Structure-biological activity relationships of myeloperoxidase to effect on platelet activation

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an oxidant-producing enzyme of neutrophils, has been shown to prime platelet activity promoting immunothrombosis. Native MPO is a homodimer, consisting of two identical protomers (monomer) connected by a single disulfide bond. But in inflammatory foci, MPO can be found both in the form of a monomer and in the form of a dimer. Beside MPO can also be in complexes with other molecules and be modified by oxidants, which ultimately affect its physicochemical properties and functions. Here we compared the effects of various forms of MPO as well as MPO in complex with ceruloplasmin (CP), a physiological inhibitor of MPO, on the platelet activity. Monomeric MPO (hemi-MPO) was obtained by treating the dimeric MPO by reductive alkylation. MPO was modified with HOCl in a molar ratio of 1:100 (MPO-HOCl). Using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy we showed that peaks at about 510 and 526 cm^-1 corresponded to disulfide bond was recognizable in the SERS-spectra of dimeric MPO, absent in the spectrum of hemi-MPO and less intense in the spectra of MPO-HOCl, which indicates the partial decomposition of dimeric MPO with a disulfide bond cleavage under the HOCl modification. It was shown hemi-MPO to a lesser extent than dimeric MPO bound to platelets and enhanced their agonist-induced aggregation and platelet-neutrophil aggregate formation. MPO modified by HOCl and MPO in complex with CP did not bind to platelets and have no effect on platelet activity. Thus, the modification of MPO by HOCl, its presence in monomeric form as well as in complex with CP reduces MPO effect on platelet function and consequently decreases the risk of thrombosis in inflammatory foci.

Ex vivo observation of granulocyte activity during thrombus formation

Background

The process of thrombus formation is thought to involve interactions between platelets and leukocytes. Leukocyte incorporation into growing thrombi has been well established in vivo, and a number of properties of platelet-leukocyte interactions critical for thrombus formation have been characterized in vitro in thromboinflammatory settings and have clinical relevance. Leukocyte activity can be impaired in distinct hereditary and acquired disorders of immunological nature, among which is Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS). However, a more quantitative characterization of leukocyte behavior in thromboinflammatory conditions has been hampered by lack of approaches for its study ex vivo. Here, we aimed to develop an ex vivo model of thromboinflammation, and compared granulocyte behavior of WAS patients and healthy donors.

Results

Thrombus formation in anticoagulated whole blood from healthy volunteers and patients was visualized by fluorescent microscopy in parallel-plate flow chambers with fibrillar collagen type I coverslips. Moving granulocytes were observed in hirudinated or sodium citrate-recalcified blood under low wall shear rate conditions (100 s⁻¹). These cells crawled around thrombi in a step-wise manner with an average velocity of 90–120 nm/s. Pre-incubation of blood with granulocyte priming agents lead to a significant decrease in mean-velocity of the cells and increase in the number of adherent cells. The leukocytes from patients with WAS demonstrated a 1.5-fold lower mean velocity, in line with their impaired actin polymerization. It is noteworthy that in an experimental setting where patients’ platelets were replaced with healthy donor’s platelets the granulocytes’ crawling velocity did not change, thus proving that WASP (WAS protein) deficiency causes disruption of granulocytes’ behavior. Thereby, the observed features of granulocytes crawling are consistent with the neutrophil chemotaxis phenomenon. As most of the crawling granulocytes carried procoagulant platelets teared from thrombi, we propose that the role of granulocytes in thrombus formation is that of platelet scavengers.

Conclusions

We have developed an ex vivo experimental model applicable for observation of granulocyte activity in thrombus formation. Using the proposed setting, we observed a reduction of motility of granulocytes of patients with WAS. We suggest that our ex vivo approach should be useful both for basic and for clinical research.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01238-x.

