Purification of human platelet calcium-activated protease. Effect on platelet and endothelial function

Calcium-activated protease (CAP) was purified from the cytosol fraction of homogenized human platelet concentrates using a combination of gel filtration chromatography and affinity chromatography on antipain aminohexyl-Sepharose and activated thiol-Sepharose 4B. Purified CAP is composed of two different polypeptides of Mr = 80,000 and 27,000. Half-maximal protease activity was observed at 0.52 mM Ca2+, and all activity was inhibited by antipain, leupeptin, and N-ethylmaleimide. Activated CAP showed a time-dependent inactivation in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+ with only 5% of the control protease activity remaining after a 1-h exposure to calcium. Preincubation of washed platelets with varying amounts of CAP (0.2-0.4 units) significantly interfered with thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination in the presence of von Willebrand factor was completely inhibited by 0.4 units of CAP. Concomitant with these protease-induced changes in platelet function, a decrease was observed in a major glycoprotein band of Mr = 150,000 present in platelet membranes and presumed to be glycoprotein Ib. In addition to these effects on platelets, CAP inhibited thrombin-induced production of prostacyclin by cultured human endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner when the cells were pretreated with CAP. Thus platelet CAP can modulate membrane functions in both platelets and endothelial cells and may thus contribute to the regulation of hemostasis.