Ferric Chloride Injury Research Articles

Investigation of the impact of thirdhand e-cigarette exposure on platelet function: A pre-clinical study.

The use of e-cigarettes (ECs) has reached unprecedented levels, due to a variety of reasons, including the misconception regarding their safety. Thus, there have been efforts to characterize the effects of EC exposure, including in the context of thirdhand EC (THEC) on a host of disorders, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). To address this issue, we sought to characterize the effects of THEC on platelet function and thrombus formation, using a novel mouse exposure protocol that resembles real life scenarios. To assess these effects, a host of related in vivo (i.e. tail bleeding time, and ferric chloride injury induced thrombosis model) assays and in vitro platelet specific (e.g. aggregation, and dense granule secretion) investigative assays were conducted. Our in vivo characterization demonstrated that THEC exposed mice exhibited a prothrombotic phenotype reflected by their shortened tail bleeding (THEC: 37 ± 15 seconds, versus clean air: 183 ± 56 s) and occlusion times (THEC: 188 ± 39 s, versus clean air: 519 ± 70 s), relative to those exposed to clean air. Importantly, we found no difference in the platelet counts between the THEC and clean air mice. As for the underlying mechanism, separate experiments revealed significantly enhanced platelet aggregation, dense and alpha granule secretion, as well as integrin/GPIIb-IIIa activation and phosphatidylserine exposure in response to thrombin and ADP agonist stimulation. Taken together, these results provide evidence that THEC does have the capacity to increase the risk of thrombotic disease, which should increase awareness regarding its underappreciated negative health effects.

Anti-thrombotic Effects Mediated by a Novel Dual-Target Peptide Inhibiting Both Platelet Aggregation and Thrombin Activity without Causing Bleeding.

Classical anticoagulants and antiplatelets are associated with high frequencies of bleeding complications or treatment failure when used as single agents. Thrombin plays an important role in the blood coagulation system. GP IIb/IIIa is the central receptor of platelets, which can recognize the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence and activate platelets. Molecular simulation and homology modeling were performed to design a novel dual-target anticoagulant short peptide (PTIP ). The activities of PTIP on coagulation and platelet in vitro were analyzed. The antithrombotic activity of PTIP was determined by pulmonary thromboembolism model, ferric chloride injury model and arteriovenous bypass thrombosis model. Bleeding effect and toxicity of PTIP were evaluated. We have constructed a novel dual-target peptide (PTIP) based on the direct thrombin inhibitor peptide (DTIP). PTIP was expressed at high levels in Pichia pastoris. PTIP interfered with thrombin-mediated coagulation and ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. When injected intravenously or subcutaneously, PTIP showed potent and dose-dependent extension of aPTT and PT which were similar to DTIP; but only PTIP was capable of inhibiting platelet aggregation. PTIP (1.0 mg/kg) decelerated thrombosis formation in venous and arterial vessels induced by FeCl3 injury. PTIP (1.0 mg/kg) also prevented deep venous thrombosis and increased the survival rate associated with pulmonary thromboembolism. And PTIP effectively reduced thrombus length in arteriovenous bypass thrombosis model. Moreover, the antithrombotic dose of PTIP could not induce bleeding. These data establish that PTIP represents a novel antithrombotic agent whose effects involve both inhibition of platelet activation and reduction of fibrin generation. And PTIP not only can be used in venous thrombosis and arterial thrombosis, it can also replace the combined treatment of antiplatelet and anticoagulant drugs in thrombotic diseases.

Phosphorylation of spleen tyrosine kinase at Y346 negatively regulates ITAM-mediated signaling and function in platelets

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is expressed in a variety of hemopoietic cells. Upon phosphorylation of the platelet immunoreceptor-based activation motif of the glycoprotein VI (GPVI)/Fc receptor gamma chain collagen receptor, both the tyrosine phosphorylation and activity of Syk are increased leading to downstream signaling events. Although it has been established that the activity of Syk is regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation, the specific roles of individual phosphorylation sites remain to be elucidated. We observed that Syk Y346 in mouse platelets was still phosphorylated when GPVI-induced Syk activity was inhibited. We then generated Syk Y346F mice and analyzed the effect this mutation exerts on platelet responses. Syk Y346F mice bred normally, and their blood cell count was unaltered. We did observe potentiation of GPVI-induced platelet aggregation and ATP secretion as well as increased phosphorylation of other tyrosines on Syk in the Syk Y346F mouse platelets when compared to WT littermates. This phenotype was specific for GPVI-dependent activation, since it was not seen when AYPGKF, a PAR4 agonist, or 2-MeSADP, a purinergic receptor agonist, was used to activate platelets. Despite a clear effect of Syk Y346F on GPVI-mediated signaling and cellular responses, there was no effect of this mutation on hemostasis as measured by tail-bleeding times, although the time to thrombus formation determined using the ferric chloride injury model was reduced. Thus, our results indicate a significant effect of Syk Y346F on platelet activation and responses invitro and reveal its complex nature manifesting itself by the diversified translation of platelet activation into physiological responses.

