Demonstration of specific "high affinity" binding sites for [3H] imipramine on human platelets

High affinity and saturable binding sites for [³H] imipramine have been demonstrated on human platelet membranes. These binding sites appear to be specific for tricyclic antidepressants and their pharmacologically-active metabolites. In contrast, inactive tricyclic compounds such as the parent iminodibenzyl and iminostilbenes do not inhibit [³H] imipramine binding. The binding of [³H] imipramine to human platelets is of high affinity $\text{(}\text{Kd}\text{? 1.4}\text{nM}\text{)}$, saturable $\text{(}\text{Bmax}\text{? 625}\text{fmols/mg prot}\text{)}$, and sensitive to proteolytic degradation. The effects of various drugs and neurotransmitter agonists and antagonists suggests that these binding sites are pharmacologically distinct from the previously reported binding of tricyclic antidepressants to alpha-adrenergic, muscarinic-cholinergic, and histaminergic receptors. The binding characteristics of [³H] imipramine to platelets is similar to that in rat and human brain and may thus serve as a useful model in elucidating the pharmacological and physiological significance of these binding sites.     

Changes in human-platelet storage packet size following incubation with labelled serotonin

Changes in storage packet size for serotonin have been measured in human platelets exposed $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ to exogenous serotonin. When incubated with 10^?6M labelled serotonin, a typical platelet can increase its endogenous vesicular dense body stores by more than 50% without any change in the total number of dense bodies per platelet.     

Functional distinction between serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change receptors in rat platelets

Tyramine and dopamine are taken up by rat platelets through the serotonin uptake mechanism while phenethylamine is not taken up. This indicates that an aromatic hydroxyl group is a structural requirement for the uptake of phenethylamine derivatives by rat platelets. Although none of these phenethylamine derivatives induce platelet shape change, they inhibit serotonin-induced shape change and serotonin uptake with the same relative potency ($\text{tyramine}\text{>}\text{phenethylamine}\text{?}\text{dopamine}$). This suggests that the receptors controlling serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change have a common structural component that binds phenethylamine derivatives. However, the fact that phenethylamine derivatives activate the serotonin uptake mechanism but do not induce platelet shape change suggests that serotonin uptake and serotonin-induced shape change are mediated by two distinct activation sites of serotonin receptors.     

Metabolism of propranolol in rat: the fate of the N-isopropyl group

The metabolic fate of the side-chain of propranolol has been studied in the rat $\text{in vivo}$ and with liver preparations $\text{in vitro}$ using drug labelled with ¹⁴C in the isopropyl group. Oxidative N-dealkylation to yield acetone was the major route of metabolism $\text{in vitro}$. Direct deamination to form isopropylamine was a very minor pathway of metabolism of propranolol by rat liver. In the intact rat only 1.4% of an intra-peritoneal dose of propranolol was excreted as isopropylamine in urine. In addition, isopropylamine administered to a rat was rapidly excreted unchanged in urine. Thus, if a similar metabolic pattern obtains in man, it seems unlikely that part of the pharmacological effects of propranolol can be attributed to this active metabolite.     

Altered lipoxygenase metabolism and decreased glutathione peroxidase activity in platelets from selenium-deficient rats

Washed platelets from selenium-deficient and control rats were incubated with [1-¹⁴C]-arachidonic acid and the lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Platelets from selenium-deficient rats showed a three to four-fold increased synthesis of the lipoxygenase-derived isomeric trihydroxy fatty acids, 8,9,12-trihydroxy-5,10,14-eicosatrienoic acid and 8,11,12-trihydroxy-5,9,14-eicosatrienoic acid. A major reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity was also observed in platelets from deficient rats. These results support the interpretation that these trihydroxy fatty acids arise from breakdown of the primary platelet lipoxygenase product $\text{L}$-12-hydroperoxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE) under conditions in which its reduction to the $\text{L}$-12-hydroxy product (12-HETE) by a selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase is limited. Further-more, these results indicate a specific function for selenium in platelet metabolism of essential fatty acids.     

