Integrin-mediated Platelet Adhesion Research Articles

The role of protein disulfide isomerase in the post-ligation phase of β3 integrin-dependent cell adhesion

IntroductionProtein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes disulfide bond exchange. It is crucial for integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and aggregation and disulfide bond exchange is necessary for αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 activation. However, the role of disulfide bond exchange and PDI in the post-ligation phase of αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 mediated cell adhesion has yet to be determined. MethodsTo investigate a possible such role, we expressed wild type (WT) human αIIb and either WT human β3, or β3 harboring single or double cysteine to serine substitutions disrupting Cys473–Cys503 or Cys523–Cys544 bonds, in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, leading to expression of both human αIIbβ3 and a chimeric hamster/human αvβ3. Adhesion to fibrinogen-coated wells was studied in the presence or absence of bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor, with and without an αvβ3 blocker. ResultsFlow cytometry showed WT and mutant αIIbβ3 expression in BHK cells and indicated that mutated αIIbβ3 receptors were constitutively active while WT αIIbβ3 was inactive. Both αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 integrins, WT and mutants, mediated adhesion to fibrinogen as shown by reduced but still substantial adhesion following treatment with the αvβ3 blocker. Mutated αIIbβ3 integrins disrupted in the Cys523–Cys544 bond still depended on PDI for adhesion as shown by the inhibitory effect of bacitracin in the presence of the αvβ3 blocker. Mutated integrins disrupted in the Cys473–Cys503 bond showed a similar trend. ConclusionsPDI-mediated disulfide bond exchange plays a pivotal role in the post-ligation phase of αIIbβ3-mediated adhesion to fibrinogen, while this step in αvβ3-mediated adhesion is independent of disulfide exchange.

The Role Of Protein Disulfide Isomerase In The Post-Ligation Phase Of β3 Integrin-Dependent Cell Adhesion

IntroductionProtein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is a member of the group of sulfhydryl isomerase enzymes which catalyze the formation, reduction and exchange of disulfide bonds. We and others have shown that PDI has a role in integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and aggregation, and among its proposed targets are integrins αIIbβ3 and αvβ3. There has been no clear evidence indicating whether disulfide bond exchange plays a role in the post-ligation phase of adhesion, which involves outside-in signaling. ObjectiveWe tested our hypothesis that free sulfhydryls and PDI play an essential role in the post-ligation phase of αIIbβ3 and αvβ3-dependent cell adhesion to fibrinogen. MethodsBaby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cells were transfected with wild type (WT) αIIb and either WT β3 or β3 mutated at specific cysteines, resulting in surface expression of both αvβ3 and αIIbβ3. Single or double cysteine to serine mutations disrupting the Cys473-Cys503 and the Cys523-Cys544 disulfide bonds were generated. Evaluation of the expression and activity of WT or mutated integrins on the surface of BHK cells was performed by flow cytometry using P2 and PAC1 antibodies, respectively. Adhesion of BHK cells, expressing WT or mutated αIIbβ3, to fibrinogen-coated wells was studied in the presence or absence of bacitracin, a PDI inhibitor. Each experiment was performed with and without an αvβ3blocker (RO0655233-001). The adhered cells were stained and counted using light microscopy. ResultsFlow cytometry showed that BHK cells expressing the αIIbβ3 mutants bound both P2 and PAC1 while WT αIIbβ3-transfected cells bound only P2, indicating that the mutated αIIbβ3 receptors were constitutively active while WT αIIbβ3 was inactive as previously shown. The adhesion of BHK cells to fibrinogen was dependent on αIIbβ3 surface expression in both WT and mutants. Adhesion was reduced following treatment with the αvβ3 blocker, suggesting that both β3integrins support binding to immobilized fibrinogen (p < 0.05 for WT, C473S, C523S/C544S; p=0.053 for C544S).Without blocking of αvβ3, only cells expressing WT αIIbβ3 were inhibited by bacitracin (p=0.03, Figure 1A). Combination of the αvβ3 blocker and bacitracin, enabled a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of bacitracin on adhesion of cells expressing either WT αIIbβ3or mutants disrupting the Cys523-Cys544 bond (C544S, C523S/C544S and C523S; p < 0.05 for each; Figure 1B). Statistical analysis failed to indicate a similar role for the Cys-473-Cys-503 bond (C473S and C503S; Figure 1B). [Display omitted] [Display omitted] ConclusionCells expressing the constitutively active mutated αIIbβ3 were still dependent on PDI for adhesion, as shown by the inhibitory effect of the PDI inhibitor on their adhesion in the presence of an αvβ3 blocker, demonstrating that disulfide bond exchange plays an essential role in the post-ligation stage of αIIbβ3-mediated adhesion to fibrinogen. The difference between the inhibitory effect of bacitracin on the mutants disrupting the Cys523-Cys544 bond and the mutants disrupting the Cys473-Cys503 bond suggests that the role of disulfide bond exchange in the post-ligation phase of adhesion may differ between different disulfide bonds.In the absence of the αvβ3 blocker, bacitracin had no inhibitory effect on cells expressing the constitutively active mutants and the inhibitory effect of bacitracin on cells expressing the WT integrins was less prominent. Therefore, disulfide bond exchange mediated by PDI may have a pivotal role in the post-ligation phase of adhesion mediated by αIIbβ3 receptor, while the adhesion to fibrinogen mediated by αvβ3integrin depends on PDI to a lesser extent. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Novel keratin (KeraStat™) and polyurethane (Nanosan®-Sorb) biomaterials are hemostatic in a porcine lethal extremity hemorrhage model

