Signaling through GP Ib-IX-V activates αIIbβ3 independently of other receptors

Platelet adhesion to von Willebrand factor (VWF) activates αIIbβ3, a prerequisite for thrombus formation. However, it is unclear whether the primary VWF receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V, mediates αIIbβ3 activation directly or through other signaling proteins physically associated with it (eg, FcR γ-chain), possibly with the contribution of other agonist receptors and of VWF signaling through αIIbβ3. To resolve this question, human and GP Ibα transgenic mouse platelets were plated on dimeric VWF A1 domain (dA1VWF), which engages only GP Ib-IX-V, in the presence of inhibitors of other agonist receptors. Platelet adhesion to dA1VWF induced Src kinase-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the FcR γ-chain and the adapter molecule, ADAP, and triggered intracellular Ca²⁺ oscillations and αIIbβ3 activation. Inhibition of Ca²⁺ oscillations with BAPTA-AM prevented αIIbβ3 activation but not tyrosine phosphorylation. Pharmacologic inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) prevented αIIbβ3 activation but not Ca²⁺ oscillations. Inhibition of Src with 2 distinct compounds blocked all responses downstream of GP Ib-IX-V under static or flow conditions. However, dA1VWF-induced responses were reduced only slightly in GP Ibα transgenic platelets lacking FcR γ-chain. These data establish that GP Ib-IX-V itself can signal to activate αIIbβ3, through sequential actions of Src kinases, Ca²⁺ oscillations, and PI 3-kinase/PKC.