Aortic endothelial cells in culture secrete glycoproteins reacting with blood platelets.

The culture medium of bovine aortic endothelial cells contains proteins which inhibit the aggregation of platelets induced by aortic microfibrils but not by type III collagen. From this medium, fibronectin, thrombospondin and a glycoprotein with MW of 128 Kd (GP 128), similar to a glycoprotein described in a microfibrillar extract from bovine aorta were separated by affinity and ion exchange chromatography. GP 128 was further purified by molecular sieve chromatography on SW 3000 column. GP 128 inhibited the aggregation of platelets by microfibrils. This suggests a role of GP 128 in the platelet/subendothelium interaction.