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The present study evaluated the direct involvement of thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2) in the process of thrombus formation at a site of vascular damage. De-endothelialization of the rabbit aorta was performed by a balloon catheter technique. Platelet deposition to the injured vessel was measured using 111Indium-labeled autologous platelets. Studies using the radiolabeled TXA2/PGH2 antagonist, 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA), indicated that 13-APA has an in vivo half-life of approximately 35 min and is excreted by the kidney in the metabolized form. Addition of 13-APA to rabbit plasma samples in vitro produced a dose-dependent inhibition of arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. When comparable plasma levels of 13-APA were achieved by infusion of 13-APA (300 micrograms/kg/min for 90 min), a similar dose-dependency of inhibition of ex vivo aggregation was observed. Furthermore, at a plasma concentration of 40 microM, 13-APA was found to inhibit platelet deposition to the de-endothelialized rabbit aorta by 45%. Because 13-APA does not interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism, the ability of 13-APA to suppress thrombus formation is presumably due to direct antagonism of TXA2/PGH2 at the platelet receptor level. These findings, therefore, provide evidence that TXA2 and/or PGH2 have a major role in platelet deposition at a site of vascular damage.

The binding of U46619 and the inhibition of this binding by four TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists (13-APA, BM 13.177, ONO 3708 and SQ 29,548) were studied in unactivated, intact human platelets. Washed platelets were equilibrated with [3H]-U46619 (5 nM) and the time course of binding determined. The receptor-specific binding reached equilibrium within 2-4 minutes, and could be displaced by addition of excess unlabelled ligand. Saturation of this binding was achieved at 750 nM. Scatchard transformation of the saturation binding curve yielded a single class of binding site with a Kd of 108 nM and Bmax of 360 fmole/10(8) platelets. When [3H]-U46619 (4 nM) was incubated with platelets in the presence of increasing concentrations of the antagonists, binding of U46619 was inhibited in a dose dependent manner. The potency series for inhibition of U46619 binding was: SQ 29,548 (IC50 = 7.9 nM) greater than ONO 3708 (IC50 = 38 nM) greater than BM 13.177 (IC50 = 0.91 microM) greater than 13-APA (IC50 = 6.2 microM). These findings are consistent with the notion that these compounds all act as competitive antagonists at the level of the platelet TXA2/PGH2 receptor.

To determine the pathogenetic mechanism of a hereditary primary platelet release disorder, arachidonic acid metabolism via the cyclooxygenase pathway was investigated. The propositus' platelets exhibited defective release reaction and second-wave aggregation when stimulated by sodium arachidonate or U46619, a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) agonist. The lack of platelet response to U46619 suggested that the defect was beyond the thromboxane synthetase level. Furthermore, thromboxane B2 (TXB2) formation in the propositus' platelets (558.52 ng/10(8) platelets) was within the normal range (574.29 +/- SD 27.39 ng/10(8) platelets) and TXA2 formation appeared to be adequate for aggregating normal platelets. The results were indicative of an abnormal platelet response to TXA2. Failure of the propositus' platelets to aggregate in response to TXA2 formed in normal platelet-rich plasma induced by arachidonate confirmed this notion. To gain further insight, platelet cyclic (c) AMP content was determined. Prostacyclin induced a significant elevation of the propositus' platelet cAMP level comparable to normal values. U46619 suppressed prostaglandin I2-induced cAMP elevation in normal subjects but had no such effect in the patient. We conclude that the primary release disorder observed in this kindred is due to an abnormal platelet respnse to TXA2 possibly because of TXA2/PGH2 receptor abnormalities.

We previously demonstrated that thromboxane A2 and/or prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2), ADP, and A23187 cause calcium mobilization in intact human platelets. Other studies have also shown that platelet shape change and aggregation induced by a variety of platelet agonists can be reversed by specific antagonists. In the present study, we used the fluorescent calcium probe chlortetracycline to evaluate whether the reversal of platelet activation involves a resequestration of intraplatelet calcium. It was found that the TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA) reversed calcium mobilization and shape change induced by AA but not that induced by ADP. A similar specificity of action was observed using the specific ADP receptor antagonist, ATP, in that ATP only reversed ADP-induced calcium release and shape change. In contrast, prostacyclin reversed both AA and ADP-induced calcium redistribution and shape change. In the latter experiments, a net calcium sequestration was actually observed on prostacyclin addition. These findings indicate that the resequestration of released calcium leads to platelet deactivation. Furthermore, there appear to be at least two mechanisms by which a reduction in cytosolic calcium can be produced: specific interruption of the agonist-receptor interaction, for example, 13-APA antagonism of TXA2/PGH2; and stimulation of platelet adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production by prostacyclin and consequent calcium sequestration.

The effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha on human blood platelet function were investigated. PGF2 alpha at 15 muM completely blocked platelet aggregation induced by 500 muM arachidonic acid or 3 muM U46619 but had no effect on aggregation induced by 7.5 muM ADP. A similar specificity of action was not obtained with either PGI2 or PGE2. Thus concentrations of PGI2 (3 nM) or PGE2 (20 muM) which inhibited U46619- induced aggregation by 100% also blocked ADP-stimulated aggregation. The inhibitory properties of PGF2 alpha were not related to increases in platelet cAMP, since direct measurement of intracellular cAMP revealed that 15 muM PGF2 alpha produced no substantial change in cAMP levels. This finding was in direct contrast to results obtained using induced significant increases in platelet cAMP levels. The possibility that PGF2 alpha directly interacts at the platelet TXA2/PGH2 receptor was investigated by measuring [3H]PGF2 alpha binding to isolated platelet membranes. It was found that [3H] PGF2 alpha binding reached equilibrium within 30 min at room temperature and could be 90% displaced by addition of 1000 fold excess of unlabelled PGF2 alpha. Furthermore, when 1000 fold excess of either the TXA2/PGH2 "mimetic' U46619 or the TXA2/PGH2 antagonist displaced by 95% and 85% respectively. In contrast, the same molar excess of 6-keto-PFG1 alpha, azo analog 2, or TXB2, caused displacement of only 15%, 20% or 25% of the [3H] PHF2 alpha binding. Scatchard analysis indicated that [3H] PGF2 alpha has two binding sites; i.e., a high affinity binding site with an apparent Kd of 50 nM and a low affinity binding site with apparent Kd of 320 nM. These results suggest that the selective inhibition by PGF2 alpha of AA or U46619- induced aggregation may be mediated through interaction at the platelet TXA2/PGH2 receptor.

A newly synthesized 13-aza derivative of prostanoic acid (13-APA) specifically inhibited human platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, prostaglandin H2, or the stable endoperoxide analog (15S)-hydroxy-9 alpha,11 alpha-)epoxymethano)-prosta-5Z,13E-dienoic acid. 13-APA also inhibited [14C]serotonin release in response to arachidonic acid, ADP, or thrombin, but did not inhibit primary aggregation induced by ADP or thrombin. 13-APA completely blocked prostaglandin H2-induced aggregation in indomethacin-treated resuspended platelets but did not inhibit thromboxane synthesis. We therefore conclude that 13-APA acts as a direct antagonist of the platelet thromboxane/endoperoxide receptor.

The present study investigated the mechanism by which thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2) stimulates platelet activation. Previous studies in isolated platelet vesicles have suggested that TXA2/PGH2 functions to release calcium from intraplatelet stores. On this basis, we investigated whether TXA2/PGH2 causes mobilization of calcium in intact platelets. Calcium redistribution was measured using the fluorescent probe, chlortetracycline (CTC), and a photon-counting microspectrofluorometer. Human platelet-rich plasma was incubated with CTC (50 microM) for 40 min at 25 degrees C. Shape change was induced with arachidonic acid (AA, 100 microM) or ADP (0.75-1.0 microM). It was found that AA addition resulted in a significant release of intraplatelet calcium. This release was blocked by inhibition of the cyclooxygenase with indomethacin (20 microM) or the specific TXA2/PGH2 antagonist, 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA, 100 microM). On the other hand, neither indomethacin nor 13-APA had any effect on calcium release stimulated by ADP. However, prostacyclin (13 nM) inhibited both AA- and ADP-induced calcium release. These findings provide evidence that cyclooxygenase products of AA, i.e., TXA2 and/or PGH2 directly caused the mobilization of intraplatelet calcium. Furthermore, this calcium mobilization appears to be mediated through a specific TXA2/PGH2 receptor interaction.

The mechanism by which the active metabolites of arachidonic acid (AA), i.e., thromboxane A2 and/or prostaglandin H2 (TXA2/PGH2) induce platelet aggregation is not understood. Several reports have suggested that AA-stimulated aggregation is mediated by secreted ADP, whereas other studies have proposed that this response is ADP-independent. In the present report, we used the specific TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonist, 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA), and the ADP antagonist, ATP, to examine the contribution of TXA2/PGH2 or secreted ADP to aggregation. We found that 13-APA, but not ATP, deaggregates platelets stimulated by AA or U46619 (a TXA2/PGH2 mimetic). In contrast, ADP-induced aggregation was reversed in response to ATP but not to 13-APA. These results suggest that TXA2/PGH2-stimulated aggregation is mediated through TXA2/PGH2 receptor occupation. Furthermore, secreted ADP does not appear to be required for maintenance of the AA-aggregation response.