The effect of myeloperoxidase isoforms on biophysical properties of red blood cells

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an oxidant-producing enzyme, stored in azurophilic granules of neutrophils has been recently shown to influence red blood cell (RBC) deformability leading to abnormalities in blood microcirculation. Native MPO is a homodimer, consisting of two identical protomers (monomeric MPO) connected by a single disulfide bond but in inflammatory foci as a result of disulfide cleavage monomeric MPO (hemi-MPO) can also be produced. This study investigated if two MPO isoforms have distinct effects on biophysical properties of RBCs. We have found that hemi-MPO, as well as the dimeric form, bind to the glycophorins A/B and band 3 protein on RBC's plasma membrane, that lead to reduced cell resistance to osmotic and acidic hemolysis, reduction in cell elasticity, significant changes in cell volume, morphology, and the conductance of RBC plasma membrane ion channels. Furthermore, we have shown for the first time that both dimeric and hemi-MPO lead to phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on the outer leaflet of RBC membrane. However, the effects of hemi-MPO on the structural and functional properties of RBCs were lower compared to those of dimeric MPO. These findings suggest that the ability of MPO protein to influence RBC's biophysical properties depends on its conformation (dimeric or monomeric isoform). It is intriguing to speculate that hemi-MPO appearance in blood during inflammation can serve as a regulatory mechanism addressed to reduce abnormalities on RBC response, induced by dimeric MPO.

Neutrophil activation in response to monomeric myeloperoxidase

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an oxidant-producing enzyme that can also regulate cellular functions via its nonenzymatic effects. Mature active MPO isolated from normal human neutrophils is a 145 kDa homodimer, which consists of 2 identical protomers, connected by a single disulfide bond. By binding to CD11b/CD18 integrin, dimeric MPO induces neutrophil activation and adhesion augmenting leukocyte accumulation at sites of inflammation. This study was performed to compare the potency of dimeric and monomeric MPO to elicit selected neutrophil responses. Monomeric MPO (hemi-MPO) was obtained by treating the dimeric MPO by reductive alkylation. Analysis of the crucial signal transducer, intracellular Ca2+, showed that dimeric MPO induces Ca2+ mobilization from the intracellular calcium stores of neutrophils and influx of extracellular Ca2+ whereas the effect of monomeric MPO on Ca2+ increase in neutrophils was less. It was also shown that monomeric MPO was less efficient than dimeric MPO at inducing actin cytoskeleton reorganization, cell survival, and neutrophil degranulation. Furthermore, we have detected monomeric MPO in the blood plasma of patients with acute inflammation. Our data suggest that the decomposition of dimeric MPO into monomers can serve as a regulatory mechanism that controls MPO-dependent activation of neutrophils and reduces the proinflammatory effects of MPO.

Hypohalous acid-modified human serum albumin induces neutrophil NADPH oxidase activation, degranulation, and shape change

Halogenated lipids, proteins, and lipoproteins formed in reactions with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-derived hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypobromous acid (HOBr) can contribute to the regulation of functional activity of cells and serve as mediators of inflammation. Human serum albumin (HSA) is the major plasma protein target of hypohalous acids. This study was performed to assess the potency of HSA modified by HOCl (HSA-Cl) and HOBr (HSA-Br) to elicit selected neutrophil responses. HSA-Cl/Br were found to induce neutrophil degranulation, generation of reactive oxygen intermediates, shape change, and actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Thus HSA-Cl/Br can initially act as a switch and then as a feeder of the "inflammatory loop" under oxidative stress. In HSA-Cl/Br-treated neutrophils, monoclonal antibodies against CD18, the β subunit of β2 integrins, reduced the production of superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide as well as MPO exocytosis, suggesting that CD18 contributed to neutrophil activation. HSA-Cl/Br-induced neutrophil responses were also inhibited by genistein, a broad-specificity tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and wortmannin, a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, supporting the notion that activation of both tyrosine kinase and PI3K may play a role in neutrophil activation by HSA modified in MPO-dependent reactions. These results confirm the hypothesis that halogenated molecules formed in vivo via MPO-dependent reactions can be considered as a new class of biologically active substances potentially able to contribute to activation of myeloid cells in sites of inflammation and serve as inflammatory response modulators.

Myeloperoxidase modulates human platelet aggregation via actin cytoskeleton reorganization and store-operated calcium entry

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a heme-containing enzyme released from activated leukocytes into the extracellular space during inflammation. Its main function is the production of hypohalous acids that are potent oxidants. MPO can also modulate cell signaling and inflammatory responses independently of its enzymatic activity. Because MPO is regarded as an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases associated with increased platelet activity, we studied the effects of MPO on human platelet functional properties. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to reveal carbohydrate-independent MPO binding to human platelet membrane. Adding MPO to platelets did not activate their aggregation under basal conditions (without agonist). In contrast, MPO augmented agonist-induced platelet aggregation, which was not prevented by MPO enzymatic activity inhibitors. It was found that exposure of platelets to MPO leads to actin cytoskeleton reorganization and an increase in their elasticity. Furthermore, MPO evoked a rise in cytosolic Ca²⁺ through enhancement of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE). Together, these findings indicate that MPO is not a direct agonist but rather a mediator that binds to human platelets, induces actin cytoskeleton reorganization and affects the mechanical stiffness of human platelets, resulting in potentiating SOCE and agonist-induced human platelet aggregation. Therefore, an increased activity of platelets in vascular disease can, at least partly, be provided by MPO elevated concentrations.

Functional activity of neutrophils in diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease: role of myeloperoxidase in the development of oxidative stress

We performed a comparative analysis of functional activity of neutrophils in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without symptoms of CHD. Enhanced H2O2 production by neutrophils in response to N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) was found in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with CHD, fMLP-induced release of myeloperoxidase from azurophilic granules of neutrophils was reduced and plasma myeloperoxidase level was elevated. Increased peroxidase activity of myeloperoxidase, reduced plasma catalase activity, and increased levels of TBA-reactive lipid peroxidation products and oxidized glutathione were detected in patients of both groups. Since myeloperoxidase is an important neutrophilic mediator of oxidative stress, its increased activity in the blood can be an additional marker of oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes mellitus.

[Glutathione-dependent regulation of platelet aggregation with neutrophils and tumor cells]

It is shown that in the presence of reduced glutathione at low concentrations (1-5 microM) the extent of platelet aggregation with neutrophils increases and the lag period of platelet aggregation induced by tumor cells decreases. At the same time in the presence of reduced glutathione at high concentration (3 mM) the extent of platelet aggregation with neutrophils decreases, and the lag period of platelet aggregation induced by tumor cells increases. It is established that glutathione-dependent regulation of the intercellular contact formation between platelets and neutrophils depends on the ratio of glutathione oxidized and reduced forms: at fixed total glutathione concentration of 5 microM, increase of glutathione redox potential from -175 mV to 0 mV led to reduction in platelet aggregation with neutrophils. Thus, it is shown for the first time, that GSH has priming effect on the platelet aggregation with neutrophils and tumor cells, which may contribute to the regulation of inflammatory diseases and cancer.

[Regulation of the functional and mechanical properties of platelet and red blood cells by nitric oxide donors]

The effect of NO donors (sodium nitroprusside, S-nitrosoglutathione, dinitrosyl-iron complexes) on the functional and mechanical properties of human platelets and red blood cells has been investigated. It has been established by atomic force microscopy that NO donor-induced platelet disaggregation is accompanied by changes in the elastic properties of cells. It has been shown that, in the presence of NO donors, the detergent-induced hemolysis of red blood cells is delayed, and the elasticity modulus of these cells decreases. The results obtained indicate that NO donors regulate the structural and functional properties of platelets and red blood cells.

Redox regulation of morphology, cell stiffness, and lectin-induced aggregation of human platelets

Redox regulation and carbohydrate recognition are potent molecular mechanisms which can contribute to platelet aggregation in response to various stimuli. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between these mechanisms and to examine whether cell surface glycocalyx and cell stiffness of human platelets are sensitive to the redox potential formed by glutathione. To this end, human platelets were treated with different concentrations (0.05 μM to 6 mM) and ratios of reduced or oxidized glutathione (GSH or GSSG), and platelet morphological, mechanical, and functional properties were determined using conventional light microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and lectin-induced cell aggregation analysis. It was found that lowering the glutathione redox potential changed platelet morphology and increased platelet stiffness as well as modulated nonuniformly platelet aggregation in response to plant lectins with different carbohydrate-binding specificity including wheat germ agglutinin, Sambucus nigra agglutinin, and Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin. Extracellular redox potential and redox buffering capacity of the GSSG/2GSH couple were shown to control the availability of specific lectin-binding glycoligands on the cell surface, while the intracellular glutathione redox state affected the general functional ability of platelets to be aggregated independently of the type of lectins. Our data provide the first experimental evidence that glutathione as a redox molecule can affect the mechanical stiffness of human platelets and induce changes of the cell surface glycocalyx, which may represent a new mechanism of redox regulation of intercellular contacts.