Yosuke Kanno and Hiroyuki Matsuno Pages 887 - 892 ( 6 )
Some low molecular mass heat shock proteins (HSPs) appear to act as molecular chaperones, but their exact physiological roles have not been fully elucidated. We reported on a physiological role of HSP20, HSP27 and αBcrystallin on platelet function in vitro and ex vivo. HSP20 and αB-crystallin inhibited platelet aggregation using human platelets dose-dependently induced by thrombin or botrocetin. On the other hand, HSP27, the other type of low molecular mass HSP, did not affect platelet aggregation. When HSP20 or αB-crystallin was injected intravenously as a bolus in hamsters, the development of thrombus after endothelial injury was prevented. Moreover, 9 amino-acid sequences isolated from HSP20 or αB-crystallin significantly reduced platelet aggregation induced by TRAP, but not a PAR-4 agonist. These findings strongly suggest that HSP20 or αB-crystallin can act intercellularly to regulate platelet functions. Our results may provide the basis for a novel defensive system to thrombus formation in vivo.
Heat shock protein,platelets,thrombin
, Department of ClinicalPathological Biochemistry, Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts,Kyo-tanabe, Kyoto 610-0395, Japan.