Identification of amino acid residues essential for heparin binding by the A1 domain of human von Willebrand factor

Platelet adhesion is mediated by von Willebrand factor (VWF) that binds platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Previous observations suggested that heparin competitively inhibits the binding of VWF to GPIb and may down-regulate platelet adhesion. We performed charged-to-alanine scanning mutagenesis of domain A1 and studied dose-dependent binding to heparin-Sepharose beads. Mutations at Lys1362 and Arg1395, at which the GPIb binding was markedly decreased, showed 41% and 42% binding, respectively. Clustered mutations in the segments 1332KDRKR1336 and 1405KKKK1408, which have been proposed as heparin binding sequences, showed 72% and 52% binding, respectively. However, single alanine substitutions within these clusters showed normal binding. Our findings suggest that heparin may inhibit the binding of VWF to GPIb by interacting with GPIb binding and interpret why some hemorrhagic complications of heparin therapy are not predictable based on techniques for monitoring the conventional anticoagulant effects of heparin.     

Platelet storage under in vitro condition is associated with calcium-dependent apoptosis-like lesions and novel reorganization in platelet cytoskeleton

Platelets are cleared from circulation after a life span of 8-10 days. The molecular mechanisms underlying platelet senescence remain poorly characterized. Here we report that, progressive functional impairment in the platelets incubated in vitro in a plasma-free isotonic medium for up to 24 h at 37 degrees C is associated with release of cytochrome c from platelet mitochondria and cleavage of procaspase-9, but without evidence of caspase-3 activation. Concomitantly, there was proteolysis of survival proteins like focal adhesion kinase, Src, gelsolin, and specific cytoskeleton-associated peptides, in a manner regulated by extracellular calcium and calpain activity. Cytoskeleton played a critical role as evidenced from the association of these proteins and their degradation products, as well as procaspase-3 and the actin regulatory small GTPase, CDC42Hs, with the cytoskeleton of the stored platelets. The cytoskeletal enrichment with specific proteins was not associated with increase in the content of F-actin and was cytochalasin-resistant, thus signifying a novel mechanism of interaction of the translocating proteins with the pre-existing cytoskeleton. There was progressive exposure of phosphatidylserine on the outer leaflet of platelet membrane and specific electron microscopic changes suggestive of apoptotic lesions. Based on these observations we discuss the caspase-independent but calpain-mediated signaling events in the stored platelets resembling the features of apoptosis in the nucleated cells.     

Purpureotin: a novel di-dimeric C-type lectin-like protein from Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus venom is stabilized by noncovalent interactions

Purpureotin, a novel di-dimeric C-type lectin-like protein (CLP) from Trimeresurus purpureomaculatus, was purified and sequenced. While its native molecular mass was determined to be 63kDa, purpureotin showed a single band of 30kDa on nonreducing SDS-PAGE and two polypeptide chains (16.0 and 14.5kDa) under reducing condition. These results were subsequently confirmed by mass spectrometric analyses. Based on these results, we postulate that purpureotin is a dimer of the alpha,beta-heterodimer which is held together by noncovalent interactions. Molecular modeling studies indicate that a dimer of alpha,beta-heterodimers can be formed where the alpha chains are held together by electrostatic charges and beta chains via hydrophobic interactions. Functionally, purpureotin induced platelet aggregation without any cofactor in a dose-dependent manner. However, the platelet aggregation effect was blocked by echicetin. Therefore, purpureotin is assumed to be a GPIb-binding protein which binds to the same or a closely related GPIb site on platelets as echicetin.     

Role of lateral cell-cell border location and extracellular/transmembrane domains in PECAM/CD31 mechanosensation

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), followed by signal transduction events, has been described in endothelial cells following exposure to hyperosmotic and fluid shear stress. However, it is unclear whether PECAM-1 functions as a primary mechanosensor in this process. Utilizing a PECAM-1-null EC-like cell line, we examined the importance of cellular localization and the extracellular and transmembrane domains in PECAM-1 phosphorylation responses to mechanical stress. Tyrosine phosphorylation of PECAM-1 was stimulated in response to mechanical stress in null cells transfected either with full length PECAM-1 or with PECAM-1 mutants that do not localize to the lateral cell-cell adhesion site and that do not support homophilic binding between PECAM-1 molecules. Furthermore, null cells transfected with a construct that contains the intact cytoplasmic domain of PECAM-1 fused to the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the interleukin-2 receptor also underwent mechanical stress-induced PECAM-1 tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings suggest that mechanosensitive PECAM-1 may lie downstream of a primary mechanosensor that activates a tyrosine kinase.     

