Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation involves an indirect proteolytic cleavage of aggregin by calpain

Effects of plasma kallikrein deficiency on haemostasis and thrombosis in mice: Murine Ortholog of the Fletcher Trait

Plasma kallikrein is a multifunctional serine protease involved in contact activation of coagulation. Deficiency in humans is characterised by prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT); however, the balance between thrombosis and haemostasis is not fully understood. A study of plasma kallikrein-deficient mice revealed increased aPTT, without prolonged bleeding time. Prekallikrein antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment in mice suggested potential for a positive therapeutic index. The current goal was to further define the role of plasma kallikrein in coagulation. Blood pressure and heart rate were normal in plasma kallikrein-deficient mice, and mice were completely protected from occlusion (100 ± 1.3% control flow) in 3.5% FeCl3 -induced arterial thrombosis versus heterozygotes (20 ± 11.4%) and wild-type littermates (8 ± 0%). Vessels occluded in 8/8 wild-type, 7/8 heterozygotes, and 0/8 knockouts. Anti-thrombotic protection was less pronounced in 5% FeCl3-induced arterial injury. Integrated blood flow was 8 ± 0% control in wild-type and heterozygotes, and significantly (p<0.01) improved to 43 ± 14.2% in knockouts. The number of vessels occluded was similar in all genotypes. Thrombus weight was significantly reduced in knockouts (−47%) and heterozygotes (−23%) versus wild-type in oxidative venous thrombosis. Average tail bleeding time increased modestly in knockout mice compared to wild-type. Average renal bleeding times were similar in all genotypes. These studies confirm and extend studies with prekallikrein ASO, and demonstrate that plasma kallikrein deletion prevents occlusive thrombus formation in mice with a minimal role in provoked bleeding. Additional support for the significance of the intrinsic pathway in the coagulation cascade is provided, as well as for a potential new anti-thrombotic approach.

Specific Combination of Salvianolic Acids As Core Active Ingredients of Danhong Injection for Treatment of Arterial Thrombosis and Its Derived Dry Gangrene

Although single-targeting anti-platelet agents are used extensively in clinics, their limitations in resistance and bleeding have started a trend of combination therapy. Danhong injection (DHI) is a widely prescribed injection medicine for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in China. However, its precise clinical efficacy and functional components remain unexplored. In this study, we investigated the anti-thrombotic role and its chemical basis of DHI. In a photochemically-induced thrombosis model, DHI effectively dissolved thrombus and ameliorated its derived dry gangrene. DHI inhibited multiple GPCR agonists-induced platelet adhesion, aggregation and downstream Ca²⁺ and cAMP signaling pathways. A functional screen of DHI library identified its major active components as a cluster of seven salvianolic acids. A combination of salvianolic acid A and C synergistically inhibited platelet aggregation in vitro while salvianolic acid B antagonized this effect. Our study revealed the anti-thrombotic activity of DHI. The multi-targeting mechanism of DHI proves the effectiveness of a natural anti-thrombotic combination therapy. The identification of salvianolic acids as a core anti-thrombotic activity of DHI and the discovery that their different combinations could either synergistically or antagonistically provide a better guidance for safer clinical application and paves the way for further development of DHI.

Kininogens are antithrombotic proteins In vivo

Kininogens have recently been shown to possess antiadhesive, anticoagulant, and profibrinolytic properties and can inhibit platelet activation at low thrombin concentrations. To test whether kininogens have antithrombotic properties in vivo, we devised a model of limited arterial injury confined to removal of the endothelium. Brown-Norway Katholiek strain rats with an absence of low- and high-molecular-weight kininogen due to a single point mutation, A163T, were compared in the thrombosis model to the wild-type animals, which were otherwise genetically identical. Despite an equivalent vascular injury, the mean time (+/-SEM) for a 90% decrease in flow measured by laser Doppler was 38.4+/-17 minutes in the kininogen-deficient rats compared with 194+/-29 minutes in the wild-type animals (P<0.002). The degree of vascular injury was the same. No evidence for disseminated intravascular coagulation (decrease in factor V, antithrombin, or fibrinogen) or excessive fibrinolysis (elevation of fibrinogen degradation products) was found in either group of animals. The results suggest that kininogens have antithrombotic properties at low concentrations of thrombin and that inhibitory peptides derived from kininogen may constitute a new antithrombotic strategy.

