Ruggeri, Z. M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Human PAR1 expressed on mouse platelets contributes to hemostasis and arterial occlusion

Thrombin (FIIa) signaling through protease-activated receptors (PARs) is a relevant platelet activation mechanism. Human (h) PAR1 antagonists are approved for antithrombotic therapy, but bleeding is a concerning complication. In addition to PARs, platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib also binds FIIa enhancing human platelet response to lower agonist concentrations ex vivo. Signaling through GPCRs is well understood, but how GPIb association with distinct PARs modulates FIIa-dependent platelet activation in vivo remains unclear. One obstacle in addressing this question is the distinct human platelet PAR1/PAR4 expression as opposed to mouse (m) PAR3/PAR4. Previous attempts to express functioning hPAR1 in mouse platelets using platelet-specific promoters or targeting into the mPAR3 locus have not been successful. Here we report our studies using a hPAR1 transgene with a floxed STOP sequence and strong synthetic (CAG) promoter targeted into the mouse Rosa26 locus. Generated Rosa26-hPAR1Tgfl mice were then sequentially crossbred with PF4-Cre and PAR3-/- mice, yielding mP3-/-hP1Tg mice whose platelets expressed hPAR1 with endogenous mPAR4. These mice, unlike PAR3-/-, had no excessive bleeding after tail clipping, but bled profusely after administration of the hPAR1 antagonist, vorapaxar. Accordingly, mP3-/-hP1Tg mice had more frequent and stable post injury occlusion of the carotid artery than PAR3-/- mice, but this difference was abolished by vorapaxar treatment. We anticipate that studies in this mouse strain will help unravel the regulation of PAR-mediated thrombin-induced platelet activation in vivo with findings more directly relevant to human pathophysiology. Key Points (<140 characters each)O_LIHuman (h) PAR1 expressed in the platelets of PAR3-/- mice shortens the bleeding time and promotes more frequent and stable post injury carotid artery occlusion. C_LIO_LIThe specific hPAR1 antagonist drug, vorapaxar reverses the phenotypic changes associated with hPAR1 expression in PAR3-/- mice expressing mouse PAR4. C_LIO_LIExperimental data from PAR3-/- mice expressing hPAR1 should be directly relevant to the development of specific thrombin-induced platelet activation inhibitors. C_LI

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Distinct platelet interactions with soluble and immobilized von Willebrand factor modulate platelet adhesion and aggregation with differential impact on hemostasis and thrombosis

Arterial thrombosis is a prevailing and lethal pathological condition that remains difficult to treat or prevent without potentially serious side effects, mostly hemorrhagic in nature. Platelets and von Willebrand factor (VWF) have a recognized major role in the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis. Platelets bind to surface immobilized VWF for initial adhesion to injured vascular sites, but also interact with soluble VWF to aggregate into thrombi, particularly under flow conditions creating elevated shear stress. Whether the binding of immobilized and soluble VWF to platelets is regulated by separate mechanisms and how they respectively regulate hemostasis and thrombosis remains unclear. Using targeted mutagenesis we engineered VWF to achieve modified binding kinetics with the platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ib and discovered that the interactions of immobilized and soluble VWF with platelets can be differentially regulated with distinct consequences on platelet adhesion and aggregation. Based on these results, we studied a monoclonal antibody, NMC4, known to bind to an epitope in the VWFA1 domain and to inhibit preferentially platelet aggregation under elevated shear stress conditions. We found that NMC4 was less efficient in reducing platelet adhesion to immobilized VWF than platelet aggregation mediated by soluble VWF and, surprisingly, also inhibited arterial thrombosis in a mouse model of ferric chloride-induced carotid artery occlusion at a dose that failed to prolong post-injury bleeding. Thus, our current findings help delineate interrelated biochemical and biophysical mechanisms underlying VWF function in vascular health; and suggest selective inhibition of VWF-mediated platelet aggregation as opposed to adhesion as a strategy to prevent arterial thrombosis while minimizing bleeding complications.

biophysics↗