Interrelation of platelet aggregation, release reaction and thromboxane A2 production

Aggregation of platelets, stimulated by different agonists, was inhibited by omitting sample stirring or by preincubation of platelets with a monoclonal antibody against glycoproteins IIb-IIIa or with a pentapeptide containing the sequence Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser. In platelets stimulated by collagen, ADP and epinephrine, the inhibition of aggregation paralleled a reduction of both release reaction and thromboxane A2 formation. When thrombin was the stimulus, ATP release and thromboxane A2 production were unaffected (or only slightly modified) by the inhibition of platelet aggregation. These data add further evidence to the hypothesis that aggregation supports the activation of platelets stimulated by weak agonists.     

Effects of methylglyoxal on platelet hydrogen peroxide accumulation,aggregation and release reaction

Methylglyoxal generates a slight increase in the basal level of hydrogen peroxide in platelets. The oxidation effect of methylglyoxal significantly potentiated by thrombin, depends on both the ketoaldehyde and the agonist concentrations. A further significant increase in hydrogen peroxide accumulation was obtained in platelets pretreated with the alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide which depletes GSH and blocks glutathione peroxidase. Resting platelets completely transform the ketoaldehyde into D (?)lactate, whereas stimulated platelets transform about 10–15 per cent of the metabolized methylglyoxal into D (?)lactate. The metabolic modifications generated by methylglyoxal such as the GSH depletion and hydrogen peroxide accumulation induce modifications in platelet function. Methylglyoxal inhibits platelet aggregation induced by several agonists and ATP release induced by thrombin.     

Anticoagulants and inhibitors of platelet aggregation derived from leeches

Increased life expectancy is associated with aging populations in the developed countries, and we can expect an increased incidence of cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases and cancers. A priority for medical research is to reduce such morbidity. Leeches have been demonstrated to be a useful source of drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases, as they have evolved highly specific mechanisms to feed on their hosts by blocking blood coagulation. Powerful molecules acting at different points in the coagulation cascade or in the inhibition of platelet aggregation have been purified from these animals. Moreover, clinical trials confirm their potential to treat cardiovascular diseases.     

F2L, a peptide derived from heme-binding protein, inhibits formyl peptide receptor-mediated signaling

F2L is an acetylated amino-terminal peptide derived from the cleavage of the human heme-binding protein. Very recently, F2L was identified as an endogenous chemoattractant peptide acting specifically through formyl peptide receptor-like (FPRL)2. In the present study, we report that F2L stimulates chemotactic migration in human neutrophils. However, F2L inhibits formyl peptide receptor (FPR) and FPRL1 activities, resulting in the complete inhibition of intracellular calcium increases, and superoxide generation induced by N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe, MMK-1, or Trp-Lys-Tyr-Met-Val-d-Met (WKYMVm) in human neutrophils. In terms of the inhibitory role of F2L on FPR- and FPRL-mediated signaling, we found that F2L competitively inhibits the binding of (125)I-WKYMVm to its specific receptors, FPR and FPRL1. F2L is the first endogenous molecule that inhibits FPR- and FPRL1-mediated signaling, and is expected to be useful in the study of FPR and FPRL1 signaling and in the development of drugs to treat diseases involving the FPR family of receptors.     

Sulfated fibroin, a novel sulfated peptide derived from silk, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro

We prepared two kinds of sulfated silk fibroins, SclFib30 and SclFib31, which contain different amounts of sulfate. These sulfated silk fibroins have anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, apparently due to interference with the adsorption of virus particles to CD4+ cells, and completely blocked virus binding to the cells at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. Sulfated fibroins also abolished cell-to-cell infection-induced syncytium formation upon cocultivation of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-IIIB cells, suggesting that they would interfere with gp120 and prevent the formation of gp120/CD4 complex. Silk is used in biomaterials such as surgical sutures and is believed to be a safe material for humans. In accordance with low anticoagulant activity and high anti-HIV-1 activity against both X4 HIV-1 and R5 HIV-1 strains, sulfated silk fibroins have potential as antiviral material such for a vaginal anti-HIV formulation.     

