Erbstatin blocks platelet activating factor-induced protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis, protein kinase C activation, serotonin secretion and aggregation of rabbit platelets.

The role of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in the signal transduction of platelet activating factor (PAF) was investigated in rabbit platelets with a range of synthetic compounds that inhibit protein-tyrosine kinases. In particular, erbstatin (IC50 approximately 20 micrograms/ml) abrogated a wide range of platelet responses to PAF, including tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins, polyphosphoinositide turnover, activation of membranous protein kinase C, platelet aggregation, and serotonin secretion. With about a third of the potency of erbstatin, compound RG50864 also inhibited many of these responses, whereas at 100 micrograms/ml, genistein, 670C88 and ST271 were without effect. Finally, the ability of thrombin to cause platelet aggregation and serotonin secretion was also compromised by erbstatin.     

Calmodulin antagonist W-7 inhibits aggregation of human platelets induced by platelet activating factor

Experiments were done to test the hypothesis that aggregation of human platelets induced by platelet activating factor (PAF) may be mediated by calmodulin-dependent processes. W-7 [N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalene sulfonamide], a potent calmodulin antagonist, caused dose-dependent inhibition of PAF induced aggregation of human platelets in vitro. The ED50 for W-7 was 51.5 +/- 9.5 microM (mean +/- SEM). This concentration is known to be platelet calmodulin-specific. These data are consistent with the hypothesis.     

Evidence for a dual pathway in platelet activating factor-induced aggregation of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes

The purpose of this study was to determine the role, if any, of Leukotriene B₄ (LTB₄) in Platelet Activating Factor (PAF)-induced aggregation of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). Exposure of rat PMNs to 10⁻⁷ M PAF resulted in the release of 4.5 ± 0.7 ng/10⁷ cells of LTB₄ measured by radioimmunoassay. However, the maximum aggregation of PMNs achieved by exposure to LTB₄ (10⁻⁷M) was only 50% of that produced by maximally aggregating concentrations of PAF (10⁻⁷M). 5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors, BW755c and Nafazatrom at concentrations that completely abolished LTB₄ synthesis inhibited the aggregation induced by PAF only by 40% and 50% respectively. Furthermore, desensitisation experiments revealed that the aggregatory response of PMNs to PAF was only partially refractory to prior treatment with LTB₄ whereas the aggregatory response to LTB₄ was completely refractory to prior treatment with PAF. These results suggest that PAF-induced aggregation of rat PMNs is in part mediated by LTB₄ and in part directly by an as yet unidentified mechanism.     

Desensitization of human platelets by platelet activating factor

Human platelets are less responsive to PAF at 37 degrees than at 25 degrees. They can be desensitized to the effects of PAF by pre-exposure to small concentrations. In both cases desensitization appears to be accompanied by a decreased affinity of the high affinity site for PAF rather than loss of binding sites. Alteration of a metabolic step subsequent to binding cannot be excluded, but platelets show normal response to a variety of other agents under the conditions resulting in desensitization of platelets to PAF.     

Evidence for a dual pathway in platelet activating factor-induced aggregation of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes

The purpose of this study was to determine the role, if any, of Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in Platelet Activating Factor (PAF)-induced aggregation of rat polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs). Exposure of rat PMNs to 10(-7) M PAF resulted in the release of 4.5 +/- 0.7 ng/10(7) cells of LTB4 measured by radioimmunoassay. However, the maximum aggregation of PMNs achieved by exposure to LTB4 (10(-7)M) was only 50% of that produced by maximally aggregating concentrations of PAF (10(-7)M). 5-Lipoxygenase inhibitors, BW755c and Nafazatrom at concentrations that completely abolished LTB4 synthesis inhibited the aggregation induced by PAF only by 40% and 50% respectively. Furthermore, desensitisation experiments revealed that the aggregatory response of PMNs to PAF was only partially refractory to prior treatment with LTB4 whereas the aggregatory response to LTB4 was completely refractory to prior treatment with PAF. These results suggest that PAF-induced aggregation of rat PMNs is in part mediated by LTB4 and in part directly by an as yet unidentified mechanism.     

