Relationship Between Aggregation and Binding of 125I-Fibrinogen and 45Calcium to Human Platelets
Since calcium and fibrinogen are essential cofactors for ADP-induced aggregation, their mechanisms of action were investigated. Aspirin-treated platelets were filtered through Sepharose 2B equilibrated with cation-poor Tyrode’s solution. After adding the radioactive compounds at 22, platelets were centrifuged through silicone oil. Trapping was assessed in separate samples with 14C-sorbitoi. Calcium binding was maximal at 1 hr and with 200 uH CaCl2. Two binding sites could be demonstrated on normal and thrombasthenic platelets and on platelets which had lost their ability to aggregate (but not to change shape or promote clot retraction) after treatment with EDTA (8 min, 37°, pH 7.8). ADP did not alter calcium binding in the presence or absence of fibrinogen. Fibrinogen, however, bound to normal gel filtered platelets in the presence of ADP and ionized calcium “ but not to thrombasthenic or EDTA-treated platelets or to normal platelets in the presence of EDTA or at pH 6.5. Binding of fibrinogen increased with concentration but saturation was not observed even at physiologic levels. Fibrinogen binding was similar in gel filtered platelets and citrated piatelet-rich plasma. These studies indicate that stimulation of platelets with ADP under conditions favorable to aggregation is associated with binding of fibrinogen but not of additional calcium.