Loss of α4A- and β1-tubulins leads to severe platelet spherocytosis and strongly impairs hemostasis in mice

AbstractNative circulating blood platelets present with a discoid flat morphology maintained by a submembranous peripheral ring of microtubules, named marginal band. The functional importance of this particular shape is still debated, but it was initially hypothesized to facilitate platelet interaction with the injured vessel wall and to contribute to hemostasis. The importance of the platelet discoid morphology has since been questioned on the absence of clear bleeding tendency in mice lacking the platelet-specific β1-tubulin isotype, which exhibits platelets with a thinner marginal band and an ovoid shape. Here, we generated a mouse model inactivated for β1-tubulin and α4A-tubulin, an α-tubulin isotype strongly enriched in platelets. These mice present with fully spherical platelets completely devoid of a marginal band. In contrast to the single knockouts, the double deletion resulted in a severe bleeding defect in a tail-clipping assay, which was not corrected by increasing the platelet count to normal values by the thrombopoietin-analog romiplostim. In vivo, thrombus formation was almost abolished in a ferric chloride–injury model, with only a thin layer of loosely packed platelets, and mice were protected against death in a model of thromboembolism. In vitro, platelets adhered less efficiently and formed smaller-sized and loosely assembled aggregates when perfused over von Willebrand factor and collagen matrices. In conclusion, this study shows that blood platelets require 2 unique α- and β-tubulin isotypes to acquire their characteristic discoid morphology. Lack of these 2 isotypes has a deleterious effect on flow-dependent aggregate formation and stability, leading to a severe bleeding disorder.

Multimerin 1 supports platelet function in vivo and binds to specific GPAGPOGPX motifs in fibrillar collagens that enhance platelet adhesion

BackgroundMultimerin 1 (human: MMRN1, mouse: Mmrn1) is a homopolymeric, adhesive, platelet and endothelial protein that binds to von Willebrand factor and enhances platelet adhesion to fibrillar collagen ex vivo. ObjectivesTo examine the impact of Mmrn1 deficiency on platelet adhesive function, and the molecular motifs in fibrillar collagen that bind MMRN1 to enhance platelet adhesion. MethodsMmrn1‐deficient mice were generated and assessed for altered platelet adhesive function. Collagen Toolkit peptides, and other triple‐helical collagen peptides, were used to identify multimerin 1 binding motifs and their contribution to platelet adhesion. ResultsMMRN1 bound to conserved GPAGPOGPX sequences in collagens I, II, and III (including GPAGPOGPI, GPAGPOGPV, and GPAGPOGPQ) that enhanced activated human platelet adhesion to collagen synergistically with other triple‐helical collagen peptides (P < .05). Mmrn1−/− and Mmrn1+/− mice were viable and fertile, with complete and partial platelet Mmrn1 deficiency, respectively. Relative to wild‐type mice, Mmrn1−/− and Mmrn1+/− mice did not have overt bleeding, increased median bleeding times, or increased wound blood loss (P ≥ .07); however, they both showed significantly impaired platelet adhesion and thrombus formation in the ferric chloride injury model (P ≤ .0003). Mmrn1−/− platelets had impaired adhesion to GPAGPOGPX peptides and fibrillar collagen (P ≤ .03) and formed smaller aggregates than wild‐type platelets when captured onto collagen, triple‐helical collagen mimetic peptides, von Willebrand factor, or fibrinogen (P ≤ .008), despite preserved, low shear, and high shear aggregation responses. ConclusionsMultimerin 1 supports platelet adhesion and thrombus formation and binds to highly conserved, GPAGPOGPX motifs in fibrillar collagens that synergistically enhance platelet adhesion.

