FUNDC2 regulates platelet activation through AKT/GSK-3β/cGMP axis

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (11) ◽  
pp. 1672-1679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Ma ◽  
Weilin Zhang ◽  
Chongzhuo Zhu ◽  
Junling Liu ◽  
Quan Chen

Abstract Aims AKT kinase is vital for regulating signal transduction in platelet aggregation. We previously found that mitochondrial protein FUNDC2 mediates phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3)-dependent AKT phosphorylation and regulates platelet apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of FUNDC2 in platelet activation and aggregation. Methods and results We demonstrated that FUNDC2 deficiency diminished platelet aggregation in response to a variety of agonists, including adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), collagen, ristocetin/VWF, and thrombin. Consistently, in vivo assays of tail bleeding and thrombus formation showed that FUNDC2-knockout mice displayed deficiency in haemostasis and thrombosis. Mechanistically, FUNDC2 deficiency impairs the phosphorylation of AKT and downstream GSK-3β in a PI3K-dependent manner. Moreover, cGMP also plays an important role in FUNDC2/AKT-mediated platelet activation. This FUNDC2/AKT/GSK-3β/cGMP axis also regulates clot retraction of platelet-rich plasma. Conclusion FUNDC2 positively regulates platelet functions via AKT/GSK-3β/cGMP signalling pathways, which provides new insight for platelet-related diseases.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 3513-3513
Author(s):  
Wenxiu Yi ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Lijie Ren ◽  
Xinliang Mao ◽  
Li Zhu

Abstract The phosphatidylinositol 3' –kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway has been shown to be critical in modulating platelet function and increasing number of studies have been focusing on the development of PI3K inhibitors to modulate platelet function. We recently identified a novel small molecule compound S14161, namely 8-ethoxy-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-nitro-2H-chromene, displaying potent antileukemia and antimyeloma activity via inhibition of the PI3K pathway (Mao et al, Blood, 2011, 117:1986). In the present study, we evaluated the effect of S14161 on platelet activation and the underlying mechanisms. Gel-filtered human platelets were isolated from venous blood of healthy adults and the effect of S14161 on platelet aggregation in response to agonists was determined. Results showed that S14161 inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen, convulxin, thrombin, PAR1 agonist peptide SFLLRN, and U46619 in a dose dependent manner (2.5-10μM) with the most striking inhibition for collagen by 89.8% (P<0.001, n=3) and for U46619 by 94.3% (P<0.001, n=3), respectively compared to vehicle-treated samples when 10μM S14161 was used. Flow cytometry studies showed that S14161 inhibits convulxin- or thrombin-induced P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding of single platelet. S14161 also inhibited platelet spreading on fibrinogen and clot retraction, processes mediated by outside-in signaling. Using a microfluidic chamber we demonstrated that incubation of S14161 decreases platelet adhesion on collagen-coated surface by about 80% at various time points of blood flow in the chambers. Western blot showed that similar to LY294002, the classic PI3K inhibitor, S14161 inhibited phosphorylation of Akt Ser473 and Akt Thr308 in response to collagen, thrombin, or U46619, implying the involvement of PI3K pathway. Additionally, S14161 inhibited MAPK/ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Finally, the effects of S14161 on thrombus formation in vivo were measured using a ferric chloride-induced carotid artery injury model in mice. The intraperitoneal injection of S14161 (2mg/kg) to male C57BL6/J mice significantly extended the first occlusion time (5.05±0.99 min, N=9) compared to the vehicle controls (3.72±0.95 min, N=8) (P<0.05), but did not increase the bleeding time (P>0.05). Taken together, our data showed that S14161 inhibits platelet activation and thrombus formation, and may be developed as a novel therapeutic agent for the prevention of thrombotic disorders. (This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China 81170132 to Li Zhu) Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1131-1131
Author(s):  
Jasna Marjanovic ◽  
Brad Rumancik ◽  
Luke Weber ◽  
Felix Wangmang ◽  
Dane Fickes ◽  
...  

