Harris L. Ullman

Formation of leukotrienes and other hydroxy acids during platelet-neutrophil interactions in vitro.

Abstract Interactions of human platelets with neutrophils were studied in suspensions of [ 3 H]arachidonate-labeled platelets and unlabeled neutrophils stimulated with ionophore A23187. Several radioactive arachidonate metabolites, not produced by platelets alone, were detected, including [ 3 H]-labeled leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ), dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (DHETE) and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE). When [ 3 H]12-HETE, a platelet product, was added to stimulated neutrophils, DHETE was formed. Similarly, when [ 3 H]5-HETE, a neutrophil product, was added to stimulated platelets, DHETE was the major product. These results suggest that upon stimulation: 1) platelet-derived arachidonate may serve as precursor for the neutrophil-derived eicosanoids LTB 4 and 5-HETE, and 2) that platelet-derived 12-HETE can be converted to DHETE by human neutrophils. The present investigation documents cell-cell interactions via the lipoxygenase pathway, which may be important in hemostasis, thrombosis and inflammation.

Enhancement of platelet reactivity and modulation of eicosanoid production by intact erythrocytes. A new approach to platelet activation and recruitment.

Erythrocytes are known to influence hemostasis. Bleeding times are prolonged in anemia and corrected by normalizing the hematocrit. We now demonstrate that intact erythrocytes modulate biochemical and functional responsiveness of activated platelets. A two-stage procedure, permitting studies of cell-cell interactions and independently evaluating platelet activation and recruitment within 1 min of stimulation, was developed. Erythrocytes increased platelet serotonin release despite aspirin treatment, enzymatic adenosine diphosphate removal, protease inhibition, or combinations thereof. The data suggested that erythrocyte enhancement of platelet reactivity can reduce the therapeutic effectiveness of aspirin. Erythrocytes metabolically modified platelet arachidonate or eicosapentaenoate release and eicosanoid formation. They promoted significant increases in cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites upon platelet stimulation with collagen or thrombin. However, with ionophore, erythrocytes strongly reduced platelet lipoxygenation. These erythrocyte modulatory effects were stimulus-specific. Activated platelet-erythrocyte mixtures, with or without aspirin, promoted 3-10-fold increases in extracellular free fatty acid, which would be available for transcellular metabolism. Erythrocyte-induced increases in free eicosapentaenoate may contribute to antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects of this fish oil derivative. These results provide biochemical insight into erythrocyte contributions to thrombosis and hemostasis, and support the concept of thrombus formation as a multicellular event.

Superoxide production and reducing activity in human platelets.

Human platelets contain the cuprozinc (cytoplasmic) and manganese (mitochondrial) forms of superoxide dismutase. Nevertheless, superoxide radicals were detectable in the surrounding medium of metabolically viable platelet suspensions by using two assay systems: cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium. The quantity of superoxide generated by platelets (5 X 10(5) superoxide radicals/platelet per 10 min) was constant and did not increase after aggregation by agents such as collagen and thrombin. The superoxide-generating system was present in the supernate of both aggregated and resting platelets and therefore was not platelet-bound. Platelet superoxide production was unaffected by prior ingestion of aspirin, indicating that the prostaglandin and thromboxane pathways were not involved. Both resting and aggregated platelets exhibited a reductive capacity toward cytochrome c and nitroblue tetrazolium which was unrelated to superoxide production. Furthermore, the aggregation process always resulted in a marked increase in this reduction. The nonsuperoxide reduction associated with aggregation was found to be membrane bound and to decrease with an apparent first order reaction rate (k1 = 0.067 min-1). In addition, accumulative, time-dependent nonsuperoxide-related cytochrome c reduction was also detected. Since there is no superoxide dismutase in plasma, the presence of superoxide radicals in the surrounding medium of platelets may have in vitro significance for platelet and leukocyte concentration and storage and in vivo significance for hemostasis, coagulation, and thrombosis. The nonsuperoxide-related reducing activities may represent a biochemical basis for platelet-blood vessel interactions, with particular reference to blood vessel integrity.

