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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Turbidimetry on Human Washed Platelets: The Effect of the Pannexin1-inhibitor Brilliant Blue FCF on Collagen-induced Aggregation
Published on: April 6, 2017
Polyphenolic grape extract inhibits platelet activation through PECAM-1: an explanation for the French paradox
Dylan W de Lange1, Sandra Verhoef, Gertie Gorter
1Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory, Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, University Medical Center-Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. D.W.deLange@umcutrecht.nl
Background:
Moderate and prolonged consumption of red wine is associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Inhibition of platelet functions by ingredients in red wine is thought to be one of the causes. However, the molecular mechanism of this inhibition has remained unexplained.
Materials And Methods:
We measured aggregation, changes in cytosolic Ca(2+) and tyrosine phosphorylation of the inhibitory receptor platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in platelets stimulated with thrombin receptor (PAR-1) activating peptide (TRAP) and ADP and investigated the effects of alcohol-free polyphenolic grape extract (PGE), alcohol, and the polyphenols catechin, epi-catechin, resveratrol, trans-resveratrol, and gallic acid.
Results:
Polyphenolic grape extract induced dose-dependent inhibition of TRAP-induced and ADP-induced platelet aggregation and Ca(2+) mobilization. Inhibition was accompanied by activation of PECAM-1. Apart from a slight inhibition by catechin, ethanol or other individual polyphenols failed to inhibit aggregation or activate PECAM-1.
Conclusions:
Red wine inhibits platelet functions through its PGE content, which stimulates the inhibitory receptor PECAM-1, thereby attenuating platelet activation.
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