Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

An enzyme isolated from arteries transforms prostaglandin endoperoxides to an unstable substance that inhibits platelet aggregation

Abstract

Microsomes prepared from rabbit or pig aortas transformed endoperoxides (PGG2 or PGH2) to an unstable substance (PGX) that inhibited human platelet aggregation. PGX was 30 times more potent in this respect than prostaglandin E1. PGX contracted some gastrointestinal smooth muscle and relaxed certain isolated blood vessels. Prostaglandin endoperoxides cause platelet aggregation possibly through the generation by platelets of thromboxane A2. Generation of PGX by vessel walls could be the biochemical mechanism underlying their unique ability to resist platelet adhesion. A balance between formation of anti- and pro-aggregatory substances by enzymes could also contribute to the maintenance of the integrity of vascular endothelium and explain the mechanism of formation of intra-arterial thrombi in certain physiopathological conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hamberg, M., and Samuelsson, B., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 70, 899–903 (1973).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Nugteren, D. H., and Hazelhof, E., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 326, 448–461 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hamberg, M., and Samuelsson, B., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 3400–3404 (1974).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Van Dorp, D. A., XXIVth Int. Cong. Pure appl. Chem., 2, 117–136 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hamberg, M., Svensson, J., and Samuelsson, B., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 72, 2994–2998 (1975).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Needleman, P., Moncada, S., Bunting, S., Vane, J. R., Hamberg, M., and Samuelsson, B., Nature, 261, 550–560 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Moncada, S., Needleman, P., Bunting, S., and Vane, J. R., Prostaglandins (in the press).

  8. Piper, P. J., and Vane, J. R., Nature, 223, 29–35 (1969).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Palmer, M. A., Piper, P. J., and Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac., 49, 226–242 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Svensson, J., Hamberg, M., and Samuelsson, B., Acta Physiol. Scand., 94, 222–228 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Bunting, S., Moncada, S., and Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac, 57, 462P–463P (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Malmsten, C., Hamberg, M., Svensson, J., and Samuelsson, B., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 72, 1446–1450 (1975).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, W. J., Farr, A. L., and Randall, R. J., J. biol. Chem., 193, 256–257 (1951).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac., 23, 369–373 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gilmore, N., Vane, J. R., and Wyllie, J. H., Nature, 218, 1135–1140 (1968).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bunting, S., Moncada, S., Needleman, P., and Vane, J. R., Br. J. Pharmac, 56, 334P–345P (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Flower, R. J., Cheung, H. S., and Cushman, D. W., Prostaglandins, 4, 325–341 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Born, G. V. R., Nature, 194, 927–979 (1962).

    Article  CAS  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Smith, J. B., Silver, M. J., Ingerman, C. M., and Kocsis, J. J., Thromb. Res., 5, 291–299 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Marcus, A. J., New Eng. J. Med., 280, 1213–1220 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Roy, A. J., and Djerassi, J., Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med., 139, 137–142 (1972).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Aursnes, I., Acta physiol. scand., 88, 392–400 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Johnson, S. A., in The Circulating Platelet (edit. by Johnson, S. A.), 284 (Academic, New York, 1971).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kitchens, C. S., and Weiss, L., Blood, 46, 567–578 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moncada, S., Gryglewski, R., Bunting, S. et al. An enzyme isolated from arteries transforms prostaglandin endoperoxides to an unstable substance that inhibits platelet aggregation. Nature 263, 663–665 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263663a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/263663a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing