The integrin α6β1 modulation of PI3K and Cdc42 activities induces dynamic filopodium formation in human platelets

Summary Platelets are an ideal model for studying a rapid morphological change in response to various signal transduction systems. Morphological changes via the activation of integrin αIIbβ3 in platelets have been investigated intensively. In contrast, activation via integrin α6β1 is less well studied. Here, we provide the first biochemical evidence that integrins α6β1 and αIIbβ3 of platelets are associated with different membrane proteins. We also demonstrate that platelets activated by integrin α6β1 show dynamic change by actively forming filopodia and never fully spreading over a period of more than an hour. In addition, platelets activated by integrin α6β1 are different from those activated by integrin αIIbβ3 in terms of cell–substrate contact and in their distribution pattern of actin, Arp2/3 and various phosphotyrosine proteins. The morphological appearance of platelets produced through integrin α6β1 activation is highly dependent on PI3 kinase (PI3K) but less dependent on Src kinase. Suppression of PI3K activity in integrin α6β1 activated platelets induces an increase in Cdc42 activity and more filopodium formation. However, both Cdc42 and PI3K activity are higher in platelets activated by integrin α6β1 than in those activated by integrin αIIbβ3. Taken together, this study demonstrates that the signals induced by integrin α6β1 modulate at the level of PI3K and Cdc42 activity to allow platelets to actively form filopodia.     

Visible-Light-Induced Bactericidal Activity of a Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Photocatalyst against Human Pathogens

The antibacterial activity of photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) substrates is induced primarily by UV light irradiation. Recently, nitrogen- and carbon-doped TiO₂ substrates were shown to exhibit photocatalytic activities under visible-light illumination. Their antibacterial activity, however, remains to be quantified. In this study, we demonstrated that nitrogen-doped TiO₂ substrates have superior visible-light-induced bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli compared to pure TiO₂ and carbon-doped TiO₂ substrates. We also found that protein- and light-absorbing contaminants partially reduce the bactericidal activity of nitrogen-doped TiO₂ substrates due to their light-shielding effects. In the pathogen-killing experiment, a significantly higher proportion of all tested pathogens, including Shigella flexneri, Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Acinetobacter baumannii, were killed by visible-light-illuminated nitrogen-doped TiO₂ substrates than by pure TiO₂ substrates. These findings suggest that nitrogen-doped TiO₂ has potential application in the development of alternative disinfectants for environmental and medical usages.     

Recombinant Rhodostomin Substrates Induce Transformation and Active Calcium Oscillation in Human Platelets

Platelet activation has been a focus of numerous studies in normal and abnormal states. Morphological changes and calcium signals found with activated platelets in vitro have been well characterized. However, the rate of cell spreading on substrates and the frequency of calcium oscillation within individual platelets upon activation have not yet been reported. In this study, we first examined the ability of a recombinant fusion protein of rhodostomin (GST-rhodostomin), a snake disintegrin containing an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif, to activate platelets when GST-rhodostomin served as a substrate. Four aspects of platelet activities induced by immobilized GST-rhodostomin and fibrinogen were analyzed in parallel. Examinations of (1) translocation of P-selectin from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane, (2) platelet adhesion to and spreading on substrates, (3) platelet contact pattern on substrates, and (4) the degree of phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase in platelets indicated that GST-rhodostomin was a better substrate for platelet activation than fibrinogen. Analysis of the rate of platelet spreading on GST-rhodostomin was examined by time-lapsed video microscopy. The spreading rate averaged 0.43 micrometer/minute, while cell spreading averaged 0.22 micrometer/minute when platelets were plated on fibrinogen and treated with thrombin. A newly developed method, using time-lapsed microscopy and the Metamorph program, was used to analyze calcium signals within platelets. We found that platelets on GST-rhodostomin evoked calcium oscillation at a frequency of 4.77 spike/cell/minute vs 2.76 spike/cell/minute on fibrinogen. The results of cell spreading and calcium oscillation were consistent with the results of microscopic and biochemical assays. We therefore conclude that the determination of the rate of platelet spreading and the frequency of calcium oscillation within platelets performed in this study provides more quantitative parameters for measuring platelet activities. Our results also suggest that GST-rhodostomin might potentially be used as a probe to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the kinetic processes of platelet activation.     

