Washed intact human platelets were prelabelled with [3H]arachidonic acid ([3H]AA) and stimulated with thrombin or with AIF4 −, a known unspecific activator of G-proteins. Both stimuli induced the liberation of [3H]AA, the release of β-thromboglobulin (β-TG) and platelet aggregation. PMA did not induce liberation of [3H]AA although it induced β-TG release and aggregation; preincubation with PMA did not modify significantly the amounts of [3H]AA and β-TG released by thrombin or AlF4 −. Different inhibitors of PKC (staurosporine, H-7 and calphostin C) increased the release of [3H]AA and inhibited β-TG release and aggregation induced by AlF4 − but they had no effect when platelets were stimulated with thrombin (0.5 U/ml). Calphostin C was able to release [3H]AA by itself without inducing aggregation or β-TG release. Okadaic acid (a serine/threonine phosphoprotein phosphatase inhibitor) greatly inhibited the release of [3H]AA, β-TG and aggregation in AlF4 −-stimulated platelets. These results indicate the presence of a G-protein mediated mechanism for the activation of a platelet phospholipase A2 which is negatively affected by a protein kinase, sensible to putative inhibitors of protein kinase C, and it is activated by a protein phosphatase, sensible to okadaic acid.
