Examination of irreversible platelet-fibrinogen interactions.

The progressive stabilization of fibrinogen binding to ADP-treated platelets has been well described, but the nature of this interaction remains obscure. In the present study, irreversibly bound fibrinogen was defined as that fraction of bound iodinated fibrinogen that failed to dissociate from stimulated human gel-filtered platelets within 10 min of adding 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It represented 16 +/- 11% (mean +/- SD, n = 10) of fibrinogen bound to ADP-treated platelets after 1 min and 52 +/- 11% of fibrinogen bound to these platelets after 60 min. Similar results were obtained if platelets were stimulated with purified human thrombin (0.1 U/ml) or epinephrine (10 microM). Irreversible fibrinogen binding was significantly reduced at 4 degrees C (27 +/- 9%, mean +/- SD, n = 6) if platelets were preincubated (30 min, 25 degrees C) with 30 micrograms/ml cytochalasin B or D (18 +/- 8%) or stimulated with chymotrypsin (0.5 mg/2-3 X 10(8) platelets) (31 +/- 8%). Formation of irreversible platelet-fibrinogen interactions correlated with the incorporation of actin and actin-binding protein into the Triton X-100-insoluble platelet cytoskeleton and the ability of platelets to retract fibrin clots. Irreversibly bound fibrinogen was available on platelets for digestion by 0.2 U/ml plasmin. The enzyme removed 96 +/- 6% (mean +/- SD, n = 6) of all bound fibrinogen from platelets after 30 min at 25 degrees C. This was not accompanied by significant release of [14C]serotonin or lactate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, platelets incubated with plasmin could bind fibrinogen normally after the enzyme had been neutralized with aprotinin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)