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of death in people aged 44 or less in the US. It is also estimated that 82% of deaths from battlefield hemorrhage may be survivable with better treatment options. In this study, two biomaterial hemostats having disparate mechanisms were evaluated in a large animal lethal hemorrhage model and compared to a commercial product and standard cotton gauze. We hypothesized that the biomaterial with a biologically active mechanism, as opposed to a mechanical mechanism, would be the most effective in this model. Using a published study protocol, the femoral artery in swine was punctured and treated. KeraStat™ (KeraNetics) and Nanosan®-Sorb (SNS Nano) hemostats were compared to a commercial chitosan dressing (second generation Hemcon®) and cotton gauze. Both KeraStat and Nanosan increased survival, significantly increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), and significantly decreased shock index compared to both controls. The Hemcon dressing was no different than gauze. Platelet adhesion assays suggested that the KeraStat mechanism of action involves β1 integrin mediated platelet adhesion while Nanosan-Sorb operates similar to one reported mechanism for Hemcon, absorbing fluid and concentrating clotting components. The Nanosan also swelled considerably and created pressure within the wound site even after direct pressure was removed.

Effect of tumor gangliosides on tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK in platelet adhesion to collagen

The exact mechanisms as to how platelets influence blood-borne metastasis remain poorly understood. Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are associated with tumor progression and metastasis in humans. Gangliosides isolated from tumor cells promote collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation and ATP secretion and enhance platelet adhesion to immobilized collagen. Gangliosides interact with a number of cell surface receptors including integrin receptors. In this study, we examined the effects of α2β1 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion to collagen and phosphotyrosine signaling of focal adhesion kinase, p125FAK (FAK). platelets pre-incubated with neuroblastoma tumor gangliosides (NBTGs) or their major component GD2 (disialoganglioside) were more adherent to immobilized collagen (OD570 0.43±0.12, 0.39±0.13) compared to platelets pre-incubated with MTB (0.14±0.06, p<0.001); the effect of NBTGs was blocked by F-17 anti-α2 antibody. Pre-incubation of platelets with NBTGs resulted in a marked increase in the phosphotyrosine content of p125FAK in the adherent platelets compared to the MTB-pre-incubated adherent platelets. F-17 anti-α2 antibody decreased protein tyrosine phosphorylation of NBTG-incubated platelets adherent to collagen. These results indicate that the tumor gangliosides enhance platelet adhesion to extracellular matrix collagen by upregulating integrin α2β1-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of p125FAK, thereby providing insight into how this interaction may be involved in neuroblastoma metastasis.

Suboptimal Activation of Protease-activated Receptors Enhances α2β1 Integrin-mediated Platelet Adhesion to Collagen

