Protease-activated receptors 1 and 4 mediate activation of human platelets by thrombin.

Article Details

Citation

Kahn ML, Nakanishi-Matsui M, Shapiro MJ, Ishihara H, Coughlin SR

Protease-activated receptors 1 and 4 mediate activation of human platelets by thrombin.

J Clin Invest. 1999 Mar;103(6):879-87.

PubMed ID
10079109 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Because of the role of thrombin and platelets in myocardial infarction and other pathological processes, identifying and blocking the receptors by which thrombin activates platelets has been an important goal. Three protease-activated receptors (PARs) for thrombin -- PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4 -- are now known. PAR1 functions in human platelets, and the recent observation that a PAR4-activating peptide activates human platelets suggests that PAR4 also acts in these cells. Whether PAR1 and PAR4 account for activation of human platelets by thrombin, or whether PAR3 or still other receptors contribute, is unknown. We have examined the roles of PAR1, PAR3, and PAR4 in platelets. PAR1 and PAR4 mRNA and protein were detected in human platelets. Activation of either receptor was sufficient to trigger platelet secretion and aggregation. Inhibition of PAR1 alone by antagonist, blocking antibody, or desensitization blocked platelet activation by 1 nM thrombin but only modestly attenuated platelet activation by 30 nM thrombin. Inhibition of PAR4 alone using a blocking antibody had little effect at either thrombin concentration. Strikingly, simultaneous inhibition of both PAR1 and PAR4 virtually ablated platelet secretion and aggregation, even at 30 nM thrombin. These observations suggest that PAR1 and PAR4 account for most, if not all, thrombin signaling in platelets and that antagonists that block these receptors might be useful antithrombotic agents.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
StreptokinaseProteinase-activated receptor 1ProteinHumans
Unknown
Activator
Details
Polypeptides
NameUniProt ID
Proteinase-activated receptor 1P25116Details
Proteinase-activated receptor 4Q96RI0Details