ADP-induced platelet activation

Platelet activation is central to the pathogenesis of hemostasis and arterial thrombosis. Platelet aggregation plays a major role in acute coronary artery diseases, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and stroke. ADP is the first known and an important agonist for platelet aggregation. ADP not only causes primary aggregation of platelets but is also responsible for the secondary aggregation induced by ADP and other agonists. ADP also induces platelet shape change, secretion from storage granules, influx and intracellular mobilization of Ca2+, and inhibition of stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. The ADP-receptor protein mediating ADP-induced platelet responses has neither been purified nor cloned. Therefore, signal transduction mechanisms underlying ADP-induced platelet responses either remain uncertain or less well understood. Recent contributions from chemists, biochemists, cell biologists, pharmacologists, molecular biologists, and clinical investigators have added considerably to and enhanced our knowledge of ADP-induced platelet responses. Although considerable efforts have been directed toward identifying and cloning the ADP-receptor, these have not been completely successful or without controversy. Considerable progress has been made toward understanding the mechanisms of ADP-induced platelet responses but disagreements persist. New drugs that do not mimic ADP have been found to inhibit fairly selectively ADP-induced platelet activation ex vivo. Drugs that mimic ADP and selectively act at the platelet ADP-receptor have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their therapeutic efficacy to block selectively ADP-induced platelet responses. This review examines in detail the developments that have taken place to identify the ADP-receptor protein and to better understand mechanisms underlying ADP-induced platelet responses to develop strategies for designing innovative drugs that block ADP-induced platelet responses by acting selectively at the ADP-receptor and/or by selectively interfering with components of ADP-induced platelet activation mechanisms.

Immunoaffinity method to identify aggregin, a putative ADP-receptor in human blood platelets

The ADP-receptor on the surface of human platelets and cells of megakaryocytic lineage has been classified as P2T purinergic receptor for which ADP is an agonist and ATP is an antagonist. Although it is one of the earliest identified of the important cellular receptors, it has neither been purified nor cloned. We have developed an immunoaffinity method for rapidly identifying the platelet ADP-receptor and this method can be extended to the purification of the receptor. A polyclonal antibody to glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) covalently modified by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) recognized neither FSBA nor glutamate dehydrogenase. Immunoblot of the gel obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized FSBA-labeled platelets showed the presence of a protein band at 100 kDa and this band was absent in the immunoblots of platelets that were preincubated with ADP and ATP or covalently modified by the chemically reactive ADP-affinity analogs, 2- and 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine-5'-diphosphate (2- and 8BDB-TADP) and 2-(3-bromo-2-oxopropylthio)adenosine-5'-diphosphate (2-BOP-TADP), prior to treatment with FSBA. FSBA as well as 2- and 8-BDB-TADP and 2-BOP-TADP have been previously shown to inhibit ADP-induced platelet responses by selectively and covalently modifying aggregin (100 kDa), an ADP-receptor in intact human blood platelets. The results show that polyclonal antibody to FSBA-labeled GDH is capable of recognizing FSBA-labeled aggregin on platelets and, thus, could be used to purify aggregin by immunoaffinity column chromatography. The immunoaffinity method was found to be far more sensitive than the radiochemical methods to identify aggregin previously developed in our laboratory. Since FSBA is also capable of reacting with enzymes that require ATP for their catalytic function, the polyclonal antibody may be used to identify and purify other P2-type purinergic receptors that require binding of ATP before eliciting cellular responses.

Phospholipid binding plasma proteins required for antiphospholipid antibody detection--an overview

PROBLEM

Antibodies to phospholipid antigens (aPA) are associated with thrombosis thrombocytopenia and recurrent pregnancy loss. Contemporary data show many aPA target phospholipid-binding plasma proteins and not phospholipids. The purpose of this overview is to describe several phospholipid-binding proteins and provide data to demonstrate how the interaction between phospholipids and phospholipid binding proteins results in expression of neo-autoantigenic epitopes.

METHOD

Review of existing data.

RESULTS

Illustrations of how certain plasma proteins beta 2 glycoprotein I, prothrombin, high and low molecular weight kininogens interact with the anionic phospholipids cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine and the zwitterionic phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine are shown and discussed. A model of aPA mediated thrombosis is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Some aPA recognize phospholipids directly, however, the majority and many which correlate with pathology target phospholipid binding proteins. Published data indicate that aPA represent a constellation of antibodies with multiple specificities. Insight into mechanisms responsible for aPA-associated thrombosis should provide a basis for treatment.

