Platelet Activating Factor (PAF) Stimulates Protein Kinase (PK) Activity In Human Platelets

Abstract

Kishimoto et al.(J.B.C.255:2273,1980) have demonstrated a Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PK) from various mammalian tissues which is markedly stimulated by the addition of unsaturated diacylglycerol. PAF, an alkyl ether analogue of phosphatidyl choline induces platelet aggregation and secretion. We investigated the ability of the C18:0 analogue (l-alkyl-2acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) to stimulate Ca2+ dependent PK activity in homogenates of human platelets. Two hundred ml whole blood was collected in EDTA(5mM) and EGTA(5mM). PGl2(534nM) was included to prevent platelet activation during preparation. Platelets were washed twice in 0.05M Tris containing EDTA, EGTA,and PGl2, pH 7.5. On the 3rd wash PGI2 was omitted. The platelet pellet was then resuspended in the same buffer now containing leu- peptin(0.2mM) to inhibit proteolytic activation of PK. The suspension was sonicated and centrifuged at 100,000xg for 1 hr. PK activity was assayed in the supernatant and pellet suspension by measuring the incorporation of 32P into HI histone from [γ32P]ATP. The standard reaction mixture (0.3 ml) contained 250yl supernatant or pellet suspension, HI histone(60μg), [γ32P]ATP(3nmoles),magnesium acetate (13.3mM) diolein(500ng) Ca2+ and PAF for 3 min. at 30°.Basal PK activity was 14.6pmol/min/mg protein. PAF(0.8μg) which is just saturating dose for in vitro platelet aggregation, stimulate PK activity by 70% in the supernatant but was without effect on the pellet suspension. In the absence of Ca2+ and/or diolein there was no stimulation of PK by PAF. Phosphatidyl serine(PS)(5μg) also stimulated protein kinase by 100%.Stimulation of PK by both PAF and PS occurred at endogenous platelet Ca2+ concentrations (i.e. sufficient Ca2+ added to titrate EDTA and EGTA) and at higher Ca2+ concentration (by 0.2mM.)Supernatants from platelets prepared in the absence of PGI2 were not stimulated by PAF These data show that PAF activates a Ca2+ dependent protein kinase which may mediate its effects on human platelets.