The Integrin Activating Protein Kindlin-3 Is Cleaved in Human Platelets during ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Kindlins are important proteins for integrin signaling and regulation of the cytoskeleton, but we know little about their precise function and regulation in platelets during acute ischemic events. In this work, we investigated kindlin-3 protein levels in platelets isolated from patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared to patients with non-ischemic chest pain. Platelets from twelve patients with STEMI and twelve patients with non-ischemic chest pain were isolated and analyzed for kindlin-3 protein levels and intracellular localization by immunoblotting and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Platelet proteome analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein sequencing identified kindlin-3 as a protein that is cleaved in platelets from patients with myocardial infarction. Kindlin-3 full-length protein was significantly decreased in patients with STEMI compared to patients with non-ischemic chest pain (1.0 ± 0.2 versus 0.28 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) by immunoblotting. Kindlin-3 showed a differential distribution and was primarily cleaved in the cytosolic and membrane compartment of platelets in myocardial infarction. Platelet activation with thrombin alone did not affect kindlin-3 protein levels. The present study demonstrates that kindlin-3 protein levels become significantly reduced in platelets of patients with myocardial infarction compared to controls. The results suggest that kindlin-3 cleavage in platelets is associated with the ischemic event of myocardial infarction.