Inhibitory Effects of Aspirin and Cilostazol on Intracellular Ca²⁺ Mobilization and Aggregation in Thrombin-activated...

Platelets play an important role in physiological hemostatic mechanisms. In contrast, platelet activation has been implicated in pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Thrombin is considered to be of particular pathological importance as a platelet-activating substance, and thrombin-activated platelets are detected in the blood of patients with advanced occlusive arterial disease. Ca²⁺ acts as a second messenger in platelet activation, and the regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca²⁺]i) is important for controlling platelet functions. However, changes in [Ca²⁺]i by antiplatelet agents remain unclear. Therefore, we herein investigated the relationship between [Ca²⁺]i and the intensity of platelet aggregation after a thrombin stimulation, the relationship between [Ca²⁺]i and the intensity of platelet aggregation by antiplatelet agents, and the effects of antiplatelet agents on thrombin-activated platelets as a surrogate platelet model for arterial occlusive disease. Fura2-loaded platelets were treated with phosphate-buffered saline or a low concentration of thrombin (0.005 U/mL), followed by antiplatelet agents (aspirin or cilostazol), and changes in [Ca²⁺]i and the intensity of platelet aggregation by the thrombin stimulation were measured using fluorescence spectrophotometry. Changes in [Ca²⁺]i and the intensity of platelet aggregation after the thrombin stimulation as well as the relationship between [Ca²⁺]i and the intensity of platelet aggregation by antiplatelet agents indicated that cilostazol exerted stronger antiplatelet effects than aspirin and also that antiplatelet effects may be attenuated in thrombin-activated platelets. The present results also suggest the utility of thrombin-activated platelets as a surrogate platelet model for arterial occlusive disease. These results may contribute to future drug development for antiplatelet therapy. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 94-100, February, 2023.