Met-enkephalin immunoreactivity in blood platelets

Picogram amounts (50–150 pg/mg protein) of immunoreactive met-enkephalin material (met-enkephalin in IR) were detected by radioimmunoassay in human, rat and rabbit platelets. Characterization of this material by thin-layer chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and high-pressure liquid chromatography indicated that it behaves identically with synthetic met-enkephalin. No high molecular weight met-enkephalin IR could be detected in the platelet extracts, even after trypsin hydrolysis, using two antisera which are able to recognize some of the putative met-enkephalin precursors present in the adrenal gland or striatum. $\text{In vitro}$, thrombin released platelet met-enkephalin in IR concomitantly with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), suggesting a common subcellular localization, i.e. the 5-HT storing organelles, for met-enkephalin IR and the amine. $\text{In vivo}$, platelet met-enkephalin IR in the Sprague-Dawley rat was affected neither by adrenalectomy nor by hypophysectomy. Thirteen- and 18-week-old spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) had lower platelet concentrations of met-enkephalin in IR than age matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats.     

Biphasic effect on platelet aggregation by phospholipase a purified from Vipera russellii snake venom

A basic phospholipase A was isolated from Vipera russellii snake venom. It induced a biphasic effect on washed rabbit platelets suspended in Tyrode's solution. The first phase was a reversible aggregation which was dependent on stirring and extracellular calcium. The second phase was an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation, occurring 5 min after the addition of the venom phospholipase A without stirring or after a recovery from the reversible aggregation. The aggregating phase could be inhibited by indomethacin, tetracaine, papaverine, creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase, mepacrine, verapamil, sodium nitroprusside, prostaglandin E₁ or bovine serum albumin. The venom phospholipase A released free fatty acids from synthetic phosphatidylcholine and intact platelets. $\text{p-}\text{Bromophenacyl}$ bromide-modified venom phospholipase A lost its phospholipase A enzymatic and platelet-aggregating activities, but protected platelets from the aggregation induced by the native enzyme. The second phase of the venom phospholipase A action showed a different degree of inhibition on platelet aggregation induced by some activators in following order: $\text{arachidonic acid}\text{>}\text{collagen}\text{>}\text{thrombin}\text{>}\text{ionophore A}\text{23187}$. The longer the incubation time or the higher the concentration of the venom phospholipase A, the more pronounced was the inhibitory effect. The venom phospholipase A did not affect the thrombin-induced release reaction which was caused by intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization in the presence of EDTA, but inhibited collagen-induced release reaction which was caused by Ca²⁺ influx from extracellular medium. The inhibitory effect of the venom phospholipase A and also lysophosphatidylcholine or arachidonic acid could be antagonized or reversed by bovine serum albumin. It was concluded that the first stimulatory phase of the venom phospholipase A action might be due to arachidonate liberation from platelet membrane. The second phase of inhibition of platelet aggregation and the release of ATP might be due to the inhibitory action of the split products produced by this venom phospholipase A.     

The effects of some salicylate analogues on human blood platelets. 2. The role of platelet acetylation in the inhibition of platelet aggregation

Aspirin, 2,3-diacetoxybenzoic acid, 2,6-diacetoxybenzoic acid and 2-propoxybenzoic acid were incubated in human platelet-rich plasma at 37°C for 5 and 10 min and the effects upon collagen induced platelet aggregation and the uptake by platelets of radioactive acetate and propionate groups from 14C-labelled analogues were studied to determine if a correlation existed between acylation of the platelet and inhibition of aggregation. Inhibition of aggregation and the uptake of radioactive label were both concentration-dependent and both increased with the time of incubation. Potency re inhibitors of aggregation was, in decreasing order, aspirin, 2,propoxybenzoic acid, 2,3-diacetoxybenzoic acid and 2,6-diacetoxybenzoic acid. Uptake of radioactive label however, was greatest with aspirin, intermediate with 2,3- and 2,6-diacetoxybenzoic acid, and lowest with 2-propoxybenzoic acid. Platelets exposed to a metabolic inhibitor (oligomycin, 10^?5M for 15 min) showed reduced uptake of labelled acetate and propionate and the degree of uptake did not correlate with the degree of inhibitory activity of the analogues on platelet aggregation. Platelet fragments produced by sonification did not take up radioactive label and chloroform: methanol extraction removed about 50% of the label from intact platelets. The results do not support the hypothesis that acetylation of platelets by aspirin is solely responsible for its inhibitory effects on aggregation but do not conflict with the suggestion that acetylation of platelets may be responsible for the persistent $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$ effects of aspirin.     

