Abstract
In rat platelets, basal cAMP levels were not changed upon stimulation with ADP and it was concluded that cAMP is not an important messenger for ADP-induced aggregation (Savi et al., Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis, 1996; 7: 249-52). In the present study, the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and ADP on human platelet aggregation, cAMP generation and VASP phosphorylation were studied. Phosphorylation of the protein kinase A (PKA) substrate VASP and inhibition of platelet aggregation by PGE1 occurred without measurable changes in cellular cAMP levels. In addition, a marked inhibition of basal VASP phosphorylation by ADP was observed. It is concluded that cAMP determinations do not necessarily detect a possible activation or inhibition of the cAMPPKA pathway in platelets. Thus, cAMP might well be an important second messenger for ADP-induced platelet aggregation.