Serotonin binding sites of human blood platelets

The possible use of formaldehyde-fixed platelets to characterize and enumerate the specific receptor sites for 5-hydroxytryptamine was investigated. Equilibrium, pH-dependent capacity and specificity of 5-hydroxytryptamine binding by formaldehyde-fixed platelets were demonstrated. Analysis of binding data revealed two different sites: (i) high affinity with low capacity, and (ii) low affinity with high capacity. The results of binding studies using nonfixed control platelets were comparable with those of formaldehyde-fixed platelets. The versatility of formaldehyde fixation for studies of surface receptors was also shown by demonstrating nearly equal binding affinity for PGE₁ in control and formaldehyde-treated platelets. Our results indicate that formaldehyde fixation is a useful tool for the study of membrane receptor sites especially when active transport of the ligand such as serotonin is a problem.     

Accelerated uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine by human blood platelets enriched in a sialic acid.

The enzymically catalysed incorporation of N-acetylneuraminic acid into human platelets, whether suspended in their own citrated plasma or in buffered saline containing 0.17 mM-sucrose, accelerated the uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine. This acceleration decreased with time. The observations may be explained by assuming that N-acetylneuraminic acid is a component of a transport receptor for 5-hydroxytryptamine.     

The 5-hydroxytryptamine stimulated formation of inositol phosphate is inhibited in platelets from alcoholics

The accumulation of inositol monophosphate (IP1) was measured after stimulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine2 (5-HT2) receptors on platelets from alcoholics and healthy controls. In controls, 5-HT induced a dose-dependent response with an EC50 = 2 x 10(-6) M and a maximal response at 10(-5) M. Ritanserin, a selective 5-HT2 antagonist, markedly reduced the accumulation. The IP1 formation after stimulation by 10(-5) M 5-HT was significantly impaired in platelets from alcoholics as compared to controls. This study indicates that the 5-HT2 receptor function is inhibited in alcoholics. It also illustrates the possibility of using IP1 formation in peripheral cells as a mean of studying receptor function in disease.     

The first luminal domain of vesicular monoamine transporters mediates G-protein-dependent regulation of transmitter uptake

The activity of vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) is down-regulated by the G-protein alpha-subunits of G(o2) and G(q), but the signaling pathways are not known. We show here that no such regulation is observed when VMAT1 or VMAT2 are expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, when the intracellular compartments of VMAT-expressing CHO cells are preloaded with different monoamines, transport becomes susceptible to G-protein-dependent regulation, with differences between the two transporter isoforms. Epinephrine induces G-protein-mediated inhibition of transmitter uptake in CHOVMAT1 cells but prevents inhibition induced by dopamine in CHOVMAT2 cells. Epinephrine also antagonizes G-protein-mediated inhibition of monoamine uptake by VMAT2 expressing platelets or synaptic vesicles. In CHOVMAT2 cells G-protein-mediated inhibition of monoamine uptake can be induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) 1B receptor agonists, whereas alpha1 receptor agonists modulate uptake into CHOVMAT1 cells. Accordingly, 5-hydroxytryptamine 1B receptor antagonists prevent G-protein-mediated inhibition of uptake in partially filled platelets and synaptic vesicles expressing VMAT2. CHO cells expressing VMAT mutants with a shortened first vesicular loop transport monoamines. However, no or a reduced G-protein regulation of uptake can be initiated. In conclusion, vesicular content is involved in the activation of vesicle associated G-proteins via a structure sensing the luminal monoamine content. The first luminal loop of VMATs may represent a G-protein-coupled receptor that adapts vesicular filling.     

Uptake of 3H-dopamine in megakaryocytes and blood platelets measured by quantitative electron-microscope autoradiography

We studied the uptake of dopamine by mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets in mouse spleen after a single intraperitoneal injection of 3H-dopamine. In order to compare the uptake of 3H-dopamine in mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets, we used quantitative autoradiography at the electron-microscope level. Dense accumulations of silver grains were observed on both mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets; all other tissue elements of the spleen exhibited considerably less dense labeling. No significant differences with regard to dopamine uptake were observed in megakaryocytes and blood platelets. This is in contrast to the previous finding of very different patterns of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine labeling in mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets (Daimon and Uchida 1985). The results of the present study provide new evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the active uptake mechanism of dopamine through the plasma membrane is different from the uptake mechanism of 5-hydroxytryptamine.     

