Thromb Haemost 2013; 109(06): 1120-1130
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-09-0636
Platelets and Blood Cells
Schattauer GmbH

Sulforaphane prevents human platelet aggregation through inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway

Wen-Ying Chuang
1   Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
,
Po-Hsiung Kung
1   Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
,
Chih-Yun Kuo
1   Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
,
Chin-Chung Wu
1   Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 03 September 2012

Accepted after major revision: 23 January 2013

Publication Date:
22 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Sulforaphane, a dietary isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to exert beneficial effects in animal models of cardiovascular diseases. However, its effect on platelet aggregation, which is a critical factor in arterial thrombosis, is still unclear. In the present study, we show that sulforaphane inhibited human platelet aggregation caused by different receptor agonists, including collagen, U46619 (a thromboxane A2 mimic), protease-activated receptor 1 agonist peptide (PAR1-AP), and an ADP P2Y12 receptor agonist. Moreover, sulforaphane significantly reduced thrombus formation on a collagen-coated surface under whole blood flow conditions. In exploring the underlying mechanism, we found that sulforaphane specifically prevented phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signalling, without markedly affecting other signlaling pathways involved in platelet aggregation, such as protein kinase C activation, calcium mobilisation, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Although sulforaphane did not directly inhibit the catalytic activity of PI3K, it caused ubiquitination of the regulatory p85 subunit of PI3K, and prevented PI3K translocation to membranes. In addition, sulforaphane caused ubiquitination and degradation of phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), which is required for Akt activation. Therefore, sulforaphane is able to inhibit the PI3K/Akt pathway at two distinct sites. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that sulforaphane prevented platelet aggregation and reduced thrombus formation in flow conditions; our data also support that the inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway by sulforaphane contributes it antiplatelet effects.