Autoantibodies to kininogen-phosphatidylethanolamine complexes augment thrombin-induced platelet aggregation

Autoantibodies to the zwitterionic phospholipid (PL), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), have been described in patients with thrombotic disease. We have reported that certain anti-PE antibodies (aPE) are not specific for PE, but are directed to PE-binding plasma proteins, high molecular weight kininogen (HK) and low molecular weight kininogen (LK). Kininogens bind to platelets and inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. This inhibition is specific for thrombin because kininogens do not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen or calcium ionophore. To date, a platelet kininogen receptor has not been described. We recently reported that purified kininogens bind to purified PE in vitro. This opens the possibility that kininogens can bind to platelets by virtue of exposed PE in the platelet membrane. We thus questioned if aPE can recognize platelet bound kininogens and negate their antithrombotic property. Our experiments support this possibility by demonstrating that exogenously added kininogen-dependent IgG aPE markedly increased thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in vitro but did not alter ADP-induced aggregation. In contrast, kininogen independent IgG aPE which recognized PE per se did not augment thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These data support a hypothesis that kininogen dependent aPE may cause thrombosis in vivo due to disruption of the normal antithrombotic effects of kininogen.

Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet activation by 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole: covalent modification of aggregin, a putative ADP receptor

ADP-induced platelet responses play an important role in the maintenance of hemostasis. There has been disagreement concerning the identity of an ADP receptor on the platelet surface. The chemical structure of 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-CI) shows considerable resemblance to that of the adenine moiety of adenine-based nucleotides. The reagent has been previously used by other investigators as an affinity label for adenine nucleotide-requiring enzymes, such as mitochondrial ATPase and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Since ADP-induced platelet responses depend on the binding of ADP to its receptor, we investigated the effect on ADP-induced platelet responses and the nature of ADP-binding protein modified by NBD-CI. NBD-CI inhibited ADP-induced shape change and aggregation of platelets in platelet-rich plasma in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. NBD-CI also inhibited ADP-induced shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen binding sites, secretion, and calcium mobilization in washed platelets. NBD-CI did not act as an agonist for platelet shape change and aggregation. Covalent modification of platelets by NBD-CI blocked the ability of ADP to antagonize the increase in intracellular levels of cAMP mediated by iloprost (a stable analogue of prostaglandin I2). NBD-CI was quite specific in inhibiting platelet aggregation by those agonists, e.g., ADP, collagen, and U44619 (a thromboxane mimetic), that completely or partially depend on the binding of ADP to its receptor. Autoradiogram of the gel obtained by SDS-PAGE of solubilized platelets modified by [14C]-NBD-CI showed the presence of a predominant radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa corresponding to aggregin, a putative ADP receptor. The intensity of this band was considerably decreased when platelets were either preincubated with ADP and ATP or covalently modified by a sulfhydryl group modifying reagent before modification by [14C]-NBD-CI. These results (1) indicate that covalent modification of aggregin by NBD-CI contributed to loss of the ADP-induced platelet responses, and (2) suggest that there is a sulfhydryl group in the ADP-binding domain of aggregin.

Platelet activation by 2-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine 5'-diphosphate is mediated by its binding to a putative ADP receptor, aggregin

Platelet responses induced by ADP are mediated by a unique P21-purinergic receptor. Although a variety of ADP analogs, substituted at C2, have been used to delineate pharmacological properties of the ADP-binding site(s), the identity of the receptor protein has not been firmly established. 2-(4-Bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)- ADP [2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2-S-ADP], a well-characterized ADP analog, has been previously used as an affinity label to examine the structure/function relationship of ADP-requiring enzymes [Kapetanovic, E., Bailey, J.B. & Colman, R.F. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 7586-7593]. We found that it induced platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen binding sites, secretion and mobilization of intracellular calcium, but was less potent than ADP. Under non-stirring conditions, incubation of platelets with this analog for longer time periods blocked ADP-induced shape change, aggregation, and the ability to ADP to antagonize the rise in intracellular levels of cAMP induced by iloprost (a prostaglandin I2 analog). Of a variety of agonists examined, only ADP-induced aggregation was almost completely inhibited in platelets irreversibly modified by the analog. An autoradiogram of the gel obtained by SDS/PAGE of solubilized platelets modified by the ADP analog followed by reduction of the dioxo group by NaB[3H], showed the presence of a single radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa. Platelets incubated first with either ADP, ATP, or 2-methylthio-ADP were not labeled by 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP and NaB[3H]4-8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2-S-ADP was previously shown by us to irreversibly antagonize ADP-induced platelet responses by selectively modifying aggregin. Incubation of platelets with 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP completely blocked labeling of aggregin in platelets by 8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-[32P]ADP. These results show that 2-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP initially interacts reversibly with aggregin (100kDa), a putative ADP receptor, and induces platelet shape change and aggregation, and at longer periods of incubation reacts irreversibly to block the ability of ADP to antagonize stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In contrast, 6-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-ADP was found to be a weak and reversible inhibitor of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Prior incubation of platelets with the latter analog reduced labeling of aggregin by 8-BrCH2(CO)2CH2S-[32P]ADP. Taken together, the results further show that substitution by the BrCH2(CO)2CH2 group at the C2 and C8 positions is tolerated, while the presence of a free amino function at the C6 position is essential for its interaction with aggregin.

Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet responses by covalent modification of aggregin, a putative ADP receptor, by 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)ADP

ADP is an important platelet agonist which initiates platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen receptors, and calcium mobilization. Because of the limitations of previously used affinity analogs and photo-labeling studies as well as controversies surrounding the identity of an ADP receptor on platelets, we have used an affinity label capable of alkylating a putative exofacial receptor on platelets. We now report that 8-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine-5'-diphosphate (8-BDB-TADP), which is an analog of the natural ligand ADP, blocked ADP-induced platelet shape change, aggregation, exposure of fibrinogen-binding sites, secretion, and calcium mobilization. Following modification by 8-BDB-TADP, the rates of aggregation of platelets induced by thrombin, a calcium ionophore (A23187) or a stimulator of protein kinase C (phorbol myristate acetate) were minimally affected. However, the 8-BDB-TADP-modified platelets exhibited decreased rates of aggregation in response to ADP, as well as collagen and a thromboxane mimetic (U46619), both of which partially require ADP. Autoradiograms of the gels obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized platelets modified by either [beta-32P]8-BDB-TADP, or 8-BDB-TADP and NaB[3H]4 showed the presence of a single radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa. The intensity of this band was reduced when platelets were preincubated with ADP, ATP, and 8-bromo-ADP prior to labeling by the radioactive 8-BDB-TADP. The results show that 8-BDB-TADP selectively and covalently labeled aggregin (100 kDa), a putative ADP receptor, resulting in a loss of ADP-induced platelet responses.

Calpain activation in apoptosis

Programmed cell death is an active process wherein the cell initiates a sequence of events culminating in the fragmentation of its DNA, nuclear collapse, and disintegration of the cell into small, membrane-bound apoptotic bodies. Examination of the death program in various models has shown common themes, including a rise in cytoplasmic calcium, cytoskeletal changes, and redistribution of membrane lipids. The calcium-dependent neutral protease calpain has putative roles in cytoskeletal and membrane changes in other cellular processes; this fact led us to test the role of calpain in a well-known model of apoptotic cell death, that of thymocytes after treatment with dexamethasone. Assays for calcium-dependent proteolysis in thymocyte extracts reveal a rise in activity with a peak at about 1 hr of incubation with dexamethasone, falling to background at approximately 2 hr. Western blots indicate autolytic cleavage of the proenzyme precursor to the calpain I isozyme, providing additional evidence for calpain activation. We have also found that apoptosis in thymocytes, whether induced by dexamethasone or by low-level irradiation, is blocked by specific inhibitors of calpain. Apoptosis of metamyelocytes incubated with cycloheximide is also blocked by calpain inhibitors. These studies suggest a required role for calpain in both "induction" and "release" models of apoptotic cell death.

Specificity of the sequence in Phe-Gln-Val-Val-Cys (-3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)-Gly-NH2--a selective inhibitor of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation

Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is mediated in part by the intracellularly activated calpain expressed onto the external side of the membrane. We have previously shown that P1, Phe-Gln-Val-Val-Cys(Npys)-Gly-NH2 [Npys = 3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl], an affinity analog corresponding to the highly conserved sequence Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly-NH2, present in domains 2 and 3 of human kininogens, was an irreversible inhibitor of platelet calpain (second-order rate constant = 5.85 mM-1 s-1). P1 also selectively blocked thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. We have now synthesized twenty-three other peptides, analogous to P1, and evaluated them to define the specificity of the amino acid sequence in P1 to selectively block thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. We find that replacement by Leu of Val and by Tyr of Phe adjacent to Gln is minimally tolerated and the resulting peptides are partially effective in selectively blocking thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. The presence of valine adjacent to cysteine in P1 is essential for the inhibitor to selectively block thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. The presence of valine adjacent to cysteine in P1 is essential for the inhibitor to selectively block thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Extensions of the N-terminal sequence in P1 did not improve its selectivity. Ac-Ala-Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly-NH2 (Ac, acetyl), a peptide containing the conserved sequence but lacking the Npys function, neither inhibited platelet calpain nor platelet aggregation induced by thrombin. Presence of the peptide sequence and Npys function are both required in P1 for its selective action in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by thrombin.

