Platelet-mediated angiogenesis is independent of VEGF and fully inhibited by aspirin

ETULAIN, J; FONDEVILA, C; NEGROTTO, S; SCHATTNER, M

Amsterdam

Congreso; XXIV Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) 2013.; 2013

International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Background: Platelets are major players in every step of vessel development through the local delivery of angiogenesis-modulating factors. Among these factors, the proangiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the antiangiogenic endostatin have been the most studied and can be differentially released from alpha-granules upon platelet activation by different stimuli. Although thrombin is the most potent agonist and is highly elevated in angiogenesis-related diseases, studies regarding its action on the release of platelet angiogenic factors are scarce and controversial. Aim: To investigate the role of thrombin not only in VEGF and endostatin release but also in the net platelet angiogenic activity. Methods: Washed human platelets were stimulated with thrombin (5 minutes) in the presence of inhibitors of the main signaling pathways involved in platelet activation and supernatants/releasates were used to determine the levels of angiogenic molecules and to induce angiogenic responses (ANOVA. n=4-5, *p