Activated protein C has a regulatory role in factor VIII function

Mechanisms thought to regulate activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) cofactor function include A2-domain dissociation and activated protein C (APC) cleavage. Unlike A2-domain dissociation, there is no known phenotype associated with altered APC cleavage of FVIII, and biochemical studies have suggested APC plays a marginal role in FVIIIa regulation. However, the in vivo contribution of FVIIIa inactivation by APC is unexplored. Here we compared wild-type B-domainless FVIII (FVIII-WT) recombinant protein with an APC-resistant FVIII variant (FVIII-R336Q/R562Q; FVIII-QQ). FVIII-QQ demonstrated expected APC resistance without other changes in procoagulant function or A2-domain dissociation. In plasma-based studies, FVIII-WT/FVIIIa-WT demonstrated dose-dependent sensitivity to APC with or without protein S, whereas FVIII-QQ/FVIIIa-QQ did not. Importantly, FVIII-QQ demonstrated approximately fivefold increased procoagulant function relative to FVIII-WT in the tail clip and ferric chloride injury models in hemophilia A (HA) mice. To minimize the contribution of FV inactivation by APC in vivo, a tail clip assay was performed in homozygous HA/FV Leiden (FVL) mice infused with FVIII-QQ or FVIII-WT in the presence or absence of monoclonal antibody 1609, an antibody that blocks murine PC/APC hemostatic function. FVIII-QQ again demonstrated enhanced hemostatic function in HA/FVL mice; however, FVIII-QQ and FVIII-WT performed analogously in the presence of the PC/APC inhibitory antibody, indicating the increased hemostatic effect of FVIII-QQ was APC specific. Our data demonstrate APC contributes to the in vivo regulation of FVIIIa, which has the potential to be exploited to develop novel HA therapeutics.

The Endothelial Protein C Receptor (EPCR) Regulates Endogenous Factor VII Levels in Mice

The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) has been demonstrated to bind activated FVII (FVIIa) through the Gla domain with equal affinity to Protein C (PC). Mouse studies suggest that EPCR is involved in the extravasation of infused human FVIIa, leading to an extended extravascular tissue persistence, longer than expected based on its circulating half-life. This provides a plausible explanation for the long-term benefits of hemophilic patients on human FVIIa prophylaxis. Collectively, these data suggest that EPCR sequesters administered FVIIa in tissues where it may have a hemostatic effect. However, the role of the endogenous FVII-EPCR interaction in normal conditions is largely unknown. For this, we have developed a mouse model to better understand this interaction in vivo. Endogenous mouse FVII and FVIIa (mFVII/FVIIa) do not bind mouse EPCR. However, our laboratory has demonstrated that L4F, L8M, and T9R substitutions in the Gla domain of mFVIIa enable its interaction with mouse EPCR while retaining full enzymatic activity in vitro. Based on that data, we utilized CRISPR/Cas9 technology to knock-in L4F, L8M, and T9R into the mFVII Gla domain in the mouse F7 locus (F7FMR), thereby developing mice with a chimeric endogenous FVII capable of binding EPCR. Founder animals were generated and capable of producing offspring, indicating that the gain-of-function in mFVII was compatible with life. Animals were subsequently backcrossed to wildtype C57BL/6 mice in order to remove potential off-target effects of the CRISPR/Cas9. Resultant heterozygous animals (F7FMR/WT) from the final cross were bred to generate F7FMR/FMR, F7FMR/WT, and F7WT/WTlittermates. We generated 59 male and 52 female animals and a binomial distribution test demonstrated that sex is equally distributed in the population. Moreover, the genotypes expected from the heterozygous crosses were inherited in a 1:2:1 ratio, further indicating that the gain-of-function in FVII is not lethal during development. As additional metrics of health, we measured weight longitudinally during weeks 1-10 of life and found no differences between the three genotypes for either gender. Complete blood counts (CBCs) revealed no differences between the F7FMR/FMR, F7FMR/WT, and F7WT/WTgenotypes, with the exception of a mild elevation in F7FMR/WTanimals compared to animals with wildtype FVII. Collectively, we found that the gain-of-function in EPCR binding by endogenous FVII is not detrimental to the overall health of the mice. Subsequently, we determined the mFVII levels in the F7FMR/FMR, F7FMR/WT, and F7WT/WTanimals using an in-house ELISA. We observed that plasmatic mFVII levels were dependent on the EPCR-binding capacity of the endogenous mFVII. Specifically, F7WT/WTmice, whose mFVII does not bind EPCR, had a plasmatic mFVII concentration of ~690 ng/ml. In contrast, F7FMR/FMRhomozygote mice had ~350 ng/ml of mouse FVII, approximately half the plasma levels of the F7WT/WT. Heterozygote animals F7FMR/WThad an intermediate plasmatic mFVII level (~550 ng/ml), suggesting that EPCR may regulate plasmatic FVII levels in vivo. Lastly, we determined the hemostatic response to injury in the F7FMR/FMR, F7FMR/WT, and F7WT/WTanimals. We did this in two ways, by measuring blood loss following tail clip assay and by determining time to vessel occlusion following ferric chloride injury of the carotid artery. We observed no differences between the three genotypes in response to either injury model. In conclusion, we have generated and characterized a novel mouse model in which endogenous FVII is capable of binding EPCR. Using this model, we demonstrated that EPCR can modulate plasmatic FVII levels in vivo but does not appear to affect hemostasis. Since this model mimics the FVII-EPCR interaction in humans, it can now be used to further investigate how this interaction participates in other normal or pathologic states that depend on FVII and/or EPCR. Disclosures Margaritis: Bayer Hemophilia Awards: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: Salary (spouse); CSL Behring: Other: Salary (spouse); NovoNordisk A/S: Research Funding.

