HEMOSTASIS, THROMBOSIS, AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY Glycoprotein VI–mediated platelet fibrinogen receptor activation occurs through calcium-sensitive and PKC-sensitive pathways without a requirement for secreted ADP

Collagen activates platelets by transducing signals through glycoprotein VI (GPVI). It is not clear whether collagen can directly activate fibrinogen receptors on the adherent platelets without a role for positive feedback agonists. We investigated the contribution of secondary G protein signaling to the mechanism of GPVI-stimulated platelet aggregation using the GPVI-selective agonists, convulxin and collagen-related peptide (CRP) as well as collagen. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) scavengers or ADP receptor antagonists shifted the concentrationresponse curve slightly to the right at low concentrations of convulxin, whereas platelet aggregation at higher concentrations of convulxin was unaffected by these agents. ADP receptor antagonists shifted the concentration-response curve of collagenor CRP-induced platelet aggregation to the right at all the concentrations. Protein kinase C inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, or a calcium chelator 5,5 dimethyl-BAPTA shifted the concentration-response curve of convulxin-induced platelet aggregation to the right. In addition, pretreatment with both Ro 31-8220 and dimethyl-BAPTA resulted in total inhibition of convulxin-mediated aggregation. Blockade of either the calciumor protein kinase C–regulated pathway leads to inhibition of fibrinogen receptor activation on platelets adherent to collagen, but inhibition of both pathways leads to abolished fibrinogen receptor activation. We conclude that collagen-induced activation of fibrinogen receptor on adherent platelets through GPVI signaling occurs without any significant role for secreted ADP or thromboxane A2. Furthermore, protein kinase C– and calcium-regulated pathways independently contribute to GPVI-mediated platelet aggregation. (Blood. 2002;99:3228-3234)