Decreased Expression of Phospholipase C-$\beta$2 in Human Platelets with Impaired Function

Platelets from a patient with a mild inherited bleeding disorder and abnormal platelet aggregation and secretion show reduced generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP$_3$), mobilization of intracellular Ca$\^$2+/, and phosphorylation of pleckstrin in response to several G protein mediated agonists, suggesting a possible defect at the level of phospholipase C (PLC) activation. A procedure was developed that allows quantitation of platelet PLC isozymes. After fractionation of platelet extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography, seven, out often known PLC isoforms were detected by immunoblot analysis. The amount of these isoforms in normal platelets decreased in the order PLC-${\gamma}$2 > PLC-${\beta}$2 > PLC-${\beta}$3 > PLC-${\beta}$l > PLC-${\gamma}$ > PLC-$\delta$1 > PLC-${\beta}$4. Compared with normal platelets, platelets from the patient contained approximately one-third the amount of PLC-${\beta}$2, whereas PLC-${\beta}$4 was increased threefold. These results suggest that the impaired platelet function in the patient in response to multiple G protein mediated agonists is attributable to a deficiency of PLC-${\beta}$2. They document for the first time a specific PLC isozyme deficiency in human platelets and provide an unique opportunity to understand the role of different PLC isozymes in normal platelet function.