Conformation-dependent platelet adhesion to collagen involving integrin alpha 2 beta 1-mediated and other mechanisms: multiple alpha 2 beta 1-recognition sites in collagen type I.

Platelet adhesion has been measured to type-I monomeric collagen, collagen fibres, alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) chains and the chain fragments alpha 1(I)CB3, alpha 1(I)CB6, alpha 1(I)CB7 and alpha 1(I)CB8, and alpha 2(I)CB3,5 and alpha 2(I)CB4. Little if any adhesion occurred to any denatured species at 37 degrees C, demonstrating the importance of the collagen helix. However, on coating at 4 degrees C to promote helix formation, and assaying at room temperature to avoid denaturation, adhesion was observed to both alpha-chain types and all fragments, the exact level of which depended on the identity of the species in question. Adhesion was strongly Mg(2+)-dependent. Antibodies against the integrin alpha 2 beta 1 partially inhibited adhesion to alpha-chains and all fragments except alpha 1(I)CB6, indicating a wide distribution of alpha 2 beta 1-binding sites in the collagen molecule. 'Activation-dependent' adhesion to monomeric collagen, totally secondary to alpha 2 beta 1-mediated adhesion, involved at least two mechanisms, one mediated by integrin alpha IIb beta 3 and insensitive to prostaglandin E1, the other inhibitable by prostaglandin E1 but independent of integrin alpha IIb beta 3. alpha IIb beta 3-mediated adhesion to fragments was, at least in part, independent of the alpha 2 beta 1-mediated adhesion. Adhesion to fibres was largely bivalent-cation-independent with only minor involvement of integrin alpha 2 beta 1. Some alpha IIb beta 3-mediated adhesion occurred but was independent of any alpha 2 beta 1-initiated adhesion. Total 'activation-dependent' adhesion to fibres was less than to monomeric collagen. Affinity chromatography revealed bivalent-cation-independent binding to fibres of three main platelet surface proteins, 90, 150 and 190 kDa in size.