Biology and Pharmacology of the Platelet P2Y12 Receptor

Platelets possess two receptors for ADP, P2Y1 and P2Y12. ADP is released from platelet dense granules upon platelet activation by numerous agonists and thereby amplifies platelet responses regardless of the initial stimulus. The P2Y1 receptor is one of many platelet receptors coupled to Gq and initiates ADP-induced activation. The P2Y12 receptor on the other hand is linked to Gi and plays a special role in the amplification of platelet...