STIMULUS-DEPENDENT CHANGES IN THE SURFACE EXPRESSION OF GPIIb/IIIa AND FIBRINOGEN RECEPTORS. RELATIONSHIP TO PLATELET AGGREGATION
Platelet stimulation altered the binding of three monoclonal antibodies (monovalent Fab’ fragment) directed against the glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa complex. We found that 47,600-60,300 molecules of antibody bound per platelet before stimulation, as compared to 89,200-146,500 molecules per platelet after thrombin stimulation. These changes were observed in parallel with a small but significant increase in the dissociation constant (Kd) of two antibodies. In contrast, no statistically significant changes were observed with ADP-stimulated platelets. The increased binding of LJ-CP3, but not of the other two antibodies, to activated platelets decreased by 3040% in the presence of EDTA at 22-25°C, suggesting the occurrence of divalent-cation mediated, activation-dependent changes in the corresponding GPIIb/IIIa epitope. Platelets stimulated by thrombin bound more fibrinogen than those stimulated by ADP, and significant differences in the extent but not in the affinity of fibrinogen binding were observed with different platelet agonists. When the pool of GPIIb/IIIa molecules exposed on the surface of unstimulated platelets was reacted with monoclonal antibody LJ-CP3 to block ADP-induced fibrinogen binding and platelet aggregation, thrombin stimulation still induced substantial binding and aggregation. This effect of thrombin required exposure of platelets to the active agonist and was not mediated by molecules released by thrombin into the medium. Therefore, platelets activated with “strong” agonists exhibit increased number of surface-oriented epitopes associated with GPIIb/IIIa. The GPIIb/IIIa molecules bearing these newly exposed epitopes are functional in that they bind fibrinogen and mediate platelet aggregation.