Interactions Between the Hormone-Sensitive Adenylate Cyclase System and the Phosphoinositide-Metabolizing Pathway in Human Platelets

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Abstract
At least two signal-generating systems are involved in the actions of various hormonal factors in human platelets--the adenylate cyclase system and the phosphoinositide-metabolizing pathway. The formation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) by the adenylate cyclase system--consisting of the catalyst itself, the Ns and Ni proteins, and various hormone receptors--is stimulated by prostaglandins and adenosine, and is inhibited by alpha 2-adrenergic agonists, ADP, vasopressin, platelet-activating factor, and thrombin. On the other hand, the formation of inositol trisphosphate and diacylglycerol by the phosphoinositide-metabolizing pathway is stimulated by some of the latter agents, particularly by thrombin. There are apparently several mutual interactions between these two signal-generating systems. On the one hand, increases in the level of cAMP inhibit the formation of inositol phosphates and diacylglycerol. It is presently unclear whether this inhibitory effect of cAMP is due to a direct action at the phospholipase C itself or to an indirect mechanism, for example, a depletion of the substrate of the enzyme. On the other hand, protein kinase C, which is activated by diacylglycerol, largely interferes with the adenylate cyclase system. This kinase, when activated by diacylglycerol or phorbol esters, apparently phosphorylates the guanine nucleotide-binding alpha-subunit of Ni, which results in an impairment or loss of the inhibitory hormonal signal transduction to the adenylate cyclase. Thus, available evidence indicates that the two signal-generating systems present in platelet membranes are not completely separated, and furthermore suggests that they may even be causally related to each other.

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