In the present study we investigated the ability of the arachidonic acid metabolites, prostaglandin H2 and thromboxane A2, to release Ca2+ from isolated platelet vesicles. The vesicles were prepared through modification of previously described procedures. 45Ca uptake and release were determined by Millipore filtration and isotope counting of the filter paper. Incubation of the vesicles (25 degrees C) with 50 microM CaCl2 (plus 45Ca) resulted in the accumulation of 13 nmol Ca2+ per mg of protein under steady-state conditions. Addition of arachidonic acid (25 microM) resulted in a 42% release of the accumulated Ca2+ and the production of 150 ng thromboxane B2/mg protein. Pretreatment of the vesicles with indomethacin (4 microM) completely inhibited arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ release and reduced thromboxane B2 synthesis by 82%. Pretreatment of the vesicles with the specific thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 antagonist, 13-azaprostanoic acid (20 microM), also resulted in complete inhibition of Ca2+ release but no inhibition of thromboxane B2 production. Addition of prostaglandin H2 (0.3 microM) to the platelet vesicles produced a significant release of Ca2+ only in the presence of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor, 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (100 microM). This Ca2+ release was totally blocked by 13-azaprostanoic acid (20 microM). The thromboxane synthetase inhibitor 9,11-azoprosta-5,13-dienoic acid (azo analog I, 3.6 microM), in the presence of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine, only slightly inhibited Ca2+ release in response to added prostaglandin H2, even though thromboxane B2 production was blocked by 95%.

In the present study we characterized the interaction between the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 antagonist, trans-13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA), and isolated human platelet membranes. In these studies, we developed a binding assay using trans [3H] 13-APA as the ligand. It was found that trans [3H] 13-APA specific binding was rapid, reversible, saturable and temperature dependent. Scatchard analysis of the binding data yielded a curvilinear plot which indicated the existence of two classes of binding sites: a high-affinity binding site with an estimated dissociation constant (Kd) of 100 nM; and a low-affinity binding site with an estimated Kd of 3.5 microM. At saturation, approximately 1 pmol/mg protein of [3H] 13-APA was bound to the high affinity site. In order to further characterize the nature of the [3H] 13-APA binding site, we evaluated competitive binding by cis 13-APA, cis 15-APA, prostaglandin F2 alpha, U46619, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2. It was found that the [3H] 13-APA binding site was stereospecific and structurally specific. Thus, the cis isomer of 13-APA exhibited substantially reduced affinity for binding. Furthermore, the prostaglandin derivatives, thromboxane B2 and 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha, which do not possess biological activity, also did not compete for [3H] 13-APA binding. On the other hand, U46619 which acts as a thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 mimetic, and prostaglandin F2 alpha which acts as a thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 antagonist, both effectively competed for [3H] 13-APA binding. These findings indicate that trans 13-APA binds to a specific site on the platelet membrane which presumably represents the thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor.

The relative contribution of thromboxane (TX)A2/prostaglandin (PG)H2 and ADP to platelet shape change was determined using the specific TXA2/PGH2 antagonist, 13-azaprostanoic acid (13-APA) and the ADP antagonist, ATP. Shape change was induced in human platelet-rich plasma with doses of arachidonic acid (AA) or the PG endoperoxide analog U46619, which did not cause measurable ATP/ADP release. Pretreatment of platelet-rich plasma with 13-APA completely inhibited shape change to AA or U46619 but did not inhibit ADP-induced shape change. In contrast, ATP completely blocked shape change to ADP but not to AA or U46619. In addition, 13-APA and ATP also selectively reversed shape change. Thus, 13-APA added 1.5 min subsequent to AA or U46619 resulted in almost complete reversal of the shape change response. However, 13-APA did not reverse ADP-induced shape change. A similar selectivity was observed with ATP which reversed shape change to ADP but not to AA or U46619. These findings provide evidence that the interaction of TXA2/PGH2 with its receptor results in the direct stimulation of shape change independent of secreted ADP. Furthermore, maintenance of this shape change response appears to require continued occupation of the TXA2/PGH2 receptor.