Synergistic responses in human platelets. Comparison between aggregation, secretion and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration

Synergistic interaction between ADP, adrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and 8-arginine]vasopressin is not observed for the aggregatory response of aspirin-treated human platelets when this response is estimated directly from the decrease in the number of single platelets in the suspension. This finding is in marked contrast with prior reports of synergistic interaction between these agonists when the rate and extent of the aggregometer response is estimated from the increase in the light transmittance of the suspension, using a platelet aggregometer. We propose that the apparent synergistic response detected using the aggregometer results from the inability of this instrument to respond during the initial phase of aggregation. Significant synergistic interaction is observed for the increase in cytosolic Ca2+] induced by addition of the ADP/5HT and, to a lesser extent, of the ADP/vasopressin agonist pairs as compared with that caused by addition of the individual agonists. This effect is not, however, typical of the system since increases in cytosolic Ca2+] induced by addition of the ADP/thrombin or 5HT/vasopressin agonist pairs are no greater than the sum of the responses to these agonists added separately. Addition of collagen prior to ADP or 11,9-epoxymethanoprostaglandin H2 (U46619) fails to enhance the increase in cytosolic Ca2+] induced by these latter agonists. Adrenaline, when added prior to non-saturating concentrations of U46619, thrombin, vasopressin or ADP, significantly enhances the increase in cytosolic Ca2+] induced by these agonists in platelets suspended in media containing less than 0.1 microM or 1 mM Ca2+. However, adrenaline fails to enhance the increase in cytosolic Ca2+] induced by the divalent cation ionophore, ionomycin. Enhancement by adrenaline of Ca2+ influx induced by U46619, thrombin and ADP has been shown by using Mn2+ as probe. Adrenaline also enhances the extent of 3H]5HT secretion induced by U46619, thrombin and vasopressin but fails to increase that induced by ADP in this aspirin-treated preparation. These results are in part consistent with the postulate that adrenaline, acting via an alpha 2-adrenoceptor, modulates receptor--phospholipase-C coupling. However, such modulation does not appear to involve inhibition of adenylate cyclase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)