Platelet adhesion and activation at the vascular wall are the initial steps leading to arterial thrombosis and vascular occlusion. Prostacyclin and nitric oxide inhibit platelet adhesion, acting via cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. A major downstream target for both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases is the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). To test the significance of VASP for the regulation of platelet adhesion in vivo, we studied platelet-vessel wall interactions using VASP-deficient (VASP-/-) mice. Under physiologic conditions, platelet adhesion to endothelial cells was significantly enhanced in VASP null mutants when compared with wild-type mice. Under pathophysiologic conditions, the loss of VASP increased platelet adhesion to the postischemic intestinal microvasculature, to the atherosclerotic endothelium of ApoE-deficient mice, and to the subendothelial matrix following endothelial denudation. These data show for the first time in vivo that VASP is involved in down-regulation of platelet adhesion to the vascular wall under both physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions.
«Platelet adhesion and activation at the vascular wall are the initial steps leading to arterial thrombosis and vascular occlusion. Prostacyclin and nitric oxide inhibit platelet adhesion, acting via cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. A major downstream target for both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases is the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP). To test the significance of VASP for the regulation of platelet adhesion in vivo, we studied platelet-vessel wall interactions usi...
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