Summary
Four monkeys were injected for a 10-day period with the Fab fragment of a murine monoclonal
antibody (NNKY 1-32) which inhibits the binding of fibrinogen to the platelet glycoprotein
(GP) Ilb/IIIa complex. Platelet fibrinogen levels were assessed quantitatively by
electroimmuno assay and qualitatively by immunoelectron microscopy.
The platelet fibrinogen level fell to 9.0 ± 2.8% of the control level after antibody
administration. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the injected antibody was localized
on the inner surface of the platelet a-granule membrane.
Our findings suggest that the GP Ilb/IIIa complex can be internalized by a-granules
and that it may mediate the endocytosis of plasma fibrinogen by platelets.