Reassessment of in vivo thrombus formation in glycoprotein V deficient mice backcrossed on a C57Bl/6 strain

Platelet glycoprotein V spatio-temporally controls fibrin formation

The activation of platelets and coagulation at vascular injury sites is crucial for haemostasis but can promote thrombosis and inflammation in vascular pathologies. Here, we delineate an unexpected spatio-temporal control mechanism of thrombin activity that is platelet orchestrated and locally limits excessive fibrin formation after initial haemostatic platelet deposition. During platelet activation, the abundant platelet glycoprotein (GP) V is cleaved by thrombin. We demonstrate with genetic and pharmacological approaches that thrombin-mediated shedding of GPV does not primarily regulate platelet activation in thrombus formation, but rather has a distinct function after platelet deposition and specifically limits thrombin-dependent generation of fibrin, a crucial mediator of vascular thrombo-inflammation. Genetic or pharmacologic defects in haemostatic platelet function are unexpectedly attenuated by specific blockade of GPV shedding, indicating that the spatio-temporal control of thrombin-dependent fibrin generation also represents a potential therapeutic target to improve haemostasis.

Glycoprotein V : the unsolved GPV puzzle

Glycoprotein V (GPV) is a highly expressed 82 KDa platelet surface transmembrane protein which is loosely attached to the GPIb-IX complex. Despite remaining questions concerning its function, GPV presents several unique features which have repercussions in hematology, atherothrombosis, immunology and transfusion. GPV is specifically expressed in platelets and megakaryocytes and is an ideal marker and reporter gene for the late stages of megakaryopoiesis. The ectodomain of GPV can be released by a number of proteases, namely thrombin, elastase and ADAM10 and 17. Although it was originally proposed as a thrombin receptor, this hypothesis was abandoned since thrombin activation was preserved after blockade of GPV cleavage and in Gp5 knockout mice. The combined potential of GPV to reflect the direct action of thrombin, platelet exposure to strong agonists and inflammatory conditions has led one to evaluate its utility as a marker in the context of atherothrombosis. Increased plasma levels of soluble GPV have notably been recorded in myocardial infarction, stroke and venous thromboembolism. It is also highly valued in transfusion to monitor platelet storage lesions. GPV presents several polymorphisms, which are a possible source of alloantibodies, while autoantibodies have been frequently detected in immune thrombocytopenia. The real biological function of this glycoprotein nevertheless remains an enigma, despite the respectively decreased and increased responses to low concentrations of collagen and thrombin observed in Gp5 knockout mice. Current studies are exploring its role in modulating general or VWF-induced platelet signaling, which could bear relevance in thrombosis and platelet clearance.