Platelet CD40L Modulates Thrombus Growth Via Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase β, and Not Via CD40 and IκB Kinase α

Objective - To investigate the roles and signaling pathways of CD40L and CD40 in platelet-platelet interactions and thrombus formation under conditions relevant for atherothrombosis. Approach and Results - Platelets from mice prone to atherosclerosis lacking CD40L (Cd40lg^-/-Apoe^-/-) showed diminished α_IIbβ₃activation and α-granule secretion in response to glycoprotein VI stimulation, whereas these responses of CD40-deficient platelets (Cd40^-/-Apoe^-/-) were not decreased. Using blood from Cd40lg^-/-Apoe^-/- and Cd40^-/-Apoe^-/- mice, the glycoprotein VI-dependent formation of dense thrombi was impaired on atherosclerotic plaque material or on collagen, in comparison with Apoe^-/- blood. In all genotypes, addition of CD40L to the blood enhanced the growth of dense thrombi on plaques and collagen. Similarly, CD40L enhanced glycoprotein VI-induced platelet aggregation, even with platelets deficient in CD40. This potentiation was antagonized in Pik3cb^R/R platelets or by inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase β (PI3Kβ). Addition of CD40L also enhanced collagen-induced Akt phosphorylation, which was again antagonized by absence or inhibition of PI3Kβ. Finally, platelets from Chuk1^A/AApoe^-/- mice deficient in IκB kinase α (IKKα), implicated in CD40 signaling to nuclear factor (NF) κB, showed unchanged responses to CD40L in aggregation or thrombus formation. Conclusions - Under atherogenic conditions, CD40L enhances collagen-induced platelet-platelet interactions by supporting integrin α_IIbβ₃activation, secretion and thrombus growth via PI3Kβ, but not via CD40 and IKKα/NFκB. This role of CD40L exceeds the no more than modest role of CD40 in thrombus formation.