Abstract-The relative contributions of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein kinase C isoenzymes (PKCs), a family of serine/threonine kinases, in integrin ␣ IIb  3 (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa) exposure are the subject of much controversy. In the present study we measured the effect of the PTK inhibitor herbimycin A and the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I on 125 I-fibrinogen binding to ␣ IIb  3 and on aggregation/secretion induced by different agonists. Dose-response studies showed complete inhibition of ␣ IIb  3 exposure by 30 mol/L (ADP stimulation) and 35 to 40 mol/L (␣-thrombin stimulation) herbimycin A. In contrast, inhibition of exposure by bisindolylmaleimide I varied from none (for ADP and epinephrine), to 30% (for platelet-activating factor), and to Ϸ80% (for ␣-thrombin). Studies with a submaximal dose of herbimycin A (Ϸ50% inhibition of the ADP-response) and a maximal dose of bisindolylmaleimide I showed that optical aggregation had a similar sensitivity to the inhibitors as ␣ IIb  3 exposure with minimal interference by secreted ADP. Thus, the relative contributions of tyrosine and serine/threonine kinases in ␣ IIb  3 exposure and aggregation differ among the different agonists, with an exclusive role for PTKs in ADP-and epinephrine-induced responses and a role for both PTKs and PKCs in responses induced by platelet-activating factor and ␣-thrombin. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998;18:404-414.)Key Words: integrin ␣ IIb  3 Ⅲ fibrinogen binding Ⅲ aggregation Ⅲ human platelets Ⅲ protein phosphorylation P latelet aggregation is mediated by the coupling of fibrinogen to integrin ␣ IIb  3 (ie, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa) via binding sites that are exposed when these cells are activated. Our understanding of the intracellular mechanisms that control the exposure of ligand-binding sites on platelet integrin ␣ IIb  3 is far from complete. A major stimulating pathway in platelets involves tyrosine kinases, which may signal to the processes mediating platelet-platelet contact and formation of focal adhesions.1 A second stimulating route involves hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides and formation of diacylglycerol, inositol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate, and phosphatidic acid. Diacylglycerol activates PKC, whereas inositol 1,4,5-tris-phosphate mobilizes Ca 2ϩ , thereby inducing rearrangements of the plasma membrane and cytoskeleton that facilitate anchorage of ␣ IIb  3 and possibly exposure of the binding sites.
1,2There is uncertainty regarding the role of protein kinases in inside-out signaling to ␣ IIb  3 . Platelet activation is accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of 60-, 64-, 75-, and 130-kDa proteins, a step that precedes ligand binding to ␣ IIb  3 and subsequent outside-in signaling through this integrin. 3,4 One or more of these tyrosine phosphorylations may therefore function in the intracellular control of ␣ IIb  3 , which accords with the effect of certain PTK inhibitors. For instance, genistein, erbstatin, and tyrphostins inhibit aggregation and secretion induced by ␣-thrombin, collagen, and ...