Comparison of the major membrane glycoproteins and proteins of human, rabbit and rat blood platelets

Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate Enhanced Procoagulant Activity through Oxidative-Stress-Mediated Phosphatidylserine Exposure in Platelets

Polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG-p) is a common biocidal disinfectant that is widely used in industry and household products. However, PHMG-p was misused as a humidifier disinfectant (HD) in South Korea, which had fatal health effects. Various health problems including cardiovascular diseases were observed in HD-exposed groups. However, the potential underlying mechanism of HD-associated cardiovascular diseases is poorly understood. Here, we examined the procoagulant activity of platelets caused by PHMG-p and clarified the underlying mechanism. PHMG-p enhanced phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure through alteration of phospholipid transporters, scramblase, and flippase. Intracellular calcium elevation, intracellular ATP depletion, and caspase-3 activation appeared to underlie phospholipid transporter dysregulation caused by PHMG-p, which was mediated by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Notably, antioxidant enzyme catalase and calcium chelator EGTA reversed PHMG-p-induced PS exposure and thrombin generation, confirming the contributive role of oxidative stress and intracellular calcium in the procoagulant effects of PHMG-p. These series of events led to procoagulant activation of platelets, which was revealed as enhanced thrombin generation. Collectively, PHMG-p triggered procoagulant activation of platelets, which may promote prothrombotic risks and cardiovascular diseases. These findings improve our understanding of HD-associated cardiovascular diseases.

Role of the serine-rich surface glycoprotein GspB of Streptococcus gordonii in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis

The direct binding of bacteria to platelets is a central interaction in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. GspB is a serine-rich, cell wall glycoprotein of Streptococcus gordonii that mediates the binding of this organism to human platelets in vitro. To assess the contribution of this adhesin to the pathogenesis of endocarditis, we compared the virulence of S. gordonii M99 (which expresses GspB) with an isogenic, gspB mutant (PS846) in two rat models of endovascular infection. In the first group of experiments, animals were infected intravenously with M99 or PS846, and sacrificed 72 h later, to assess levels of bacteria within cardiac vegetations, kidneys, and spleens. When inoculated with 10(5)CFU, rats infected with PS846 had significantly lower densities of organisms within vegetations (mean: 3.84 log(10)CFU/g) as compared with M99-infected rats (6.67 log(10)CFU/g; P<0.001). Marked differences were also seen in rats co-infected with M99 and PS846, at a 1:1 ratio. While M99 was found at high levels within vegetations, kidneys and spleens (mean log(10)CFU/g: 6.62, 5.07 and 4.18, respectively) PS846 was not detected within these tissues. Thus, platelet binding by GspB appears to be a major interaction in the pathogenesis of endocarditis due to S. gordonii.

Simultaneous isolation of platelet factor 4 and glycoprotein IIb–IIIa complex from rabbit platelets, and characterization of specific chicken antibodies to assay them

Rabbits are frequently used as models for studying coagulation and platelet disorders. However, few reports on literature have dealt with the purification and characterization of rabbit platelet proteins. Herein a protocol for the simultaneous purification of rabbit platelet factor 4 (PF4) and platelet glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa, integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3)) is described. Specific antibodies were raised in laying chicken, which were used for assaying PF4 by ELISA, and GPIIb-IIIa by direct immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the binding of monoclonal antibodies specific for GPIIb-IIIa complex (P2), ligand-induced binding site of GPIIIa (LIBS1) and rabbit P-selectin (12A7), as well as of polyclonal IgY specific for rabbit GPIIb-IIIa, was compared in quiescent and thrombin-activated platelets. Polyclonal anti-rabbit PF4 IgY was a specific and sensitive probe that could be used for assaying PF4 in plasma samples. GPIIb-IIIa expression was increased in thrombin-activated platelets, as evaluated by flow cytometric analysis using P2 and polyclonal antibodies raised in chickens. Rabbit GPIIb-IIIa also exhibited a conformational modification that caused the appearance of ligand-induced binding sites. Increased P-selectin expression, used as a positive control, was also noticeable in thrombin-activated platelets. These data evidence that antibodies raised in laying chickens specific to rabbit PF4 and GPIIb-IIIa, as well as certain monoclonal antibodies specific for human GPIIb-IIIa, may be used for investigating rabbit platelet physiology.