The effect of external calcium and lanthanum on platelet calcium content and on the release reaction

Calcium compartments in calf platelets were studied using a lanthanum washout procedure to distinguish between surface-bound calcium and intracellular calcium. The calcium content of calf platelets ranges from 20 to 60 nmol/10⁹ platelets and is sensitive to the calcium concentration of the suspending medium. With 1 mM calcium in the medium, calcium uptake is rapid and reaches steady state within 1–2 min. Results obtained with the lanthanum procedure indicate that it is the surface compartment which is most affected by the extracellular calcium concentration. The surface compartment appears to be saturable and is highly exchangeable. Although the total calcium as well as the calcium content of the surface and internal compartments are variable, the ratio of calcium in either compartment to the total saturated calcium is quite constant. The data indicate that 68–85% of the platelet calcium is located internally. Thrombin produces an immediate release of platelet calcium and labeled serotonin and an increase in the ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake of both the surface and internal compartments. The release reaction is not dependent upon exogenous calcium or an influx of exogenous calcium since it occurs even in the presence of $\text{ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethylether)}\text{-N,N′-}\text{tetraacetic}$ acid. Lanthanum, however, inhibits the release reaction possibly by blocking surface calcium site and reducing the mobility of endogenous platelet calcium.     

Properties of [3H]diazepam binding sites on rat blood platelets

Intact rat blood platelets are shown to possess benzodiazepine binding sites of the peripheral type, binding of [³H]diazepam being strongly inhibited by Ro5-4864 (K_i = 3.6 ± 0.5 nM) but only weakly inhibited by clonazepam (K_i = 35.1 ± 18.2 μM). Binding of [³H]diazepam is specific and saturable. Scatchard analysis reveals a single class of binding sites with K_D = 14.7 ± 1.0 nM and B_max = 564 ± 75 fmoles/10⁸ platelets. The Hill coefficient is 0.94, indicating a lack of binding site heterogeneity or negative cooperativity. Binding reaches equiliibrium at 6 min, with k₊₁ = 2.9 × 10⁷ M^?1 min^?1, and is rapidly reversible ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>\; =\; 2.2\; </mtext><mtext>min</mtext>}}$ with K_?1 = 0.315 min^?1. K_D derived from the rate constants agrees with that estimated by Scatchard analysis. K_D of the crude membrane fraction of platelets is also close to that of intact platelets. Binding of [³H]diazepam is linear with platelet number (between 0.25–2 × 10⁸ platelets), is temperature sensitive with maximum binding at 0°C, and has a broad optimal pH range between pH 5–9.     

Bis-(4-methylumbelliferyl) phosphate as a substrate for the surface membrane-associated phosphodiesterase activity of pig platelets

It was found that the newly-available compound, bis-(4-methylumbelliferyl) phosphate, could be used as a substrate for the pig platelet surface membrane-associated phosphodiesterase activity, usually assayed with $\text{bis-(}\text{p-}\text{nitrophenyl)}$ phosphate. This enzyme activity is distinct from the phosphodiesterase activity towards $\text{5′ -}\text{dTMP}\text{-p-}\text{nitrophenyl}$ ester, which is probably associated with intracellular membrane structure in platelets. Consequently, the use of the 4-methylumbelliferyl derivative as substrate for the phosphodiesterase activity provides a sensitive, fluorimetric assay for this marker enzyme of the platelet surface membrane.     

Tryptic peptide map analysis of the major human blood platelet membrane glycoproteins separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Washed platelets were surface-labelled by lactoperoxidase catalyzed iodination and either the platelets or membranes were solubilized in detergent and applied to a wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose column and a Lens culinaris lectin Sepharose column coupled sequentially. The glycoproteins eluted from the lectin columns were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Alternatively, labelled whole platelets or membranes were solubilized and then directly separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Spots corresponding to specific glycoproteins identified by apparent isoelectric point ($\text{p}\text{I}$), apparent molecular weight ($\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$), staining and labelling characteristics were cut from the gels and analyzed by tryptic peptide mapping. The maps of the individual glycoproteins (GP) Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, GP_132–135^4–4.5 IIIa, IIIb and IIIc were all different. Glycoproteins with the same $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ but different $\text{p}\text{I}$ were distinct with the exception of regions of GP Ib. There were minor differences in the maps of glycoproteins separated in the reduced or non-reduced state. Tryptic peptide maps provide a valuable additional parameter for the identification and characterization of platelet glycoproteins.     

