Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein-phosphorylation by ginsenoside Ro inhibits fibrinogen binding to αIIb/β(3) in thrombin-induced human platelets

BACKGROUND: Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β(3)) is involved in platelet adhesion, and triggers a series of intracellular signaling cascades, leading to platelet shape change, granule secretion, and clot retraction. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ginsenoside Ro (G-Ro) on the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β(3). METHODS: We investigated the effect of G-Ro on regulation of signaling molecules affecting the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β(3), and its final reaction, clot retraction. RESULTS: We found that G-Ro dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and attenuated the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β(3) by phosphorylating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependently vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP; Ser(157)). In addition, G-Ro strongly abrogated the clot retraction reflecting the intensification of thrombus. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that G-Ro is a beneficial novel compound inhibiting αIIb/β(3)-mediated fibrinogen binding, and may prevent platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.