The impact of ligand density on integrinmediated cell adhesion and outside-in signaling is not well understood. Using total internal reflection fluorescent microscopy, conformation-specific antibodies, and Ca 2؉ flux measurements, we found that the surface density of fibrinogen affects ␣IIb3-mediated platelet signaling, adhesion, and spreading. Adhesion to fibrinogen immobilized at low density leads to rapid increases in cytosolic Ca 2؉ and sequential formation of filopodia and lamellipodia. In contrast, adhesion to high-density fibrinogen results in transient or no increases in Ca 2؉ and simultaneous formation of filopodia and lamellipodia. ␣IIb3 receptors at the basal surface of platelets engage fibrinogen in a ringlike pattern at the cell edges under both conditions. This engagement is, however, more dynamic and easily reversed on high-density fibrinogen. Src and Rac activity and actin polymerization are important for adhesion to low-density fibrinogen, whereas PKC/PI3 kinases contribute to platelet spreading on highdensity fibrinogen. We conclude that 2 fundamentally different signaling mecha-
IntroductionIntegrins mediate interaction of cells with their environment, responding to activation and inhibition signals (inside-out signaling) and transmitting information initiated by ligand-receptor interaction into the cell (outside-in signaling). These interactions are vital to gene regulation, cell migration, cell proliferation, and cellular differentiation in many processes. 1 The most abundant platelet integrin, ␣IIb3, and its signaling have been extensively studied using both platelets and other cell model systems. 2 Structural data on this integrin and the related integrin ␣V3 have brought new insights into its function, especially with the regard to ligand binding. 3,4 ␣IIb3-mediated platelet adhesion to fibrinogen has been implicated in a number of different physiologic and pathologic processes. After vascular injury, fibrinogen binds to the damaged surface and may act as one of the proteins to which platelets adhere. 5 This is of particular significance, since ␣IIb3 can bind to immobilized fibrinogen without prior platelet activation. 6,7 As fibrinogen is also present in atherosclerotic plaque, 8,9 platelet adhesion to fibrinogen may contribute to thrombus formation on ruptured or eroded plaques, or even to the atherosclerotic process itself. 10 Fibrinogen also preferentially deposits on artificial surfaces, including those used for vascular prostheses and biomaterials. Thus platelet adhesion to fibrinogen-coated surfaces is of importance in the biocompatibility of these surfaces. 11 ␣IIb3 interactions with immobilized fibrinogen trigger outside-in signaling followed by filopodial extensions, development of lamellipodia, and subsequent attachment and spreading (reviewed in Shattil 12 ). Platelet spreading on fibrinogen is associated with tyrosine phosphorylation of several platelet proteins including FAK, 13 Src, 13 and Syk. 14 Kinases involved in these processes have been shown to include protei...