Mechanisms of the protease-induced aggregation of human platelets

The role of phospholipase C (an enzyme involved in the metabolism of inositol-containing phospholipids), cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase (the enzymes of arachidonic acid metabolism), and adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase (the enzymes of cyclic adenosine 3,5-monophosphate (cAMP) metabolism) in the mechanisms of the aggregation of human platelets induced by the serine protease in low concentrations (thrombin 0.5 mkg per ml, trypsin 1 mkg per ml, and alpha-chymotrypsin 10 mkg per ml) have been investigated with the use of the inhibitor analysis. The effect of neomycin sulfate (phospholipase C inhibitor), indometacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), and nordihydrogvayaretic acid (lipoxygenase inhibitor) on protease-induced increase in the content of calcium cations in platelet plasma has been studied. The results of the inhibitor analysis indicated that the enzymes of metabolism of inositol-containing phospholipids, arachidonic acid, and cAMP are involved in the mechanisms of the protease-induced platelet aggregation. The increase in the content of calcium ions, associated with the protease-induced activation of phospholipase C, in cytoplasm may play an important role in the mechanisms of platelet aggregation.     

Platelet activating factor-induced aggregation of calf platelets: Apparent positive cooperativity in the kinetics and non competitive inhibition by diltiazem

Aggregation of calf platelets by platelet activating factor was characterized by a spectrophotometric method. The aggregation kinetics of both platelet-rich plasma and purified platelets showed concave up double-reciprocal plots and linear Hill plots withh > 1 (1.7 ± 02) consistent with positive cooperativity. Comparable values of maximum rates of aggregation(R) were obtained with platelet-rich plasma (0.25 ± 0.08) and purified platelets (0.28 ± 0.18) but the half-maximal saturation concentration (S_0.5) differed greatly between platelet-rich plasma (6 ± 3 nM) and purified platelets (0.28 ± 0.18 nM). An Arrhenius activation energy of 21 ±2 kcal/mol was found for aggregation of purified platelets. Diltiazem was inhibitory with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (I_0.5) of 4 M but the inhibition was not competitive. Diltiazem inhibited rates but not the extent of shape-change. The receptor-antagonist and sulphydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide and the platelet antagonistic omega-3-fatty acid, 5,8,11,14,17-eicosa pentaenoic acid, inhibited both rates and extent of shape-change reactions and inhibited aggregation competitively (I_0.5 ∼ 5 M). Eicosa pentaenoic acid at > 25 M could abolish shape-change reactions and at 50 M served as an activator of platelets and the activation was enhanced by aspirin (1 mM). Although N-ethylmaleimide at > 20 M could also induce platelet activation it failed to induce aggregation and aspirin had no effect on the shape-change reactions induced by it.     

Characterization of the effect of the adenosine agonist cyclohexyladenosine on platelet activating factor-induced increases in [Ca]i in human platelets in vitro

Previous studies have shown that adenosine agonists acting at A-2 receptors inhibit platelet aggregation. Since an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration (delta [Ca2+]i) is closely associated with the time frame of platelet aggregation, we have examined the effect of adenosine receptor function on induced increases of [Ca2+]i by a potent platelet activator, platelet activating factor (PAF). We loaded washed platelets with Fura-2, then induced increases in [Ca2+]i with various concentrations of PAF, and then determined EC50 values (PAF concentration at half-maximal response) and values for maximal response of delta[Ca2+]i (max-delta[Ca2+]i). The EC50 for PAF-delta[Ca2+]i was 112 +/- 37 (SD) pM and the max-delta[Ca2+]i was 284 +/- 138 (SD) nM. Our results show that PAF-delta[Ca2+]i was inhibited in a non-competitive manner by the adenosine receptor agonist cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) with an IC50 of 14.9 microM. This inhibition was partially reversed by theophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist, with an IC50 of 19 microM. Based on the results of these studies together with evidence from other research groups that platelets do not possess A-1 receptors, our results suggest that CHA inhibited PAF-delta[Ca2+]i in platelets through an activation of A-2 receptors.     

