Role of the growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6) product in thrombus stabilization

Growth arrest-specific gene 6 (gas6) product enhances the formation of stable platelet macroaggregates in response to various agonists. To determine whether Gas6 amplifies the response to known platelet agonists through one or more of its receptor tyrosine kinases of the Tyro3 family, mice deficient in any one of the Gas6 receptors (Gas6-Rs: Tyro3, Axl, or Mer) were submitted to thrombosis challenge and their platelet function. The loss of any one of the Gas6-Rs protects mice against thromboembolism induced by collagen-epinephrine and stasis-induced thrombosis. Importantly, these mice do not suffer spontaneous bleeding and have a normal bleeding time but a tendency to repetitively re-bleed after transient hemostasis. Re-bleeding in mice lacking any one of the Gas6-Rs is not due to thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy but to a platelet dysfunction characterized by a lack of the second wave of platelet aggregation and an impaired clot retraction, at least in part by reducing outside-in αIIbβ3 signaling and platelet granule secretion. The early release of Gas6 by agonists perpetuates platelet activation through its three receptors, reinforcing outside-in αIIbβ3 signaling by activation of PI3K and Akt signaling and stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of the β3 integrin. Furthermore, “trapping” Gas6 prevents pathological thrombosis, which indicates that blocking this novel cross-talk between the Gas6-Rs and αIIbβ3 integrin may constitute a novel target for antithrombotic therapy.