Thrombin Receptor Peptide Research Articles

Synthesis and activities of cyclic thrombin-receptor-derived peptide analogues of the Ser42-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg46 motif sequence containing d-Phe and/or d-Arg

Cyclic analogues of the active thrombin receptor peptide SFLLR (TRP42–46) containingd-Phe and/ord-Arg have been prepared by the solid-phase method, purified by reversed-phase HPLC and bioassayed in a rat smooth muscle contractile assay. Cyclization was achieved by forming an amide linkage between the-NH2 and-COOH groups of the two leucine residues located at the N- and C-terminal positions of the linear protected precursor H2N-Leu-Arg(Pmc)-Y-Phe-Leu-OH (Y=Gly,Acp) using 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluoroborate borate (HBTU) or 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium tetrafluoroborate (TBTU) as coupling reagents andN,N′-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) in high dilution. Their structure was confirmed by fast by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and NMR methods. The cyclic peptides c-fLLrG, c-fLLRG, c-FLLrG and c-fLLrAcp, c-FLLrAcp so synthesized were assessed for their contractile activity in a rat gastric longitudinal muscle bioassay system which has been used previously to evaluate the biological activities of linear thrombin-receptor-derived polypeptides such as SFLLR (P5) and SFLLR-NH2 (P5-NH2).

Bradykinin and its metabolite, Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe, are selective inhibitors of alpha-thrombin-induced platelet activation.

Plasma kininogens are selective inhibitors of alpha-thrombin activation of platelets and endothelial cells. In the present study, we localized the alpha-thrombin inhibitory sequence of kininogens and describe its mechanism of action. Bradykinin and an analogue, MKRPPGFSPFRSSRIG, inhibited alpha-thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and secretion with an IC50 of 0.25 and 1 mmol/L and of 0.23 and 0.5 mmol/L, respectively. The minimal inhibitory peptide was RPPGF. Bradykinin and its analogues did not inhibit ADP-, collagen-, U46619-, or SFLLRN-induced platelet activation or the ability of alpha-thrombin to cleave chromogenic substrates, clot fibrinogen, or block alpha-thrombin binding to platelets. Bradykinin, MKRPPGFSPFRSSRIG, and RPPGF abolished alpha-thrombin-induced (1 nmol/L) calcium mobilization. On flow cytometry, bradykinin and MKRPPGFSPFRSSRIG blocked alpha-thrombin from removing the epitope of its cleavage site on the cloned thrombin receptor. Furthermore, peptide RPPGF or high-molecular-weight kininogen prevented alpha-thrombin from cleaving the thrombin receptor peptide, NATLDPRSFLLR, between arginine and serine. These results indicate that bradykinin and its metabolites are selective antithrombins by preventing alpha-thrombin cleavage of the cloned thrombin receptor between arginine-41 and serine-42. These newly recognized antithrombin peptides, which are termed thrombostatins, contribute to the cardioprotective nature of kinins.

Thrombin Primes Responsiveness of Selective Chemoattractant Receptors at a Site Distal to G Protein Activation

