The platelet P2Y12 receptor contributes to granule secretion through Ephrin A4 receptor

The main responses of P2Y₁ ligation are platelet shape change and transient aggregation while P2Y₁₂ ligation amplifies P2Y₁-induced aggregation and accelerates aggregation, secretion and thromboxane A₂ production induced by other agonist-receptor complexes. We searched for new targets of P2Y signalling using micro-arrays with 144 peptides representing known phosphosites of protein tyrosine kinases. ADP induced phosphorylation of peptides representing surface receptors, second messenger enzymes and cytoskeletal proteins. Strong phosphorylation was found in peptides representing Ephrin-receptor family members. Blockade of P2Y_1/12 inhibited phosphorylation of EphA4- and EphB1-peptides on micro-arrays. The EphA2/4 inhibitor 2,5-dimethylpyrrolyl benzoic acid derivative interfered with P2Y_1/12-induced EphA4 phosphorylation, left P2Y₁-induced aggregation unchanged but inhibited with P2Y₁₂-induced secretion, second phase aggregation and thrombus formation on collagen at 1600?s^?1. These results show that platelet EphA4 is an important intermediate in P2Y₁₂-induced granule secretion.