Effect of C-reactive protein on platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation and membrane stabilization

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant which humoral concentration rises drastically following tissue injury or inflammation. CRP of all species binds to phosphorylcholine residues. In the present studies CRP was found to inhibit platelet-activating factor-induced platelet aggregation, and to stabilize platelet membranes against the lytic effect of lysophosphatidylcholine. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by CRP is accompanied by an inhibition of arachidonic acid release from both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. This suggests that phospholipases are inhibited. Hydrolysis of multilamellar dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes by purified phospholipase A2, was also inhibited by CRP. These results suggest that CRP can stabilize membranes from the detergent-like effects of lysolipids and from potentially toxic materials such as platelet-activating factor. By inhibition of phospholipases, production of inflammatory mediators would be blocked. CRP might thus act as an early protective recognition mechanism in acute inflammatory states.     

Platelet activating factor-amidophosphonate (PAF-AP), a partial agonist inhibited platelet activating factor-induced calcium mobilization in human monocytic leukemic U-937 cell

Differentiated human monocytic leukemic U-937 cells express platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor and produce intracellular messengers for this receptor. A structural analog, PAF-AP, functioned as a partial agonist that can activate PAF receptor and receptor mediated signal transduction. This partial agonist inhibited and cross-desensitized full agonist (PAF) induced intracellular calcium mobilization. These observations are further support that phosphoinositide hydrolysis and intracellular calcium mobilization function as the major signal transduction mechanism for PAF receptors in U-937 cells.     

Inhibition of platelet aggregation and arachidonate metabolism in platelets by procyanidins

The effects of procyanidins on platelet aggregation and arachidonate metabolism in platelets were studied. Nine procyanidins were used in this investigation. Procyanidins B-2-S, EEC and C-1 significantly induced the inhibition of platelet aggregation, and the potency of inhibition was comparable with aspirin. Procyanidin B-2-S was used as a representative of procyanidins for further studies on the effect on arachidonate metabolism. In arachidonate metabolism by fatty acid cyclooxygenase pathway, B-2-S inhibited TXB2 and HHT formation by intact platelets treated with exogenous arachidonic acid. It also inhibited TXB2 formation measured by a specific radioimmunoassay when the cells were challenged with calcium ionophore A23187. In cell-free system, B-2-S inhibited both TXB2 and 12-HETE bioxynthesis in platelet microsome and cytosol, respectively. The inhibitory effect on thromboxane biosynthesis might explain the inhibitory effect of procyanidins on platelet aggregation.     

Metabolic energy is required in human platelets at any stage during optical aggregation and secretion

The relationship between metabolic energy and platelet aggregation and secretion was investigated by sudden exhaustion of the cell energy content after these platelet responses had been initiated. In normal platelets, optical aggregation was at any stage susceptible to energy exhaustion, whereas single platelet disappearance and secretion were hardly affected. Prelowering the platelet energy content, while preserving the adenylate energy charge, made both optical aggregation and the secretion from dense, α- and acid hydrolase-containing granules susceptible to energy exhaustion, but single platelet disappearance was not affected. Complete arrest of secretion occurred when the energy content had fallen below 3–3.5 μmol ATP equivalents (ATPeq)/10¹¹ platelets, while optical aggregation was interrupted below 2–2.5 μmol ATPeq/10¹¹ platelets. At any stage of optical aggregation and the three secretion responses, the dependence on energy remained the same, indicating a tight coupling between these functions and metabolic energy, which held during the entire responses.     

