A Novel Platelet Small-Molecule Agonist Targeting Glycoprotein Ibalpha.

Interaction of glycoprotein (GP) Ibα with Von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays a critical role in platelet adhesion and signal transduction for αIIbβ3 activation under condition of high shear stress.

Based on the crystal structure of platelet GPIbα (PDB:1P9A), virtual screening was employed to identify active compounds. Compounds in SPECS database were docked to VWF binding site on the surface of GPIbα. The screening was carried out with the DOCK4.0 program. The 150 highest-scoring compounds were obtained for further bioassay and those with inhibitory activity of VWF binding to GPIbα were investigated the effect on platelet activation and aggregation.

We found one compound, designated it as YC148, blocked ristocetin-induced plasma VWF binding to recombinant N-terminal fragment GPIbα (H1-V289) by ELISA method. More interestingly, YC148 did not inhibit ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation, on the contrary, it induced platelet aggregation itself in the absence of exogenous modulators such as ristocetin and botrocetin. A VWF A1 blocking antibody could not block platelet aggregation induced by YC148 despite it completely inhibited ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination. And YC148 also stimulated washed platelet aggregation where VWF was absent in the resuspension buffer. These indicated that the aggregation stimulated by YC148 could not the result from VWF binding. Flow cytomety also showed that YC148 increased P-selectin expression on platelet membrane and promoted monoclonal antibody PAC-1 binding to platelet. The platelet aggregation stimulated by YC148 was inhibited by anti-GPIbα monoclonal antibody AN51 and 6D1.

A novel exogenous small-molecule agonist was found to activate platelet through binding to GPIbα. It provides us a new tool for investigating platelet GPIb outside-in signaling pathway in platelet adhesion and aggregation. Furthermore, the structure of YC148 may provide a structural basis for developing new hemostatic drugs based on the inhibition of VWF-GPIb interaction. The effect of YC148 on platelet from Bernard-Soulier syndrome or GPIbα N-terminal fragment deficient platelet after in vitro cleavage will be further investigated.

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.