Integrin-dependent tyrosine phoshorylation and cytoskeletal translocation of Tec in thrombin-activated platelets

Targets for Ibrutinib Beyond B Cell Malignancies

Ibrutinib (Imbruvica^™) is an irreversible, potent inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Over the last few years, ibrutinib has developed from a promising drug candidate to being approved by FDA for the treatment of three B cell malignancies, a truly remarkable feat. Few, if any medicines are monospecific and ibrutinib is no exception; already during ibrutinib's initial characterization, it was found that it could bind also to other kinases. In this review, we discuss the implications of such interactions, which go beyond the selective effect on BTK in B cell malignancies. In certain cases, the outcome of ibrutinib treatment likely results from the combined inhibition of BTK and other kinases, causing additive or synergistic, effects. Conversely, there are also examples when the clinical outcome seems unrelated to inhibition of BTK. Thus, more specifically, adverse effects such as enhanced bleeding or arrhythmias could potentially be explained by different interactions. We also predict that during long‐term treatment bone homoeostasis might be affected due to the inhibition of osteoclasts. Moreover, the binding of ibrutinib to molecular targets other than BTK or effects on cells other than B cell‐derived malignancies could be beneficial and result in new indications for clinical applications.

Tec kinases regulate actin assembly and cytokine expression in LPS-stimulated human neutrophils via JNK activation

The acute inflammatory response involves neutrophils wherein recognition of bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), activates intracellular signaling pathways. We have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) c-Jun NH(2) terminal kinase (JNK) is activated by LPS in neutrophils and plays a critical role in monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 expression and actin assembly. As the Tec family kinases are expressed in neutrophils and regulate activation of the MAPKs in other cell systems, we hypothesized that the Tec kinases are an upstream component of the signaling pathway leading to LPS-induced MAPKs activation in neutrophils. Herein, we show that the Tec kinases are activated in LPS-stimulated human neutrophils and that inhibition of the Tec kinases, with leflunomide metabolite analog (LFM-A13), decreased LPS-induced JNK, but not p38, activity. Furthermore, LPS-induced actin polymerization as well as MCP-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1beta expression are dependent on Tec kinase activity.

The role of Tec family kinases in myeloid cells

Members of the Tec kinase family (Bmx, Btk, Itk, Rlk and Tec) are primarily expressed in the hematopoietic system and form, after the Src kinase family, the second largest class of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases. During lymphocyte development and activation Tec kinases have important functions in signaling pathways downstream of the antigen receptors. Tec family kinases are also expressed in cells of the myeloid lineage. However, with the exception of mast cells and platelets, their biological role in the myeloid system is only poorly understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the function of Tec family kinases in hematopoietic cells of the myeloid lineage.

Dynamic aspects of platelet adhesion under flow

1. Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesive interactions are critical for a wide range of physiological processes, including embryogenesis, inflammation, immunity and haemostasis. 2. The ability of circulating blood cells, such as platelets and leucocytes, to adhere to sites of vascular injury is complicated by the presence of blood flow, which imposes hydrodynamic forces on adhesion contacts. 3. To overcome this problem, platelets and leucocytes have evolved specific adhesion receptors with unique biomechanical properties that enable these cells to adhere to the vessel wall under flow conditions. 4. Platelet adhesion in the normal circulation appears to be a multiple-step process involving an initial reversible interaction between the platelet adhesion receptor glycoprotein Ib-IX-V and the vascular adhesion protein von Willebrand factor. Once tethered to the vessel wall, platelets form irreversible adhesion contacts through the binding of one or more platelet integrins to specific subendothelial matrix proteins. 5. There is now a wealth of evidence demonstrating that these receptors not only mediate platelet adhesion, but also transduce signals leading to platelet activation. 6. In the present review, we will briefly discuss the current understanding of the specific roles of individual platelet receptors in supporting the haemostatic function of platelets and discuss mechanisms by which these receptors induce platelet activation.

The integrin alpha IIb/beta 3 in human platelet signal transduction

Platelets are critical for the maintenance of the integrity of the vascular system and are the first line of defence against haemorrhage. When they encounter a subendothelial matrix exposed by injury to a vessel, platelets adhere, are activated, and become adhesive for other platelets so that they aggregate. alpha IIb/beta 3, a platelet-specific integrin, is largely prominent amongst the adhesion receptors and is essential for platelet aggregation. The ligands for alpha IIb/beta 3 are the multivalent adhesive proteins fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor. In resting platelets, alpha IIb/beta 3 is normally in a low activation state, unable to interact with soluble fibrinogen. Stimulation of platelets with various agonists will induce a conformational change in alpha IIb/beta 3 (inside-out signalling), which is then able to bind soluble fibrinogen resulting in the onset of platelet aggregation. However, fibrinogen binding to its membrane receptor is not simply a passive event allowing the formation of intercellular bridges between platelets. Indeed, a complex signalling pathway triggered by integrin ligation and clustering (outside-in signalling) will regulate the extent of irreversible platelet aggregation and clot retraction. Amongst the signalling enzymes activated downstream of alpha IIb/beta 3 engagement, phosphoinositide 3-kinase plays an important role in the control of the irreversible phase of aggregation.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase and integrin signalling are involved in activation of Bruton tyrosine kinase in thrombin-stimulated platelets

Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) plays a crucial role in the differentiation of B lymphocytes and belongs to the group of Tec kinases, which are characterised by the presence of a pleckstrin homology domain. Here we show that Btk is activated and undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation upon challenge of platelet thrombin receptor, these responses requiring engagement of alphaIIb/beta3 integrin and phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity. These data unravel a novel signalling pathway involving Btk downstream of an adhesive receptor via a complex regulation implicating the products of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, which might act to anchor Btk at the membrane.