Mechanism of imipramine inhibition of platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine transport.

Plasma membrane vesicles isolated from porcine blood platelets take up approximately 8 to 15 pmol of [3H]imipramine per mg of membrane protein. This apparent binding requires Na+ in the external medium and is reversed by 5-hydroxytryptamine and fluoxetine. The apparent KD for imipramine uptake is 23 nM, which agrees well with the KI for competitive inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine transport by imipramine. In contrast to 5-hydroxytryptamine transport, imipramine uptake is not dependent on transmembrane Na+ and K+ gradients and is insensitive to ionophores such as nigericin and gramicidin which dissipate these gradients. Although 5-hydroxytryptamine rapidly and competitively displaces imipramine from membrane vesicles, imipramine does not cause 5-hydroxytryptamine efflux and inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine exchange. These results are consistent with the proposal that imipramine binds to the substrate site of the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter but cannot be transported.     

Lipid composition of membranes of aminestorage organelles

1. The lipid composition of the membranes from isolated 5-hydroxytryptamine-storage organelles of blood platelets of rabbits and of those from chromaffin granules of bovine adrenal medulla was compared. 2. In contrast with the membranes of the chromaffin granules, those of the 5-hydroxytryptamine organelles did not contain lysophosphatidylcholine (lysolecithin). 3. Both the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and the relative proportions of phosphatidylethanolamine (kephalin), phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylserine were about the same in both membranes, whereas phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and sphingomyelin showed somewhat higher values in the membranes of the 5-hydroxytryptamine organelles. 4. In conclusion, the release of 5-hydroxytryptamine from blood platelets is probably not correlated with the presence of lysophosphatidylcholine in the membranes of the storage organelles and may thus differ from the mechanism of catecholamine release in adrenal medulla.     

Demonstration of 5-Hydroxytryptamine in Blood Platelets by a Formaldehyde-Induced Fluorescence Technique

Blood smears from normal and reserpinized rabbits were dried in a desiccator and treated with gaseous formaldehyde. The normal blood smears showed an intense yellow fluorescence due to serotonin in platelets. Fluorescence was weak or absent in the smears of the reserpinized rabbits. A standard serotonin assay of the bloods confirmed a normal 5-hydroxytryptamine content in untreated rabbits while reserpinized rabbits had a low or zero 5-hydroxytryptamine level. This is a simple method for detecting the presence or absence of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the blood.     

Subcellular distribution of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine in the blood platelets of rabbits: effects of imipramine and and haloperidol

Long-term (10 days) administration of imipramine [20 mg/(kg X d)] to rabbits significantly increases the Km value (4.0 micron) of 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake in their platelets compared to those of saline- (0.7 micron) or haloperidol- (0.4 micron) treated rabbits. Administration of haloperidol inhibits the 5-hydroxytryptamine uptake non-competitively, and in vitro it had an ID50 value of 22 micron. Intravenous injections of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine were given to the animals 1 h before blood collection. After isolation of platelets, their sonicates were subjected to 30-60% continuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. The subcellular distribution of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine indicates that imipramine treatment, in contrast to the control and haloperidol treatment, led to a shift in the exogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine peak from within the granular zone (d 1.18) to the extragranular cytoplasm (d 1.15). Compared to control values, the imipramine treatment caused 63% inhibition in the platelet Na-K-ATPase activity.     

