Submaximal Inhibition of Protein Kinase C Restores ADP-induced Dense Granule Secretion in Platelets in the Presence of Ca2+

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a family of serine/threonine kinases that play isoform-specific inhibitory and stimulatory roles in platelet activation. We show here that the pan-PKC inhibitor Ro31-8220 can be used to dissect these events following platelet activation by ADP. Submaximal concentrations of Ro31-8220 potentiated aggregation and dense granule secretion to ADP in plasma anticoagulated with citrate, in D-Phe-Pro-Arg-chloromethyl ketone-anticoagulated plasma, which has physiological levels of Ca2+, and in washed platelets. Potentiation was retained on inhibition of cyclooxygenase and was associated with an increase in intracellular Ca2+. Potentiation of aggregation and secretion was abolished by a maximally effective concentration of Ro31-8220, consistent with a critical role of PKC in secretion. ADP-induced secretion was potentiated in the presence of an inhibitor of PKC beta but not in the presence of available inhibitors of other PKC isoforms in human and mouse platelets. ADP-induced secretion was also potentiated in mouse platelets deficient in PKC beta but not PKC theta. These results demonstrate that partial blockade of PKC potentiates aggregation and dense granule secretion by ADP in association with increased Ca2+. This provides a molecular explanation for the inability of ADP to induce secretion in plasma in the presence of physiological Ca2+ concentrations, and it reveals a novel role for PKC in inhibiting platelet activation by ADP in vivo. These results also demonstrate isoform-specific inhibitory effects of PKC in platelets.