Triazolobenzodiazepines competitively inhibit the binding of platelet activating factor (PAF) to human platelets

PAF causes dose dependent platelet aggregation of human platelet rich plasma or gel filtered platelets (GFP). The benzodiazepines alprazolam and triazolam, but not diazepam (1-10 microM), inhibit PAF induced aggregation but have no effect on aggregation induced by other platelet agonists such as ADP, epinephrine and collagen. The IC50 for aggregation by PAF (4 nM) in GFP is 1 microM for both alprazolam and triazolam. The mechanism for this inhibition was explored by studying the binding of 3H-PAF(0.08 nM) to GFP in Tyrodes buffer containing albumin (0.35%), Mg++ (1mM) and Ca++ (0.5mM). GFP was incubated with different doses of the drug for 5 min prior to addition of 3H-PAF. Incubation was then carried out for 60 min at 25 degrees C to achieve binding equilibrium, as previously established. Alprazolam and triazolam, but not diazepam, caused competitive displacement of 3H-PAF from specific binding sites of GFP. The IC50 of alprazolam was 3.8 microM while that of triazolam was 0.82 microM. Lineweaver-Burk plots of 3H-PAF binding in the presence of inhibitor were also consistent with competitive inhibition. These results are consistent with the interpretation that the specific inhibition of PAF induced platelet aggregation by alprazolam and triazolam, respectively, is due to competitive inhibition of binding of PAF to its receptor.     

Platelet activating factor-induced apoptosis is inhibited by ectopic expression of the platelet activating factor G-protein coupled receptor

The pro-inflammatory lipid mediator platelet activating factor (PAF: 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) accumulates in ischemia, epilepsy, and human immunodeficiency virus-1-associated dementia and is implicated in neuronal loss. The present study was undertaken to establish a role for its G-protein coupled receptor in regulating neurotoxicity. PC12 cells do not express PAF receptor mRNA as demonstrated by northern analysis and RT-PCR. In the absence of the G-protein coupled receptor, PAF (0.1-1 micro m) triggered chromatin condensation, DNA strand breaks, oligonucleosomal fragmentation, and nuclear disintegration characteristic of apoptosis. Lyso-PAF (0.001-1 micro m), the immediate metabolite of PAF, did not elicit apoptotic death. Concentrations of PAF or lyso-PAF that exceeded critical micelle concentration had physicochemical effects on plasma membrane resulting in necrosis. Apoptosis but not necrosis was inhibited by the PAF antagonist BN52021 (1-100 micro m) but not CV3988 (0.2-20 micro m). Ectopic PAF receptor expression protected PC12 transfectants from ligand-induced apoptosis. PAF receptor-mediated protection was inhibited by CV3988 (1 micro m). These data provide empirical evidence that: (i) PAF can initiate apoptosis independently of its G-protein coupled receptor; (ii) PAF signaling initiated by its G-protein coupled receptor is cytoprotective to PC12 cells; (iii) the pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of PAF on PC12 cells can be pharmacologically distinguished using two different PAF antagonists.     

A preferential inhibition by Zn2+ on platelet activating factor- and thrombin-induced serotonin secretion from washed rabbit platelets

Zinc ions at micromolar levels exhibited a significant inhibitory activity toward platelet activating factor (AGEPC)- and thrombin-induced serotonin release from washed rabbit platelets. In the ranges from 25 to 30 microM and 10 to 50 microM, respectively, zinc essentially prevented any serotonin release from 1.25 X 10(8) cells/microliter by 1 X 10(-10) M AGEPC and by 0.2 unit thrombin/ml. This inhibition by zinc ions, in micromolar range, occurred in the presence of 1.0 mM Ca2+. The amount of zinc needed for inhibition was inversely proportional to the amount of AGEPC present and further zinc must be added prior to or at the same time as the AGEPC to be effective. Introduction of zinc ions after the AGEPC essentially abolished the inhibitory properties of this divalent cation. Other cations such as Cu2+, La3+, Cd2+, and Mg2+ were ineffective as inhibitors at concentrations where zinc showed its maximal effects. Under conditions similar to those noted above, aggregation induced by AGEPC was blocked only to the extent of 25% of a control. No inhibitory action by zinc on thrombin-induced aggregation was noted. It is apparent that zinc ions influence a site(s) on the rabbit platelet of considerable importance to the activation (or signaling) process by AGEPC and thrombin in these cells, as expressed by serotonin release. Zinc should provide a suitable probe to explore the mechanism of action of these agonists in their interaction with sensitive cells and to define in more specific biochemical terms the putative receptor for these molecules.     

