Function of IRAG and the phosphorylation of the InsP3R-I for the NO/cGMP-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation

Results We investigated the relevance of IRAG and the cGKI stimulated phosphorylation of the calcium channel InsP3R-I for the NO/cGMP-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion. After incubation with different agonists (collagen, thrombin, TxA2) we performed aggregation experiments with platelets of WT and IRAG-KO mice, thereby the IRAG-KO platelets aggregated stronger than the WT platelets. After preincubation with NO/cGMP the inhibition of aggregation was decreased in IRAG-KO platelets compared to WT platelets. Furthermore, GPIIb/IIIamediated adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen could only weakly be inhibited in IRAG-deficient platelets contrary to WT platelets. The cGKI-mediated stimulation of InsP3R-I phosphorylation showed an equal increase in WT and IRAG-KO platelets.