To define the molecular basis of human chemoattractant receptor regulation, rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells, which are thrombin-responsive, were transfected to stably express epitope-tagged receptors for C5a, interleukin-8 (IL-8), formylpeptides (e.g. N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)), and platelet-activating factor (PAF). Here we demonstrate that both thrombin and a synthetic peptide ligand for the thrombin receptor (sequence SFLLRN) caused phosphorylation and heterologous desensitization of the receptors for C5a, IL-8, and PAF but not that for formylpeptides as measured by agonist-stimulated [35S]guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate binding to membranes. Consistent with the PAF receptor phosphorylation, both thrombin and thrombin receptor peptide inhibited phosphoinositide hydrolysis, Ca2+ mobilization, and degranulation stimulated by PAF. Unexpectedly, despite heterologous desensitization at the level of receptor/G protein activation, there was enhancement ("priming") by thrombin of subsequent activities stimulated by C5a and IL-8 as well as fMLP. The priming effect of thrombin was blocked by its inhibitor, hirudin. However, two other activators of the thrombin receptor, the peptide SFLLRN and trypsin, stimulated Ca2+ mobilization in RBL-2H3 cells but did not cause priming. In addition, SFLLRN and the thrombin receptor antagonist peptide FLLRN both inhibited thrombin-induced Ca2+ mobilization but not priming. Furthermore, the proteolytically active gamma-thrombin, which does not stimulate the tethered ligand thrombin receptor and caused little or no Ca2+ mobilization in RBL-2H3 cells, effectively primed the response to fMLP. These data demonstrate that heterologous receptor phosphorylation and attenuation of G protein activation are not, by themselves, sufficient for the inhibition of biological responses mediated by C5a and IL-8. Moreover, thrombin appears to utilize mechanism(s) independent of its tethered ligand receptor to selectively prime phospholipase C-mediated biological responses of the C5a, IL-8, and formylpeptide receptors but not PAF. Because C5a, IL-8, and formylpeptide activate phospholipase Cbeta2, whereas PAF stimulates a different phospholipase C, the striking selectivity of thrombin's priming may be mediated via its ability to enhance receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase Cbeta2.

Lipopeptide conjugates: biomolecular building blocks for receptor activating membrane-mimetic structures

A simple method for the derivatization of phospholipid subunits with short peptide sequences is presented. Amphiphilic conjugates of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and the minimal human thrombin-receptor peptide agonist SFLLRN were synthesized via coupling of the bromoacetyl derivative of DSPE (PEBr) with a thiol-terminated decapeptide of SFLLRN. Bromoderivatization of DSPE was performed by condensation of bromoacetic acid and DSPE, with an overall yield of 40%. Coupling of PEBr and the unprotected thiol-terminated decapeptide was performed in chloroform/ methanol/water in the presence of triethylamine and afforded 25.5% of the lipopeptide. The compound was characterized by TLC, 1H-NMR (600 MHz) and mass spectrometry. Lipopeptide bioactivity was confirmed by a platelet aggregation assay. The EC 50 of the all- l amino acid lipopeptide was 38 ± 3 μM. The all- d conjugate was inactive. Model receptor-activating systems, including well-ordered assemblies of amphiphilic phospholipid-peptide conjugates, represent the first step in the construction of bioactive surfaces for tissue engineering based on a membrane-mimetic approach.

Development of a potent thrombin receptor ligand.

The N-terminal thrombin receptor peptide H-Ser-Phe-Leu-Leu-Arg-Asn-Pro-Asn-Asp-Lys-Tyr-Glu-Pro-Phe-OH (1) fully activates the thrombin receptor with an EC50 of 10 microM. Structural features in the tetradecapeptide which are responsible for receptor activation have been elucidated. Agonist potency has been enhanced 1000-fold with the design of the shortened peptide H-Ala-Phe(p-F)-Arg-Cha-HArg-Tyr-NH2 (56). This analog exhibits an EC50 of 0.01 microM and is the most potent agonist for receptor activation reported to date. The monoiodinated derivative H-Ala-Phe(p-F)-Arg-Cha-HArg-Tyr(3-I)-NH2 (59) exhibits an EC50 of 0.03 microM, a level sufficient for development of a radioligand.

