Heparin binding to normal and abnormal platelets

The binding of porcine heparin to human platelets was studied using [3H] heparin and various concentrations of unlabeled heparin. The binding was readily reversible and included saturable (Kd approximately 1.5 mg/L, R approximately 500 mg/10(15) cells) and unsaturable components. Approximately normal binding also occurred to platelets from patients with the Bernard-Soulier syndrome and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. Competitive inhibition studies were performed with a variety of sulfated polysaccharides. Inhibitory potency correlated with charge density but not with the fundamental sugar composition of the tested compounds.