title: Effects Of Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Antagonists: Anti Platelet Aggregation And Beyond.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of inhibitors of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) has provided dramatic results in terms of the prevention of acute stent thrombosis and a reduction in major adverse coronary events in patients subjected to percutaneous coronary intervention. GPIIb/IIIa or αIIbβ3 is a member of the β3 subfamily of integrins, which also includes αVβ3. GPIIb/IIIa functions as a receptor for fibrinogen and several adhesion proteins sharing an arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence. GPIIb/IIIa antagonists, through blockade of the receptor, prevent platelet aggregation. Among the three GPIIb/IIIa antagonists used in therapy, abciximab is an anti-β3 monoclonal antibody, while tirofiban and eptifibatide mimic the binding sequence of the fibrinogen ligand. Although antiplatelet aggregation represents the central function of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, further actions have been documented for these compounds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present article is to review the structures and functions of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists and to highlight the clinical outcomes and results of randomized trials with these compounds. Hypotheses on the unexplored potential of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists will be put forward.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors were developed to prevent platelet aggregation, however, these compounds can exert further biological functions, both platelet- and non-platelet-related. Large-scale studies comparing the efficacy and safety of GPIIb/IIIa antagonists are lacking. More insights into the functions of these compounds may lead to generation of novel small molecules able to antagonize platelet aggregation while promoting vascular repair.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Angelillo
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Giuseppe Biondi
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zoccai
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coscioni
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. mariafiammetta.romano@unina.it.
authors.forename: Maria Fiammetta
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000077284:Abciximab; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077542:Eptifibatide; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077466:Tirofiban; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex; D014443:Tyrosine; D000077466:Tirofiban; D000077542:Eptifibatide; D000077284:Abciximab