Uptake of 3H-dopamine in megakaryocytes and blood platelets measured by quantitative electron-microscope autoradiography

Summary We studied the uptake of dopamine by mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets in mouse spleen after a single intraperitoneal injection of ³H-dopamine. In order to compare the uptake of ³H-dopamine in mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets, we used quantitative autoradiography at the electron-microscope level. Dense accumulations of silver grains were observed on both mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets; all other tissue elements of the spleen exhibited considerably less dense labeling. No sigificant differences with regard to dopamine uptake were observed in megakaryocytes and blood platelets. This is in contrast to the previous finding of very different patterns of ³H-5-hydroxytryptamine labeling in mature megakaryocytes and blood platelets (Daimon and Uchida 1985). The results of the present study provide new evidence in favor of the hypothesis that the active uptake mechanism of dopamine through the plasma membrane is different from the uptake mechanism of 5-hydroxytryptamine.     

Comparison of the role of protein kinase C in platelet functional responses induced by three different mechanisms, PAF, ionomycin and arachidonic acid.

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in modulating platelet activation has been examined in platelets pre-incubated with either the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or the non-specific protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine. In order to determine where in the signal transduction pathway PKC is exerting its effect platelets were activated either with a receptor-operated stimulus platelet activating factor (PAF) or by direct elevation of [Ca2+]i (ionomycin) or with arachidonic acid which is converted into thromboxane B2 (TxB2). In PAF-stimulated platelets activation of PKC inhibited both [Ca2+]i elevation and TxB2 generation but had no effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release whilst staurosporine increased the duration of [Ca2+]i elevation and potentiated TxB2 generation but inhibited 5-HT release. In ionomycin-stimulated platelets modulation of PKC had no effect on [Ca2+]i elevation but in contrast to PAF-stimulated platelets PKC activation caused potentiation of TxB2 generation and 5-HT release whilst inhibition of PKC caused inhibition of TxB2 generation and 5-HT release. Modulation of PKC did not affect arachidonic acid-induced TxB2 generation. These findings suggest that in receptor activated platelets endogenously activated PKC is exerting a negative feedback role, however, when [Ca2+]i elevation is not modified by PKC activation or inhibition (such as in ionomycin stimulated platelets) the relationship between the state of PKC activation and subsequent platelet functional responses corresponds more closely. The findings from this study suggest a different relationship between PKC and TxB2 generation than between PKC and dense granule release in PAF-stimulated platelets.     

Effect of various excitatory agonists on the secretion of 5-hydroxytryptamine from permeabilised human platelets induced by Ca2+ in the presence or absence of GTP

Addition of GTP markedly enhances the ability of thrombin to cause a leftward shift in the Ca2+ dose/response curve for 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion from permeabilised human platelets. Little effect is observed on addition of GTP in the absence of thrombin. Neither ADP nor adrenaline, in the presence or absence of GTP, causes such a shift, whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine does so to a small extent but only in the presence of GTP. The leftward shift in the Ca2+ dose/response curve induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or 1-oleyl-2-acetylglycerol is not enhanced by addition of GTP. The thrombin concentration required for half-maximal enhancement of the response to Ca2+ is markedly reduced by addition of GTP. The results support the postulate that the effects of excitatory agonists in this system correlate with their ability to activate phospholipase C and provide further evidence for a role for GTP in signal transduction between the receptor and phospholipase C.     

Participation of a transmembrane proton gradient in 5-hydroxytryptamine transport by platelet dense granules and dense-granule ghosts.