The Microbiota Promotes Arterial Thrombosis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Deficient Mice.

Atherosclerotic plaque development depends on chronic inflammation of the arterial wall. A dysbiotic gut microbiota can cause low-grade inflammation, and microbiota composition was linked to cardiovascular disease risk. However, the role of this environmental factor in atherothrombosis remains undefined. To analyze the impact of gut microbiota on atherothrombosis, we rederived low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/- ) mice as germfree (GF) and kept these mice for 16 weeks on an atherogenic high-fat Western diet (HFD) under GF isolator conditions and under conventionally raised specific-pathogen-free conditions (CONV-R). In spite of reduced diversity of the cecal gut microbiome, caused by atherogenic HFD, GF Ldlr-/- mice and CONV-R Ldlr-/- mice exhibited atherosclerotic lesions of comparable sizes in the common carotid artery. In contrast to HFD-fed mice, showing no difference in total cholesterol levels, CONV-R Ldlr-/- mice fed control diet (CD) had significantly reduced total plasma cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and LDL levels compared with GF Ldlr-/- mice. Myeloid cell counts in blood as well as leukocyte adhesion to the vessel wall at the common carotid artery of GF Ldlr-/- mice on HFD were diminished compared to CONV-R Ldlr-/- controls. Plasma cytokine profiling revealed reduced levels of the proinflammatory chemokines CCL7 and CXCL1 in GF Ldlr-/- mice, whereas the T-cell-related interleukin 9 (IL-9) and IL-27 were elevated. In the atherothrombosis model of ultrasound-induced rupture of the common carotid artery plaque, thrombus area was significantly reduced in GF Ldlr-/- mice relative to CONV-R Ldlr-/- mice. Ex vivo, this atherothrombotic phenotype was explained by decreased adhesion-dependent platelet activation and thrombus growth of HFD-fed GF Ldlr-/- mice on type III collagen.IMPORTANCE Our results demonstrate a functional role for the commensal microbiota in atherothrombosis. In a ferric chloride injury model of the carotid artery, GF C57BL/6J mice had increased occlusion times compared to colonized controls. Interestingly, in late atherosclerosis, HFD-fed GF Ldlr-/- mice had reduced plaque rupture-induced thrombus growth in the carotid artery and diminished ex vivo thrombus formation under arterial flow conditions.

ELMO1 deficiency enhances platelet function

AbstractPhosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is an important signaling molecule that, once activated, leads to the generation of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3). We performed a proteomic screen to identify PIP3-interacting proteins in human platelets. Among these proteins, we found engulfment and cell motility 1 (ELMO1), a scaffold protein with no catalytic activity. ELMO1 is expressed in platelets and interacts with active RhoG. However, the function of ELMO1 in platelets is not known. The focus of this study was to determine the function of ELMO1 in platelets utilizing ELMO1−/− mice. Platelet aggregation, granule secretion, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, and thromboxane generation were enhanced in ELMO1−/− platelets in response to glycoprotein VI (GPVI) agonists but unaltered when a protease-activated receptor 4 agonist was used. The kinetics of spreading on immobilized fibrinogen was enhanced in ELMO1−/− platelets compared with wild-type (WT) littermate controls. This suggests that ELMO1 plays a role downstream of the GPVI and integrin αIIbβ3 pathway. Furthermore, whole blood from ELMO1−/− mice perfused over collagen exhibited enhanced thrombus formation compared with WT littermate controls. ELMO1−/− mice showed reduced survival compared with control following pulmonary embolism. ELMO1−/− mice also exhibited a shorter time to occlusion using the ferric-chloride injury model and reduced bleeding times compared with WT littermate controls. These results indicate that ELMO1 plays an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis in vivo. RhoG activity was enhanced in ELMO1−/− murine platelets compared with WT littermate controls in response to GPVI agonist. Together, these data suggest that ELMO1 negatively regulates GPVI-mediated thrombus formation via RhoG.