Inhibition of platelet function by an aspirin-insensitive endothelial cell ADPase. Thromboregulation by endothelial cells.

We previously reported that platelets become unresponsive to agonists when stimulated in combined suspension with aspirin-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Inhibition occurred concomitant with metabolism of platelet-derived endoperoxides to prostacyclin by endothelial cells. We now demonstrate that if aspirin-treated platelets which fully respond to appropriate doses of agonists are exposed to aspirin-treated endothelial cells, they remain unresponsive despite absence of prostacyclin. Platelet inhibition is due in large part to ecto-ADPase activity on the endothelial cells. This was established by incubating aspirin-treated endothelial cells with 14C-ADP. Radio-thin layer chromatography and aggregometry demonstrated that 14C-ADP and induction of platelet activation decreased rapidly and concurrently. AMP accumulated transiently, was further metabolized to adenosine, and deaminated to inosine. The apparent Km of the endothelial cell ADPase was 33-42 microM and the Vmax 17-43 nmol/min per 10(6) cells, values in the range of antithrombotic potential. Thus, at least three complementary systems in human endothelial cells control platelet responsiveness: a cell-associated, aspirin-insensitive ADPase which functions in parallel with fluid phase autacoids such as the aspirin-inhibitable eicosanoids, and the aspirin-insensitive endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Downregulation of human platelet reactivity by neutrophils. Participation of lipoxygenase derivatives and adhesive proteins.

Unstimulated neutrophils inhibited activation and recruitment of thrombin- or collagen-stimulated platelets in an agonist-specific manner. This occurred under conditions of close physical cell-cell contact, although biochemical adhesion between the cells as mediated by P-selectin was not required. Moreover, in the presence of monoclonal P-selectin antibodies that blocked biochemical platelet-neutrophil adhesion, thrombin-stimulated platelets were more efficiently downregulated by neutrophils. This suggested a prothrombotic role for P-selectin under these circumstances. The neutrophil downregulatory effect on thrombin-stimulated platelets was amplified by lipoxygenase inhibition with 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid. In contrast, the neutrophil inhibitory effect on platelets was markedly reduced by platelet-derived 12S-hydroxy-5,8-cis, 10-trans, 14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (12S-HETE), as well as by the platelet-neutrophil transcellular product, 12S,20-dihydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12S,20-DiHETE), but not by another comparable metabolite, 5S,12S-dihydroxy-6-trans, 8-cis, 10-trans, 14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (5S,12S-DiHETE), or the neutrophil-derived hydroxy acid leukotriene B4. The neutrophil downregulatory effect on thrombin-induced platelet reactivity was enhanced by aspirin treatment. This may represent a novel action of aspirin as an inhibitor of platelet function. These results provide in vitro biochemical and functional evidence for the thromboregulatory role of neutrophils and emphasize the multicellular aspect of hemostasis and thrombosis.

Studies on the mechanism of omega-hydroxylation of platelet 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) by unstimulated neutrophils.

Stimulated platelets, in the presence or absence of aspirin, synthesize significant quantities of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), which is chemotactic and chemokinetic, and enhances mononuclear cell procoagulant activity. During a cell-cell interaction between stimulated platelets and unstimulated neutrophils, platelet 12-HETE is metabolized to 12,20-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12,20-DiHETE) by neutrophils. Characteristics of the enzyme system in unstimulated neutrophils responsible for this omega-hydroxylation were investigated. A broad range of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, as well as leukotriene B4, blocked formation of 12,20-DiHETE. Owing largely to released proteases, neutrophil homogenization abolished activity. Pretreatment with diisopropylfluorophosphate preserved activity in neutrophil homogenates. omega-Hydroxylation of 12-HETE was confined solely to the microsomal fraction. Specific activity increased 6.6-fold compared with neutrophil sonicates. The electron donor NADPH was a required cofactor. These results indicate that the enzyme in unstimulated human neutrophils, which metabolizes 12-HETE from stimulated platelets to 12,20-DiHETE in this cell-cell interaction, is a cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase.

