Summary
Although it is generally acknowledged that serotonin (5-HT) is a weak agonist for
human platelets, recent information suggests an association between serotonergic mechanisms
and cardiovascular risk. We investigated the action of 5-HT on adhesive, cohesive
and procoagulant properties of human platelets. Impact of 5-HT on whole blood coagulation
and thrombin generation was measured by modified thromboelastometry (TEM) and specific
fluorogenic assays. We evaluated the effects of 5-HT on thrombus formation in an in-vitro
model of thrombosis using human flowing blood. In platelet-rich plasma (PRP), 5-HT
favoured the expression of CD62-P, and procoagulant molecules on platelet membranes.
These effects were potentiated in the presence of Ca++ and/or ADP. Incubation with 5-HT accelerated clotting times and augmented clot strength
in whole blood TEM, and enhanced thrombin generation in PRP. In perfusion studies,
5-HT significantly increased fibrin deposition at low shear (300s-1) and enhanced platelet thrombus formation on the damaged vascular surface at high
shear (1,200s-1). Selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake (SSRI) attenuated effects of 5-HT on
platelet activation and downregulated the prothrombotic tendencies observed in the
previous experimental conditions. In general, reductions of thrombogenic patterns
observed with SSRI were more evident under shear conditions (aggregation and perfusion
systems) and less evident under steady conditions (TEM and thrombin generation assays).
In conclusion, 5-HT is not a weak agonist for human platelets; instead it accentuates
platelet activation, potentiates procoagulant responses on human blood and increases
thrombogenesis on damaged vascular surfaces. The remarkable antithrombotic actions
achieved through SSRI deserve further mechanistic and clinical investigations.
Keywords
Platelet physiology - platelet pharmacology - serotonin - thrombogenesis