Modulation of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation by inhibition of calpain by a synthetic peptide derived from the thiol-protease inhibitory sequence of kininogens and S-(3-nitro-2-pyridinesulfenyl)-cysteine

Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation has been suggested to play an important role in reocclusion following thrombolytic therapy of angioplasty for treatment of myocardial infarction. We previously demonstrated that aggregation of washed platelets by thrombin is accompanied by cleavage of aggregin, a putative ADP receptor, and that these events are indirectly mediated by calpain, expressed on the surface of the external membrane. High-molecular-mass kininogen (HK) contains, in its heavy chain, domain 2, which is responsible for its action as a potent inhibitor of platelet calpain. Domain 3 of the heavy chain of HK directly inhibits binding of thrombin to platelets, confounding mechanistic studies using the entire molecule. Moreover, HK, a protease of 120 kDa, is unsuitable as a potential pharmacological agent. The highly conserved sequence Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly, present in HK and its evolutionary precursors, the cystatins, is thought to be involved in the binding of cysteine proteases but is, itself, not inhibitory. An affinity analog, Phe-Gln-Val-Val-Cys(Npys)-Gly-NH2(Npys, 3-nitro-2-sulfenylpyridine), P1, corresponding to the thiol-protease-binding sequence in HK and containing a ligand, Npys, that can react with the free sulfhydryl group in the active site of calpain, was synthesized. P1 was an irreversible inhibitor of platelet calpain. P1 selectively inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation of washed platelets and platelets in plasma, but did not inhibit the aggregatory effects of other platelet agonists. P1 did not inhibit the amidolytic activity and coagulant activity of thrombin. Unlike HK, P1 did not inhibit binding of thrombin to washed platelets. P1 did not inhibit thrombin-induced platelet-shape change. P1 neither raised intracellular levels of cAMP nor did it interfere with the ability of thrombin to antagonize the rise in intracellular levels of cAMP induced by iloprost, an analog of prostaglandin I2. The design and synthesis of P1 could leave to the development of a new class of inhibitors that selectively block thrombin-induced platelet aggregation while sparing other functions of this pathophysiological protease and without inhibiting the action of other platelet agonists.

Participation of calpain I activation in the ATP release reaction of platelets stimulated with thrombin

Proteolytic activation of calpain (calcium-dependent neutral protease) I in thrombin-stimulated platelets was determined by following the production of the 76- and 78-kDa forms from the 80-kDa subunit of calpain I as measured by immunoblotting using monospecific antibody to human calpain I, and the correlation between the extents of calpain I activation and ATP release was investigated. When platelets were stimulated with thrombin in the range from 0.01 to 0.5 U/ml, the maximal 60% activation of calpain I was achieved within 15 s after the stimulation, and ATP release began after the maximal activation had been reached. The extent of ATP release decreased in parallel with the decrease in activation ratio of calpain I on treatment of platelets with EGTA or EST, a membrane-permeable inhibitor of calpain. Although pretreatment of platelets with EST did not affect the thrombin-dependent elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, both the inhibition of calpain I activation and the reduction of ATP release were observed as a function of EST concentration. These results suggest that calpain I participates in one of the processes leading to the ATP release reaction of platelets stimulated with thrombin.

Differential effects of aluminum ion on smooth muscle calpain I and calpain II activities

1. In millimolar Ca2+, smooth muscle calpains I and II were inhibited by aluminum ion. 2. At sub-millimolar Ca2+, calpain II, but not calpain I, was activated by low millimolar aluminum ion. 3. Calpastatin inhibited aluminum ion-activated calpain II. 4. Aluminum ion-activated and Ca(2+)-activated calpain II gave almost identical patterns of desmin cleavage. 5. Aluminum-activated calpain II, unlike the Ca(2+)-activated enzyme, did not autolyze and retained its proteolytic activity over extended periods of time.

