Evidence that cyclic AMP may regulate Ca2+-mobilization and phospholipases in thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The regulation of human platelet responses by cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been investigated by measuring thrombin-stimulated serotonin release, Ca2+ uptake and phospholipase activity. Thrombin-induced 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) formation as a result of phospholipase C activation was inhibited by pretreatment with dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequent failure to produce phosphatidic acid (PA), which is converted from 1,2-DG by phosphorylation and would serve as intracellular Ca2+ ionophore, appeared to parallel the decrease in Ca2+ uptake activity. Phospholipase A2 activity, monitored by the production of [3H]lysophosphatidylcholine and [3H]lysophosphatidylethanolamine, was also suppressed by dbcAMP. These data indicate that the intracellular cAMP level may be closely associated with Ca2+ uptake and phospholipases activation. In addition, it is suggested that alteration of intracellular cAMP regulates phospholipase activation and consequently platelet responses, perhaps by controlling available Ca2+ content.