Effects of α-thrombin and thrombin receptor peptides on intestinal subepithelial myofibroblast morphological differentiation: [formula omitted], J.D. Valentich, D.W. Powell, D.H. Carney, J. Stiernberg. Depts. of Internal Medicine and Human Biological Chemistr & Genetics, University of TX Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Effects of α-thrombin and thrombin receptor peptides on intestinal subepithelial myofibroblast morphological differentiation: [formula omitted], J.D. Valentich, D.W. Powell, D.H. Carney, J. Stiernberg. Depts. of Internal Medicine and Human Biological Chemistr & Genetics, University of TX Medical Branch, Galveston, TX

Growth-related Responses in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells Are Arrested by Thrombin Receptor Antisense Sequences

The capacity of antisense sequences to the thrombin receptor to selectively inhibit thrombin receptor expression and limit mitogenic responses in vascular wall cells was investigated in vitro. Eight phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides based on the sequences of the rat thrombin receptor (including sense, antisense, scrambled, and missense controls) were synthesized, characterized, and purified by high performance liquid chromatography. The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN 4) inhibitory effect was sequence-specific and both time-and concentration-dependent. A reduction in serum or alpha-thrombin-induced smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation was noted as early as 3 days at 30 microM (82%; 6.17 +/- 1.01 versus 34.08 +/- 3.89 x 10(4) cells/well; p < 0.05) and at a dose as low as 15 microM after 4 days in culture (19%; p < 0.05). Nonspecific effects were enhanced after prolonged exposure of SMC to the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (> or = 6 days). A reduction of inositol phosphate generation greater than 50% (p < 0.05) was detected after exposure of SMC to antisense but not to sense or scrambled nucleotide sequences. This was observed after stimulation with both thrombin and SFFLRN (thrombin receptor peptide agonist). Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed 50 and 22% decreases, respectively, in thrombin receptor mRNA and protein (cell surface) levels in antisense oligonucleotide-treated (72 h) SMC as compared to untreated cells, suggesting that thrombin receptor down-regulation occurred at the pretranslational level. Thus, thrombin receptor-specific antisense sequences inhibit growth-related effects both of serum and thrombin on smooth muscle cells, potentially providing a new strategy for selective inhibition of receptor-mediated arterial injury responses.

Platelet aggregation monitored in a 96 well microplate reader is useful for evaluation of platelet agonists and antagonists

Optimal conditions for a method to simultaneously measure aggregation in 96 samples using a microplate reader were developed. The temperature of the assay was set at 25°C, the optimal platelet concentration range was determined to be from 1–3 × 10 8 per mL, the assay volume was determined to be best at 100 μL and an agitation rate of setting #5 on the vortex was found to yield the most reliable aggregation response. After these initial assay parameters were established, EC 50 values for standard platelet agonists including ADP, thrombin, collagen and thrombin receptor activating peptides were determined using the plate assay and compared to those obtained by measuring light transmittance in an aggregometer. The results were quantitatively similar, and qualitatively the shapes of the aggregations as monitored by both methods were characteristic of those expected for each agonist. The use of this assay was then extended to quantitate the inhibition of aggregation by antagonists of the fibrinogen receptor as well as by an inactive thrombin receptor peptide and by antibodies against the thrombin receptor. This method provided useful data for characterization of both platelet agonists and antagonists and should be useful for future platelet aggregation studies.

Contrasting Effects of Thrombin and the Thrombin Receptor Peptide, SFLLRN, on Aggregation and Release of 14C-Serotonin by Human Platelets Pretreated with Chymotrypsin or Serratia marcescens Protease

Chymotrypsin cleaves glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) on platelets and reduces their responsiveness to thrombin; platelets from patients with the Bernard-Soulier syndrome, which lack GPIb, are also less responsive to thrombin than platelets from normal donors. However, Bernard-Soulier platelets respond normally to the thrombin receptor peptide SFLLRN (13). We compared responses of 14C-serotonin-labeled, chymotrypsin-treated platelets (and control platelets) to thrombin (0.25-2 U/ml) and SFLLRN (5-40 microM). Chymotrypsin treatment strongly inhibited thrombin-induced aggregation and release of 14C-serotonin when concentrations of thrombin of 0.5 U/ml or lower were used, even though these responses of control platelets remained near the maximum. In contrast, there was little difference between the responses of control and chymotrypsin-treated platelets to SFLLRN, even when the responses of control platelets were less than maximal. Thus, chymotrypsin treatment greatly inhibits the response to thrombin of the seven transmembrane domain thrombin receptor cloned by Coughlin's group (1, 2). Since Serratia marcescens protease also hydrolyses GPIb, but has less effect than chymotrypsin on other glycoproteins, we pretreated platelets with several concentrations of S. marcescens protease. Concentrations that abolished aggregation and release of 14C-serotonin in response to thrombin had little effect on these responses to SFLLRN. One interpretation of these findings would be that by cleaving GPIb, both proteases are affecting an interaction that may be important for activation of the cloned receptor by thrombin, but irrelevant to activation of this receptor by SFLLRN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Binding of biotinylated thrombin receptor peptide to cloned human thrombin receptor overexpressed in baby hamster kidney cells.

Baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells transfected with an expression vector for the human thrombin receptor, and then treated with basic fibroblast growth factor, were found to express specific and saturable binding sites for biotinylated thrombin receptor peptide (SFLLRNPNDKYEPF). Analysis of the binding to live BHK cells yielded an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 3.0 +/- 0.3 mu mol/l and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 31.0 +/- 0.5 nmol/mg of protein. In competitive binding experiments, the thrombin receptor agonist peptide (SFLLRN), which is a strong inducer of human platelet aggregation, was the most potent competitor. In contrast, position 1 to 2 inverted peptides such as FSLLRNPNDKYEPF and FSLLRNP, which fail to induce for the platelet aggregation, were less potent. This simple and convenient binding assay system using the biotinylated thrombin receptor peptide as a labeled ligand and the cloned thrombin receptor overexpressed in BHK cells may be useful for exploring specific antagonists of the receptor.

Thrombin Prevents the Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by a Proteolytically-Activated Thrombin Receptor

Proteolytically active forms of thrombin ( alpha- and gamma-thrombin) and thrombin receptor peptides inhibited the release of nitrite, a stable endproduct of nitric oxide, evoked by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta ) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells while proteolytically inactive forms [D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone-alpha-thrombin (PPACK-alpha-thrombin) and diisopropylphosphoryl-alpha-thrombin (DIP-alpha-thrombin)] had either no or only minimal inhibitory effects. Under bioassay conditions, perfusates from columns containing IL-1 beta-activated vascular smooth muscle cells or cells treated with IL-1 beta plus PPACK-alpha-thrombin relaxed detector blood vessels. These relaxations were abolished by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, NG-nitro-L-arginine. No relaxations were obtained with untreated cells or IL-1 beta-treated cells in the presence of alpha-thrombin. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein in vascular smooth muscle cells by IL-1 beta was impaired by alpha-thrombin. These results demonstrate that thrombin regulates the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase at a transcriptional level via the proteolytic activation of the thrombin receptor in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Analogues of the thrombin receptor tetrered-ligand enhance mesangial cell proliferation

Thrombin stimulates cytosolic calcium mobilization and tritiated thymidine incorporation in rat glomerular mesangial cells. This effect may be mwediatyed by a a thrombin recepto similar to the receptor found in human platelets. In order to test this possibility, a series of analogues of the thrombin receptor peptide, SFLL-RNPNDKYEPF, was evaluated for thier effects on mesangial cells. Analogues of the thrombin receptor peptide containing five, six, seven and 14 amino acids were as efficacious as thrombin with resepct to calcium mobilization and thymidine incorporation, although they were significantly less potent. The dissimilarity in potency between thrombin and the thrombin receptor peptides is consistent with the kinetics of the proposed mechanism of action of the enzyme, since the cleavage by thrombin of its receptor results in a tethered ligand which is at a relatively high concentration compared tot he free pepetides in solution. Those thrombin recepto peptide analogues which showed decreased activity in platelets were tested in mesangiall cells. Removal of serine at position one, N-acetylation, or replacement of the phenylalanine at position two with alanine resulted in analogues which were inactive in stimulating mesangial cell prolideration of calcium mobilization. In addition, those analogues which had no stimulatory effects in mesingial cells were not antagonists of SFLLR-mediated calcium mobilization and thymidine incorporation in mesangial cells.

