Platelet adhesion to cyanogen-bromide fragments of collagen alpha 1(I) under flow conditions

The aim of this investigation was to identify domains of collagen type I that can support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Four cyanogen bromide (CB) fragments composing 87% of the collagen alpha 1(I)-chain were studied under static and flow conditions. Under static conditions, bovine and human collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 induced aggregate formation, whereas alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 supported adhesion of dendritic and contact platelets. Bovine alpha 1(I)CB6 weakly supported platelet adhesion. At shear rate 300/s, collagen fragment alpha 1(I)CB3 strongly supported platelet adhesion, whereas lower platelet adhesion was observed to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. The fragment alpha 1(I)CB6 did not support platelet adhesion under flow conditions. Adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was completely inhibited by a low concentration (0.6 IgG microgram/mL) of anti-GPIa monoclonal antibody (MoAb), whereas this concentration of antibody partially inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8. At higher concentrations (3 micrograms/mL) the anti-glycoprotein Ia (GPIa) antibody completely inhibited adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB8 and further reduced adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7. Platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 was strongly inhibited by an anti-GPIb MoAb. A MoAb against the GPIb-binding site of von Willebrand factor (vWF) strongly inhibited platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8, whereas platelet adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB3 was not inhibited. We conclude that under flow conditions alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB7, and alpha 1(I)CB8 support GPIa/IIa-dependent platelet adhesion. The GPIb-vWF interaction is important under flow conditions for adhesion to alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8 and probably also to alpha 1(I)CB3.