Abstract
Plasminogen activation rates are enhanced by cell surface binding. We previously demonstrated that exogenous plasminogen binds to phosphatidylserine-exposing and spread platelets. Platelets contain plasminogen in their a-granules, but secretion of plasminogen from platelets has not been studied. Recently, a novel transmembrane lysine-dependent plasminogen receptor, Plg-R-KT, has been described on macrophages. Here, we analyzed the pool of plasminogen in platelets and examined whether platelets express Plg-R-KT, Plasminogen content of the supernatant of resting and collagen/thrombin-stimulated platelets was similar. Pretreatment with the lysine analog, epsilon-aminocaproic acid, significantly increased platelet-derived plasminogen (0.33 vs 0.08 nmol/10(8) platelets) in the stimulated supernatant, indicating a lysine-dependent mechanism of membrane retention. Lysine-dependent, platelet-derived plasminogen retention on thrombin and convulxin activated human platelets was confirmed by flow cytometry. Platelets initiated fibrinolytic activity in fluorescently labeled plasminogen-deficient clots and in turbidimetric clot lysis assays. A 17-kDa band, consistent with Plg-R-KT, was detected in the platelet membrane fraction by western blotting. Confocal microscopy of stimulated platelets revealed Plg-R-KT colocalized with platelet-derived plasminogen on the activated platelet membrane. Plasminogen exposure was significantly attenuated in thrombin- and convulxin-stimulated platelets from Plg-R-KT+/+ mice compared with Plg-R-KT+/+( )littermates. Membrane exposure of Plg-R-KT was not dependent on plasminogen, as similar levels of the receptor were detected in plasminogen(-/- )platelets. These data highlight Plg-R-KT as a novel plasminogen receptor in human and murine platelets. We show for the first time that platelet-derived plasminogen is retained on the activated platelet membrane and drives local fibrinolysis by enhancing cell surface-mediated plasminogen activation.