Mouse fibroblasts defective in thrombin mitogenesis possess functional proteolytically activated receptor for thrombin: requirement for a second signaling pathway.

Thrombin mitogenesis in fibroblasts requires two distinguishable subsets of signals; one generated by proteolytic cleavage, the other by high-affinity cell surface binding. Characterizing two closely related mouse embryo (ME) cell lines with high numbers of thrombin binding sites, we found that one line, B11-A, responds mitogenically to thrombin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and serum, whereas the B11-B cell line is responsive to EGF and serum, but not to thrombin. The B11-B defect responsible for loss of thrombin responsiveness is not due to differences in the number of high-affinity binding sites, the affinity of thrombin binding to these sites, or to differences in cell surface expression of proteolytically activated receptors for thrombin (PART). The defect is also not associated with an inability of thrombin to activate PART since thrombin stimulates the cleavage-dependent induction of the proto-oncogene c-fos in both B11-A and B11-B cells. Various combinations of thrombin, synthetic thrombin receptor peptide, TRP-14 (SFFLRNPGENTFEL), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) were used to better define the defect in thrombin-mediated mitogenesis in B11-B cells. Direct activation of protein kinase C with PMA in combination with thrombin did not overcome B11-B nonresponsiveness. However, mitogenic responsiveness was regained in B11-B cells by simultaneous addition of PDGF and either thrombin or TRP-14. Therefore, the B11-B defect may involve a set of signals initiated by nonproteolytic thrombin interactions distinct from those initiated by PART, but related to the downstream signals initiated by the tyrosine kinase-associated growth factors, EGF and PDGF.

Modulation of thrombin and thrombin receptor peptide mitogenicity by human lung mast cell tryptase

In previous studies, mast cell tryptase acted as a potent mitogen for fibroblasts from human lung and rodent embryonic tissue but failed to stimulate growth of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The current study shows that tryptase inhibits DNA synthesis in VSMC stimulated by thrombin. However, it does not affect the stimulation of DNA synthesis by the synthetic thrombin receptor peptide Ser-Phe-Phe-Leu-Arg-Asn-Pro (SFFLRNP), which mimics the amino-terminus of thrombin receptor proteolytically activated by thrombin. Nor does tryptase alter the mitogenic response of VSMC to purified growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). These data suggest that tryptase inhibits thrombin-induced DNA synthesis without interfering with intracellular mitogenic signaling pathways activated by thrombin or other growth factors. This study further suggests that tryptase neither cleaves nor inactivates thrombin. Therefore, inhibition of thrombin's mitogenic effects by tryptase is not mediated by destruction of thrombin itself. The inhibition by tryptase of thrombin-induced DNA synthesis in VSMC contrasts with the stimulatory effect of tryptase on fibroblasts, in which synergy is observed with thrombin, with thrombin receptor peptide and with other growth factors. These data provide in vitro evidence that mast cell tryptase interferes with thrombin-stimulated vascular smooth muscle growth and suggest that tryptase is a multifunctional growth factor whose actions are cell specific.

Crystallographic structures of thrombin complexed with thrombin receptor peptides: existence of expected and novel binding modes.

