ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Guanosine is a natural product and an endogenous nucleoside that has shown to increase during myocardial ischemia. Platelets are critically involved in ischemic coronary events. It remains unknown, however, whether guanosine may affect platelet activation and function. We sought to investigate the potential antiplatelet and antithrombotic properties of guanosine and decipher the mechanisms behind. METHODS: We firstly assessed the effects of guanosine on platelet activation/aggregation upon stimulation with several platelet agonists including adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, arachidonic acid (AA), and TRAP-6. Guanosine antithrombotic potential was also evaluated both in vitro (Badimon perfusion chamber) and in vivo (murine model). In addition we assessed any potential effect on bleeding. At a mechanistic level we determined the release of thromboxane B2, intraplatelet cAMP levels, the binding affinity on platelet membrane, and the activation/phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA), phospholipase C (PLC) and PKC. RESULTS: Guanosine markedly inhibited platelet activation/aggregation-challenged by ADP and, although to a lesser extent, also reduced platelet aggregation challenged by collagen, AA and TRAP-6. Guanosine significantly reduced thrombus formation both in vitro and in vivo without significantly affects bleeding. Guanosine antiplatelet effects were associated with the activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway, and a reduction in thromboxane B2 levels and PLC and PKC phosphorylation. The platelet aggregation and binding affinity assays revealed that guanosine effects on platelets were mediated by adenosine. CONCLUSION: Guanosine effectively reduces ADP-induced platelet aggregation and limits thrombotic risk. These antithrombotic properties are associated with the activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.