[Mechanisms of the protease-induced aggregation of human platelets]

Abstract

The role of phospholipase C (an enzyme involved in the metabolism of inositol-containing phospholipids), cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (the enzymes of arachidonic acid metabolism), and adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase (the enzymes of cyclic adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism) in the mechanisms of the aggregation of human platelets induced by the serine protease in low concentrations (thrombin 0.5 mkg per ml, trypsin 1 mkg per ml, and alpha-chymotrypsin 10 mkg per ml) have been investigated with the use of the inhibitor analysis. The effect of neomycin sulfate (phospholipase C inhibitor), indometacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), and nordihydrogvayaretic acid (lipoxygenase inhibitor) on protease-induced increase in the content of calcium cations in platelet plasma has been studied. The results of the inhibitor analysis indicated that the enzymes of metabolism of inositol-containing phospholipids, arachidonic acid, and cAMP are involved in the mechanisms of the protease-induced platelet aggregation. The increase in the content of calcium ions, associated with the protease-induced activation of phospholipase C, in cytoplasm may play an important role in the mechanisms of platelet aggregation.