Regulation and role of phosphoinositide phosphorylation in human platelets

A new look at the lipid composition of the plasma membrane of human blood platelets relative to the GPIIb/IIIa (integrin cxIIβ3) content

The total lipids of the human platelet plasma membrane (HPPM) from 50 ml of blood of healthy subjects were extracted, quantified and related to the mass content of the major intrinsic membrane protein, the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa). The HPPM total lipid/GPIIb/IIIa weight ratio determined was 5.40 ± 0.20, independently of the membrane washing procedure used, with the cholesterol/GPIIb/IIIa and phospholipid/GPIIb/IIIa molar ratios of 800 ± 50 and 1200 ± 40, respectively. If the distribution of lipids around each intrinsic protein were proportional to its mass, the lipids around a molecule of GPIIb/IIIa will occupy about 120 nm(2) of the membrane plane, which is about one and a half times the cross-sectional area of the extracellular head of GPIIb/IIIa, as estimated by electron microscopy. The lipid extracts were further subjected to thin-layer chromatography to separate and quantify the different phospholipid fractions, the free fatty acids and the neutral lipid fraction and the distribution of fatty acids in each fraction was determined by gas chromatography after methanolysis. The phospholipid molar distribution was SPM(22.3 ± 0.9%), PC(36.2 ± 1.0%), PE(24.9 ± 0.9%), PS(12.1 ± 0.6%) and PI(4.5 ± 0.4%) and the free fatty acid fraction represented 2.9 ± 0.4% of the total fatty acids in HPPM. The fatty acid chain length ranged from 14 to 24 carbons, comprising unsaturated fatty acids (47.3% molar per cent of the total) of which 40.7 ± 2.0% were monosaturated and 40.7 ± 0.9% tetraunsaturated. Palmitic, stearic, oleic and arachidonic acids represent 66% of the total fatty acids of HPPM, being: 68.9 ± 5.3% of palmitic acid and 63.3 ± 6.9% of oleic acid in PC; 50.9 ± 3.8% of arachidonic acid in PE; and 30.5 ± 2.4% of stearic acid in PS. We discuss the methodological modifications and the new data in relation with the major differences in HPPM lipid composition found in the literature. The data obtained provides a comprehensive and accurate description of the lipid composition of HPPM on which to rely as a reference for basic and medical studies.

A cooperative interaction between soy protein and its isoflavone-enriched fraction lowers hepatic lipids in male obese Zucker rats and reduces blood platelet sensitivity in male Sprague-Dawley rats

Soy protein diets lower plasma cholesterol in hyperlipoproteinemic human subjects, as well as in animal models. We fed 7-wk-old male obese (fa/fa) and lean Zucker rats a modified AIN-76 diet (20 g protein/kg diet) containing casein (C), low isoflavone soy protein (38 mg isoflavones/kg diet; LI), or high isoflavone soy protein (578 mg isoflavones/kg diet; HI) for 70 d. In obese rats, plasma total cholesterol was 21 and 29% lower in the LI and HI groups, respectively, than in the C group (P: </= 0.004). Liver weight and liver triglyceride and cholesteryl ester concentrations were 27, 33 and 46% lower, respectively, in the LI group than in the C group (P: < 0.003). These liver measurements were 23, 24 and 57% lower, respectively, in the HI group than in the LI group (P: < 0.05). In a complementary study, 5-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed the same C, LI and HI diets for 42 d. Thrombin-mediated platelet serotonin release in vitro was 13% lower in the HI group than in the C group (P: = 0.003). In a third study, 7-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a modified AIN-76 control diet or a high fat casein-based atherogenic diet (140 g fat, 12 g cholesterol, and 2 g cholic acid/kg diet) with or without a soy isoflavones extract (983 mg isoflavones/kg diet) for 63 d. Addition of the isoflavones extract to the atherogenic diet lowered the liver triglyceride concentration by 33% relative to the atherogenic diet without isoflavones (P: = 0.0001). Our studies suggest that the hypocholesterolemic mechanism of dietary soy protein involves a cooperative interaction between the protein and isoflavone-enriched fraction that lowers hepatic lipid concentrations. We speculate that modulation of liver and plasma lipid homeostasis can also lower blood platelet sensitivity.

Increased formation of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate in human platelets stimulated with lysophosphatidic acid

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate), at a concentration of 1-40 microM, was found to induce the formation of [3H]inositol-labelled phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PIP) without significantly altering the levels of either phosphatidylinositol (PI) or phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) in washed human platelets. Preincubation of platelets with the cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor, BW755C at 100 microM, did not alter the LPA-induced formation of PIP. Activation of platelets with the phorbol ester, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), elicited a similar response (induction of PIP formation). The specific protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, GF109203X (10 microM), completely blocked the effect of PMA but not the LPA-induced generation of PIP. The present results indicate that LPA can induce PIP formation via PI-4-kinase activation, through processes which are independent of the eicosanoid/TxA2 pathway and are not PKC-dependent.

Age-associated decrease in inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and diacylglycerol generation by 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 in rat intestine

The hormonal form of vitamin D3, 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3(1,25[OH]2D3), stimulates the breakdown of membrane phosphoinositides, generating inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG) in a variety of cell systems. Several studies suggest that alterations in the receptor-mediated phosphoinositide cascade are involved in the pathophysiology of aging. Therefore, the formation of IP3 and DAG were determined under basal conditions and after stimulation with physiological concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3 in duodenum from young (3-mo-old) and aged (24-mo-old) rats. The hormone induced a transient and biphasic formation of IP3 and DAG. Values obtained in young rats peaking at 15 s (51% and 42% above basal levels for IP3 and DAG, respectively) and at 3 min (90% and 74% above basal levels for IP3 and DAG, respectively) were significantly decreased in duodenum from senescent animals (IP3: +20% and DAG: +18% above basal level at 15 s; and IP3: +18% and DAG: +29% above basal level at 3 min). The 1,25(OH)2D3-induced generation of DAG in both young and aged duodenum was effectively inhibited in the presence of neomycin, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, and was dependent on extracellular Ca2+. After the biphasic response, the levels of DAG generated by the hormone (10 min stimulation) remained elevated; the elevation occurred in the absence of IP3 production; and the elevated levels were not abolished by neomycin, implying that phospholipids other than phosphoinositides are the source of DAG. This 1,25(OH)2D3-dependent late phase of DAG generation was also diminished in aged animals. The precise molecular basis and the physiological significance of decreased liberation of IP3 and DAG by 1,25(OH)2D3 in the aged rat duodenum remains to be determined.

Influence of low density lipoproteins on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration and dense tubular system in human platelets

The cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i and dense tubular system (DTS) of washed human platelets were affected by low density lipoproteins (LDL) of 25 micrograms/ml at 37 degrees C for 10 minutes. After the incubation with LDL, the [Ca2+]i increased from 115 +/- 29 nM to 141 +/- 24 nM. LDL promoted the increase of [Ca2+]i (471 +/- 31 nM) induced by thrombin (0.03 U/ml) as compared to that which thrombin did alone (240 +/- 11 nM) (p < 0.05). The increased Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space is thought to be the reason of the increase in [Ca2+]i, since the effect of LDL was abolished by removal of external Ca2+ by EGTA. The DTS changed primarily from thin elongated forms to rounded vesicles. No evidence was noticed that LDL caused a mobilization of Ca2+ from the DTS.