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In thrombin-stimulated platelets alpha IIb beta 3 integrin engagement triggers both phosphatidylinositol 3',4'-bisphosphate synthesis and calpain activation. We checked the possible involvement of calpains in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling pathway using a cell permeant specific inhibitor of calpains, calpeptin. In conditions where thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and secretion were not impaired, we found a dose-dependent inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate synthesis by calpeptin from 50 micrograms/ml. Moreover, pretreatment of platelets by both calpeptin and the peptide RGDS, an inhibitor of fibrinogen binding to activated alpha IIb beta 3 integrin, did not induce additive effects on phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate inhibition. Finally, the p85 regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was still translocated to the cytoskeleton in calpeptin-treated platelets. These data indicate that calpains are involved in the regulation of alpha IIb beta 3 integrin-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signalling pathway.

In the present study we have examined the levels and phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) as well as the association between IRS-1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in the liver and muscle of rats treated with glucagon. There was a decrease in the insulin-stimulated receptor and IRS-1 phosphorylation levels which was paralleled by a reduced association between IRS-1 and PI 3-kinase in vivo in the liver and muscle of glucagon-treated rats. These observations suggest that glucagon, probably acting through cAMP, may impair insulin signaling in the three early steps in insulin action after binding.