1. Academic Validation
  2. VAS2870 and VAS3947 attenuate platelet activation and thrombus formation via a NOX-independent pathway downstream of PKC

VAS2870 and VAS3947 attenuate platelet activation and thrombus formation via a NOX-independent pathway downstream of PKC

  • Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 11;9(1):18852. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55189-5.
Wan Jung Lu 1 2 3 Jiun Yi Li 4 5 Ray Jade Chen 6 7 Li Ting Huang 1 Tzu Yin Lee 8 Kuan Hung Lin 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Medical Research, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 3 Graduate Institute of Metabolism and Obesity Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 4 Department of Surgery, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 104, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 5 Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, 252, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
  • 6 Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 7 Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 8 Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 110, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • 9 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 110, Taipei, Taiwan. [email protected].
  • 10 Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Mackay Medical College, 252, New Taipei City, Taiwan. [email protected].
Abstract

NADPH Oxidase (NOX) enzymes are involved in a various physiological and pathological processes such as platelet activation and inflammation. Interestingly, we found that the pan-NOX inhibitors VAS compounds (VAS2870 and its analog VAS3947) exerted a highly potent antiplatelet effect. Unlike VAS compounds, concurrent inhibition of NOX1, 2, and 4 by treatment with ML171, GSK2795039, and GKT136901/GKT137831 did not affect Thrombin and U46619-induced platelet aggregation. These findings suggest that VAS compounds may inhibit platelet aggregation via a NOX-independent manner. Thus, we aimed to investigate the detailed antiplatelet mechanisms of VAS compounds. The data revealed that VAS compounds blocked various agonist-induced platelet aggregation, possibly via blocking PKC downstream signaling, including IKKβ and p38 MAPK, eventually reducing platelet granule release, calcium mobilization, and GPIIbIIIa activation. In addition, VAS compounds inhibited mouse platelet aggregation-induced by collagen and Thrombin. The in vivo study also showed that VAS compounds delayed thrombus formation without affecting normal hemostasis. This study is the first to demonstrate that, in addition to inhibiting NOX activity, VAS compounds reduced platelet activation and thrombus formation through a NOX-independent pathway downstream of PKC. These findings also indicate that VAS compounds may be safe and potentially therapeutic agents for treating patients with cardiovascular diseases.

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