Shear and Integrin Outside-In Signaling Activate NADPH-Oxidase 2 to Promote Platelet Activation

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Objective: Despite the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NOX (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate [NADPH] oxidase) 2 in platelet activation and in vivo thrombosis, it is unclear how ROS and NOX2 play a role in platelet activation and why NOX2 deficiencies in humans and mice do not affect hemostasis. Outside-in signaling of integrin αIIbβ3 mediates platelet response to shear stress, secondary platelet activation, and thrombus expansion and is critical to thrombosis but dispensable for hemostasis. We studied the mechanisms of platelet ROS generation, ROS-mediated platelet response, and the role of ROS in integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signaling. Approach and Results: ROS generation in activated platelets was low and slow without shear but was robust under shear. Shear-enhanced ROS generation and activation of p47phox, an important regulatory subunit of NOX2, were diminished by the integrin antagonist integrilin or β3 knockout, and by Gα13 knockout or blocking the Gα13-β3 interaction. Resting platelets spreading on integrin ligand fibrinogen also Gα13-dependently stimulated ROS generation and p47phox activation. Hence, Gα13-mediated outside-in signaling induces NOX2 activation and ROS generation which is greatly enhanced by shear. Outside-in NOX2 activation requires Src, phosphoinositide 3-kinase and Akt downstream of Gα13. Importantly, NOX2-knockout platelets showed defective ROS generation, reduced platelet spreading without shear, and reduced platelet adhesion and thrombus volume on collagen and VWF (von Willibrand factor) under shear, whereas ROS inhibition diminished activation of tyrosine kinase Syk. Conclusions: Outside-in signaling activates the mainly NOX2-mediated ROS generation, which mediates Syk-dependent secondary platelet activation, adhesion, and thrombosis with minimal effect on hemostasis.