Phosphorylation of JAK2 in thrombin-stimulated human platelets.

We show the presence of the tyrosine kinase JAK2 in human platelets and demonstrate that it undergoes phosphorylation on tyrosine residues on challenge with the G protein receptor stimulus, thrombin, or the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, peroxovanadate. Thrombin-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 is inhibited by two structurally distinct inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, staurosporine and the tyrphostin ST271. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, and intracellular Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA-AM, also inhibit thrombin-induced phosphorylation of JAK2, while the phorbol ester, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), and Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, induce tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 stimulated by thrombin may be mediated downstream of phosphoinositide metabolism.