Platelet plasma membrane lectin activity

The lectin activity of human platelet and erythrocyte membranes was evaluated using trypsinized, formalinized erythrocytes from eight species. Platelet membranes had the greatest lectin activity against cow erythrocytes, but also had significant activity against human, sheep, electric eel, and rabbit erythrocytes. In contrast, erythrocyte membranes only had low lectin activity against electric eel erythrocytes with no activity against the other types of erythrocytes tested. The platelet membrane lectin activity was found to reside in protein molecules on the external surface of the platelet plasma membrane. The lectin activity of platelet membranes was inhibited by amino sugars and some basic amino acids: N-acetylated amino sugars and other neutral sugars were without effect. These results demonstrate that the external surface of the platelet plasma membrane has a specific lectin activity.     

Changes in the brain microstructure of children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Background

Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is a common disorder in school-aged children. Previous studies have suggested that a developmental delay might play a role in the pathology of children with PMNE. However, microstructural abnormalities in the brains of these children have not been thoroughly investigated.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this work, we evaluated structural changes in the brains of children with PMNE using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Two groups consisting of 26 children with PMNE and 26 healthy controls were scanned using magnetic resonance DTI. The diffusion parameters of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were subjected to whole-brain, voxel-wise group comparisons using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). When compared to healthy subjects, children with PMNE showed both a decrease in FA and an increase in MD in the thalamus. MD also increased in the frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula; these areas are all involved in controlling micturition. The significant changes seen in the thalamus could affect both urine storage and arousal from sleep.

Conclusions/Significance

The microstructure abnormalities were observed in the thalamus, the medial frontal gyrus, the anterior cingulate cortex and the insula, which are involved in micturition control network. This indicates developmental delay in these areas may be the cause of PMNE.     

Sleep enhances nocturnal plasma ghrelin levels in healthy subjects

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, has been shown to promote slow-wave sleep (SWS, non-REM sleep stages 3 and 4). Plasma levels of ghrelin are dependent on food intake and increase in sleeping subjects during the early part of the night. It is unknown whether sleep itself affects ghrelin levels or whether circadian networks are involved. Therefore, we studied the effect of sleep deprivation on nocturnal ghrelin secretion. In healthy male volunteers, plasma levels of ghrelin, cortisol, and human growth hormone (hGH) were measured during two experimental sessions of 24 h each: once when the subjects were allowed to sleep between 2300 and 0700 and once when they were kept awake throughout the night. During sleep, ghrelin levels increased during the early part of the night and decreased in the morning. This nocturnal increase was blunted during sleep deprivation, and ghrelin levels increased only slightly until the early morning. Ghrelin secretion during the first hours of sleep correlated positively with peak hGH concentrations. We conclude that the nocturnal increase in ghrelin levels is more likely to be caused by sleep-associated processes than by circadian influences. During the first hours of sleep, ghrelin might promote sleep-associated hGH secretion and contribute to the promotion of SWS.     

The influence of the sleep-wake cycle on primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: a non-randomized comparative study

Backround: Enuresis implies severe stress in affected children, and impairs quality of life and sleep. Children with enuresis experience difficulties in their arousal from sleep, possibly associated with disturbances of the circadian rhythm. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sleep–wake cycle and sleep disturbances in children with monosymptomatic enuresis nocturna (MEN). Method: The study comprised 70 children with MEN who were admitted to the pediatrics and urology outpatients department and 94 age-matched healthy controls. Parents completed “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire,” Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), Children’s Chronotype Questionnaire scale. Results: Children with enuresis had significantly more sleep and psychological problem. Enuresis group reported higher bedtime resistance, parasomnias, breathing-related problems, and daytime sleepiness in CHSQ (p < 0.05). Although circadian preference did not differ statistically between the groups (p > 0.05), sleep duration on school days and awakening and mid-sleep points, both on scheduled and free days, were found to be significantly different in the enuretic group (p < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, age, sleep period on scheduled days, sleep inertia on scheduled and free days were significant predictor for enuresis. Discussion: Children with enuresis were more likely to experience problematic sleep. This may reflect that enuretic children have impaired sleep–wake cycles, leading to dysregulation of daily functional changes of bladder capacity and related hormones such as ADH. These findings might imply a sleep–wake disturbance in enuresis.     

Platelet plasma membrane: characterization of the serotonin transporter]

After treatment of human platelets by a sulfhydryl-dependent bacterial protein cytolysin, a glycoprotein was reproducibly purified by a one-step affinity chromatography using 6-fluorotryptamine as ligand and elution by serotonin (5-HT), cyanoimipramine, citalopram, or a Na(+)-free buffer. The purified fraction migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as a single band with an apparent molecular mass of 68 kDa. The purified glycoprotein bound the 5-HT uptake blockers 3H-paroxetine, 3H-cyanoimipramine, and 3H-citalopram with Kds similar to the ones observed for intact human platelets. No binding was detected with 3H-hydroxytetrabenazine, 3H-ouabain, 3H-gamma aminobutyric acid or 3H-BTCP, the respective markers of the granular monoamine transporter, the plasma membrane Na+, K(+)-ATPase, the gamma aminobutyric acid and dopamine carriers. The purified 68-kDa glycoprotein is therefore likely to correspond at least to the paroxetine and imipramine binding domains of the 5-HT transporter located at the human platelet plasma membrane. Finally a 68-kDa protein was purified in the same conditions from the human megakaryocytic cell line Dami and to a lesser extent from the human megakaryoblastic cell line MEG-01 but not from the human erythroleukaemic cell line HEL.     

