Summary
Collagen (10-90 Μg/ml) and ionomycin (1 ΜM; a calcium iono-phore) each evoked rises
in intracellular free calcium, protein kinase C activity and arachidonic acid release
in human platelets, and as previously demonstrated for collagen, ionomycin (1 p,M)
stimulated protein tyrosine phosphorylation. However, at lower concentrations (60
and 250 nM) ionomycin selectively mobilised calcium. Ro31-8220 (a selective inhibitor
of protein kinase C) inhibited (by 50%) ionomycin-stimulated arachidonic acid release.
Genistein (an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinases) also reduced by 50% ionomycin-stimulated
arachidonic acid release. In combination, genistein and Ro31-8220 abolished ionomycin-stimulated
arachidonic acid release. These findings show 1) that a rise in calcium is not sufficient,
and 2) the activation of both protein kinase C and protein tyrosine phosphorylation
is necessary, for full ionomycin-stimulated arachidonic acid release in human platelets.