The procoagulant effect of thrombin on fibrin(ogen)-bound platelets

In a final stage of activation, platelets become procoagulant because of the appearance of phosphatidylserine (PS) at the membrane outer surface. This PS exposure requires a rise in cytosolic [Ca(2+)](i), is accompanied by formation of membrane blebs, and stimulates the formation of thrombin from its precursor prothrombin. Here, we investigated whether thrombin, as a potent platelet agonist, can induce this procoagulant response in plasma-free platelets interacting with fibrin or fibrinogen through their integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) receptors. First, in platelets that were stimulated to spread over fibrin or fibrinogen surfaces with adrenaline, addition of thrombin and CaCl(2) caused a potent Ca(2+) signal that in about 30% of the cells was accompanied by exposure of PS. At low doses, integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) receptor antagonist (RGD peptide) inhibited platelet spreading as well as thrombin-evoked PS exposure. Second, in platelet-fibrinogen microaggregates that were preformed in the presence of adrenaline, thrombin/CaCl(2) induced PS exposure and bleb formation of about 35% of the cells. Third, a potent, thrombin-dependent stimulation of prothrombinase activity was measured in platelet suspensions that were incubated with a fibrin clot. These results indicate that, in the absence of coagulating plasma, thrombin is a moderate inducer of the procoagulant response of platelets, once integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3)-mediated interactions are stimulated (by adrenaline) and CaCl(2) is present.

A role for Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) in platelet activation by collagen

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is essential for normal B-cell receptor signalling. The lack of expression of functional Btk in humans leads to the B-cell deficiency X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA). We report here that Btk is also important for signalling via the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in platelets. GPVI is coupled to the Fc receptor gamma chain (FcRgamma). The FcRgamma-chain contains a consensus sequence known as the immune-receptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Tyrosine phosphorylation of the ITAM upon GPVI stimulation is the initial step in the regulation of phospholipase C gamma2 (PLCgamma2) isoforms via the tyrosine kinase p72(Syk) (Syk) in platelets. Here we show that collagen and a collagen-related peptide (CRP), which binds to GPVI but does not bind to the integrin alpha2beta1, induced Btk tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets. Aggregation, dense granule secretion and calcium mobilisation were significantly diminished but not completely abolished in platelets from XLA patients in response to collagen and CRP. These effects were associated with a reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCgamma2. In contrast, aggregation and secretion stimulated by thrombin in Btk-deficient platelets were not significantly altered. Our results demonstrate that Btk is important for collagen signalling via GPVI, but is not essential for thrombin-mediated platelet activation.

Collagen Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein in Human Platelets

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) are caused by mutations of the WAS protein (WASP) gene. All hematopoietic stem cell-derived lineages, including platelets, express WASP. Platelets from WAS patients are smaller than their normal counterparts and defects in platelet aggregation and actin polymerization have been reported. To determine if WASP is important for normal platelet function, we examined its role in signal transduction. We found that collagen but not thrombopoietin or thrombin induces a rapid and robust increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of platelet-associated WASP. Collagen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP was inhibited by cytochalasin D and wortmannin, respectively, suggesting that actin polymerization and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) play a role in the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP. Binding of glutathion S-transferase (GST)-Grb2 to WASP was seen in the lysate of resting platelets. The binding was reduced when lysates from collagen-stimulated platelets were incubated with GST-Grb2, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP may directly or indirectly modulate the adapter function of WASP. Although thrombin- and thrombopoietin-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP is negligible or marginal, WASP from thrombin-activated platelets became incorporated into the Triton X-100–insoluble 10,000gsedimentable residue in an aggregation-dependent manner, suggesting that it may have a regulatory role in platelet cytoskeletal processes during aggregation. Lastly, we found that WASP is cleaved in response to activation of calpain, a protease that may have a role in postaggregation signaling processes. Our data suggest that collagen specifically induces an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP and that WASP is involved in signaling during thrombin-induced aggregation by its redistribution to the cytoskeleton and its cleavage during aggregation.

© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Collagen Induces Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein in Human Platelets

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) are caused by mutations of the WAS protein (WASP) gene. All hematopoietic stem cell-derived lineages, including platelets, express WASP. Platelets from WAS patients are smaller than their normal counterparts and defects in platelet aggregation and actin polymerization have been reported. To determine if WASP is important for normal platelet function, we examined its role in signal transduction. We found that collagen but not thrombopoietin or thrombin induces a rapid and robust increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of platelet-associated WASP. Collagen-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP was inhibited by cytochalasin D and wortmannin, respectively, suggesting that actin polymerization and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) play a role in the induction of tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP. Binding of glutathion S-transferase (GST)-Grb2 to WASP was seen in the lysate of resting platelets. The binding was reduced when lysates from collagen-stimulated platelets were incubated with GST-Grb2, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP may directly or indirectly modulate the adapter function of WASP. Although thrombin- and thrombopoietin-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP is negligible or marginal, WASP from thrombin-activated platelets became incorporated into the Triton X-100–insoluble 10,000gsedimentable residue in an aggregation-dependent manner, suggesting that it may have a regulatory role in platelet cytoskeletal processes during aggregation. Lastly, we found that WASP is cleaved in response to activation of calpain, a protease that may have a role in postaggregation signaling processes. Our data suggest that collagen specifically induces an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of WASP and that WASP is involved in signaling during thrombin-induced aggregation by its redistribution to the cytoskeleton and its cleavage during aggregation.

© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.