Background: Recent studies have shown that platelet adhesion and subsequent aggregation can occur in vivo in the absence of the two principal platelets adhesive ligands, von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen. These results highlight a possible role for fibronectin in supporting thrombus formation.
Objective and methods: To evaluate the platelet integrins and subsequent activation pathways associated with fibronectin-dependent platelet adhesion utilizing both human and murine platelets.
Results: Platelets can adhere to fibronectin via the integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3), leading to formation of lamellipodia. This is mediated through an interaction with the tenth type III domain in fibronectin. Spreading on fibronectin promotes alpha(IIb)beta(3)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization and tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and phospholipase C gamma2. In contrast, studies with blocking antibodies and mice demonstrate that alpha(5)beta(1) and alpha(v)beta(3) support adhesion and promote formation of filopodia but not lamellipodia or tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins. Further, neither alpha(5)beta(1) nor alpha(v)beta(3) is able to induce formation of lamellipodia in the presence of platelets agonists, such as collagen-related-peptide (CRP).
Conclusions: These observations demonstrate that integrins alpha(5)beta(1) and alpha(v)beta(3) support platelet adhesion and the generation of filopodia but that, in contrast to the integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3), are unable to promote formation of lamellipodia.