Despite the fact that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been identified as a main platelet-activating lipid of mildly oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and human atherosclerotic lesions, it remains unknown whether it is capable of activating platelets in blood. We found that LPA at concentrations slightly above plasma levels induces platelet shape change, aggregation, and platelet-monocyte a...

Although thromboxane A2 is a potent platelet agonist and vasoconstrictor in vitro, our knowledge of its pathophysiologic importance in human disease is limited. To facilitate the elucidation of its role in vivo, we sought to define a human syndrome in which pharmacologic interventions designed to inhibit the biosynthesis or biologic actions of thromboxane A2 might be appropriately assessed. Pat...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES Glycoprotein inhibitors (abciximab, eptifibatide and tirofiban) are used in patients with unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction before percutaneous coronary intervention. Of these, tirofiban is the least effective. We hypothesized that the response to tirofiban might be associated with glycoprotein gene mutations. DESIGN AND SETTING Prospect...

We studied the role of adenosine (Ado), which is generated from adenine nucleotides via the activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT), in the inhibition of platelet aggregation by endothelial cells (ECs). The enzymatic activity of nucleotidases on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was examined with regard to (1) the inhibition of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet ag...

Adenosine-50-diphosphate (ADP) plays a key role in platelet function, because, although ADP itself is a weak platelet agonist, when secreted from the platelet dense granules where it is stored, it amplifies the platelet responses induced by other platelet agonists. The transduction of the ADP signal involves both a transient rise in free cytoplasmic calcium mediated by the Gq-coupled P2Y1 recep...

BACKGROUND The loading dose of ticlopidine is 500 mg in both the US and Europe and 200 mg in Japan. A lower loading dose of clopidogrel might achieve adequate platelet inhibition in Japanese patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Platelet aggregation was serially measured at baseline, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after 150-mg (n=20) and 300-mg (n=20) clopidogrel loading. Platelets were stimulated with 5 and 2...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Triple anti-platelet therapy may produce more potent inhibition of platelet aggregation in patients undergoing coronary stent implantation. We tested whether this effect could be maintained in diabetic patients, where platelet reactivity is increased and the risk of stent thrombosis is higher. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Fifty five type 2 diabetic patients who had undergone...

The molecular basis for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a relatively common complication of heparin therapy, is not yet fully understood. We found that pretreatment of platelets with AR-C66096 (formerly FPL 66096), a specific platelet adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor antagonist, at a concentration of 100 to 200 nmol/L that blocked ADP-dependent platelet aggregation, resulted in comp...

Heterologous monomeric I9G anti-human platelet antibody mediates platelet aggregation and release of ‘4C-serotonin from human platelets. The reaction is independent of complement and thrombin and is not inhibited by acetylsalicylic acid. Studies are presented showing that when adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was removed by apyrase, creatine phosphokinase, or pyruvate kinase, antibodyinduced aggrega...

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant which humoral concentration rises drastically following tissue injury or inflammation. CRP of all species binds to phosphorylcholine residues. In the present studies CRP was found to inhibit platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation, and to stabilize platelet membranes against the lytic effect of lysophosphatidylcholine. Inhibiti...