Many of the vital actions of thrombin on platelets and other cells appear to be mediated by the recently cloned seven-transmembrane-domain thrombin receptor. Thrombin activates this receptor by a novel proteolytic mechanism. The amino-terminal exodomain of the receptor contains the sequence LDPRSFLLRNPNDKYEPF. Structure-activity studies with mutant receptors and receptor peptides suggest that this sequence binds to thrombin at two sites: LDPR with the active center of thrombin and KYEPF with the fibrinogen recognition exosite of thrombin. Thrombin then cleaves the Arg41-Ser42 bond to unmask a new amino terminus, which functions as a tethered peptide ligand binding to as yet undefined sites within the body of the receptor to effect receptor activation. We have determined eight crystal structures of thrombin complexed with receptor-based peptides. Each of the two components of the bidentate docking model was captured in individual cocrystals. In one crystal type, the LDPR sequence docked in the active center of thrombin in a manner analogous to d-PheProArg chloromethyl ketone. In other crystals, the KYEPF sequence bound in the fibrinogen anion binding exosite of thrombin in a manner analogous to the DFEEI sequence of the carboxylate-terminal peptide of hirudin. Strikingly, however, generation of a single crystal that includes both components of the anticipated bidentate binding mode was not achieved, apparently because the peptides have a dominant solution S-like conformation that does not bind in a productive way at the active center. This peptide structure apparently favored a novel alternative mode of receptor peptide-thrombin interaction in which the receptor peptides formed an intermolecular bridge between neighboring thrombin molecules, resulting in an infinite peptide thrombin chain in crystals. In this structure, the KYEPF sequence docked in the expected manner at the exosite of one thrombin molecule, but the LDPR sequence docked in an unusual nonproductive mode with the active center of a neighboring molecule. Mutations that removed important determinants of the S-like receptor peptide structure underlying the bridging mode in the receptor itself did not significantly alter thrombin signaling. Additionally, a comparison of receptor density to the responsiveness of a cell did not support a role for receptor oligomerization in signaling. The physiological role for this unexpected intermolecular binding mode, if any, remains to be identified.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Disagregin is a fibrinogen receptor antagonist lacking the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence from the tick, Ornithodoros moubata.

A platelet aggregation inhibitor was identified in the salivary gland of the tick Ornithodoros moubata and isolated by gel filtration and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The purified inhibitor is a approximately 6-kDa protein, which we have named disagregin. It inhibits ADP-stimulated platelet aggregation in plasma with an IC50 = 104 +/- 17 nM. Disagregin also inhibits platelet aggregation induced by other agonists, including collagen, epinephrine, platelet-activating factor, thrombin, and the thrombin receptor peptide SFLLRNPNDKYEPF. It does not, however, affect platelet shape change induced by these agonists or thrombin-induced dense granule release. Disagregin inhibits platelet aggregation by binding to the platelet fibrinogen receptor. 125I-Disagregin forms a specific complex with both subunits of the fibrinogen receptor, glycoproteins IIb and IIIa, in the presence of a chemical cross-linker. It binds to unstimulated platelets with a Kd = 42.5 +/- 7.5 nM (23,800 +/- 1600 sites/platelet) and to ADP-stimulated platelets with Kd = 39.4 +/- 6.6 nM (24,050 +/- 1500 sites/platelet). Unlabeled disagregin and the snake venom disintegrin echistatin both compete for this binding. Disagregin also completely blocks platelet adhesion to fibrinogen while partially inhibiting platelet adhesion to fibronectin and having little effect on platelet adhesion to collagen. Disagregin had no effect on the adhesion of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells to fibrinogen or vitronectin. These cells lack the glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex; therefore, this result is consistent with the ability of disagregin to bind selectively to platelet glycoproteins IIb and IIIa. Sequence analysis of disagregin revealed 60 residues composing a unique protein. Unlike other fibrinogen antagonists it does not contain the Arg-Gly-Asp cell recognition sequence or a conservative substitution, and it has no structural homology with the Arg-Gly-Asp-containing snake venom disintegrins. Thus, disagregin is unique both in structure and function and may serve as a useful tool for the design of therapeutically useful antithrombotic agents.

Thrombin receptor peptides induce shape change in neonatal murine astrocytes in culture.

