Platelet integrins exhibit anisotropic mechanosensing and harness piconewton forces to mediate platelet aggregation.

ABSTRACT: Platelet aggregation at the site of vascular injury is essential in clotting. During this process, platelets are bridged by soluble fibrinogen that binds surface integrin receptors. One mystery in the mechanism of platelet aggregation pertains to how resting platelets ignore soluble fibrinogen, the third most abundant protein in the bloodstream, and yet avidly bind immobile fibrinogen on the surface of other platelets at the primary injury site. We speculate that platelet integrins are mechanosensors that test their ligands across the platelet-platelet synapse. To investigate this model, we interrogate human platelets using approaches that include the supported lipid bilayer platform as well as DNA tension sensor technologies. Experiments suggest that platelet integrins require lateral for

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5777034 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature