Archibald McNicol

Platelet dense granules: structure, function and implications for haemostasis

The advances that have been made over the last decade in microscopic, biochemical, molecular, and genetic techniques have led to substantial improvement in our understanding of platelet dense granule structure and function, and the implications of dense granule deficiencies for haemostasis. However, much has still to be learned. For example, what is the specific mechanism of docking and fusion that occurs during dense granule exocytosis? What are the roles of dense granule membrane proteins during exocytosis or after expression on the surface of activated platelets? Finally, how do the genetic defects identified in HPS and CHS result in the clinical phenotype of these diseases, and what does this tell us about the origin and function of the affected subcellular organelles?

The protein CD63 is in platelet dense granules, is deficient in a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, and appears identical to granulophysin.

The levels and expression of the proteins CD63 and granulophysin in platelets from control and from a Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome subject (a condition characterized by dense granule and lysosomal deficiencies and the accumulation of ceroid-like material in reticuloendothelial cells) were examined. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that anti-CD63 and anti-granulophysin antibodies recognized similar numbers of granules; coapplication of antibodies did not identify more granules than the individual antibodies. Significantly fewer granules were recognized in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome platelets than in control using either antibody. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that anti-CD63 and anti-granulophysin antibodies apparently recognize the same protein, which was deficient in Hermansky-Pudlak platelets. Analysis by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) showed biphasic expression of CD63 and granulophysin after thrombin stimulation of control but not Hermansky-Pudlak platelets. Anti-CD63 effectively blocked detection of the protein by anti-granulophysin using immunofluorescence, ELISA, immunoblotting, and FACS analysis. Amino-terminal sequencing over the first 37 amino acids revealed that granulophysin was homologous to CD63, melanoma antigen ME491, and pltgp40. These results suggest that granulophysin and CD63 are possibly identical proteins. This is the first report of a protein present in platelet dense granules, lysosomes, and melanocytes, but deficient in a patient with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.

The Inflammatory Role of Platelets via Their TLRs and Siglec Receptors

Platelets are non-nucleated cells that play central roles in the processes of hemostasis, innate immunity, and inflammation; however, several reports show that these distinct functions are more closely linked than initially thought. Platelets express numerous receptors and contain hundreds of secretory products. These receptors and secretory products are instrumental to the platelet functional responses. The capacity of platelets to secrete copious amounts of cytokines, chemokines, and related molecules appears intimately related to the role of the platelet in inflammation. Platelets exhibit non-self-infectious danger detection molecules on their surfaces, including those belonging to the “toll-like receptor” family, as well as pathogen sensors of other natures (Ig- or complement receptors, etc.). These receptors permit platelets to both bind infectious agents and deliver differential signals leading to the secretion of cytokines/chemokines, under the control of specific intracellular regulatory pathways. In contrast, dysfunctional receptors or dysregulation of the intracellular pathway may increase the susceptibility to pathological inflammation. Physiological vs. pathological inflammation is tightly controlled by the sensors of danger expressed in resting, as well as in activated, platelets. These sensors, referred to as pathogen recognition receptors, primarily sense danger signals termed pathogen associated molecular patterns. As platelets are found in inflamed tissues and are involved in auto-immune disorders, it is possible that they can also be stimulated by internal pathogens. In such cases, platelets can also sense danger signals using damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Some of the most significant DAMP family members are the alarmins, to which the Siglec family of molecules belongs. This review examines the role of platelets in anti-infection immunity via their TLRs and Siglec receptors.

Deficient Thromboxane Synthesis and Response in Platelets from Premature Infants

In vitro function of cord blood platelets from 35 premature infants (gestational age 32 ± 3.2 wk) was compared with that of 12 full-term infants and 14 adult control subjects. In comparison with adult platelets, preterm platelets showed impaired aggregation, in response to thrombin, collagen, ADP, and U46619 [a stable analog of thromboxane A2(TxA2)], and impaired [14C]serotonin secretion in response to collagen and U46619. The production of TxB2 (the stable TxA2 metabolite) in response to collagen was reduced in preterm platelets (30.2± 5.5 ng/mL) compared with full-term (52.7 ± 12.6 ng/mL) or adult control platelets (132.3 ± 38.7 ng/mL). The deficient TxB2 production and U46619 response prompted further investigation of TxA2 receptor number and binding characteristics. Immunoblotting using an anti-TxA2 receptor antibody (anti-P2) identified a single, identical 55-kD band in solubilized membranes of control, full-term, and preterm platelets. Flow cytometry using anti-P2 produced histograms that did not differ between adults and neonates. Ligand binding studies using[3H]U46619 were carried out on 10 samples from each group. Scatchard analysis yielded a single class of binding sites with no significant difference among the Kd values (85 ± 16versus 99 ± 12 versus 100 ± 12 nM) or number of binding sites per platelet (1876 ± 460 versus 2450± 478 versus 2777 ± 536) for preterm and full-term infants and adults. Therefore platelets of preterm infants show impaired TxA2 production and response. The poor response is not related to altered binding characteristics of the TxA2 receptor but may lie in the postreceptor signal transduction pathway.

Inherited platelet-storage pool deficiency associated with a high incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia

Summary A family with an inherited bleeding disorder extending over four generations, and multiple cases of myeloblastic and myelomonoblastic leukaemia was studied. Ten members of the family had, by history, a haemorrhagic diathesis. There were three documented cases of myeloblastic leukaemia, two documented cases of myelomonoblastic leukaemia and two more cases of leukaemia by history. In four of the cases the bleeding diathesis clearly antedated the leukaemia, in two by many years. The bleeding disorder is characterized by a long bleeding time, abnormal platelet aggregation, low platelet ADP and decreased numbers of platelet dense bodies consistent with a dense granule storage pool deficiency. The number of dense granules was decreased by immunofluorescence employing quinacrine or using an antibody to the dense granule membrane protein, granulophysin, confirming an absolute decrease in dense granule numbers rather than the presence of empty granule sacs. This congenital storage pool deficiency is associated with a high incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia in this family.

Expression of functional recombinant mosquito salivary apyrase: A potential therapeutic platelet aggregation inhibitor

Excessive platelet activation and accumulation can lead to vessel occlusion and thus present major therapeutic challenges in cardiovascular medicine. Apyrase, an ecto-enzyme with ADPase and ATPase activities, rapidly metabolizes ADP and ATP released from platelets and endothelial cells, thereby reducing platelet activation and recruitment. In the present study, we expressed a 68-kDa recombinant mosquito (Aedes aegypti) salivary apyrase using a baculovirus/insect cell expression system and purified it to homogeneity using anion-exchange chromatography on a large scale. A yield of 18 mg of purified recombinant apyrase was obtained from 1 litre of the medium. Kinetic analysis indicated that the recombinant apyrase had a Km of 12.5 µM for ADP and a Km of 15.0 µM for ATP. The recombinant apyrase inhibited ADP-, collagen- and thrombin-induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that the recombinant protein retained nucleotidase activity in a whole cell system, which suggests that it may serve as a therapeutic agent for inhibition of platelet-mediated thrombosis.

Translocation and phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 in activated platelets.

The release of arachidonic acid, and its subsequent conversion to thromboxane A2, is an important component of platelet activation. The precise mechanism of arachidonic acid release is unknown although cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) has been implicated. In the present study the effects of three agonists, the serine protease thrombin, the protein kinase C stimulant PMA and the calcium ionophore A23187 have been examined on the translocation and phosphorylation of cPLA2 and these have been correlated with arachidonic acid release. Thrombin, but neither PMA nor A23187, caused the release of [14C]-arachidonic acid from unstirred, prelabeled platelets. Immunoblot analysis was carried out on cytosolic and membrane fractions from control and activated platelets using an anti-cPLA2 antibody. In platelets stimulated by thrombin or A23187, but not by PMA, there was a translocation of cPLA2 to the membrane fraction. Immunoprecipitation of cPLA2 from [32P]-ortho-phosphate-prelabeled platelets, indicated enhanced phosphorylation on serine residues of cPLA2 from thrombin- or PMA-stimulated platelets. These results are consistent with two synergistic pathways mediating cPLA2 activity. Increased cytosolic calcium causes the translocation of cPLA2 to the membrane, and protein kinase either directly, or indirectly, phosphorylates the enzyme. Activation of both pathways, as occurs in response to thrombin, is required for arachidonic acid liberation.

