Exogenous GTP increases cyclic GMP and inhibits thrombin-induced aggregation of washed human platelets: comparison with ATP, adenosine and guanosine.

The effects of exogenous guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP), guanosine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine on platelet aggregation, serotonin secretion and cyclic nucleotide accumulation were studied using thrombin-stimulated washed human platelets. GTP (10 microM-1 mM) dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation and serotonin secretion. The inhibition of aggregation was accompanied by an increase in platelet cyclic GMP. GTP did not affect cyclic AMP concentration. Adenosine (1 microM-1 mM) dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation and serotonin secretion, and increased cyclic AMP. ATP at high concentrations (100 microM-1 mM) inhibited aggregation and serotonin secretion, and 1 mM ATP increased cyclic AMP. Guanosine was relatively ineffective in preventing aggregation and serotonin secretion and did not affect cyclic GMP. The rank order of inhibition of thrombin-induced aggregation of washed human platelets was adenosine > GTP > ATP > guanosine. In conclusion, exogenous GTP inhibits thrombin-induced aggregation and serotonin secretion of washed human platelets by increasing cyclic GMP. The results raise the possibility of a cell membrane site of action for GTP in platelets which mediates the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase suggesting that GTP may have a local antithrombotic effect also in vivo.