Thrombin and fibrillar collagen are potent activators of platelets at sites of vascular injury. Both agonists cause platelet shape change, granule secretion, and aggregation to form the primary hemostatic plug. Human platelets express two thrombin receptors, protease-activated receptors 1 and 4 (PAR1 and PAR4) and two collagen receptors, the alpha(2)beta(1) integrin (alpha(2)beta(1)) and the glycoprotein VI (GPVI)/FcRgamma chain complex. Although these receptors and their signaling mechanisms have been intensely studied, it is not known whether and how these receptors cooperate in the hemostatic function of platelets. This study examined cooperation between the thrombin and collagen receptors in platelet adhesion by utilizing a collagen-related peptide (alpha2-CRP) containing the alpha(2)beta(1)-specific binding motif, GFOGER, in conjunction with PAR-activating peptides. We demonstrate that platelet adhesion to alpha2-CRP is substantially enhanced by suboptimal PAR activation (agonist concentrations that do not stimulate platelet aggregation) using the PAR4 agonist peptide and thrombin. The enhanced adhesion induced by suboptimal PAR4 activation was alpha(2)beta(1)-dependent and GPVI/FcRgamma-independent as revealed in experiments with alpha(2)beta(1)- or FcRgamma-deficient mouse platelets. We further show that suboptimal activation of other platelet G(q)-linked G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) produces enhanced platelet adhesion to alpha2-CRP. The enhanced alpha(2)beta(1)-mediated platelet adhesion is controlled by phospholipase C (PLC), but is not dependent on granule secretion, activation of alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin, or on phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) activity. In conclusion, we demonstrate a platelet priming mechanism initiated by suboptimal activation of PAR4 or other platelet G(q)-linked GPCRs through a PLC-dependent signaling cascade that promotes enhanced alpha(2)beta(1) binding to collagens containing GFOGER sites.

Nitric oxide specifically inhibits integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and spreading on collagen.

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits platelet adhesion to collagen, although the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process are unclear. Collagen-mediated adhesion is a multifaceted event requiring multiple receptors and platelet-derived soluble agonists. We investigated the influence of NO on these processes. S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) induced a concentration-dependent inhibition of platelet adhesion to immobilized collagen. Maximal adhesion to collagen required platelet-derived ADP and TxA(2). GSNO-mediated inhibition was lost in the presence of apyrase and indomethacin, suggesting that NO reduced the availability of, or signaling by, ADP and TxA(2). Exogenous ADP, but not the TxA(2) analogue U46619, reversed the inhibitory actions of GSNO on adhesion. Under adhesive conditions NO inhibited dense granule secretion but did not influence TxA(2) generation. These data indicated that NO may block signaling by TxA(2) required for dense granule secretion, thereby reducing the availability of ADP. Indeed, we found TxA(2)-mediated activation of PKC was required to drive dense granule secretion, a pathway that was inhibited by NO. Because our data demonstrated that NO only inhibited the activation-dependent component of adhesion, we investigated the effects of NO on individual collagen receptors. GSNO inhibited platelet adhesion and spreading on alpha(2)beta(1) specific peptide ligand GFOGER. In contrast, GSNO did not inhibit GPVI-mediated adhesion to collagen, or adhesion to the GPVI specific ligand, collagen related peptide (CRP). NO targets activation-dependent adhesion mediated by alpha(2)beta(1), possibly by reducing bioavailability of platelet-derived ADP, but has no effect on activation-independent adhesion mediated by GPVI. Thus, NO regulates platelet spreading and stable adhesion to collagen.

Kindlin-3 is essential for integrin activation and platelet aggregation

Integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and aggregation are essential for sealing injured blood vessels and preventing blood loss, and excessive platelet aggregation can initiate arterial thrombosis, causing heart attacks and stroke. To ensure that platelets aggregate only at injury sites, integrins on circulating platelets exist in a low-affinity state and shift to a high-affinity state (in a process known as integrin activation or priming) after contacting a wounded vessel. The shift is mediated through binding of the cytoskeletal protein Talin to the beta subunit cytoplasmic tail. Here we show that platelets lacking the adhesion plaque protein Kindlin-3 cannot activate integrins despite normal Talin expression. As a direct consequence, Kindlin-3 deficiency results in severe bleeding and resistance to arterial thrombosis. Mechanistically, Kindlin-3 can directly bind to regions of beta-integrin tails distinct from those of Talin and trigger integrin activation. We have therefore identified Kindlin-3 as a novel and essential element for platelet integrin activation in hemostasis and thrombosis.

Thrombospondin-1 stimulates platelet aggregation by blocking the antithrombotic activity of nitric oxide/cGMP signaling

