title: The L-arginine/NO pathway in the early phases of platelet stimulation by collagen.
abstract: Nitric oxide production, L-arginine transport and intracellular [Ca2+] changes in human platelets stimulated without stirring by low doses of collagen have been evaluated. Collagen decreased in a dose-dependent manner the nitric oxide formation. A reduction of about 30% of the basal level was produced by 5 microg/mL. Aspirin did not change the collagen effect. The inhibition was reversed by EGTA. Moreover collagen reduced L-arginine uptake. The exposure of platelets to 5 microg/mL collagen diminished of about 30% L-arginine transport. The specific involvement of the system y+ is suggested. In addition in FURA 2-loaded platelets collagen induced a dose-dependent slow sustained [Ca2+] rise that was almost completely cancelled by EGTA. Finally the treatment of whole platelets with collagen affected in a dose-dependent manner the maximal nitric oxide formation, suggesting a direct effect at the level of nitric oxide synthase enzyme. The phosphorylation of specific serine/threonine residues regulated by protein kinase C could be involved. In conclusion during the early phases of platelet stimulation with collagen nitric oxide formation is diminished. This reduction can be due to a lower availability of L-arginine for cytosolic nitric oxide synthase and/or to a decreased activity related to modifications of the enzyme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Biochemistry Section, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 1, 16132 Genova, Italy. leoncini@unige.it
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leoncini
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruzzese
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Signorello
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003094:Collagen; D001120:Arginine