Intense exercise increases shear-induced platelet aggregation in men through enhancement of von Willbrand factor binding, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa activation, and P-selectin expression on platelets

Vigorous exercise transiently enhances the risk of primary cardiac arrest. Shear-induced platelet aggregation (SIPA) is an important mechanism in arterial thrombogenesis. This study investigates whether intense exercise affects SIPA, and elucidates mechanisms that underlie SIPA. Eighteen sedentary healthy men engaged in intense exercise (about 80% of maximal oxygen consumption) for 40 min on a bicycle ergometer. Platelet aggregation, binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to platelets, and activation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa and expression of P-selectin on platelets induced by shear stress were analyzed both before and immediately after exercise. Analytical results demonstrated that: (1) the levels of plasma vWF antigen and activity were enhanced after intense exercise, (2) intense exercise increased either shear- or ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and was accompanied by an increase in vWF binding to platelets and vWF-mediated GP IIb/IIIa activation at high shear flow, and (3) shear-induced P-selectin expression in the absence or the presence of exogenous vWF was enhanced by intense exercise. Therefore, we conclude that intense exercise promotes the extent of SIPA, possibly by enhancing the ability of vWF to bind to platelets and the subsequent activation of GP IIb/IIIa complexes, as well as the expression of P-selectin in response to shear stress, which in turn may augment the risk of vascular thrombosis.