Platelet alpha-granules constitute the major rapidly releasable reservoir of thrombospondin-1 in higher animals. Although some fragments and peptides derived from thrombospondin-1 stimulate or inhibit platelet aggregation, its physiologic function in platelets has remained elusive. We now show that endogenous thrombospondin-1 is necessary for platelet aggregation in vitro in the presence of physiologic levels of nitric oxide (NO). Exogenous NO or elevation of cGMP delays thrombin-induced platelet aggregation under high shear and static conditions, and exogenous thrombospondin-1 reverses this delay. Thrombospondin-1-null murine platelets fail to aggregate in response to thrombin in the presence of exogenous NO or 8Br-cGMP. At physiologic concentrations of the NO synthase substrate arginine, thrombospondin-1-null platelets have elevated basal cGMP. Ligation of CD36 or CD47 is sufficient to block NO-induced cGMP accumulation and mimic the effect of thrombospondin-1 on aggregation. Exogenous thrombospondin-1 also reverses the suppression by NO of alphaIIb/beta3 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion on immobilized fibrinogen, mediated in part by increased GTP loading of Rap1. Thrombospondin-1 also inhibits cGMP-mediated activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase and thereby prevents phosphorylation of VASP. Thus, release of thrombospondin-1 from alpha-granules during activation provides positive feedback to promote efficient platelet aggregation and adhesion by overcoming the antithrombotic activity of physiologic NO.

Talin is required for integrin-mediated platelet function in hemostasis and thrombosis

Integrins are critical for hemostasis and thrombosis because they mediate both platelet adhesion and aggregation. Talin is an integrin-binding cytoplasmic adaptor that is a central organizer of focal adhesions, and loss of talin phenocopies integrin deletion in Drosophila. Here, we have examined the role of talin in mammalian integrin function in vivo by selectively disrupting the talin1 gene in mouse platelet precursor megakaryocytes. Talin null megakaryocytes produced circulating platelets that exhibited normal morphology yet manifested profoundly impaired hemostatic function. Specifically, platelet-specific deletion of talin1 led to spontaneous hemorrhage and pathological bleeding. Ex vivo and in vitro studies revealed that loss of talin1 resulted in dramatically impaired integrin αIIbβ3-mediated platelet aggregation and β1 integrin–mediated platelet adhesion. Furthermore, loss of talin1 strongly inhibited the activation of platelet β1 and β3 integrins in response to platelet agonists. These data establish that platelet talin plays a crucial role in hemostasis and provide the first proof that talin is required for the activation and function of mammalian α2β1 and αIIbβ3 integrins in vivo.

CGMP-independent inhibition of integrin αIIbβ3-mediated platelet adhesion and outside-in signalling by nitric oxide

We examined the influence of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) on αIIbβ3 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion to immobilised fibrinogen. GSNO induced a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of platelet adhesion. Inhibition was cGMP-independent and associated with both reduced platelet spreading and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. To investigate the cGMP-independent effects of NO we evaluated integrin β3 phosphorylation. Adhesion to fibrinogen induced rapid phosphorylation of β3 on tyrosines 773 and 785, which was reduced by GSNO in a cGMP independent manner. Similar results were observed in suspended platelets indicating that NO-induced effects were independent of spreading-induced signalling. This is the first demonstration that NO directly regulates integrin β3 phosphorylation.

Identification of the phosphotyrosine proteome from thrombin activated platelets.

Signalling cascades are regulated both positively and negatively by tyrosine phosphorylation. Integrin mediated platelet adhesion triggers signal transduction cascades involving translocation of proteins and tyrosine phosphorylation events, ultimately causing large signalling complexes to be assembled. In resting platelets, a small number of phosphorylated proteins are evident with molecular mass of 50-62 kDa and 120-130 kDa. In thrombin activated human platelets, however, there is a large increase in the number of tyrosine phosphorylated signalling proteins detected. These proteins include pCas (130 kDa), FAK (125 kDa), PI(3)k (85 kDa) and src (85 kDa). However, it is unlikely that this list of proteins represents all the dynamic changes that occur after platelet activation and it is understood that more proteins remain unidentified. In this study, we propose a method for the isolation of the phosphotyrosine proteome from both resting and thrombin activated human platelets. All the dynamic phosphotyrosine events that occur in the platelet after thrombin activation were isolated by immunoprecipitation, using the monoclonal antibody 4G10, allowing us to obtain higher concentrations of relatively low abundant proteins. The resulting phosphotyrosine proteomes were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Sixty-seven proteins were reproducibly found to be unique in the thrombin activated platelet proteome when compared to resting platelets. We have positively identified ten of these proteins by Western blotting and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry and these include FAK, Syk, ALK-4, P2X6 and MAPK kinase kinase. This proteomics approach to understanding the signalling events following platelet activation may elucidate potential drug targets for the treatment of coronary thrombosis.