Dysfunctional CLEC-2 and GPVI-Mediated Signaling in Syk Y342F Knock-in Mouse Platelets

Platelet activation is essential for hemostasis. Central to platelet activation are the signals transmitted through surface receptors like GPVI, the protease activated receptors (PARs), and C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2). GPVI is an ITAM-bearing receptor, while Clec-2 is a HemITAM-bearing receptor. Both ITAM and hemITAM-bearing receptors signal through spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk). Syk activity is dependent on phosphorylation of several residues including Y342, Y346, and Y519/520 (Y348, Y352, and Y525/526 in human). However, the importance of each residue on either phosphorylation of other residues or activation of Syk is unknown. Therefore, we produced a Syk Y342F knock-in mouse line via CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate the importance of Y342 on Syk-mediated signaling using a platelet system. Syk Y342F mice are viable, have no gross abnormalities, and their blood cell counts are normal. We were unable to detect any Syk Y342 phosphorylation following stimulation of Y342F platelets with the GPVI agonist collagen-related peptide (CRP) (Figure 1). Further, Platelet reactivity is reduced in response to the GPVI agonists CRP (Figure 2) and collagen, as well as the CLEC-2 agonist rhodocytin. When using CLEC-2 antibody as an agonist no response is observed in Syk Y342F mouse platelets even though WT littermate control mouse platelets responded well (Figure 3). Signaling initiated by either GPVI or CLEC-2 is also inhibited, as Syk Y519/520 phosphorylation is impaired. Furthermore, PLCg2 and SLP-76 phosphorylation are reduced in Syk Y342F platelets compared to platelets from littermate control mice following stimulation of either GPVI or CLEC-2. Although reactivity of Y342F platelets is clearly reduced compared to WT platelets, there was no difference in occlusion time following ferric chloride injury of the carotid artery. Similarly, there was no difference in mortality rate following pulmonary thromboembolism using Syk Y342F mice compared to WT littermate control mice. Nevertheless, these data demonstrate that phosphorylation of Y342 on Syk following stimulation of either ITAM or hemITAM-bearing receptors is important for Syk activation. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

A direct oral factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban ameliorates neointimal hyperplasia following vascular injury and thrombosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Vascular injury activates the coagulation cascade. Some studies report that coagulation factor Xa and thrombin are implicated in proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and neointimal hyperplasia after vascular injury. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor, edoxaban, on neointimal hyperplasia following the carotid artery injury in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice. Vascular injury was induced by the application of 10% ferric chloride to the carotid artery for 3min in ApoE-deficient mice. After vascular injury, all animals were fed with high-cholesterol chow for 6 weeks. Edoxaban at 15mg/kg was orally administered to the mice 1h before (n = 10) or 1h after (n = 9) ferric chloride injury, and thereafter 10mg/kg edoxaban was orally administered b.i.d. for 6weeks. Thrombus formation and neointimal hyperplasia were evaluated. Treatment with 15mg/kg edoxaban before vascular injury almost completely inhibited thrombus formation, and following chronic administration of edoxaban significantly suppressed neointimal hyperplasia. In the mice treated with edoxaban after vascular injury, there was wide interindividual variability. In some mice (four out of nine) the neointimal hyperplasia was inhibited like in edoxaban-pretreated mice, but there was no statistical difference compared with control. This study demonstrated that inhibition of the coagulation and thrombosis by edoxaban ameliorated neointimal hyperplasia caused by vascular injury and high-cholesterol diets in ApoE-deficient mice. This suggests that factor Xa has a crucial role in the formation of neointima following vascular injury.The abstract should be followed by 3-4 bullet points that highlight major findings. The final bullet point should emphasize future directions for research.

147 Platelet cox-1 knockout mouse as a model of the effects of aspirin in the cardiovascular system

IntroductionAspirin acts as an anti-thrombotic drug by inhibiting platelet cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and blocking the production of thromboxane A2, but it also has off-platelet actions that may limit its effectiveness. Since...

