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.