Summary
In this study, we report on the characterization of a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia
(GT). Immunochemical analysis on platelets from the patient showed that the expression
of αIIbβ3 was only 25% of that in normal healthy controls, suggesting a case of GT.
Functional analysis revealed a total lack of fibrinogen binding capacity. Molecular
genetic analysis of the full-length cDNA sequences of αIIb and β3 subunits showed
a novel point mutation C621T in αIIb cDNA, leading to a missense substitution of threonine
for isoleucine at position 176. Coexpression of normal β3 and mutant αIIbI176 isoform in mammalian cells showed a marked reduction in the expression of αIIbβ3
heterodimer when compared to the wild-type and a decreased intracellular level of
αIIb. The T176 I mutation is located in the N-terminal region in the W3:1-2 connecting
strand of the β-propeller. These data suggest that the N-terminal αIIb domain plays
an important structural role in the formation of heterodimer and that it is also involved
in fibrinogen binding.
Keywords
Bleeding disorder - platelet - integrin - β-propeller