Dense granules, the storage organelles for 5-hydroxytryptamine in blood platelets, have been isolated from porcine platelets and are shown to transport 5-hydroxytryptamine in response to a transmembrane proton gradient (delta pH). Transport in the absence of delta pH is minimal, and it is shown that a rapid increase in transport takes place as delta pH increases. Direct measurements with [14C]methylamine show a delta pH of 1.1 units (acid inside) for intact granules. Osmotically active ghosts of dense granules from which 95% of the endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine content has been released have also been prepared. Ghosts swell in the presence of ATP and Mg2+, and this swelling is shown to be due to the entry of protons via a process linked to ATP hydrolysis. Proton entry is also apparently linked to anion penetration in ghosts. Steady-state 5-hydroxytryptamine transport in ghosts is stimulated approx. 3-fold on the addition of ATP to the incubation medium, and the stimulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine transport in ghosts correlates with the formation of a transmembrane delta pH. Ghosts generate a delta pH of 1.1-1.3 pH units (acid inside) in the presence of 5 mM-ATP/2.5 mM-MgSO4. delta pH is generated within 3 min at 37 degrees C and is dissipated by the ionophore nigericin and by NH4Cl. It is shown that an Mg2+-stimulated ATPase activity is present on the ghost membrane, and inhibition of the ATPase leads to a corresponding decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine transport. The results presented support the idea that 5-hydroxytryptamine transport into platelet dense granules is dependent on the presence of a transmembrane delta pH and, together with previous findings by others, suggest a generalized mechanism for biogenic amine transport into subcellular storage organelles.     

Elevation of the cyclic GMP concentration in human platelets by sodium ascorbate and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Sodium L-ascorbate (ascorbate) and sodium D-ascorbate produced a dose-related rise of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in platelets with a maximum increment averaging 25-fold at 5 mM ascorbate. The ascorbate-induced increment in cGMP reached a peak after 1 min and was maintained for 1 h in the presence of ascorbate. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) also produced a dose-related rise of cGMP in platelets with a peak effect of approximately 25-fold at 16 micrometer 5-HT. The elevation of cGMP in platelets by both ascorbate and 5-HT did not require extracellular calcium and was blocked by inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase such as aspirin or indomethacin. A maximum ascorbate-induced rise in platelet cGMP at the time of addition of epinephrine, collage or thrombin did not augment the release of [14C]5-hydroxytryptamine ([14C]5-HT) measured over 30 min. Although ascorbate appeared to increase platelet cGMP by modulation of endoperoxide formation, its failure to aggregate platelets or to influence the release reaction indicates that the ascorbate-stimulated rise in cGMP does not have a simple relationship to thromboxane formation.     

Determination of platelet adhesion to collagen and the associated formation of phosphatidic acid and calcium mobilization

A method was developed to study the adhesion of platelets to fibrillar collagen at 37 degrees C in the absence of aggregation. Human platelets were labeled with [3H]-oleic acid, gel-filtered, and incubated with collagen in the presence of receptor antagonists to thromboxane A2, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and platelet-activating factor, as well as a fibrinogen/fibronectin inhibitor and an ADP-removing system. Those platelets that adhered to collagen were separated from those that did not by filtration through a 10-microns nylon mesh and the extent of platelet adhesion was quantitated by determination of the radioactivity retained by the mesh. The extent of platelet adhesion was proportional to the amount of collagen added up to 100 micrograms/ml and was essentially complete by 1 min. At least 80-90% of the platelets were capable of adhering to collagen. Adhesion was potentiated by the presence of extracellular Mg2+ and this potentiation was inhibited by extracellular Ca2+. Phosphatidic acid increased markedly in those platelets that adhered to collagen and this was associated with increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ levels that could be detected using the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2.     

Secretion, subcellular localization and metabolic status of inorganic pyrophosphate in human platelets. A major constituent of the amine-storing granules.

The platelet content of PPi is 1.90 +/- mumol/10(11) platelets (S.E.M., n = 19) or about 10.5 nmol/mg of protein, several hundred times that found for rat liver. Some 80% of this PPi is secreted by platelets treated with thrombin with a time course and dose-response relationship similar to secretion of ATP, ADP and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) from the platelet dense granules. During platelet aggregation induced by ADP and adrenaline, substantial amounts of PPi were secreted, but no release of acid hydrolases was observed. Subcellular-fractionation studies showed that the PPi is highly enriched in the same fraction that contains the storage organelles which store ATP, ADP, Ca2+ and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Inorganic pyrophosphatase was present mainly in the soluble fraction and in the mitochondria. Secretion studies done with platelets prelabelled with [32P]Pi showed that the sequestered PPi was relatively metabolically inactive, as is the ATP and ADP in the storage organelles. The possible participation of PPi in the formation of a bivalent-cation-nucleotide complex associated with amine storage is discussed.     