Mice Lacking the Inhibitory Collagen Receptor LAIR-1 Exhibit a Mild Thrombocytosis and Hyperactive Platelets

Leukocyte-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor-1 (LAIR-1) is a collagen receptor that belongs to the inhibitory immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif-containing receptor family. It is an inhibitor of signaling via the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-containing collagen receptor complex, glycoprotein VI-FcRγ-chain. It is expressed on hematopoietic cells, including immature megakaryocytes, but is not detectable on platelets. Although the inhibitory function of LAIR-1 has been described in leukocytes, its physiological role in megakaryocytes and in particular in platelet formation has not been explored. In this study, we investigate the role of LAIR-1 in megakaryocyte development and platelet production by generating LAIR-1-deficient mice. Mice lacking LAIR-1 exhibit a significant increase in platelet counts, a prolonged platelet half-life in vivo, and increased proplatelet formation in vitro. Interestingly, platelets from LAIR-1-deficient mice exhibit an enhanced reactivity to collagen and the glycoprotein VI-specific agonist collagen-related peptide despite not expressing LAIR-1, and mice showed enhanced thrombus formation in the carotid artery after ferric chloride injury. Targeted deletion of LAIR-1 in mice results in an increase in signaling downstream of the glycoprotein VI-FcRγ-chain and integrin αIIbβ3 in megakaryocytes because of enhanced Src family kinase activity. Findings from this study demonstrate that ablation of LAIR-1 in megakaryocytes leads to increased Src family kinase activity and downstream signaling in response to collagen that is transmitted to platelets, rendering them hyper-reactive specifically to agonists that signal through Syk tyrosine kinases, but not to G-protein-coupled receptors.

ELMO1 Is a Novel Negative Regulator of Glycoprotein VI Signaling in Platelets

PI3-kinase (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) is an important signaling molecule that is activated downstream of various receptors upon platelet activation. PI3-kinase activation leads to the generation of PIP3 (Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate) subsequently leading to the recruitment of PH (pleckstrin homology) domain containing proteins to the plasma membrane. Our laboratory screened for proteins that interacted with PIP3 (Phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate) using PIP3 beads. One of the proteins that interacted with PIP3 was ELMO1 (Engulfment and cell motility-1). ELMO1 is a scaffold protein with no catalytic activity and is well known to regulate actin cytoskeletal rearrangement via Rac1 in other cells. However, it is not known whether ELMO1 is expressed in platelets and if so, does it regulate platelet functional responses. Here, we show that ELMO1 is present in both human and murine platelets. We used ELMO1-deficient (ELMO1-/-) mice to study its role in platelets. ELMO1-/- murine platelets showed enhanced platelet aggregation and dense granule secretion in response to the GPVI agonist, CRP (Figure 1 A & B), compared to the wildtype controls although there was no difference in GPVI expression levels between the two. There was no difference observed in response to AYPGKF- or 2-MeSADP. These data suggest that ELMO1 plays a specific role downstream of GPVI pathway but GPCRs. Moreover, ELMO1-/- platelets exhibited enhanced clot retraction and spreading indicating its role in Glycoprotein IIb/IIa (GPIIb/IIIa) mediated outside-in signaling. Furthermore, whole blood from ELMO1-/- mice perfused over collagen under arterial shear conditions exhibited enhanced thrombus formation. In an in vivo pulmonary thromboembolism model, ELMO1-/- mice showed reduced survival compared to the wildtype control. ELMO1-/- mice also showed shorter time to occlusion and increased thrombus stability using the ferric-chloride injury model indicating the role of ELMO1 in thrombus formation in vivo. At the molecular level, Rac1 activity was enhanced in ELMO1-/- murine platelets compared to the wildtype control in response to CRP (Figure 1C). Together, these data suggest that ELMO1 regulates Rac1 activity upon GPVI-mediated thrombus formation and it may play a negative regulator role in both inside-out and outside-in signaling, which might involve Rac1. [Display omitted] DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Necrotic platelets provide a procoagulant surface during thrombosis

AbstractA subpopulation of platelets fulfills a procoagulant role in hemostasis and thrombosis by enabling the thrombin burst required for fibrin formation and clot stability at the site of vascular injury. Excess procoagulant activity is linked with pathological thrombosis. The identity of the procoagulant platelet has been elusive. The cell death marker 4-[N-(S-glutathionylacetyl)amino]phenylarsonous acid (GSAO) rapidly enters a subpopulation of agonist-stimulated platelets via an organic anion-transporting polypeptide and is retained in the cytosol through covalent reaction with protein dithiols. Labeling with GSAO, together with exposure of P-selectin, distinguishes necrotic from apoptotic platelets and correlates with procoagulant potential. GSAO+ platelets form in occluding murine thrombi after ferric chloride injury and are attenuated with megakaryocyte-directed deletion of the cyclophilin D gene. These platelets form a procoagulant surface, supporting fibrin formation, and reduction in GSAO+ platelets is associated with reduction in platelet thrombus size and fibrin formation. Analysis of platelets from human subjects receiving aspirin therapy indicates that these procoagulant platelets form despite aspirin therapy, but are attenuated by inhibition of the necrosis pathway. These findings indicate that the major subpopulation of platelets involved in fibrin formation are formed via regulated necrosis involving cyclophilin D, and that they may be targeted independent of platelet activation.

