Endogenous and pharmacological mechanisms for the regulation of human platelet cytosolic free Ca2+.

Because they inhibit the processes that promote elevation of [Ca2+]i and augment the processes that promote removal of Ca2+ from the cytosol, receptor antagonists, agents that mimic or elevate cAMP, cGMP or 1,2-Diacylglycerol (DG), and both inorganic and organic Ca2+ channel blockers can be considered to act as 'Ca2+ antagonists' on human platelets. Agonist-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i is associated with phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Unlike agents that mimic or elevate cAMP, cGMP or DG, receptor antagonists and organic Ca2+ influx, mobilisation of internal Ca2+ and inositol lipid hydrolysis. Lanthanides apparently inhibit only Ca2+ influx. Thus La3+ but not Verapamil or Diltiazem block receptor-operated Ca2+ channels on human platelets. The endogenous processes that promote extrusion or sequestration of cytosolic Ca2+ may be augmented by cAMP, cGMP, DG and by Ca2+. DG, via activation of protein kinase C, may serve as a bi-directional regulator of platelet reactivity.