Nicergoline, an anti-aggregating agent which inhibits release of arachidonic acid from human platelet phospholipids

Nicergoline is an inhibitor of human platelet aggregation induced by many agents. It inhibits platelet prostaglandin production induced by thrombin or collagen but not by arachidonic acid. It abolishes the decrease of platelet phospholipid induced by thrombin. Nicergoline appears as a drug with an antiphospholipase activity of human platelets.     

来自穿膜肽的新肽的抗菌活性及抑菌机制

[目的]研究基于穿膜肽和抗菌肽构效关系改造获得的新肽P7的抗菌活性及其对大肠杆菌(E.coli)的抑菌机制.[方法]微量稀释法和溶血实验分析P7的抑菌活性及其对正常细胞的细胞毒性;采用膜荧光探针、流式细胞术和扫描电镜分析P7对E.coli膜通透性、膜完整性的影响和细胞超微结构变化;通过激光共聚焦分析P7在E.coli细胞中的定位;凝胶阻滞实验测定P7与E.coli基因组DNA结合能力.[结果]P7比母肽显示更强的抑菌活性,最低抑菌浓度范围为4-32 μmol/L,且在作用浓度范围内具有较弱的溶血活性.P7可以增加E.coli外膜和内膜的通透性,使E.coli细胞膜的完整性和细胞表面结构受损.同时P7可以穿过E.coli细胞膜在细胞质聚集并与基因组DNA结合.[结论]P7通过增加E.coli内外膜通透性,穿过细胞膜与胞内DNA结合发挥抑菌活性.     

PDGF modifies phosphoinositide metabolism and inhibits aggregation and release in human platelets

While platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) did not induce any platelet aggregation nor secretion, it modified the polyphosphoinositide metabolism of human platelets prelabeled with 32P-orthophosphate. We found a decrease of 32P associated with phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate after 3 min, with parallel increase of 32P-phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate and 32P-phosphatidylinositol using 100 ng/ml of PDGF. This modification was PDGF concentration dependent. PDGF inhibited thrombin and collagen induced platelet aggregation and 14C-serotonin release in a dose dependent manner, but was without effect when arachidonic acid was used. These results suggest that PDGF (i) stimulated the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides (ii) and could exert a negative feedback control on platelet activation induced by thrombin or collagen.     

Endogenous platelet serotonin release monitored during aggregation by means of a new electrochemical technique

Differential pulse voltammetry combined with electrochemically treated carbon fibre microelectrodes was used to monitor endogenous serotonin release occurring during platelet aggreagtion. After platelet stimulation by thrombin, an oxidation peak was recorded at +280 mV. HPLC analyses performed with fluorimetric detection have shwon that this released electroactive compound was essentially serotonin. Moreover, serotonin measurements in the same samples by the technique reported here and by fluorimetry were found to be very similar (1.15 ± 0.30 μM and 1.17 ± 0.15 μM (mean ± dS.D., n = 6), respectively). Extracellular serotonin concentrations could be estimated either directly during aggregation or in supernatants obtained from stimulated or lysed platelets. Maximal serotonin concentrations have been found to be 6.93 ± 0.37 and 3.28 ± 0.39 nmol/10⁹ platelets from rat and human, respectively. Using the reported procedure, we have observed that no serotonin was released from thrombin-stimulated platelets prepared from rats treated with reserpine. Our new technique represents a selective and performant tool for rapid determination of endogenous serotonin platelet secretion.     

Endogenous platelet serotonin release monitored during aggregation by means of a new electrochemical technique

Differential pulse voltammetry combined with electrochemically treated carbon fibre microelectrodes was used to monitor endogenous serotonin release occurring during platelet aggregation. After platelet stimulation by thrombin, an oxidation peak was recorded at +280 mV. HPLC analyses performed with fluorimetric detection have shown that this released electroactive compound was essentially serotonin. Moreover, serotonin measurements in the same samples by the technique reported here and by fluorimetry were found to be very similar (1.15 +/- 0.30 microM and 1.17 +/- 0.15 (mean +/- S.D., n = 6), respectively). Extracellular serotonin concentrations could be estimated either directly during aggregation or in supernatants obtained from stimulated or lysed platelets. Maximal serotonin concentrations have been found to be 6.93 +/- 0.37 and 3.28 +/- 0.39 nmol/10(9) platelets from rat and human, respectively. Using the reported procedure, we have observed that no serotonin was released from thrombin-stimulated platelets prepared from rats treated with reserpine. Our new technique represents a selective and performant tool for rapid determination of endogenous serotonin platelet secretion.     