Ferric Chloride-induced Thrombosis Mouse Model on Carotid Artery and Mesentery Vessel.

Severe thrombosis and its ischemic consequences such as myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and stroke are major worldwide health issues. The ferric chloride injury is now a well-established technique to rapidly and accurately induce the formation of thrombi in exposed veins or artery of small and large diameter. This model has played a key role in the study of the pathophysiology of thrombosis, in the discovery and validation of novel antithrombotic drugs and in the understanding of the mechanism of action of these new agents. Here, the implementation of this technique on a mesenteric vessel and carotid artery in mice is presented. The method describes how to label circulating leukocytes and platelets with a fluorescent dye and to observe, by intravital microscopy on the exposed mesentery, their accumulation at the injured vessel wall which leads to the formation of a thrombus. On the carotid artery, the occlusion caused by the clot formation is measured by monitoring the blood flow with a Doppler probe.

Abstract 160: Tuberosis Sclerosis Complex 1 Mediated Neointima Formation and Arterial Thrombosis Following Vascular Injury

Objectives: Vascular injury and thrombosis are main leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder caused by heterozygous mutations in either of two genes, TSC1 and TSC2. Although role of TSCs has been implicated in cardiovascular diseases, the tissue- and isoform-specific roles of TSCs in the vascular response to injury are not known. Methods and Results: To determine the role of TSC1 in arterial injury and thrombosis, we generated vascular smooth muscle cell-specific TSC1 conditional knockout mice (TSC1SM22-/-) by crossing vascular smooth muscle cell-specific Cre (SM22Cre) mice with TSC1flox/flox mice and performed carotid artery ligation in haploinsufficient TSC1 conditional knockout mice (TSC1SM22+/-) compared with that of WT or haploinsufficient TSC2 knockout mice (TSC2+/-). Acute carotid artery occlusion was investigated by 5% ferric chloride injury. Arterial thrombosis and neointima formation were measured at 14 days after arterial ligation. Expression of proteins was observed by immunoblot analysis. The neointima formation was significantly increased in TSC1SM22+/- mice (intimal thickness/medial thickness ratio; 1.14 ± 0.14, p&lt;0.001) compared with that of WT mice (0.13 ± 0.03). Two weeks after arterial injury, arterial thrombus area was increased in TSC1SM22+/- mice (thrombus area/luminal area ratio; 72.1 ± 4.4, p&lt;0.001) compared with that of WT mice (0.1 ± 0.0) but there are no significant effect in acute arterial thrombosis induced by ferric chloride. Loss of TSC1 and hyper-activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 including mTOR and S6 proteins were observed by immunoblot analysis of carotid artery tissue lysates of TSC1SM22+/- mice compared with that of WT. Conclusion: These findings suggest that regulation of TSC1 and mTOR might be useful for therapeutic intervention in vascular injury and thrombosis.

Abstract 74: Thrombospondin 1 Modulates Arterial Thrombosis via von Willebrand Factor in Mice

