S100A8/A9 drives the formation of procoagulant platelets through GPIbα

S100A8/A9, also known as calprotectin or MRP8/14, is an alarmin primarily secreted by activated myeloid cells and platelets with anti-microbial, pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic properties. Increased plasma levels of S100A8/A9 in thrombo-inflammatory diseases are associated with thrombotic complications. We assessed the presence of S100A8/A9 in the plasma and lung autopsies from patients with COVID-19 and investigated the molecular mechanism by which S100A8/A9 affects platelet function and thrombosis.
S100A8/A9 plasma levels were increased in patients with COVID-19 and sustained high levels during hospitalization correlated with poor outcomes. Heterodimeric S100A8/A9 was mainly detected in neutrophils and deposited on the vessel wall in COVID-19 lung autopsies. Immobilization of S100A8/A9 with collagen accelerated the formation of a fibrinrich network following perfusion of recalcified blood at venous shear. In vitro, platelets adhered and partially spread on S100A8/A9 leading to the formation of distinct populations of either P-selectin or phosphatidylserine-positive platelets. Using washed platelets,
soluble S100A8/A9 induced phosphatidylserine exposure but failed to induce platelet aggregation, despite GPIIb/IIIa activation and alpha-granule secretion. We identified GPIbα as the receptor for S100A8/A9 on platelets inducing the formation of procoagulant platelets with a supporting role for CD36. The effect of S100A8/A9 on platelets was abolished by recombinant GPIbα ectodomain, platelets from Bernard-Soulier Syndrome patient with GPIb-IX-V deficiency and platelets from mice deficient in the extracellular domain of GPIbα.
In conclusion, we identified the S100A8/A9-GPIbα interaction as a novel targetable prothrombotic pathway inducing procoagulant platelets and fibrin formation, in particular in diseases associated with high levels of S100A8/A9, such as COVID-19.