Streptococcus sanguis-induced platelet activation involves two waves of tyrosine phosphorylation mediated by FcγRIIA and αIIbβ3

The low-affinity IgG receptor, Fc γ RIIA, has been implicated in Streptococcus sanguis -induced platelet aggregation.Therefore, it is likely that signal transduction is at least partly mediated by Fcγ RIIA activation and a tyrosine kinase-dependent pathway. In this study the signal transduction mechanisms associated with platelet activation in response to the oral bacterium, S. sanguis were characterised. In the presence of IgG, S. sanguis strain 2017–78 caused the tyrosine phosphorylation of Fcγ RIIA 30s following stimulation, which led to the phosphorylation of Syk, LAT, and PLC γ 2. These early events were dependent on Src family kinases but independent of either TxA 2 or the engagement of the αIIbβ3 integrin.During the lag phase prior to platelet aggregation, Fc γ RIIA, Syk, LAT, and PLCγ 2 were each dephosphorylated, but were re-phosphorylated as aggregation occurred. Platelet stimulation by 2017–78 also induced the tyrosine phosphorylation of PECAM-1, an ITIM-containing receptor that recruits protein tyrosine phosphatases. PECAM-1 co-precipitated with the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in the lag phase. SHP-1 was also maximally tyrosine phosphorylated during this phase,suggesting a possible role for SHP-1 in the observed dephosphorylation events.As aggregation occurred, SHP-1 was dephosphorylated, while Fc? RIIA, Syk, LAT, and PLC? 2 were rephosphorylated in an RGDS-sensitive, and therefore a IIbs 3 -dependent, manner. Additionally, TxA 2 release, 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion and phosphatidic acid formation were all blocked by RGDS. Aspirin also abolished these events, but only partially inhibited a IIbs 3 -mediated re-phosphorylation. Therefore, S. sanguis -bound IgG cross links Fc? RIIA and initiates a signaling pathway that is down-regulated by PECAM-1-bound SHP-1.Subsequent engagement of a IIbs 3 leads to SHP-1 dephosphorylation permiting a second wave of signaling leading toTxA 2 release and consequent platelet aggregation.

The empty sack syndrome: a platelet storage pool deficiency associated with empty dense granules.

Summary. Two sisters with lifelong bleeding tendencies were examined to determine whether their condition was associated with a platelet defect. Their platelet aggregation in response to epinephrine and collagen was abnormal, and the secretion of serotonin and ATP was markedly reduced. The platelet contents of serotonin, ADP, and ATP were all diminished and the ATP:ADP ratio was increased. Direct enumeration by whole‐mount and quinacrine‐fluorescence techniques demonstrated that the platelets from both sisters had significantly fewer dense granules than controls. These characteristics are similar to an individual with Hermansky‐Pudlak syndrome and are consistent with a platelet dense granule deficiency. In contrast, immunofluorescence studies using an antibody against the dense granule membrane protein granulophysin suggested that both sisters had numbers of granules within the normal range. Evaluation by immunoblotting and ELISA indicated the presence of normal levels of granulophysin in the platelets from both sisters: FACS analysis demonstrated the surface expression of granulophysin under conditions of selective dense granule release. These results are consistent with these sisters having a form of dense granule storage pool deficiency where the granular membranes are present but the granules have reduced contents. This observation represents a novel form of storage pool disease which we have termed the empty sack syndrome.

A role for immunoglobulin G in donor-specific Streptococcus sanguis-induced platelet aggregation

There is increasing evidence for a relationship between bacterial infections and several cardiovascular disorders. Although the precise mechanism(s) underlying this association is unknown, the direct activation of platelets by bacteria is one possibility. Individual strains of S. sanguis activate platelets in a non-uniform, donor-dependent manner. In the current study, platelet aggregation profiles were obtained for fourteen donors in response to four strains of S. sanguis (2017-78, 133-79, SK112, SK108a) and one of S. gordonii (SK8) . The platelets from all donors responded to strains 2017-78 and 133-79, whereas strains SK112, SK8 and SK108a caused aggregation in one, five and twelve donors, respectively. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) binding to strains 2017-78, 133-79 and SK108a were significantly greater than to strains SK112 and SK8. Absorption of IgG by strain 2017-78 caused significant decreases in IgG binding, and platelet aggregation in response, to all strains. Single-strand conformational polymorphisms were observed in the Fcgamma RIIA gene from four donors. Sequencing revealed two known and two novel point mutations, none of which correlated with the aggregation profile. Thus, platelet activation to the various strains depends on a common IgG and, while in most cases the level of IgG binding to S. sanguis determines platelet responsiveness, neither the levels of IgG nor FcgammaRIIA polymorphisms can fully account for donor variability.