Relative contribution of G-protein-coupled pathways to protease-activated receptor-mediated Akt phosphorylation in platelets

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Abstract
Protease-activated receptors (PARs) activate Gq and G12/13 pathways, as well as Akt (protein kinase B [PKB/Akt]) in platelets. However, the relative contribution of different G-protein pathways to Akt phosphorylation has not been elucidated. We investigated the contribution of Gq and G12/13 to Gi/Gz-mediated Akt phosphorylation downstream of PAR activation. Selective G12/13 activation failed to cause Akt phosphorylation in human and Gαq-deficient mouse platelets. However, supplementing Gi/Gz signaling to G12/13 caused significant increase in Akt phosphorylation, confirming that G12/13 potentiates Akt phosphorylation. Inhibition of PAR-mediated Akt phosphorylation in the presence of the Gq-selective inhibitor YM-254890 was restored to the normal extent achieved by PAR agonists if supplemented with Gi signaling, indicating that Gq does not have any direct effect on Akt phosphorylation. Selective G12/13 activation resulted in Src kinase activation, and Akt phosphorylation induced by costimulation of G12/13 and Gi/Gz was inhibited by a Src kinase inhibitor but not by a Rho kinase inhibitor. These data demonstrate that G12/13, but not Gq, is essential for thrombin-induced Akt phosphorylation in platelets, whereas Gq indirectly contributes to Akt phosphorylation through Gi stimulation by secreted ADP. G12/13 activation might mediate its potentiating effect through Src activation, and Src kinases play an important role in thrombin-mediated Akt phosphorylation.