A model to estimate risk of infection with human herpesvirus 8 associated with transfusion from cross-sectional data

In cross-sectional studies of infectious diseases, the data typically consist of: age at the time of study, status (presence or absence) of infection, and a chronology of events possibly associated with the disease. Motivated by a study of how human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is transmitted among children with sickle cell anemia in Uganda, we have developed a flexible parametric approach for combining current-status data with a history of blood transfusions. We model heterogeneity in transfusion-associated risk by a child-specific random effect. We present an extension of the model to accommodate the fact that there is no gold standard for HHV-8 infection and infection status was assessed by a serological assay. The parameters are estimated via maximum likelihood. Finally, we present results from applying various parameterizations of the model to the Ugandan study.     

蛋白激酶C在血小板聚集中的作用

利用￣（３２）Ｐ－ＮａＨ２ＰＯ４标记猪血小板,以蛋白激酶Ｃ的４０ｋＤ底物为蛋白激活的标志．用血小板激动剂在聚集浓度范围内处理血小板,结果表明,除了不能使猪血小板聚集的肾上腺素外,凝血酶等激动剂都使血小板４０ｋＤ底物蛋白磷酸化明显增加,同时３８ｋＤ,２６ｋＤ蛋白质磷酸化也明显增加,且４０ｋＤ底物磷酸化与血小板聚集有平行增加关系．蛋白激酶Ｃ在血小板聚集中可能起着重要的调节作用。     

细胞骨架对凝血酶诱导人血小板分泌反应的调节(英文)

本文利用血小板表面外露的GMP-140为血小板分泌反应的特异性标志,通过放射免疫分析法定量测定血小板表面GMP-140分子数,研究了细胞骨架抑制剂对凝血酶诱导血小板分泌反应的影响。结果表明,凝血酶激活使血小板表面GMP-140的外露明显增加,反应迅速,并在一定范围内呈剂量和时间依赖性;而ADP刺激则几乎不引起GMP-140外露的增加。凝血酶激活前加入不同的细胞骨架抑制剂处理可产生不同的效应:细胞松驰素B(肌动蛋白微丝抑制剂)可明显上调凝血酶诱导的GMP-140外露;而秋水仙素(微管抑制剂)则下调GMP-140的外露;两者同时处理仍呈现明显的上调作用。提示凝血酶作为一种强激活剂,不仅可通过受体-G蛋白-第二信使的途径启动血小板分泌反应,而且可能经诱导肌动蛋白微丝的形成对分泌反应起反馈性负调节作用。微管的存在则可能对凝血酶诱导的分泌反应起促进作用。虽然两种细胞骨架的作用相反,但以微丝的作用为主,两者间无相互拮抗现象。     

PTA1在大鼠淋巴器官中定位分布的免疫组织化学和原位杂交研究

采用免疫组织化学方法和地高辛－碱酸酶标记原位杂交组织化学方法观察PTA1在大鼠胸腺、脾脏和淋巴结等淋巴器官中的定位分布。首次证实PTA1和PTA1 mRNA散在分布于大鼠脾脏和胸腺中,但在淋巴结中未见分布。本研究结果为全面了解PTA1在体内的分布及功能提供重要的实验依据。     

血小板在凝血中作用的动力学模型及仿真

在生化实验的基础上提出了血小板在凝血中作用的动力学模型,通过定性分析和数值模拟,得到：系统的启动存在一阈值,该阈值与血小板和凝血因子作用的吸附解离常数有密切的关系,即与血小板的存在与否直接相关;血小板的激活比率对系统的正平衡点的稳定性有重要的影响,与凝血启动后的最终状态有关;当刺激强度较小时,因子Ⅷ和Ⅸ对系统的解在定性与定量上没有明显的影响;当刺激强度较大时,因子Ⅷ和Ⅸ在凝血瀑布机制中起级联放大作     

大鼠免疫性血小板减少模型的研究

采用注射兔抗大鼠血小板血清（ＡＰＳ）方法,建立了大鼠免疫性血小板减少模型。大鼠腹腔注射１：４稀释的ＡＰＳ（０．７ｍｌ／２００ｇ体重）,连续３ｄ,可使血小板数量显著降低,其降低率为８１±９％（ｎ＝１２）,且其骨随巨核细胞增生活跃,但注射ＡＰＳ后对血中红细胞数和白细胞数无明显影响．在注射ＡＰＳ的同时,给予大鼠灌胃强的松（１ｍｇ／２００ｇ体重）,可抑制ＡＰＳ所致的血小板减少的下降程度,并促进停止注射ＡＰＳ后血小板数的恢复。以上结果表明,该模型符合免疫性血小板减少性紫癜的病理特征。