Antibodies Against Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins: Effect On Ristocetin-Induced Platelet Aggregation

Some membrane glycoproteins (GPs) have been isolated by lectin-affinity chromatography and antibodies towards them have been raised. Platelets that have lost glycocalicin no longer respond to ristocetin-human VIII:WF, bovine VIIIR:WF, or to anti-glycocalicin or anti-GPs la and lb antibodies but are still agglutinated by anti-GPs lib and Ilia antibodies. Anti-GPs la and lb and anti-glycocalicin antibodies, IgG and Fab' fragments inhibited ristocetin- human VIIIR:WF- and bovine VIIIR:WF-induced aggregation of fixed, washed platelets and of platelets in plasma while anti-GPs Hb and Ilia antibodies were without effect.

Crossed immunoelectrophorectic studies showed that glycocalicin was present on whole platelets in only trace amounts; anti-glycocalicin antibodies, however, recognized a slower migrating component. Platelets incubated in an EDTA-free medium no longer respond to ristocetin-human VIIIRrWF. Membranes isolated from such platelets contained glycocalicin which cross-reacted with a remnant of the slower migrating component. Anti-GPs la and lb antibodies gave more complex patterns but it was possible to identify the slower moving component recognized by the anti-glycocalicin antibodies.

These results show that glycocalicin is not normally found as such on whole platelets but is present as a precursor which is most likely GP lb. On degradation of this precursor, glycocalicin is released from the membrane and VIIIRrWF-receptor activity is lost.