Astrocytes appear star-shaped in the brain, increasingly so after injury. When astroglia are cultured in serum-containing medium, they exhibit a flat, fibroblast-like morphology. In serum-free medium, astrocytes become stellate, with many long processes. The serine protease alpha-thrombin mimics the effects of serum at subnanomolar concentrations, whereas the thrombin-inhibiting serpin, protease nexin I (PNI), reverses the thrombin effect. In our current experiments, murine neonatal spinal cord astrocytes became stellate after 4 hr in serum-free medium, while cortical astrocytes required 12 hr in serum-free medium for stellation. Astrocytes from either region flattened after 60 min in medium containing 3.0 to 300 pM proteolytically active human alpha-thrombin. After 12 hr in thrombin-containing medium, 98% of the astrocytes had a flattened morphology. No flattening occurred if alpha-thrombin was replaced by gamma-thrombin, which has its fibrinogen-recognition exosite disrupted. PNI added at 1 nM to serum-containing medium caused stellation after 3 hr, and astroglia were 50% stellate by 12 hr. The effect of thrombin was mimicked by a 7-amino acid peptide (TRP-7) from the cleavage site of the human thrombin receptor. This peptide caused 40% of the astrocytes in serum-free medium to exhibit a flattened morphology after 6 hr. PNI had no effect on TRP-7 action on astrocytes. These results indicate that astrocytes possess a cell-surface receptor for thrombin, similar to that described for platelets, endothelial cells, and neurons.

Immunologic analysis of the cloned platelet thrombin receptor activation mechanism: evidence supporting receptor cleavage, release of the N-terminal peptide, and insertion of the tethered ligand into a protected environment

The recently cloned functional thrombin receptor is thought to be activated by thrombin cleavage of the bond between R41 and S42, followed by the insertion of the new N-terminal region (“tethered ligand”) into an unknown site in the receptor. Antibodies to peptides at or near the cleavage site have been reported to inhibit thrombin- induced platelet activation to varying extents, but the precise mechanism(s) of their inhibition is unknown. We have produced: (1) a polyclonal antibody in rabbits to a peptide containing amino acids 34 to 52 (anti-TR34–52); enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) indicate that anti-TR34–52 contains antibodies to regions on both sides of the thrombin cleavage site; (2) two murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to a peptide containing amino acids 29 to 68; one antibody reacts primarily with residues N-terminal to the thrombin cleavage site, and the other reacts primarily with residues C-terminal to the cleavage site; and (3) a polyclonal rabbit antibody to a peptide containing amino acids 83 to 94 (anti-TR83–94). Anti-TR34–52 binds to platelets as judged by flow cytometry, and pretreating platelets with a thrombin receptor peptide ligand does not lead to loss of antibody reactivity, suggesting that platelet activation does not initiate redistribution or internalization of surface thrombin receptors. In contrast, pretreating platelets with thrombin leads to complete loss of anti-TR34–52 binding. Similarly, the binding of both MoAbs to platelets is dramatically reduced by pretreatment with thrombin. However, the binding of anti-TR83–94 is not decreased by thrombin activation, confirming that the receptor is not internalized. Anti-TR34–52 profoundly inhibits low dose thrombin-induced platelet shape change and aggregation, but the inhibition can be overcome with higher thrombin doses. However, anti-TR34–52 does not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by tethered ligand peptides. The TR34–52 peptide is a thrombin substrate, with cleavage occurring at the R41-S42 bond as judged by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and platelet aggregation analysis. Anti-TR34–52 prevented cleavage of the TR34–52 peptide, suggesting that the antibody prevents platelet activation, at least in part, by preventing cleavage of the thrombin receptor. These data, although indirect, provide additional support for a thrombin activation mechanism involving thrombin cleavage of the receptor; in addition, they provide new evidence indicating that receptor cleavage is followed by loss of the N-terminal peptide, and insertion of the tethered ligand into a protected domain.

Immunologic Analysis of the Cloned Platelet Thrombin Receptor Activation Mechanism: Evidence Supporting Receptor Cleavage, Release of the N-Terminal Peptide, and Insertion of the Tethered Ligand Into a Protected Environment

The recently cloned functional thrombin receptor is thought to be activated by thrombin cleavage of the bond between R41 and S42, followed by the insertion of the new N-terminal region ("tethered ligand") into an unknown site in the receptor. Antibodies to peptides at or near the cleavage site have been reported to inhibit thrombin-induced platelet activation to varying extents, but the precise mechanism(s) of their inhibition is unknown. We have produced: (1) a polyclonal antibody in rabbits to a peptide containing amino acids 34 to 52 (anti-TR34-52); enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) indicate that anti-TR34-52 contains antibodies to regions on both sides of the thrombin cleavage site; (2) two murine monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to a peptide containing amino acids 29 to 68; one antibody reacts primarily with residues N-terminal to the thrombin cleavage site, and the other reacts primarily with residues C-terminal to the cleavage site; and (3) a polyclonal rabbit antibody to a peptide containing amino acids 83 to 94 (anti-TR83-94). Anti-TR34-52 binds to platelets as judged by flow cytometry, and pretreating platelets with a thrombin receptor peptide ligand does not lead to loss of antibody reactivity, suggesting that platelet activation does not initiate redistribution or internalization of surface thrombin receptors. In contrast, pretreating platelets with thrombin leads to complete loss of anti-TR34-52 binding. Similarly, the binding of both MoAbs to platelets is dramatically reduced by pretreatment with thrombin. However, the binding of anti-TR83-94 is not decreased by thrombin activation, confirming that the receptor is not internalized. Anti-TR34-52 profoundly inhibits low dose thrombin-induced platelet shape change and aggregation, but the inhibition can be overcome with higher thrombin doses. However, anti-TR34-52 does not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by tethered ligand peptides. The TR34-52 peptide is a thrombin substrate, with cleavage occurring at the R41-S42 bond as judged by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and platelet aggregation analysis. Anti-TR34-52 prevented cleavage of the TR34-52 peptide, suggesting that the antibody prevents platelet activation, at least in part, by preventing cleavage of the thrombin receptor. These data, although indirect, provide additional support for a thrombin activation mechanism involving thrombin cleavage of the receptor; in addition, they provide new evidence indicating that receptor cleavage is followed by loss of the N-terminal peptide, and insertion of the tethered ligand into a protected domain.

Isoproterenol antagonizes endothelial permeability induced by thrombin and thrombin receptor peptide

We determined whether 1) amino-terminal peptides of the thrombin receptor increase endothelial permeability to a comparable extent as alpha-thrombin does, 2) isoproterenol attenuates the thrombin-induced increase in endothelial permeability by an antagonistic action to that of thrombin or by lowering baseline permeability, and 3) isoproterenol decreases permeability via stimulation of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor. Permeability across monolayers of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CCL 209) was assessed by the clearance of 125I-labeled albumin. Thrombin receptor peptides increased permeability at 1 microM but required a dose of between 10 and 100 microM to equal the permeability response of 1 microM alpha-thrombin. Dose-response experiments demonstrated that isoproterenol antagonized the action of alpha-thrombin and a thrombin receptor peptide on endothelial permeability and that it lowered baseline permeability. This permeability-decreasing action of isoproterenol occurred via stimulation of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor. Terbutaline, a partial beta 2-agonist, prevented the thrombin-induced permeability, but dobutamine, a partial beta 1-agonist, did not. The active stereoisomer of terbutaline and the racemic form mimicked the action of isoproterenol, but the inactive stereoisomer had no effect. ICI-118,551, a specific beta 2-receptor antagonist, prevented the permeability-decreasing action of isoproterenol, whereas ICI-89,406, a specific beta 1-receptor antagonist, did not. Competitive binding studies of 125I-pindolol with ICI-118,551 or ICI-89,406 demonstrated the presence of beta-adrenergic receptors, predominantly beta 2-receptors, on cell membrane homogenates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)