Platelet glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa complex
Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex is a "platelet membrane glycoprotein complex important for platelet adhesion and aggregation. it is an integrin complex containing integrin alphaiib and integrin beta3 which recognizes the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (rgd) sequence present on several adhesive proteins. as such, it is a receptor for fibrinogen; von Willebrand factor; fibronectin; vitronectin; and thrombospondins."[1]
Role in medicine
A deficiency of GPIIb-IIIa is the cause of Glanzman Thrombasthenia, which causes a prolonged bleeding time.
Antibodies to GPIIb-IIIa is the cause of most cases of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).
Antibodies to immune complexes of GPIIb-IIIa and various drugs underly many cases of drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia.[2]
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, such as eptifibatide and tirofiban, block the platelet glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa complex and inhibit platelet aggregation. They arp used to treat vascular diseases.
References
- ↑ Anonymous. Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ↑ Aster RH, Bougie DW (2007). "Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (6): 580–7. DOI:10.1056/NEJMra066469. PMID 17687133. Research Blogging.