The effects of the bacterial interaction with visible-light responsive titania photocatalyst on the bactericidal performance

Bactericidal activity of traditional titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst is effective only upon irradiation by ultraviolet light, which restricts the potential applications of TiO₂ for use in our living environments. Recently carbon-containing TiO₂ was found to be photoactive at visible-light illumination that affords the potential to overcome this problem; although, the bactericidal activity of these photocatalysts is relatively lower than conventional disinfectants. Evidenced from scanning electron microscopy and confocal Raman spectral mapping analysis, we found the interaction with bacteria was significantly enhanced in these anatase/rutile mixed-phase carbon-containing TiO₂. Bacteria-killing experiments indicate that a significantly higher proportion of all tested pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexneri and Acinetobacter baumannii, were eliminated by the new nanoparticle with higher bacterial interaction property. These findings suggest the created materials with high bacterial interaction ability might be a useful strategy to improve the antimicrobial activity of visible-light-activated TiO₂.     

Erythrocytic Mobilization Enhanced by the Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Associated with Reduced Anthrax-Lethal-Toxin-Induced Mortality in Mice

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT), one of the primary virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis, causes anthrax-like symptoms and death in animals. Experiments have indicated that levels of erythrocytopenia and hypoxic stress are associated with disease severity after administering LT. In this study, the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used as a therapeutic agent to ameliorate anthrax-LT- and spore-induced mortality in C57BL/6J mice. We demonstrated that G-CSF promoted the mobilization of mature erythrocytes to peripheral blood, resulting in a significantly faster recovery from erythrocytopenia. In addition, combined treatment using G-CSF and erythropoietin tended to ameliorate B. anthracis-spore-elicited mortality in mice. Although specific treatments against LT-mediated pathogenesis remain elusive, these results may be useful in developing feasible strategies to treat anthrax.     

Role of Visible Light-Activated Photocatalyst on the Reduction of Anthrax Spore-Induced Mortality in Mice

Background

Photocatalysis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) substrates is primarily induced by ultraviolet light irradiation. Anion-doped TiO₂ substrates were shown to exhibit photocatalytic activities under visible-light illumination, relative environmentally-friendly materials. Their anti-spore activity against Bacillus anthracis, however, remains to be investigated. We evaluated these visible-light activated photocatalysts on the reduction of anthrax spore-induced pathogenesis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Standard plating method was used to determine the inactivation of anthrax spore by visible light-induced photocatalysis. Mouse models were further employed to investigate the suppressive effects of the photocatalysis on anthrax toxin- and spore-mediated mortality. We found that anti-spore activities of visible light illuminated nitrogen- or carbon-doped titania thin films significantly reduced viability of anthrax spores. Even though the spore-killing efficiency is only approximately 25%, our data indicate that spores from photocatalyzed groups but not untreated groups have a less survival rate after macrophage clearance. In addition, the photocatalysis could directly inactivate lethal toxin, the major virulence factor of B. anthracis. In agreement with these results, we found that the photocatalyzed spores have tenfold less potency to induce mortality in mice. These data suggest that the photocatalysis might injury the spores through inactivating spore components.

Conclusion/Significance

Photocatalysis induced injuries of the spores might be more important than direct killing of spores to reduce pathogenicity in the host.     