Aggregation and disaggregation kinetics of human blood platelets: Part II. Shear-induced platelet aggregation.

A population balance equation (PBE) mathematical model for analyzing platelet aggregation kinetics was developed in Part I (Huang, P. Y., and J. D. Hellums. 1993. Biophys. J. 65: 334-343) of a set of three papers. In this paper, Part II, platelet aggregation and related reactions are studied in the uniform, known shear stress field of a rotational viscometer, and interpreted by means of the model. Experimental determinations are made of the platelet-aggregate particle size distributions as they evolve in time under the aggregating influence of shear stress. The PBE model is shown to give good agreement with experimental determinations when either a reversible (aggregation and disaggregation) or an irreversible (no disaggregation) form of the model is used. This finding suggests that for the experimental conditions studied disaggregation processes are of only secondary importance. During shear-induced platelet aggregation, only a small fraction of platelet collisions result in the binding together of the involved platelets. The modified collision efficiency is approximately zero for shear rates below 3000 s-1. It increases with shear rates above 3000 s-1 to about 0.01 for a shear rate of 8000 s-1. Addition of platelet chemical agonists yields order of magnitude increases in collision efficiency. The collision efficiency for shear-induced platelet aggregation is about an order of magnitude less at 37 degrees C than at 24 degrees C. The PBE model gives a much more accurate representation of aggregation kinetics than an earlier model based on a monodispersed particle size distribution.     

Effects of platelet activating factor antagonists on arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation and TXA2 formation

The effects of the PAF receptor antagonists WEB 2086, WEB 2170, BN 50739 and BN 52021 on AA-induced platelet aggregation (PA) and TXA2 formation were investigated in comparison with the TXA2 synthetase inhibitor HOE 944 and the TXA2 receptor antagonist BM 13.177. All PAF antagonists tested were weak inhibitors of AA-induced PA and TXA2 formation (IC50 values between 80 and 2,737 mumol/l). HOE 944 was effective in concentrations 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than PAF antagonists in inhibiting TXA2 generation. These results imply that the inhibition of TXA2 formation is of minor relevance for the actions of the investigated PAF antagonists in AA-induced PA.     

Staurosporine potentiates platelet activating factor stimulated phospholipase C activity in rabbit platelets but does not block desensitization by platelet activating factor

The possible involvement of protein kinase C activation in regulating PAF-stimulated PLC activity was studied in rabbit platelets. PAF (100 nM for 5 seconds) stimulated incorporation of 32P into proteins and caused [3H]InsP3 levels to increase about 260% of control. These responses were compared after platelets were pretreated with either PAF, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or staurosporine and also after pretreatments with staurosporine followed by PAF or PMA. Pretreating platelets with staurosporine potentiated PAF-stimulated [3H]InsP3 levels by 54% and blocked protein phosphorylation. Pretreatments with PAF and PMA caused PAF-stimulated [3H]InsP3 levels to decrease to 115 and 136%, respectively. Staurosporine pretreatment blocked the decrease caused by the PMA pretreatment but not that by PAF. This study demonstrates that PAF-stimulated PLC activity is negatively affected by protein kinase C (PKC) activation and that inhibition of PKC activity did not prevent desensitization of PLC by PAF.     

Preparation of monoclonal antibodies against glycoprotein IIIa of human platelets. Their effect on platelet aggregation

Monoclonal antibodies against purified glycoprotein IIIa (GPIIIa) of human platelet membranes have been obtained. These antibodies, except one, are able to bind to intact platelets; the exception is M108/p98 antibody which recognizes a new epitope, unmasked after proteolysis of GPIIIa in vitro. Several antigenic areas can be delineated on the molecule, by testing the ability of different antibodies to compete in their simultaneous binding to GPIIIa. One of the monoclonal antibodies inhibits ADP-induced platelet aggregation while others do not have an effect or induce agglutination of platelets independent of ADP. Conventional antiserum raised against purified GPIIIa also blocks the aggregation induced by ADP. These results favour the hypothesis that GPIIIa plays a direct role in the mechanism of platelet aggregation.