Characteristics of rat platelets and relative contributions of platelets and blood coagulation to haemostasis

In order to understand some of the haemostatic mechanisms in rats for the interpretation of toxicological data, basic haemostatic parameters with a special emphasis on platelet functions were first measured in vitro. The results of reactions of rat platelets to many aggregating agents suggest that only ADP may be a consistently significant aggregator. The search for physiologic aggregators revealed ADP to be available from erythrocytes. Adhesion reaction also required ADP. Collagen was not considered to be essential for either reaction. Aggregation and adhesion were probably both reversible in flowing blood, while irreversible thrombi were formed in blood at rest ex vivo. Blood coagulation parameters determined revealed that the intrinsic pathway may be more important than the extrinsic one. The rate of intrinsic coagulation reaction was rapid, and plasma coagulation appeared to be of primary importance while the influence of platelet aggregation was minor. A simple model of rat haemostatic mechanism is proposed based on these results. Additionally, to define the relative contribution of platelets versus other cellular and plasma coagulation in vivo, rats were administered antiplatelet drugs (ticlopidine, suprofen and clopidogrel) and an anticoagulant (warfarin) intraperitoneally. Bleeding times (BTs) were significantly increased in all treated groups. ADP-induced platelet aggregations were significantly depressed by the administration of the three antiplatelet drugs, while kaolon-activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were greatly increased in the warfarin-treated rats. The increase in BT may be due to the inhibition of platelet activity or blood coagulation defect in rats given antiplatelet drugs or warfarin, respectively. These results suggest that platelets play a key role in haemostasis in the rat. Two possible explanations of the disparity between in vitro and in vivo results may be that functional tests used here are not adequate to cover the properties of rat platelets or that mechanisms leading to the formation of platelet thrombi in rats are ADP-dependent adhesion and ADP-induced aggregation.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against rat platelet GPIIb/IIIa

Four murine monoclonal antibodies against rat platelets were produced by fusion of spleen cells from mice intravenously immunized with whole rat platelets. All four antibodies immunoprecipitated two major platelet membrane proteins with apparent molecular weights of 130,000 and 82,000 (nonreduced) and of 120,000 and 98,000 (reduced), which were structurally analogous to human glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa, i.e. rat GPIIb/IIIa. Two of four antibodies, named P9 and P55, strongly inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced aggregation of washed rat platelets and caused approximately 50% inhibition of human fibrinogen binding to ADP-stimulated rat platelets, suggesting that rat GPIIb/IIIa serves as a fibrinogen receptor in ADP-induced aggregation. In contrast, two other antibodies, named P14 and P34, themselves caused aggregation of rat platelets in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and the secretion of 14C-serotonin from 14C-serotonin-labeled PRP. These results indicate that rat GPIIb/IIIa plays an important role in platelet aggregation.

Identification of a surface protein of the rabbit blood platelet with high affinity for collagen

Platelet membrane components adhering with high affinity to collagen fibers were studied by means of an affinity column in which fibrillar type I collagen was physically immobilized. Intact rabbit platelets in 1 mM EGTA adhered to the column but did not aggregate. Adhesion was dependent on the collagen concentration and on the number of platelets applied. Passage through the column without adhesion did not affect the potential for subsequent platelet binding. Surface-labelled whole platelets were passaged through this column, lysed in Triton and in SDS and labelled components adhering to the collagen were analysed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. It was found that Triton lysis removed most of the major surface glycoproteins but left the cytoskeleton on the column. Subsequent SDS elution removed the cytoskeletal proteins along with the remaining major surface glycoproteins. The label left on the column could not be eluted with 8 M urea or up to 4 M NaCl. Collagenase digestion of the column collagen released a single surface glycoprotein of Mr 80,000. Limited chymotryptic digestion of the labelled platelets prior to their application to the column did not affect their binding. A radiolabelled band of the same molecular weight (MW) became bound to the collagen following passage of the chymotrypsin-treated platelets. This band was trypsin-sensitive following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). These results, along with other published evidence, suggest that at least one platelet membrane component, expressed on the surface of the unstimulated platelet, binds with high affinity to fibrillar type I collagen and is probably involved in platelet collagen recognition.