Differential regulation of JNK in caspase-3-mediated apoptosis of MPP(+)-treated primary cortical neurons

MPTP (1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine), a chemical contaminant of synthetic heroin, induces neuropathological changes with clinical features similar to idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The mechanism by which MPTP and its metabolite MPP(+)(1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) induces neuronal cell death remains unclear. We employed primary cortical/telencephalon neuronal cultures to investigate the potential role of caspase and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways in MPP(+)-induced neuronal death. DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activity analysis showed that cortical neuronal cells underwent apoptosis after MPP(+)treatment. However, a basal level of apoptotic cells was also observed in untreated cultures. Interestingly, JNK activity increased in untreated cultures over time, whereas it was down-regulated after MPP(+)treatment. This indicates that the JNK pathways could be differentially regulated in different apoptotic processes.     

Expression of foreign antigens on the surface ofEscherichia coli by fusion to the outer membrane protein TraT

ThetraT gene is one of the F factor transfer genes and encodes an outer membrane protein which is involved in interactions between anEscherichia coli and its surroundings. This protein was altered so as to permit the expression of foreign proteins on the outer membrane ofE. coli in this study. A 729-bp DNA fragment, including the leader and entire structural gene sequence oftraT, was amplified and obtained by PCR. This sequence was then subcloned downstream of thetac promoter of pDR540, resulting in a TraT expression vector, pT2. Here, we report that the expression of TraT protein, fused either with a partial pre-S antigen of hepatitis B virus (60 and 98 amino acids, respectively) or with the snake venom rhodostomin (72 amino acids), was successfully achieved on the outer membrane ofE. coli, using the pT2 plasmid. This result was demonstrated using dot blot and immunofluorescence analysis. This finding supports the notion that the pT2 plasmid can be used as anE. coli display system. This system can detect a foreign peptide of about 100 amino acid residues in length on the bacterial surface.     

PI3-kinase is essential for ADP-stimulated integrin α<Subscript>IIb</Subscript>β<Subscript>3</Subscript>-mediated platelet calcium oscillation,implications for P2Y receptor pathways in integrin α<Subscript>IIb</Subscript>β<Subscript>3</Subscript>-initiated signaling cross-talks

Summary Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is important for platelet activation. Recent studies showed that PI3K and oscillative calcium could cross talk to each other and positively regulate integrin α _IIbβ₃-mediated outside-in signaling. However, the mechanism of this feedback regulation remains to be further characterized. Here we found that treatments of both PI3K inhibitor wortmannin and P2Y1 inhibitor A3P5P could inhibit granular secretion in platelets. Additionally, when RGD-substrate adherent platelets were treated with the ADP scavenger apyrase to deplete the granular-released ADP, their attachments in engaging with substrates became looser and the frequency of calcium oscillation decreased. Since it is known that ADP stimulates the PI3K and calcium signal primarily through P2Y12 and P2Y1 receptors respectively, our data indicated that integrin α_IIbβ₃ downstream PI3K and calcium activation might be not completely coupled to integrin associated signaling complex, but in part through feedback stimulation by granular released ADP. Our data indicates the important roles of PI3K and granular released ADP in coordinating the feedback regulations in integrin α_IIbβ₃-mediated platelet activation.     

Calcium oscillation and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase positively regulate integrin α<Subscript>IIb</Subscript>β<Subscript>3</Subscript>-mediated outside-in signaling

Summary The frequency of calcium oscillation reveals the platelet activation status, however, the biological significance of the periodic calcium responses and methods of communication with other integrin-mediated signals are not clear. RGD-containing disintegrin rhodostomin coated substrates were employed to enhance platelet spreading and calcium oscillation through direct binding and clustering of the receptor integrin _IIb3. The results showed that the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) and internal calcium pathways were crucial for _IIb3 outside-in signaling. PI3-K antagonists wortmannin and LY294002 inhibited disintegrin substrates and induced platelet spreading and calcium oscillation. At the same time, pretreatment of platelets with the microsomal calcium–ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin to deplete internal calcium stores severely impaired the calcium oscillation as well as PI3-K activation and spreading on disintegrin substrates. Because inhibition of one pathway could inhibit the other, our data indicates that PI3-K and calcium oscillation are synergistically operated and form a positive-feedback regulation in integrin _IIb3-mediated outside-in signaling.