Background and Hypothesis: Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1) is a large adhesive glycoprotein that is stored in platelet α-granules. Upon platelet activation, TSP1 is released in large amount (up to 30 μg/mL) in circulation. Previous studies have shown smaller plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimer size in Tsp1 -/- mice compared with wild-type (WT), suggesting that TSP1 protects VWF from excessive proteolysis by ADAMTS13. It remains unclear whether TSP1/VWF axis determines the rate of thrombus growth in injured vessels. We tested the hypothesis that TSP1 modulates arterial thrombosis via VWF. Model and Methods: We generated Vwf -/- / Tsp1 -/- mice and compared with Tsp1 -/- , Vwf -/- and WT mice. Platelet adhesion and susceptibility to thrombosis was assessed in a ferric-chloride injury-induced mesenteric artery thrombosis model. Using high-resolution intravital microscopy, we measured the time to form 1 st thrombus (&gt;20 μm), thrombus growth kinetics and occlusion time in the injured arterioles. Results: We found that the number of fluorescently labeled platelets that adhered transiently to 250μm vessel wall segment within 3-4 min following ferric-chloride injury was similar in Tsp1 -/- mice compared with WT mice. The mean time to form first thrombus was significantly increased in Tsp1 -/- mice compared with WT (9.98±0.52 vs. 7.12±0.55min, P&lt;0.05). The rate of thrombus growth was decreased in Tsp1 -/- mice ( P &lt;0.05 vs. WT). The time to stable occlusion of the mesenteric artery was modestly but significantly prolonged in Tsp1 -/- mice compared with WT mice (15.8±0.59 vs. 13.3±0.63min, P&lt;0.05). Because TSP1 binds to A3 domain of VWF, we investigated TSP1 modulates thrombosis via binding to VWF. Compared to Vwf -/- mice, Vwf -/- / Tsp1 -/ - littermates exhibited similar platelet adhesion, time to form first thrombus, and non-occlusive thrombus growth kinetics, suggesting that TSP1 modulates thrombus growth via VWF. Conclusion: We provide evidence for the first time that TSP1 does not mediate initial platelet adhesion to injured vessel wall but modulates arterial thrombus growth via a mechanism that requires VWF. These results suggest that TSP1 may participate in amplifying platelet aggregation following injury by protecting VWF from excessive cleavage by ADAMTS13.

Towards Effective and Safe Thrombolysis and Thromboprophylaxis

Rationale: Fibrinolysis is a valuable alternative for the treatment of myocardial infarction when percutaneous coronary intervention is not available in a timely fashion. For acute ischemic stroke, fibrinolysis is the only treatment option with a very narrow therapeutic window. Clinically approved thrombolytics have significant drawbacks, including bleeding complications. Thus their use is highly restricted, leaving many patients untreated. Objective: We developed a novel targeted fibrinolytic drug that is directed against activated platelets. Methods and Results: We fused single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator (scuPA) to a small recombinant antibody (scFv SCE5 ), which targets the activated form of the platelet–integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa. Antibody binding and scuPA activity of this recombinant fusion protein were on par with the parent molecules. Prophylactic in vivo administration of scFv SCE5 –scuPA (75 U/g body weight) prevented carotid artery occlusion after ferric chloride injury in a plasminogen-dependent process compared with saline ( P &lt;0.001), and blood flow recovery was similar to high-dose nontargeted urokinase (500 U/g body weight). Tail bleeding time was significantly prolonged with this high dose of nontargeted urokinase, but not with equally effective targeted scFv SCE5 –scuPA at 75 U/g body weight. Real-time in vivo molecular ultrasound imaging demonstrates significant therapeutic reduction of thrombus size after administration of 75 U/g body weight scFv SCE5 –scuPA as compared with the same dose of a mutated, nontargeting scFv–scuPA or vehicle. The ability of scFv SCE5 –scuPA to lyse thrombi was lost in plasminogen-deficient mice, but could be restored by intravenous injection of plasminogen. Conclusions: Targeting of scuPA to activated glycoprotein IIb/IIIa allows effective thrombolysis and the potential novel use as a fibrinolytic agent for thromboprophylaxis without bleeding complications.

Endothelial mineralocorticoid receptor activation enhances endothelial protein C receptor and decreases vascular thrombosis in mice

Previous studies have shown that aldosterone, which activates the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), promotes thrombosis in animal models. Our objective was to determine whether MR activation/expression in the vascular endothelium could modify thrombotic risk in vivo and to examine thrombin generation at the surface of aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). MR was conditionally overexpressed in vivo in vascular endothelial cells in mice (MR-EC mice) or stimulated with aldosterone in HAECs. Thrombosis after ferric chloride injury was delayed in MR-EC mice compared with controls as well as in wild-type FVB/NRj mice treated with aldosterone (60 μg/kg/d for 21 d). Thrombin generation in platelet-poor plasma did not differ between MR-EC mice and controls. In MR-EC mice, aortic endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) expression was increased. Aldosterone (10(-8) M) attenuated thrombin generation at the surface of cultured HAECs, and this effect was associated with up-regulation of expression of EPCR, which promotes formation of activated protein C. Aldosterone increases EPCR expression via a transcriptional mechanism involving interaction of MR with the specificity protein 1 site. These findings demonstrate that MR activation acts on endothelial cells to protect against thrombosis in physiological conditions and that MR-mediated EPCR overexpression drives this antithrombotic property through enhancing protein C activation.