Endothelin-3, Ca2+ mobilization and cyclic GMP content in human platelets

Endothelium-mediated regulation of platelet activation: Involvement of multiple protein kinases

The endothelial regulation of platelet activity is incompletely understood. Here we describe novel approaches to find molecular pathways implicated on the platelet-endothelium interaction. Using high-shear whole-blood microfluidics, employing coagulant or non-coagulant conditions at physiological temperature, we observed that the presence of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) strongly suppressed platelet adhesion and activation, via the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and the PAR receptors for thrombin. Real-time monitoring of the cytosolic Ca2+ rises in the platelets indicated no major improvement of inhibition by prostacyclin or nitric oxide. Similarly under stasis, exposure of isolated platelets to HUVEC reduced the Ca2+ responses by collagen-related peptide (CRP-XL, GPVI agonist) and thrombin (PAR agonist). We then analyzed the label-free phosphoproteome of platelets (three donors), exposed to HUVEC, CRP-XL, and/or thrombin. High-resolution mass spectrometry gave 5463 phosphopeptides, corresponding to 1472 proteins, with good correlation between biological and technical replicates (R > .86). Stringent filtering steps revealed 26 regulatory pathways (Reactome) and 143 regulated kinase substrates (PhosphoSitePlus), giving a set of protein phosphorylation sites that was differentially (44) or similarly (110) regulated by HUVEC or agonist exposure. The differential regulation was confirmed by stable-isotope analysis of platelets from two additional donors. Substrate analysis indicated major roles of poorly studied protein kinase classes (MAPK, CDK, DYRK, STK, PKC members). Collectively, these results reveal a resetting of the protein phosphorylation profile in platelets exposed to endothelium or to conventional agonists and to endothelium-promoted activity of a multi-kinase network, beyond classical prostacyclin and nitric oxide actors, that may contribute to platelet inhibition.

Ablation of the Kell/Xk complex alters erythrocyte divalent cation homeostasis

XK is a putative transporter of unknown function that is ubiquitously expressed and linked through disulfide bonds to Kell protein, an endothelin-3 (ET-3)-converting enzyme. We generated three knockout (KO) mice that lacked either Xk, Kell or both proteins and characterized erythrocyte cation levels, transport and hematological parameters. Absence of Xk or Kell was accompanied by changes in erythrocyte K(+), Mg(2+), Na(+) and Ca(2+) transport that were associated with changes in mean cellular volume and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration mean. Baseline Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was undetected in erythrocytes from all three mouse types but was restored upon pre-incubation with ET-3. Consistent with these alterations in Ca(2+) handling, we observed increased Gardos channel activity in Kel and Xk KO mice. In addition Kel deletion was associated with increased Mg(2+) permeability while Xk deletion blocked Na/Mg exchanger activity. Our results provide evidence that cellular divalent cation regulation is functionally coupled to the Kell/XK system in erythrocytes and loss of this complex may contribute to acanthocytosis formation in McLeod syndrome.

The involvement of protein kinase G in stimulation of neutrophil migration by endothelins

Activation of human neutrophil migration by endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 is inhibited by guanylate cyclase inhibitors, by antagonists of protein kinase G (G-kinase), and by KT-5823, an inhibitor of G-kinase. Although no direct effect of endothelins on cGMP level could be established, these results suggest that the effect of these endothelins on migration is mediated by cGMP, and that the effect of cGMP proceeds via a G-kinase. There was little or no effect of guanylate cyclase inhibitors and G-kinase antagonists on endothelin-2-activated migration, indicating that the role of cGMP and G-kinase in endothelin-2-induced activation was either absent or at least different from that of the other endothelins. As compared with other activators, the role of G-kinase in formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanyl(fMLP-)activated migration resembled that of endothelin-activated migration, while the role of G-kinase in interleukin-8- or leukotriene B4-activated migration was less pronounced.

Change of endothelin receptor subtype in the MEG-01 human megakaryoblastic cell line

The aim of this investigation was to determine whether the endothelin receptor subtype of a megakaryoblastic cell line (MEG-01) changes during culture passages as cells undergo maturation and differentiation. On early-passage cells, binding of [125I]endothelin-1 was completely inhibited by 1 microM BQ 123 (cyclo-[D-tryptophanyl-D-aspartyl-prolyl-D-valyl-leucyl]), but not by sarafotoxin 6C. Also the endothelin-1-enhancing effect on [Ca2+]i was prevented by BQ 123, whereas sarafotoxin 6C had no effect on [Ca2+]i. In late-passage cells, endothelin ET(B) analogs, unlike endothelin ET(A) analogs, competed with binding of [125I]endothelin-1. Endothelin ET(B) receptor agonists increased [Ca2+]i while the endothelin-1-induced response was inhibited by BQ 788 ([N-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-piperidinocarbonyl]-4-methyl-D-leucyl]-[ N(omega)-(methoxycarbonyl)-D-tryptophanyl]-D-norleucine), but not by BQ 123, although both endothelin ET(A) and ET(B) receptor mRNAs were expressed, as shown by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. These results demonstrate that in MEG-01 cells switch from expression of endothelin ET(A) to expression of ET(B) receptors during culture. The data also suggest that late-passage MEG-01 cells look like platelets, in terms of endothelin receptor subtype.

Influence of authentic nitric oxide on basal cytosolic [Ca2+] and Ca2+ release from internal stores in human platelets

1. Nitric oxide (NO) donors inhibit platelet function and Ca2+ mobilization evoked by different agonists. This led us to investigate the direct effects of authentic NO on basal cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and on Ca2+ mobilization induced by thrombin or by two inhibitors of intracellular Ca(2+)-ATPases, thapsigargin and 2,5-di-(t-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone (t-BuBHQ). 2. Cytosolic Ca2+ concentration was evaluated with Fura-2, in the absence of Ca2+ influx. Addition of 5 microM NO increased by 48% the basal cytosolic [Ca2+] of resting human platelets whereas a lower concentration (0.1 microM) did not induce significant modifications. This NO-induced Ca2+ increase was inversely correlated with the basal level of cytosolic [Ca2+]. 3. NO pretreatment for 30 to 120 s decreased by 42 to 57% the transient [Ca2+]i peak evoked by 0.10 u ml-1 thrombin and strongly attenuated the initial rate of [Ca2+]i rise induced by 1 microM thapsigargin or by 20 microM t-BuBHQ. The two components of the thapsigargin response, the Ca2+ release due to inhibition of Ca2+ pumps and the thromboxane A2-dependent self-amplification mechanism, were inhibited by NO. The observation that a subsequent stimulation was still capable of eliciting Ca2+ release suggests the presence of NO-insensitive Ca2+ stores. 4. These findings indicate that nitric oxide can modulate basal cytosolic [Ca2+] in unstimulated human platelets and decrease the Ca2+ mobilization from NO-sensitive internal stores evoked by stimulation of receptors or by Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitors. This underlines the important role of nitric oxide in the modulation of platelet Ca2+ handling.