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.
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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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