Small-Molecule Cyclophilin Inhibitors Potently Reduce Platelet Procoagulant Activity

Procoagulant platelets are associated with an increased risk for thrombosis. Procoagulant platelet formation is mediated via Cyclophilin D (CypD) mediated opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Inhibiting CypD activity could therefore be an interesting approach to limiting thrombosis. In this study, we investigated the potential of two novel, non-immunosuppressive, non-peptidic small-molecule cyclophilin inhibitors (SMCypIs) to limit thrombosis in vitro, in comparison with the cyclophilin inhibitor and immunosuppressant Cyclosporin A (CsA). Both cyclophilin inhibitors significantly decreased procoagulant platelet formation upon dual-agonist stimulation, shown by a decreased phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, as well as a reduction in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, the SMCypIs potently reduced procoagulant platelet-dependent clotting time, as well as fibrin formation under flow, comparable to CsA. No effect was observed on agonist-induced platelet activation measured by P-selectin expression, as well as CypA-mediated integrin α_IIbβ₃ activation. Importantly, whereas CsA increased Adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation, this was unaffected in the presence of the SMCypIs. We here demonstrate specific cyclophilin inhibition does not affect normal platelet function, while a clear reduction in procoagulant platelets is observed. Reducing platelet procoagulant activity by inhibiting cyclophilins with SMCypIs forms a promising strategy to limit thrombosis.