Urinary excretion of a novel hexasaccharide and glycopeptide analogue in fucosidosis.

Repeated Biogel P6 chromatography of the urine from a patient with fucosidosis yielded several fractions containing fucosyloligosaccharides and glycopeptides. Two of these were shown by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-n.m.r.) spectroscopy and permethylation analysis to have the following structures respectively: (I) αfuc (1→3) [βgal (1→4)] βglcNAc (1→2) αman ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$) βman (1→4) glcNAc and (II) αfuc (1→3) [βgal (1→4)] βglcNAc (1→2) αman ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$) βman (1→4) βglcNAc (1→4) [αfuc ($\text{1→}\text{3}\text{6}$)] βglcNAc-Asn.     

Effects of 4-methyl-α-ethyl-tyramine, 4, α-dimethyl-tyramine and tetrabenazine on the release and uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine by human blood platelets invitro

4-Methyl-α-ethyl-tyramine and its 4, α-dimethyl analogue release 5-HT from human blood platelets $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$. At lower concentrations they inhibit the uptake of 5-HT into platelets. Tricyclic antidepressant drugs do not block 5-HT release by these compounds. On removal of the depletor, platelets recover their ability to take up 5-HT; platelets preloaded with exogenous 5-HT lose the same proportion of amine as those containing only endogenous 5-HT. Tetrabenazine behaves similarly, but its actions are partial, whereas those of the tyramines are more complete. The temperature dependence of spontaneous and drug-induced 5-HT release has been measured. The results are discussed in terms of the action of these drugs and with special reference to the use of human blood platelet as a model of a 5-HT-containing nerve ending.     

Stereospecific activity of 1-O-alkyl-2-O-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and comparison of analogs in the degranulation of platelets and neutrophils

1-O-Hexadecyl-2-O-acetyl-$\text{sn}$-glycero-3-phosphocholine (platelet activating factor) stimulated the degranulation of rabbit platelets and human neutrophils, whereas the enantiomer, 3-O-hexadecyl-2-O-acetyl-$\text{sn}$-glycero-1-phosphocholine, was inactive. The analogs compared had the following relative potencies in degranulating platelets and neutrophils: 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-acetyl-$\text{sn}$-glycero-3-phosphocholine > 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-ethyl-$\text{sn}$-glycero-3-phosphocholine >$\text{rac}$-1-O-octadecyl-2-O-ethylglycero-3-phosphocholine = 1-O-hexadecyl-2-O-methyl-$\text{sn}$-glycero-3-phosphocholine >$\text{rac}$-1-O-dodecyl-2-O-ethyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The deacetylated compound, 1-O-hexadecyl-2-lyso-$\text{sn}$-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1-O-hexadecyl-2,2-dimethylpropanediol-3-phosphocholine were inactive. The active analogs selectively desensitized the response to each other in the neutrophils. It is suggested that these compounds may activate cells through interaction with a stereospecific receptor.     

Modulators of monoamine oxidase in plasma

Addition of small amounts of plasma activated the deamination of tryptamine by platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO). At higher concentrations, plasma inhibited the deamination instead. The inhibition was increased with increasing amounts of plasma added. The inhibition was uncompetitive in nature, partially reversed by prior ultrafiltration of the plasma through PM30 membranes and completely reversed by protein precipitation of plasma with perchloric acid. Addition of high amounts of plasma $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ also inhibited the activity of bovine striatal MAO. The inhibition of striatal deamination of tryptamine by plasma was noncompetitive in nature, completely reversed by ultrafiltration through PM30 membranes and partially reversed by perchloric acid treatment. The inhibition of striatal deamination of serotonin was noncompetitive in nature, not reversed by ultrafiltration but completely reversed by perchloric acid treatment. The pattern of inhibition of platelet or striatal MAO by plasma was different from that induced by addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Low concentrations of BSA added $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ activated the deamination of tryptamine or serotonin by platelet or striatal MAO by decreasing the K_m, while higher concentrations also decreased the V_max. The presence of protein, non-albumin circulating modulators of platelet or striatal MAO in plasma is discussed.     