Studies on Human Platelet Gangliosides

Gangliosides, glycosphingolipids which contain sialic acid, were studied in human platelets. They represented 0.5% of the platelet lipids and accounted for 6% of the total neuraminic acid content of platelets. Three major ganglioside fractions were identified and characterized. Ganglioside I was hematoside (G(6)) and comprised 92% of the platelet gangliosides. It contained glucose, galactose, and sialic acid in molar ratios of 1:1:1 and no hexosamine. The major fatty acid was behenate (22:0). Ganglioside I was also identified in isolated platelet granules and membranes. Ganglioside II (5%) contained glucose, galactose, sialic acid, and hexosamines (molar ratios 1:2:1:1). The hexosamines were glucosamine (72%) and galactosamine (28%). It was therefore designated as ganglioside lacto-N-neotetraose. Ganglioside III (2%) contained disialosyllactosyl ceramide (G(3A)) as well as two other gangliosides which could not be precisely characterized. Gangliosides I, II, and III were susceptible to the action of Clostridium perfringens neuraminidase as evidenced by full recovery of sialic acid in its free form after incubation. Neutral platelet glycolipids were qualitatively examined by thin-layer chromatography. The major component was lactosyl ceramide. Interactions of gangliosides I and III and serotonin-(14)C were examined in an equilibrium dialysis system at 4 degrees C. The gangliosides bound serotonin-(14)C in relatively small quantities, whereas control lipids were negative. The binding was essentially unchanged by reverse dialysis, ultracentrifugation and subsequent thin-layer chromatography. The results are comparable to the previously observed nonmetabolic interactions between whole platelets and serotonin in the cold. It is suggested that the orientation and specific distribution of platelet membrane glycolipids may be important determinants of the unique surface properties of platelets.

Production of metabolic products of arachidonic acid during cell-cell interactions

We studied interactions of human platelets and neutrophils with particular reference to the arachidonic acid pathway. Suspensions of [3H]arachidonate-labeled platelets and unlabeled neutrophils were stimulated with ionophore A23187. We detected several radioactive arachidonate metabolites, which are not produced by platelets alone. These included [3H]-labeled leukotriene B4 (LTB4), dihydroxy-eicosatetraeonic acid (DiHETE), and 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE). DiHETE was formed when the platelet product [3H]12-HETE was added to ionophore-stimulated neutrophils. In addition, DiHETE was the major metabolite when [3H]5-HETE, a neutrophil arachidonate product, was added to stimulated platelets. We therefore suggest that upon stimulation, platelet-derived arachidonate can serve as precursor for the neutrophil-derived eicosanoids LTB4 and 5-HETE, and the platelet-derived product 12-HETE can be metabolized to DiHETE by stimulated human neutrophils. More recently we have shown that 12-HETE from thrombin-stimulated platelets can also be metabolized to a new product, 12,20-DiHETE, by unstimulated human neutrophils. It would appear that the platelet and neutrophil lipoxygenase pathways take part in cell-cell interactions--an observation that suggests a role for the neutrophils that are present in hemostatic plugs, thrombi, and inflammatory processes.

Platelet-Neutrophil Interactions in the Eicosanoid Pathway

Trauma to blood vessels or degenerative changes in atherosclerotic plaques result in exposure of structures in the subendothelium, such as collagen, which in its native state is stimulatory for platelet adhesion and subsequent activation (Marcus, 1988). Platelet activation is also accompanied by initiation of the blood coagulation cascade, culminating in the formation of thrombin. Collagen and thrombin are capable of stimulating the oxygenation of free arachidonate, thereby activating the eicosanoid pathway in both platelets and endothelial cells. Many of the eicosanoids which form are actually autacoids with significant biological properties.