Activation of calpain I in thrombin-stimulated platelets is regulated by the initial elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration

The source and concentration of Ca2+ required to activate calpain I were investigated in thrombin-stimulated platelets. The concentration of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was measured in platelets containing fura-2-AM, and exhibited a biphasic response after stimulation with 0.05, 0.1 or 0.5 NIH units of thrombin/ml. An initial transient elevation, which was predominantly dependent upon Ca2+ released from the internal stores into the cytosol, peaked at 15 s after stimulation, and a secondary sustained elevation, which was due to Ca2+ influx, was observed following the initial elevation. Calpain I was present at about 540 ng/10(8) unstimulated platelets, as measured by immunoblotting using rabbit anti-(human calpain I) IgG. Calpain I was activated 10 s after thrombin stimulation, as determined by the appearance of the 78 kDa and 76 kDa forms on immunoblots. The activation ratio of calpain I was calculated as the amount of the 78 + 76 kDa forms as a percentage of the total (80 + 78 + 76 kDa), and was influenced by the extent of the initial transient [Ca2+]i elevation after stimulation. An initial increase in [Ca2+]i of 300 nM was required to achieve the maximal activation (60%) of calpain I, and half-maximal activation occurred at 160 nM- Ca2+]i. These results suggest that the activation of calpain I in platelets is regulated by the initial elevation in Ca2+]i after thrombin stimulation, and does not necessarily require a Ca2+ influx.

Aggregation of washed platelets by plasminogen and plasminogen activators is mediated by plasmin and is inhibited by a synthetic peptide disulfide

Plasmin is known to activate platelets. However, it is not clear whether plasminogen activators as used in thrombolytic therapy can aggregate platelets and how this relates to the ability of each activator to convert plasminogen to plasmin. Urokinase (UK) and streptokinase (SK) activated purified plasminogen (2 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner. The rates of aggregation of washed platelets by the above plasminogen activators and plasminogen were similar to the extent of activation of plasminogen to plasmin in the absence of platelets. UK or SK (0.2 microM) and plasminogen (2 microM) aggregated platelets modified by an ADP affinity analog, 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA), and cleaved aggregin, a putative ADP receptor, in [3H]FSBA-modified platelets. These results suggest that the effect was independent of ADP. In contrast, incubation mixtures containing only plasminogen (2 microM) and single chain tissue plasminogen activator (sc-tPA) (less than or equal to 0.12 microM) neither activated the zymogen to an appreciable extent nor aggregated platelets. But, in the presence of fibrin(ogen) fragments (tPA-stimulator), a mixture of plasminogen and sc-tPA aggregated unmodified and FSBA-modified platelets, and cleaved aggregin. The results imply that platelets, in the presence of t-PA stimulator, potentiate activation of plasminogen to plasmin by t-PA, as previously reported. P1, Phe-Gln-Val-Val-Cys-(NpyS)-Gly-NH2, (NpyS = 3-nitro-2-thiopyridine), a synthetic hexapeptide capable of binding to and inhibiting calpain, has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by purified plasmin. P1 inhibited platelet aggregation by plasminogen and any of the three plasminogen activators. Our results show that at plasma concentrations of plasminogen and at levels of UK and SK attained after infusion of these agents during thrombolysis, these mixtures can cause maximum aggregation which may contribute to reocclusion and stenosis following infarct therapy. P1 can effectively inhibit platelet aggregation under such conditions.

Effects of toluene on platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib and actin-binding protein

Effects of the organic solvent toluene on the platelet membrane receptor glycoprotein Ib (GP Ib) and the cytoskeletal protein, actin-binding protein (ABP), were studied and related to the effects of the local anesthetic dibucaine. The glycocalicin-region of GP Ib contains the binding site for von Willebrand factor; intracellularly GP Ib is linked to the cytoskeleton via ABP. Both GP Ib and ABP are substrates for a calcium-dependent protease, calpain. Washed platelets were incubated with toluene or dibucaine. The toluene concentration in the platelet suspension was analysed by gas chromatography. Using 1.5-2.8 mmol/L toluene, calpain was activated, leading to degradation of ABP and release of glycocalicin from GP Ib. The latter phenomenon was paralleled by a reduced von Willebrand factor-induced platelet agglutination. At lower toluene concentrations (0.3-1.4 mmol/L), degradation of ABP was not detected but an initial increased agglutination that declined to the control level with time was observed. These effects of toluene on the GP Ib-ABP complex are similar to those observed with 1 mmol/L dibucaine. The lowest toluene concentrations used correspond to those that have been found in blood from toluene abusers ("sniffers").

Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet shape change and aggregation by o-phthalaldehyde: evidence for covalent modification of cysteine and lysine residues

Platelets play a major role in the hemostatic process following vascular injury. Chemical modification of cysteine and/or lysine residues in platelet proteins has been shown to cause loss of platelet aggregation induced by diverse agonists; however, these investigations have not addressed the identity of the specific proteins affected. o-Phthalaldehyde (OPTH) is a unique chemical modification reagent that forms and permits the identification of fluorescent isoindole derivatives with proteins by covalently and simultaneously modifying closely spaced cysteine and lysine residues. We found that OPTH inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and U46619 (an analog of prostaglandin H2), but had minimal effect on platelet aggregation induced by thrombin, plasmin, chymotrypsin, A23187 (a calcium ionophore), PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), and PMA + A23187. Since platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and U46619 has been shown to involve binding of endogenous or exogenous ADP to the platelet receptor, our further studies focused on platelet aggregation induced by ADP. OPTH inhibited ADP-induced shape change and aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner. The second-order rate constant for the inhibition of ADP-induced platelet shape change (Ksc = 1.0 X 10(3) M-1 s-1) was lower than that for aggregation (Kagg = 5.4 X 10(3) M-1 s-1). Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of OPTH-platelet adduct exhibited maxima at 346 and 437 nm, respectively, consistent with the formation of an isoindole derivative(s). The nonpenetrating thiol-specific reagent, p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonate (pCMBS) (0.8 mM), is known to block the inhibition of stimulated adenylate cyclase induced by ADP but not the ADP-induced platelet shape change. The inhibition of ADP-induced platelet shape change (Ksc = 1.5 X 10(3) M-1 s-1) by OPTH was not affected by pCMBS. OPTH, at concentrations (15-50 microM) that inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and shape change did not raise the intracellular levels of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in platelets nor did it impair the ability of iloprost (a stable analog of prostaglandin I2) to raise the platelet cAMP level. Thus, OPTH under these conditions did not interact with platelet adenylate cyclase. 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) has been previously shown to inhibit ADP-induced platelet shape change and aggregation by covalently modifying aggregin (Mr = 100 kDa), a putative ADP receptor on platelet surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Investigation of the role of calpain as a stimulus-response mediator in human platelets using new synthetic inhibitors

A series of peptidyl diazomethanes and monofluoromethane with structures specific for calpain have been synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit calpain activity in vivo, using human platelets as a model system. Calpain activity in vivo was determined by observing proteolysis of actin-binding protein and talin, two known substrates of calpain. Very potent inhibitors, which emerged from this study, were used to investigate the role of calpain in some platelet response processes. Our results show that calpain-mediated proteolysis in platelets is not an obligatory event leading to change of cell shape, adhesion to glass and spreading, aggregation and 5-hydroxytryptamine release. Two of the inhibitors were iodinated with 125I and used to radiolabel the enzyme in vivo. To our knowledge, this work also represents the first report describing the affinity labelling of calpain in human platelets using irreversible radioactive inhibitors.

Plasmin-induced platelet aggregation is accompanied by cleavage of aggregin and indirectly mediated by calpain

We recently reported that thrombin-induced platelet aggregation 1) is accompanied by cleavage of aggregin, a 100-kDa membrane protein and a putative ADP receptor, 2) is indirectly mediated by intracellularly activated calpain, and 3) requires the occupancy of high-affinity thrombin receptors. Because of the similarities between responses after platelet activation induced by thrombin and plasmin (greater than or equal to 1.0 casein unit/ml), we investigated whether or not plasmin-induced platelet aggregation proceeds by the same mechanism that underlies thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. We found that the rate of plasmin-induced aggregation of washed intact platelets and that of platelets modified by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA, an affinity analogue of ADP, which covalently modifies aggregin) were similar, indicating that the aggregation is independent of the ADP effect. Plasmin completely cleaved [3H]FSBA-labeled aggregin in intact platelets. A mixture of metabolic inhibitors (2-deoxy-D-glucose, gluconolactone, and antimycin A) completely inhibited plasmin-induced platelet aggregation and plasmin-induced cleavage of aggregin, demonstrating that an energy-requiring step is involved in the reaction. The synthetic hexapeptide affinity reagent Phe-Gln-Val-Val-Cys(NpyS)-Gly-NH2 (NpyS = 3-nitro-2-thiopyridine), a potent and specific inhibitor of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and platelet calpain, completely inhibited plasmin-induced platelet aggregation and plasmin-induced cleavage of aggregin. These results suggest that, like thrombin, plasmin-induced platelet aggregation is accompanied by the cleavage of aggregin and these responses are indirectly mediated by the intracellularly activated calpain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Persistent activation of platelet membrane phospholipase C by proteolytic action of trypsin and thrombin

