Characterization of phospholipase A2 secretion from human platelets

Human platelets secreted phospholipase A₂ in a dose- and time-dependent manner when challenged with thrombin, 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), or collagen. Enzyme release was maximal at concentrations of 0.1 units/ml of thrombin, 100 nM TPA, or 2 μg/ml of collagen; and complete by 2 min in platelets treated with thrombin or TPA. Cells challenged with collagen required up to 5 min for maximal secretion. Besides dose and time functions, phospholipase A₂ secretion was also dependent on platelet concentration and the levels of bovine serum albumin in the incubation medium. The secreted enzyme was soluble and exhibited substrate and Ca²⁺ requirements similar to a detergent-solubilized, partially purified phospholipase A₂ from whole platelets [Kramer et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1988) 959, 269–279]. The pH optimum of the secreted enzyme, however, was 1–2 units lower than the pH optimum of the phospholipase A₂ from whole cells. Secreted phospholipase A₂ hydrolyzed phosphatidylethanolamine at 5–12 times the rate of phosphatidylcholine when the substrates were present in pure form. These apparent differences in activity were greatly diminished, though, when 1:1 molar mixtures of the two substrates were employed. Because phospholipase A₂ catalyzes a key reaction during the formation of bioactive arachidonate metabolites, the secretion of this enzyme from platelets may be important in the regulation of thrombosis.