Phosphorylation of JAK2 in thrombin‐stimulated human platelets

Abstract

We show the presence of the tyrosine kinase JAK2 in human platelets and demonstrate that it undergoes phosphorylation on tyrosine residues on challenge with the G protein receptor stimulus, thrombin, or the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, peroxovanadate. Thrombin-induced phosphorylation of JAK2 is inhibited by two structurally distinct inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, staurosporine and the tyrphostin ST271. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Ro 31-8220, and intracellular Ca²⁺ chelator, BAPTA-AM, also inhibit thrombin-induced phosphorylation of JAK2, while the phorbol ester, phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), and Ca²⁺ ionophore, A23187, induce tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of JAK2 stimulated by thrombin may be mediated downstream of phosphoinositide metabolism.