Platelet-activating factor stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human platelets.

Platelet-activating factor stimulates phosphatidylinositol turnover in human platelets as indicated by [32P]phosphatidate accumulation in platelets pre-labelled with [32P]Pi, and by [3H]phosphatidate accumulation and [3H]phosphatidylinositol loss in platelets pre-labelled with [3H]arachidonate. These effects of platelet-activating factor are direct and are independent of the production and/or release of endogenous platelet agonists such as ADP, 5-hydroxytryptamine and thromboxane A2.     

5-Methoxytryptoline, a Competitive Endocoid Acting at [3H]Imipramine Recognition Sites in Human Platelets

5-Methoxytryptoline potently inhibits [3H]imipramine binding to membranes from the cerebral cortex and platelets. Since 5-methoxytryptoline, which appears to occur endogenously with particularly high levels in the human pineal gland, also inhibits 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) uptake, it should be considered as a putative endogenous ligand modulating 5-HT transport. As the 5-HT transporter complex comprises the imipramine and the substrate recognition sites, which interact allosterically, it was essential to define the mechanism of inhibition of [3H]imipramine binding by 5-methoxytryptoline. Human platelets show an active and saturable uptake of 5-HT and tryptamine. The uptake of both substrates appears to be mediated by the same carrier and it is inhibited by 5-methoxytryptoline at submicromolar concentrations. 5-HT and tryptamine inhibit [3H]imipramine binding in human platelets with a Hill slope for inhibition close to unity and IC50 values of 3,265 and 3,475 nM, respectively. This inhibition is, however, not competitive because both 5-HT and tryptamine significantly decrease the rate of [3H]imipramine-receptor dissociation. Although 5-methoxytryptoline potently inhibits [3H]imipramine binding (IC50 = 44 nM) in human platelets with a Hill slope of unity, it does not affect the receptor-ligand dissociation rate of [3H]imipramine even at concentrations up to 100 microM. The present experiments show that 5-methoxytryptoline, in spite of its chemical similarity to the indoleamine transporter substrates, interacts with the imipramine receptor through a mechanism of competitive inhibition. This conclusion is supported by a selective effect of 5-methoxytryptoline on the Kd of [3H]imipramine binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specific desensitization of actin polymerization of bovine platelets

Polymerization of actin induced by activation of platelets was investigated using deoxyribonuclease I inhibition assay. When platelets were activated with ADP or 5-hydroxytryptamine, actin was polymerized quickly followed by rapid depolymerization to the initial level. Reactivation with the same agonist, however, did not cause the polymerization of actin, though with different agonists actin polymerized quite normally. The mechanism for this agonist-specific desensitization of actin polymerization was investigated by the use of a calcium ionophore A23187. It was suggested that the cause for the desensitization is the inability of platelets to mobilize Ca2+ in response to specific agonist.     

Transport of 5-hydroxytryptamine by dense granules from porcine platelets

A method is described for the isolation of a homogeneous preparation of dense granules from procine platelets. The purified dense granule fraction contained approximately 400 nmol of 5-hydroxytryptamine/mg of protein and appeared to be homogeneous when examined by electron microscopy. Isolated dense granules transport exogenously added 5-hydroxytryptamine via two mechanisms: 1) a carrier-mediated process predominating at low substrate concentrations and 2) a diffusion-controlled process predominating at high substrate concentrations. Temperature studies revealed an apparent energy of activation of 14.9 kcal/mol for the carrier-mediated transport. Kinetic data yielded a Km of 3.3 micron and a Vmax of 0.79 nmol/min/mg of protein for the mediated transport process. Steady state uptake was sensitive to changes in medium osmotic pressure and a decline in uptake below 300 mosM was correlated with release of endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine. The transport was inhibited by a number of structural analogs of 5-hydroxytryptamine. These results demonstrate the existence of a carrier-mediated transport system for 5-hydroxytryptamine in the membranes of the platelet dense granules.