Effects of lysolecithin on aggregation of human platelets induced by arachidonic acid and A23187 role of prostaglandin intermediary metabolism.

Lysolecithin at non-cytotoxic concentrations (30–500 uM) was found capable of completely inhibiting the $\text{aggregation of human platelets}$ induced by arachidonic acid in the absence of any effect upon total platelet production of malondialdehyde, an end-product of platelet $\text{prostaglandin intermediary metabolism}$, and to inhibit platelet aggregation stimulated by the calcium ionophore, A23187. As the induction of platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid is dependent upon an intact prostaglandin biosynthetic pathway while that of A23187 is not and since lysolecithin-induced inhibition of arachidonic acid-stimulated platelet aggregation was evident in the absence of an effect upon platelet malondialdehyde production, it is suggested that lysolecithin inhibits the platelet release reaction and irreversible aggregation by a mechanism separable from a major affect upon prostaglandin intermediary metabolism.     

Characterization of human blood platelet membrane proteins and glycoproteins by their isoelectric point (pI) and apparent molecular weight using two-dimensional electrophoresis and surface-labelling techniques

Intact human blood platelets were radioactively labelled at the surface by techniques specific for proteins or glycoproteins. Labelled platelet samples were analyzed by a high-resolution two-dimensional separation system involving isoelectric focusing in the first dimension and discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second. The major platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) bands (Ib, IIb, IIIa and IIIb) were found to be highly heterogeneous even after removal of terminal sialic acid residues. Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of platelets showed that the major labelled proteins (Ib, IIb, IIIa and IIIb) had altered isoelectric points ($\text{p}\text{I}$) and molecular weights after neuraminidase treatment. A number of membrane glycoproteins previously undetected by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis were demonstrated and good evidence provided that the major platelet surface proteins are glycosylated.     

Regulation of calcium accumulation and efflux from platelet vesicles: Possible role for cyclic-AMP-dependent phosphorylation and calmodulin

Calcium-accumulating vesicles were isolated by differential centrifugation of sonicated platelets. Such vesicles exhibit a $\text{(Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ activity of about 10 nmol (min·mg)^?1 and an ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake of about 10 nmol (min·mg)^?1. When incubated in the presence of Mg[γ-³²P]ATP, the pump is phosphorylated and the acyl phosphate bond is sensitive to hydroxylamine. The [³²P]phosphate-labeled Ca²⁺ pump exhibits a subunit molecular weight of 120 000 when analyzed by lithium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Platelet calcium-accumulating vesicles contain a 23 kDa membrane protein that is phosphorylatable by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase but not by protein kinase C. This phosphate acceptor is not phosphorylated when the vesicles are incubated in the presence of either Ca²⁺ or Ca²⁺ plus calmodulin. The latter protein is bound to the vesicles and represents 0.5% of the proteins present in the membrane fraction. Binding of ¹²⁵I-labeled calmodulin to this membrane fraction was of high affinity (16 nM), and the use of an overlay technique revealed four major calmodulin-binding proteins in the platelet cytosol ($\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{= 94 000, 87 000, 60 000 and 43 000}$). Some minor calmodulin-binding proteins were enriched in the membrane fractions ($\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{= 69 000, 57 000, 39 000 and 37 000}$). When the vesicles are phosphorylated in the presence of MgATP and of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, the rate of Ca²⁺ uptake is essentially unaltered, while the Ca²⁺ capacity is diminished as a consequence of a doubling in the rate of Ca²⁺ efflux. Therefore, the inhibitory effect of cAMP on platelet function cannot be explained in such simple terms as an increased rate of Ca²⁺ removal from the cytosol. Calmodulin, on the other hand, was observed to have no effect on the initial rate of calcium efflux when added either in the absence or in the presence of the catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, nor did the addition of 0.5 μM calmodulin result in increased levels of vesicle phosphorylation.