Platelet interaction with subendothelial extracellular matrix: platelet-fibrinogen interactions are essential for platelet aggregation but not for the matrix-induced release reaction.

Cultured endothelial cells produce an extracellular matrix (ECM) to which platelets adhere and spread, ultimately resulting in platelet aggregation, thromboxane B2 production, and serotonin release. We have investigated the role of fibrinogen binding to the platelet GPIIb/IIIa complex in these reactions by comparing normal platelet-rich plasma (PRP), PRP from patients with Glanzman's thrombasthenia (whose platelets lack the GPIIb/IIIa complex), PRP in the presence of a monoclonal antibody that blocks the binding of fibrinogen to the GPIIb/IIIa complex, platelets washed free of fibrinogen, and washed platelets to which fibrinogen was added. Although platelet aggregation was virtually completely inhibited in the samples in which the normal interaction between fibrinogen and GPIIb/IIIa was impaired, adhesion of platelets to the matrix, spreading, and release of [14C]-serotonin were not affected. All of the platelet preparations released significant amounts of T X B2 with time, but there was a decrease in the amount produced by both the thrombasthenic and antibody-treated platelets. We conclude that the interaction of fibrinogen with platelet GPIIb/IIIa is not required for platelet adhesion to ECM or for adhesion-induced shape change or serotonin release. On the other hand, the platelet-fibrinogen interaction may play some role in augmenting adhesion-induced T X B2 production, and it is absolutely required for adhesion-induced platelet aggregation.