Quantitation of microparticles released from coated-platelets

Dual agonist stimulation of platelets with thrombin and convulxin results in generation of coated-platelets, a sub-population of cells known formerly as COAT-platelets (collagen and thrombin). Coated-platelets retain several procoagulant proteins on their surface and express phosphatidylserine (PS). In this report, we utilize a new methodology to demonstrate that coated-platelets also release microparticles. Platelets were prelabeled with 2.5 mu m Bodipy-maleimide and then stimulated with convulxin plus thrombin. Microparticles, 0.3-0.5 mu m in diameter, were observed by fluorescence confocal microscopy. Confocal microscopy was also used to demonstrate that microparticles were positive for glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa, glycoprotein Ib, CD9, and PS, but negative for fibrinogen and thrombospondin. Furthermore, microparticles released from Bodipy-labeled platelets were observed by flow cytometry, and activation with convulxin plus thrombin produced 15 5 microparticles per coated-platelet. In contrast, platelets stimulated with thrombin or convulxin alone produced few microparticles. Phenylarsine oxide and diamide, both of which potentiate the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and coated-platelet production, significantly increased the number of microparticles released per coated-platelet.