Trypsin causes rapid activation of intact platelets that mimics many actions of thrombin, including the stimulation of phospholipase C (PLC). We have examined the effects of thrombin and trypsin on PLC in a platelet membrane preparation using exogenous [3H]-phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) as substrate. Trypsin induced PIP2 breakdown, which was maximal at 20 micrograms/ml, but was reduced at higher concentrations. alpha- and gamma-Thrombins also stimulated PLC-induced hydrolysis of PIP2 in membranes. This effect was inhibited by leupeptin. Exogenous [3H]phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PIP) was hydrolyzed in response to both thrombin and trypsin in the same ratio as PIP2. Activation of membrane-bound PLC persisted after removal of thrombin and trypsin. The hydrolysis of [3H]phosphatidylinositol was not activated by alpha-thrombin and trypsin. We examined the question of whether calpain was involved in the observed PLC activation by thrombin and trypsin. Although dibucaine activated a Ca2(+)-dependent protease as judged by the hydrolysis of actin-binding protein and by the activation of phosphoprotein phosphatases, it failed to stimulate the generation of phosphatidic acid in 32P-prelabeled platelets. Moreover, when PLC was assayed in the membranes, the addition of Ca2(+)-activated neutral proteinases did not increase the rate of hydrolysis of either PIP or PIP2. Our results show that proteases such as trypsin and thrombin are able to stimulate membrane-bound PLC, but this activation does not seem to be related to calpain.

Calpains (intracellular calcium-activated cysteine proteinases): structure-activity relationships and involvement in normal and abnormal cellular metabolism

1. Calpains (calcium-activated cysteine proteinases) have evolved by gene fusion events involving calmodulin-like genes, cysteine proteinase genes and other sequences of unknown origin. 2. The enzymes are composed of two non-identical subunits, each of which contains functional calcium-binding sequences. 3. Calpains are inhibited by the endogenous protein inhibitor, calpastatin and some calmodulin antagonists are also inhibitors of calpain. A number of synthetic proteinase inhibitors also inhibit calpains. 4. Calpains can be activated by phospholipids, an endogenous protein activator and some amino acid derivatives. 5. Various protein substrates for calpains have been recognized in vitro, but the identity of in situ substrates remains unclear. 6. Proposals have been made for calpain function, including involvement in signal transduction, platelet activation, cell fusion, mitosis and cytoskeleton and contractile protein turnover. 7. Calpain and calpastatin expression is altered in a number of abnormal states including muscular dystrophy, muscle denervation and tenotomy, hypertension and platelet abnormalities.

Cleavage of a 100 kDa membrane protein (aggregin) during thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is mediated by the high affinity thrombin receptors

Thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is accompanied by cleavage of aggregin, a surface membrane protein (Mr = 100 kDa), and is mediated by the intracellular activation of calpain. We now find that agents that increase intracellular levels of platelet cAMP by stimulating adenylate cyclase, also inhibit thrombin binding and platelet activation by destabilizing thrombin receptors on the platelet surface. Iloprost (a stable analog of PGI2) and forskolin each completely inhibited platelet aggregation by 2 nM thrombin and markedly decreased cleavage of aggregin. Thrombin inactivated by D-phenylalanine-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone (PPACK-thrombin) binds to the highest affinity site for thrombin on the platelet surface, but thrombin modified by N alpha-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethylketone (TLCK-thrombin) does not. We now demonstrate that preincubation of platelets with PPACK-thrombin blocked platelet aggregation and cleavage of aggregin induced by 2 nM thrombin. In contrast, TLCK-thrombin neither blocked platelet aggregation nor the cleavage of aggregin. These results show that a) platelet aggregation and cleavage of aggregin by thrombin (2nm) involves the occupancy of high affinity alpha-thrombin receptors on the platelet surface, and b) stimulators of adenylate cyclase which increase cAMP, inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and cleavage of aggregin by mechanisms which include inhibiting the binding of thrombin to its receptors.