Syed S. Ahmad

The disulfide isomerase ERp57 mediates platelet aggregation, hemostasis, and thrombosis

A close homologue to protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) called ERp57 forms disulfide bonds in glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and is expressed on the platelet surface. We generated 2 rabbit Abs to ERp57. One Ab strongly inhibited ERp57 in a functional assay and strongly inhibited platelet aggregation. There was minimal cross-reactivity of this Ab with PDI by Western blot or in the functional assay. This Ab substantially inhibited activation of the αIIbβ3 fibrinogen receptor and P-selectin expression. Furthermore, adding ERp57 to platelets potentiated aggregation. In contrast, adding a catalytically inactive ERp57 inhibited platelet aggregation. When infused into mice the inactive ERp57 prolonged the tail bleeding times. We generated 2 IgG2a mAbs that reacted with ERp57 by immunoblot. One of these Abs inhibited both ERp57 activity and platelet aggregation. The other Ab did not inhibit ERp57 activity or platelet aggregation. The inhibitory Ab inhibited activation of αIIbβ3 and P-selectin expression, prolonged tail bleeding times, and inhibited FeCl(3)-induced thrombosis in mice. Finally, we found that a commonly used mAb to PDI also inhibited ERp57 activity. We conclude that a glycoprotein-specific member of the PDI family, ERp57, is required for platelet aggregation, hemostasis, and thrombosis.

Platelet receptor-mediated factor X activation by factor IXa. High-affinity factor IXa receptors induced by factor VIII are deficient on platelets in Scott syndrome.

We have studied factor IXa binding and factor X activation with normal platelets and with platelets obtained from a patient with a bleeding disorder and an isolated deficiency of platelet procoagulant activity termed Scott syndrome. In the absence of factor VIIIa and factor X, normal, thrombin-treated platelets exposed 560 +/- 35 sites for factor IXa with a Kd of 2.75 +/- 0.27 mM, compared with 461 +/- 60 sites per patient platelet with Kd of 3.2 +/- 0.33 nM. The addition of factor VIIIa and factor X resulted in a decrease in the Kd for normal platelets to 0.68 nM but had no effect on the Kd for patient platelets. The concentrations of factor IXa required for half-maximal rates of factor X activation for normal (0.52 nM) and patient platelets (2.5 nM) were similar to those determined from equilibrium binding studies. Kinetic parameters for factor X activation by factor IXa showed that the Km and Kcat were identical for normal and patient platelets in the absence of factor VIIIa. In the presence of factor VIIIa, and kcat for patient platelets (163 min-1) was only 33% of that for normal platelets (491 min-1): This result can be explained by the difference in affinity for factor IXa between normal and patient platelets in the presence of factor VIIIa, suggesting impaired factor VIIIa binding to Scott syndrome platelets.

Platelet-derived ERp57 mediates platelet incorporation into a growing thrombus by regulation of the αIIbβ3 integrin

The platelet protein disulfide isomerase called ERp57 mediates platelet aggregation, but its role in thrombus formation is unknown. To determine the specific role of platelet-derived ERp57 in hemostasis and thrombosis, we generated a megakaryocyte/platelet-specific knockout. Despite normal platelet counts and platelet glycoprotein expression, mice with ERp57-deficient platelets had prolonged tail-bleeding times and thrombus occlusion times with FeCl3-induced carotid artery injury. Using a mesenteric artery thrombosis model, we found decreased incorporation of ERp57-deficient platelets into a growing thrombus. Platelets lacking ERp57 have defective activation of the αIIbβ3 integrin and platelet aggregation. The defect in aggregation was corrected by the addition of exogenous ERp57, implicating surface ERp57 in platelet aggregation. Using mutants of ERp57, we demonstrate the second active site targets a platelet surface substrate to potentiate platelet aggregation. Binding of Alexa 488-labeled ERp57 to thrombin-activated and Mn(2+)-treated platelets lacking β3 was decreased substantially, suggesting a direct interaction of ERp57 with αIIbβ3. Surface expression of ERp57 protein and activity in human platelets increased with platelet activation, with protein expression occurring in a physiologically relevant time frame. In conclusion, platelet-derived ERp57 directly interacts with αIIbβ3 during activation of this receptor and is required for incorporation of platelets into a growing thrombus.

Platelet membrane-mediated coagulation protease complex assembly

Platelet membranes provide procoagulant surfaces for the assembly and expression of a variety of coagulation protease complexes. These assembled complexes promote the proteolytic activation of various coagulation proteins resulting in normal hemostasis. Recent studies from our laboratory and others indicate that platelets possess specific, high-affinity, saturable receptors for factor (F) XI, FXIa, FIX, FIXa, FX, FXa, FV, FVa, prothrombin, and thrombin. The molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly of the intrinsic tenase and prothrombinase enzyme-cofactor complexes on platelet membranes are the subject of intense investigation. Whether the procoagulant surface of platelets is defined exclusively by procoagulant phospholipids, or whether specific protein receptors exist for the coagulant cofactors and proteases, is currently unresolved. In this article, we review some of these platelet receptor-mediated coagulation protein interactions and discuss platelet receptor-mediated F-X activation as a point of attack for the development of antithrombotic agents.

Rapid purification of factor IX, factor X and prothrombin by immunoaffinity and ion exchange chromatography

This study describes a rapid purification of factor IX, factor X and prothrombin by immunoaffinity and ion exchange chromatography. Human factor IX was purified from plasma in 34% yield using barium sulfate adsorption and immunoaffinity purification. The specific clotting activity of purified factor IX was 269 units/mg, with an apparent molecular weight of 57,000 in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate on polyacrylamide gels. The immunodepleted, factor-IX deficient plasma was chromatographed on a dextran sulfate agarose column which resolved prothrombin and factor X in highly purified states and with approximately 50% yield. The specific activities of prothrombin and factor X obtained by this procedure were 24 units/mg and 147 units/mg respectively. Both proteins isolated by this method showed a single component on SDS gel electrophoresis and the molecular weights of intact prothrombin and factor X were 72,000 and 67,000 respectively.