Protein disulfide isomerase mediates integrin-dependent adhesion

Cell adhesion is mediated by the integrin adhesion receptors. Receptor–ligand interaction involves conformational changes in the receptor, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Our earlier work implied a role for sulfhydryls in integrin response to ligand binding in the intact blood platelet. We now show that non-penetrating blockers of free sulfhydryls inhibit β 1 and β 3 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion regardless of the affinity state of the integrin. Removal of the inhibitors prior to adhesion fully restores adhesion despite the irreversible nature of inhibitor–thiol interaction, indicating sulfhydryl exposure in response to adhesion. We further show that blocking protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) inhibits adhesion. These data indicate that: (a) ecto-sulfhydryls are necessary for integrin-mediated platelet adhesion; (b) disulfide exchange takes place during this process; (c) surface PDI is involved in integrin-mediated adhesion.

Protein kinase C-δ activation and tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets

Several protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are expressed in human platelets. We report that PKC-δ is tyrosine phosphorylated within 30 s of platelet activation by thrombin. This correlated with a 2–3-fold increase in the kinase activity of PKC-δ relative to unstimulated platelets. The tyrosine phosphorylated PKC-δ isoform was associated with the platelet particulate (100 000× g insoluble) fraction. α IIbβ 3 integrin mediated platelet adhesion to fibrinogen did not significantly affect PKC-δ activity. Tyrosine phosphorylation of PKC-δ was similarly not detected in fibrinogen adherent platelet lysates. Treatment of the platelets with mAb 7E3 prior to the addition of thrombin blocked aggregation having no effect on the thrombin induced PKC-δ activation. We conclude that PKC-δ is activated in platelets by an α IIbβ 3 independent pathway.

Integrin-mediated platelet adhesion.

Adhesion of platelets to the damaged subendothelium is a prerequisite reaction for the initiation of hemostasis in vivo. Platelet membranes contain high concentrations of integrins and other glycoproteins (GPs) that are involved in the platelet adhesion to the extracellular matrix. In the present review, we focus on two platelet integrins, integrin alphaIIb beta3 (GPIIb/IIIa) and integrin alpha2 beta1 (GPIa/IIa) because these integrins are major components of the platelet membrane proteins and are known to contribute to platelet adhesion to fibrin(ogen) and collagen surfaces, respectively. These integrins bind soluble ligands (fibrinogen or collagen) after platelets are activated but only have low affinity towards these ligands when platelets are in the resting state. We describe the binding properties of these integrins and discuss the mechanism for the activation of these integrins. Platelets can adhere to fibrin(ogen) or collagen immobilized on a surface. When platelets adhere to a collagen- or fibrin-coated surface, they become activated and form aggregates; this is especially prominent under flow conditions. We discuss the contribution of these integrins and non-integrin proteins, GPIb and GPVI, to the platelet adhesion on to the collagen surface, especially under flow conditions, a system that most closely approximates platelet adhesion in vivo.

Platelet adhesion to collagen activates a phosphoprotein complex of heat-shock proteins and protein phosphatase 1.

Rapid activation of blood platelets is required for effective haemostasis, with shape change, aggregation, secretion of granule contents and cell adhesion occurring in seconds or even milliseconds. Signal-transduction events, evidenced by changes in protein phosphorylation and calcium levels, also take place in this time domain. We have now shown that platelet adhesion to collagen via the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin under arterial shear forces initiated the rapid dephosphorylation of a 67 kDa protein "band" which contained the 70 kDa constitutive heat-shock protein, hsc70. Immunoprecipitation with hsc70 antibodies revealed a large phosphoprotein complex in resting platelets and adhesion caused dissociation of the complex along with dephosphorylation of hsc70. The complex also contained the hsp90 heat-shock protein, protein phosphatase IC, alpha, delta and M subunits, and some 7-8 unidentified phosphoproteins. The data suggest that heat-shock proteins and protein phosphatases are actively involved in integrin-mediated platelet adhesion.

Distinct determinants on collagen support alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-mediated platelet adhesion and platelet activation.

Recent studies have revealed that the sequence of amino acids asp-gly-glu-ala represents an essential determinant of the site within the alpha 1(I)-CB3 fragment of collagen recognized by the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin cell surface collagen receptor (Staatz et al., 1991). Studies employing chemical modifications of collagen amino acid side chains confirm both the essential nature of the acidic side chains of aspartic acid and glutamic acid residues and the nonessentiality of lysine epsilon-amino groups in supporting adhesion mediated by the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin. The approach also indicates the presence of a distinct determinant on collagen separate from the alpha 2 beta 1 recognition site that contains essential lysine side chains and that is necessary for subsequent interactions with the platelet surface that give rise to collagen-induced platelet activation and secretion. The two-step, two-site model for cellular signaling involving both an integrin and a signal-transducing coreceptor suggested by these data may be common to other integrin-mediated processes.