the unidirectional control of platelet function by cyclic AMP.

Whereas adenosine itself exerted independent stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the adenylate cyclase activity of a platelet particulate fraction at low and high concentrations respectively, 2-substituted and N6-monosubstituted adenosines had stimulatory but greatly decreased inhibitory effects. Deoxyadenosines, on the other hand, had enhanced inhibitory but no stimulatory effects. The most potent inhibitors found were, in order of increasing activity, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl)adenine (SQ 22536), 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine and 2'-deoxyadenosine 3'-monophosphate. Kinetic studies on prostaglandin E1-activated adenylate cyclase showed that the inhibition caused by either 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine or compound SQ 22536 was non-competitive with MgATP and that the former compound, at least, showed negative co-operativity; 50% inhibition was observed with 4 micron-2',5'-dideoxyadenosine or 13 micron-SQ 22536. These two compounds also inhibited both the basal and prostaglandin E1-activated adenylate cyclase activities of intact platelets, when these were measured as the increases in cyclic [3H]AMP in platelets that had been labelled with [3H]adenine and were then incubated briefly with papaverine or papaverine and prostaglandin E1. Both compounds, but particularly 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, markedly decreased the inhibition by prostaglandin E1 of platelet aggregation induced by ADP or [arginine]vasopressin as well as the associated increases in platelet cyclic AMP, so providing further evidence that the effects of prostaglandin E1 on platelet aggregation are mediated by cyclic AMP. 2'-Deoxyadenosine 3'-monophosphate did not affect the inhibition of aggregation by prostaglandin E1, suggesting that the site of action of deoxyadenosine derivatives on adenylate cyclase is intracellular. Neither 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine nor compound SQ 22536 alone induced platelet aggregation. Moreover, neither compound potentiated platelet aggregation or the platelet release reaction when suboptimal concentrations of ADP, [arginine]vasopressin, collagen or arachidonate were added to heparinized or citrated platelet-rich plasma in the absence of prostaglandin E1. These results show that cyclic AMP plays no significant role in the responses of platelets to aggregating agents in the absence of compounds that increase the platelet cyclic AMP concentration above the resting value.

Adenosine