ANTITHROMBOTIC AND VASORELAXANT PROPERTIES OF A NOVEL SYNTHETIC RGD PEPTIDE-CONTAINING NITRIC-OXIDE

We have developed a novel synthetic peptide containing both the antiad hesive Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) amino acid sequence and a nitric oxide (NO) m oiety well known for its vasorelaxant properties, The main objective o f this study was to determine whether this hybrid molecule is concurre ntly effective with regard to antithrombotic and vasorelaxation action s. Studies of in vitro platelet adhesion and of in vivo platelet throm bus formation in the rat demonstrated that the RGD-NO peptide increase d the antithrombotic characteristics of the RGD peptide alone. The RGD -NO peptide also caused relaxation of rat aortic rings, while the RGD peptide did not induce relaxation, These characteristics of Ac-RGDC-SN O suggest that this or similar compounds may have potential as effecti ve antithrombotic agents in coronary and peripheral artery disorders.