Platelet membrane glycoproteins: role in primary hemostasis and component antigens

The biochemical details of the platelet surface as they relate to normal platelet function have been elucidated through study of labeled membranes from both normal platelets and those with congenitially defective function. Several cytoadhesive glycoprotein complexes which are integral components of the platelet membrane have been demonstrated to act as important receptors for extracellular matrix macromolecules. Glycoproteins Ia/IIa (collagen receptor), Ic/IIa (fibronectin receptor), and IIb/IIIa (fibrinogen receptor) belong to a family of cytoadhesive complexes called the integrins, while glycoprotein Ib/IX, the major von Willebrand receptor, has different features. These same major glycoproteins comprise all of the alloantigens and most of the autoantigens that have been characterized. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa contains the alloantigens, PlA (Zw), Bak (Lek), and Pen (Yuk), as well as the most frequent target antigenic sites for anti-platelet autoantibodies. Because a number of platelet alloantigens were discovered independently by more than one group, nomenclature is confusing at present, although a system analogous to that used for histocompatibility antigens has been proposed. Precise identification of the antigenic epitopes has not yet been accomplished for all of the platelet antigens. Current research efforts include characterization of antigenic epitopes, elucidation of mechanisms by which platelet immunization occurs, and determination of the clinical implications of the presence of various platelet antibodies.     

Pathogenesis and brain functional imaging in nocturnal enuresis: A review

Nocturnal enuresis is a common and distressing developmental disease, which may cause various degrees of psychosocial stress and impairment to self-esteem in affected children as well as agitation to their parents or caregivers. Nevertheless, the etiology and pathogenesis of nocturnal enuresis are not understood. Currently, nocturnal enuresis is generally considered a multifactorial disease associated with a complex interaction of somatic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. A variety of postulations have been proposed to explain the occurrence and progression of nocturnal enuresis, including hereditary aberration, abnormal circadian rhythm of antidiuretic hormone secretion during sleep, bladder dysfunction, abnormal sleep, difficulties in arousal, neuropsychological disorders, and maturational delays of the brain. In recent decades, the introduction of functional neuroimaging technologies has provided new approaches for uncovering the mechanisms underlying nocturnal enuresis. The main neuroimaging modalities have included brain morphometry based on structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), task-based and event-related functional MRI (fMRI), and resting-state fMRI. The relevant studies have indicated that nocturnal enuresis is associated with functional and structural alterations of the brain. In this review, we briefly summarized the popular hypotheses regarding the pathogenesis of nocturnal enuresis and the current progress of functional neuroimaging studies in examining the underlying mechanisms thereof.     

Platelet membrane molecular organization: relationship with membrane bound calcium

The fatty acid spin label 5 nitroxide stearate has been used to determine the membrane organization changes induced by platelet aggregation. A decrease in order is observed with thrombin, even in the presence of EDTA, when aggregation is inhibited. Conversely, after aggregation by the calcium ionophore A23187 the rigidity of the phospholipids is not modified. These effects are discussed in relation to the release of membrane bound calcium induced by thrombin.     

Platelet plasma membrane glycoproteins Identification of a proteolytic substrate for thrombin

The surface glycoproteins of the platelet plasma membrane were labeled by oxidation with galactose oxidase followed by reduction with (³H)-sodium borohydride. Of the glycoproteins labeled, only glycoprotein V (apparent molecular weight of 89,000) was decreased as a result of thrombin action. The affected glycoprotein appeared to be completely removed at a concentration of 1 U thrombin per 10⁹ platelets. A soluble glycopeptide hydrolytic product with an apparent molecular weight of 70,000 was released into solution.     

Persistent primary enuresis: a urodynamic assessment.

Videocystourethrography with synchronous pressure and flow-rate recordings has been carried out on 50 patients referred for the investigation of persistent primary enuresis. Urodynamic studies showed nocturnal enuresis to be associated mainly with normal detrusor function and nocturnal plus diurnal enuresis mainly with abnormal detrusor function. Evidence is presented which suggests that these two distinct types of enuresis occur de novo and do not overlap. Out of 18 of formerly enuretic male patients nine with abnormal detrusor function showed persistent nocturnal plus diurnal symptoms.     

Platelet serotonin concentration in alcoholic subjects

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is assumed to play a role in the pathophysiology of different psychiatric disorders including alcoholism. Since platelets and central serotonergic synaptosomes share similar pharmacodynamics of 5-HT, this study determined platelet 5-HT concentration in 148 male and 42 female drug-free subjects with alcohol dependency, according to the DSM-IV criteria, and in sex-and age-matched controls. Male and female alcoholics had significantly lower platelet 5-HT concentration than 110 male and 123 female healthy controls. Sex differences, i.e. higher platelet 5-HT concentration in men than in women, were found both in healthy and alcoholic subjects. Platelet 5-HT concentration differed significantly in male and female alcoholic subjects with or without different psychiatric comorbidities. Platelet 5-HT concentration was higher in male alcoholics with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than in male alcoholics with comorbid anxious-depressive disorder, or depression, or male alcoholics without any psychiatric comorbidities. Comorbid depression in female alcoholics slightly elevated platelet 5-HT levels but these values were still reduced compared to values in healthy women. Smoking status did not affect platelet 5-HT concentration either in healthy or in alcoholic subjects. The data from our study show sex differences, and reduced platelet 5-HT values, regardless of the nicotine dependence, in the large groups of male and female alcoholic subjects. Among male alcoholics the presence of comorbid PTSD partly normalized the decreased platelet 5-HT values. The results of the present study support the hypothesis that alterations in 5-HT system might be related to alcoholism.