 
         
         Summary
         
         There are two protease-activated receptors (PARs), PAR1 and PAR4, in human platelets.
            It has been suggested that PAR1 mediates platelet responses to low concentrations
            of thrombin, whereas PAR4 mediates signaling only at high concentrations. In the present
            study, we used a selective PAR4 blocker, YD-3, to investigate the role of PAR4 in
            thrombin-induced thromboxane formation in human platelets. YD-3 completely prevented
            thromboxane production by either a low concentration of thrombin (0.1 U/ml) or the
            PAR4 agonist peptide GYPGKF. In contrast, YD-3 did not affect thromboxane production
            caused by the PAR1 agonist peptide SFLLRN, collagen or arachidonic acid. YD-3 also
            decreased [3H]arachidonic acid release from thrombin-stimulated platelets. Moreover, desensitization
            of platelets with GYPGKF prevented low thrombin-induced thromboxane formation. The
            decreased thromboxane production by YD-3 is linked to inhibition of calcium influx
            in thrombin-stimulated platelets. These results suggest that PAR4 plays an important
            role in the regulation of thromboxane formation in platelets responding to thrombin
            through prolonged elevation of [Ca2+]i and activation of phospholipase A2. These data also indicate that PAR4 can be activated by relatively low concentrations
            of thrombin in human platelets. The selective inhibition of thrombin-induced thromboxane
            production by YD-3 may be of therapeutic benefit for thrombotic diseases.
         
         Keywords
Protease-activated receptor - thrombin - thromboxane - platelets - YD-3