Synthesis by guinea pig megakaryocytes of platelet glycoprotein receptors for fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor

In the preceding paper, we described two monoclonal antibodies, PG-1 and PG-2, that selectively blocked the binding of von Willebrand factor (PG-1) or of fibrinogen (PG-2) to guinea pig platelets. In this study we examine the structures and site of synthesis of these receptors. NP-40 lysates of radiolabeled guinea pig platelets were immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibodies PG-1 or PG-2, and the precipitates analyzed by SDS-PAGE. PG-1 recognized a single polypeptide with reduced Mr of 143,000 daltons, while PG-2 precipitated two chains with reduced Mr of 121,000 and 93,000 daltons. Periodate-[3H]borohydride labeling of platelets, in conjunction with two-dimensional SDS-PAGE, showed that all three of the polypeptides are glycoproteins and that the 143,000 and 121,000 dalton chains are linked by disulfide bond(s) to smaller, approximately 25,000 dalton polypeptides. Guinea pig megakaryocytes synthesized polypeptides immunoprecipitable by PG-1 and PG-2, with molecular weights similar to polypeptides found associated with platelet membranes. These studies demonstrate that guinea pig platelets have functional receptors for fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor that are structurally homologous to human platelet glycoproteins Ib, IIb and IIIa, and that these glycoproteins are synthesized by megakaryocytes.

One-step procedure for the rapid isolation of mouse monoclonal antibodies and their antigen binding fragments by fast protein liquid chromatography on a mono Q anion-exchange column

A one-step chromatographic procedure was used to isolate rapidly mouse IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b) contained in ascites fluids and Fab fragments contained in papain-treated mAb suspensions. Chromatographic separations were performed on an anion-exchange Mono Q column connected to a fast protein liquid chromatographic (FPLC) system. Detection of mAb or their antigen binding fragments (Fab) in eluted peaks was performed using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis together with a silver or a Coomassie Brillant Blue R 250 staining technique and solid phase radioimmunoassay with 125I-labelled sheep anti-mouse antibodies directed against total immunoglobulins. Rapid assessment of the purity of isolated mAbs and their Fab fragments was performed by gel permeation chromatography on a TSK G 3000 SW column. Mouse mAbs and their Fab fragments were rapidly isolated (25 min), in a functionally active state, to a high degree of purity on the FPLC-Mono Q system compared to the time taken by other techniques.

Kinetics of platelet density subpopulations in splenectomized mongrel dogs

Autologous 51Cr-platelet kinetic studies were performed in splenectomized mongrel dogs. Mean survival time of PRP-platelets was 5.4 +/- 1.5 (SD) days (n = 6). The curves, though slightly curvilinear, showed mostly a linear type of decay, denoting that platelet removal from the circulation is mainly determined by aging of the cells. High-density (HD) and low-density (LD) platelet cohorts were isolated in Stractan gradients from samples drawn daily after infusion of labeled platelets. Specific radioactivity in HD cohorts declined rapidly postinfusion (T1/2 = 1.3 days), but specific radioactivity in LD platelets increased for 2 days and steadily declined for 4 days thereafter (n = 6). Labeled HD platelets, comprising 11.7% of the total population, lived significantly longer in circulation than LD platelets (19.1% of the total population) (n = 3). The patterns of decay of the radioactivity, however, do not have all the characteristics of pure age-cohort survival curves; 3.7 days after the infusion of labeled HD platelets, the specific radioactivity in LD cohorts was six times higher than on day 1, but attained only 20% of the initial specific radioactivity in HD platelets. After the infusion of labeled LD platelets no radioactivity was recovered in circulating HD cohorts. These findings indicate that mongrel dog platelets decrease in density with aging, but also that platelet density heterogeneity is in part determined during the thrombopoietic process. These data are consistent with those of other authors in rabbits and rhesus monkeys, but contrast with the observations that platelets in humans, baboons, and Macaca fascicularis monkeys increase in density with age, suggesting that the displacement of platelets toward compartments of either higher or lower density depends on the species under study.