A receptor for fibrinogen on the platelet GP Ila/lIIb complex is induced by ADP, thrombin and other agonists. To study functional domains on GP Ilb/IIIa, the effects of anti-GP Ilb/IIIa monoclonal antibodies (Mab’s) on platelet function were determined. One of these Mab’s, 6C9, induced platelet aggregation. The antibody binds to the intact GP Ilb/IIIa complex only, not to free GP lib or free GP Ilia. Its epitope is different from that of C17, a Mab that inhibits ADP-induced fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation. 6C9 induces fibrinogen-mediated aggregation rather than agglutination since 6C9-induced platelet interactions were blocked by treatments that also inhibited the effects of ADP etc., without inhibiting binding of 6C9 itself. 6C9 induces binding of 125I-fibrinogen (35.000 ± 7.300 molecules/platelet, Kd = 1.3 ± 0.4 µM) to unstirred platelets. Binding of fibrinogen was 60 to 80% inhibited by apyrase, which indicates that 6C9-induced fibrinogen binding is largely mediated via ADP released from platelets. In addition, 6C9 induced aggregation of platelets in the absence of extracellular fibrinogen. Mediation of this process by platelet fibrinogen or other a-granule proteins, released upon activation by 6C9, was implicated by the finding that aggregation of washed platelets, but not of platelets to which fibrinogen was added, could be blocked by PGI2. Platelet release was also assessed directly by measuring β-thromboglobulin (α-granules) and (14C) serotonin (dense granules) in the medium of unstirred platelets incubated with 6C9. F(ab')2 fragments of 6C9 only aggregated platelets in the presence of fibrinogen and did not release (14C) serotonin. Moreover, release induced by intact 6C9 was inhibited by anti-GP Ilb/IIIa Mab C17 but not by C17 F(ab’)2, although the latter inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation. These data indicate that binding of antibodies to specific sites on GP Ilb/IIIa may induce Fc-dependent platelet activation.This study was supported by the Foundation for Medical Research MEDIGON (grant no. 900-526-057.