The peptide Glu-His-Ile-Pro-Ala binds fibrinogen and inhibits platelet aggregation and adhesion to fibrinogen and vitronectin.

Antiplatelet agents are clinically useful as antithrombotic entities. The importance of antiplatelet agents led us to design, synthesize, and characterize a new antiplatelet peptide. This peptide is a presumptive mimic of a ligand binding site on the platelet fibrinogen receptor. Unlike peptides related to Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser and His-His-Leu-Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Ala-Gly-Asp-Val that bind to the fibrinogen receptor, this peptide binds to fibrinogen. The anticomplementarity hypothesis was used to design this presumptive peptide mimic of the vitronectin binding site on the fibrinogen receptor, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complexes. The resulting peptide (Glu-His-Ile-Pro-Ala) has the characteristics of a fibrinogen binding site mimic: It binds fibrinogen and inhibits both the adhesion of platelets to fibrinogen and platelet aggregation. The peptide also inhibits the adhesion of platelets to vitronectin. The antiplatelet activity of this mimic peptide was dependent on its amino acid sequence, since closely related analogues were either inactive or less active inhibitors of platelet function than the original peptide. These results demonstrate that the peptide Glu-His-Ile-Pro-Ala has the characteristics expected of a mimic of a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa ligand binding site.     

Thiopental enhances human platelet aggregation by increasing arachidonic acid release.

Conflicting results have been reported regarding the effect of thiopental on aggregation and cytosolic calcium levels in platelets. The present study attempted to clarify these phenomena. Using platelet-rich plasma or washed suspensions, platelet aggregation, thromboxane (TX) B2 formation, arachidonic acid (AA) release, and cytosolic free calcium concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were measured in the presence or absence of thiopental (30-300 microM). Platelet activation was induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 0.5-15 microM), epinephrine (0.1-20 microM) arachidonic acid (0.5-1.5 mM), or (+)-9,11-epithia-11,12-methano-TXA2 (STA2, 30-500 nM). Measurements of primary aggregation were performed in the presence of indomethacin (10 microM). Low concentrations of ADP and epinephrine, which did not induce secondary aggregation in a control study, induced strong secondary aggregation in the presence of thiopental (> or = 100 microM). Thiopental (> or = 100 microM) also increased the TXB2 formation induced by ADP and epinephrine. Thiopental (300 microM) increased ADP- and epinephrine-induced 3H-AA release. Thiopental (300 microM) also augmented the ADP- and epinephrine-induced increases in [Ca2+]i in the presence of indomethacin. Thiopental appears to enhance ADP- and epinephrine-induced secondary platelet aggregation by increasing AA release during primary aggregation, possibly by the activation of phospholipase A2.     

A new peptide with membrane-permeable function derived from human circadian proteins

Recently, the small regions of some proteins suchas human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat-(48-60) and Drosophila Antennapedia-(43-58) have beenreported to have the ability to translocate through the cellmembranes and carry the exogenous molecules into cyto-plasm and nucleus, and are called membrane-permeablepeptides (MPPs) [1–14]. Delivery of bioactive peptidesacross the blood-brain barrier is generally restricted to small(6 amino acids or less) or highly lipophilic peptides. But…     

A novel disintegrin, jerdonatin, inhibits platelet aggregation and sperm-egg binding

A novel disintegrin, jerdonatin, was purified to homogeneity from Trimeresurus jerdonii venom by gel filtration and reversed-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. We isolated the cDNA encoding jerdonatin from the snake venom gland. Jerdonatin cDNA precursor encoded pre-peptide, metalloprotease and disintegrin domain. Jerdonatin is composed of 72 amino acid residues including 12 cysteines and the tripeptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), a well-known characteristic of the disintegrin family. Molecular mass of jerdonatin was determined to be 8011 Da by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Jerdonatin inhibited ADP- and collagen-induced human platelet aggregation with IC50 of 123 and 135 nM, respectively. We also investigated the effect of jerdonatin on the binding of B6D2F1 hybrid mice spermatozoa to mice zona-free eggs and their subsequent fusion. Jerdonatin significantly inhibited sperm-egg binding in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on the fusion of sperm-egg. These results indicate that integrins on the egg play a role in mammalian fertilization.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel platelet aggregation inhibitory peptide from the medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus

This study describes the extraction and characterization of a platelet aggregation inhibitory peptide from Inonotus obliquus. Ethanol extract from I. obliquus ASI 74006 mycelia showed the highest platelet aggregation inhibitory activity (81.2%). The maximum platelet aggregation inhibitory activity was found when the mycelia of I. obliquus ASI 74006 was extracted with ethanol at 80 degrees C for 12 h. The platelet aggregation inhibitor was purified by systematic solvent fractionation, ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-10 column chromatography, and reverse-phase HPLC. The purified platelet aggregation inhibitor is a novel tripeptide with a molecular mass of 365 Da, having a sequence of Trp-Gly-Cys. The purified platelet aggregation inhibitor also showed high platelet aggregation inhibitory activity in Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice.     

Copper-metalated peptide palindrome derived from prion octarepeat: synthesis, aggregation, and oxidative transformations

We report construction of a bis-pentapeptide conjugate 4 containing truncated pentapeptide sequence from prion octarepeats. Its copper-laden derivative 5 demonstrated a propensity for aggregate formation, which was studied by atomic force microscopy. Oxidative biochemical transformations catalyzed by 5 were evaluated by nucleic acid cleavage and by neurotransmitter oxidation, in the presence of external co-oxidants. Preliminary mechanistic analysis provides a hint for the involvement of reactive oxygen species in such transformations.     

Viscolin, a new chalcone from Viscum coloratum, inhibits human neutrophil superoxide anion and elastase release via a cAMP-dependent pathway

The mistletoe Viscum coloratum is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. In this study, a cellular model in isolated human neutrophils, which are important in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other inflammatory diseases, was established to elucidate the anti-inflammatory functions of V. coloratum. The partially purified extract of V. coloratum (PPE-SVC) potently inhibited formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values of 0.58+/-0.03 and 4.93+/-0.54 microg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, a new chalcone derivative, viscolin (4',4'-dihydroxy-2',3',6',3'-tetramethoxy-1,3-diphenylpropane), was isolated from PPE-SVC. Viscolin was demonstrated to inhibit superoxide anion generation and elastase release, as well as to accelerate resequestration of cytosolic calcium in FMLP-activated human neutrophils. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of viscolin were reversed by protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, suggesting that PKA mediates the viscolin-caused inhibitions. Viscolin induced a substantial increase in cAMP levels, and that occurred through the inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity but not an increase in adenylate cyclase function. Consistent with this, viscolin potentiated the PGE(1)-caused inhibition of superoxide anion release and calcium mobilization, as well as elevation of cAMP formation. These results demonstrate that inhibition of inflammatory responses in human neutrophils by viscolin is associated with an elevation of cellular cAMP through inhibition of PDE. Comparable results were also observed by PPE-SVC, indicating that the effect of PPE-SVC is at least partly mediated by viscolin. In summary, viscolin is a novel inhibitor of PDE and might be useful for treatment of neutrophilic inflammation.     

Synthesis and characterization of a chimeric peptide derived from fasciculin that inhibits acetylcholinesterase.

Fasciculins are peptides isolated from mamba (Dendroaspis) venoms which exert their toxic action by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). They contain a characteristic triple stranded antiparallel beta-sheet formed by residues 22-27, 34-39 and 48-53. A chimeric peptide named Fas-C, encompassing most of these sequences was synthesized using SPPS/Boc-chemistry and characterized chemically, structurally and functionally. Fas-C has two disulfide bridges, formed sequentially using dual cysteine protection. SDS-PAGE patterns, HPLC profiles and MS proved the peptide identity. Circular dichroism indicated the presence of 13.6% and 41.6% of beta-sheet and beta-turn, respectively, comparable to values observed in the native toxin. An inhibitory effect on eel AChE was displayed by the peptide (Ki71.6 +/- 18.3 microM), although not reaching the affinity level of the parent native toxin (Ki 0.3 nM). It is confirmed that the principal binding region of fasciculin to AChE resides within loop II.