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol-3,4-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P2) is a messenger that accumulates in platelets in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase and platelet aggregation-dependent manner. PtdIns(3,4)P2 is broken down by inositol polyphosphate 4-phosphatases, type I (INPP4A) and type II (INPP4B). These enzymes do not catalyze hydrolysis of phosphoinositides other than PtdIns(3,4)P2, and therefore provide unique means for studying the role of this lipid in platelet activation. We have found that the dominant isoform of 4-phosphatases expressed in platelets is INPP4A and we have generated radiation chimera mice with the deficiency in INPP4A restricted to hematopoietic cell lineage. Compared to wild type platelets, agonist-stimulated INPP4A-deficient platelets accumulated higher levels of PtdIns(3,4)P2. An increase in platelet aggregation in INPP4A-deficient platelets was observed with all tested agonists. To study platelet function in vivo, we performed carotid artery injury mouse thrombosis model experiments. Time to occlusion was dramatically reduced in mice with INPP4A deficiency. These data support the hypothesis that by regulating PtdIns(3,4)P2 levels, INPP4A downregulates platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. To investigate mechanisms mediating INPP4A-dependent signals, we compared levels of phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) in wild type and INPP4A-deficient platelets in response to agonist stimulation. An increase in phospho-Akt levels was observed in INPP4A-deficient platelets, suggesting that in addition to its well-characterized regulator, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, PtdIns(3,4)P2 can promote Akt activation. Interestingly, this was not accompanied by a significant increase in phospho-GSK levels, suggesting a possible novel mechanism involved in platelet aggregation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Lu ◽  
Chi Chung ◽  
Ray Chen ◽  
Li Huang ◽  
Li Lien ◽  
...  

Phospholipase D (PLD) is involved in many biological processes. PLD1 plays a crucial role in regulating the platelet activity of mice; however, the role of PLD in the platelet activation of humans remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether PLD is involved in the platelet activation of humans. Our data revealed that inhibition of PLD1 or PLD2 using pharmacological inhibitors effectively inhibits platelet aggregation in humans. However, previous studies have showed that PLD1 or PLD2 deletion did not affect mouse platelet aggregation in vitro, whereas only PLD1 deletion inhibited thrombus formation in vivo. Intriguingly, our data also showed that the pharmacological inhibition of PLD1 or PLD2 does not affect mouse platelet aggregation in vitro, whereas the inhibition of only PLD1 delayed thrombus formation in vivo. These findings indicate that PLD may play differential roles in humans and mice. In humans, PLD inhibition attenuates platelet activation, adhesion, spreading, and clot retraction. For the first time, we demonstrated that PLD1 and PLD2 are essential for platelet activation in humans, and PLD plays different roles in platelet function in humans and mice. Our findings also indicate that targeting PLD may provide a safe and alternative therapeutic approach for preventing thromboembolic disorders.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1582-1589
Author(s):  
Mei-Chi Chang ◽  
Hui-Kuan Lin ◽  
Hui-Chin Peng ◽  
Tur-Fu Huang

A potent platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) antagonist, crotalin, with a molecular weight of 30 kD was purified from the snake venom ofCrotalus atrox. Crotalin specifically and dose dependently inhibited aggregation of human washed platelets induced by ristocetin with IC50 of 2.4 μg/mL (83 nmol/L). It was also active in inhibiting ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (IC50, 6.3 μg/mL). 125I-crotalin bound to human platelets in a saturable and dose-dependent manner with a kd value of 3.2 ± 0.1 × 10−7 mol/L, and its binding site was estimated to be 58,632 ± 3,152 per platelet. Its binding was specifically inhibited by a monoclonal antibody, AP1 raised against platelet GPIb. Crotalin significantly prolonged the latent period in triggering platelet aggregation caused by low concentration of thrombin (0.03 U/mL), and inhibited thromboxane B2formation of platelets stimulated either by ristocetin plus von Willebrand factor (vWF), or by thrombin (0.03 U/mL). When crotalin was intravenously (IV) administered to mice at 100 to 300 μg/kg, a dose-dependent prolongation on tail bleeding time was observed. The duration of crotalin in prolonging tail bleeding time lasted for 4 hours as crotalin was given at 300 μg/kg. In addition, its in vivo antithrombotic activity was evidenced by prolonging the latent period in inducing platelet-rich thrombus formation by irradiating the mesenteric venules of the fluorescein sodium-treated mice. When administered IV at 100 to 300 μg/kg, crotalin dose dependently prolonged the time lapse in inducing platelet-rich thrombus formation. In conclusion, crotalin specifically inhibited vWF-induced platelet agglutination in the presence of ristocetin because crotalin selectively bound to platelet surface receptor-glycoprotein Ib, resulting in the blockade of the interaction of vWF with platelet membrane GPIb. In addition, crotalin is a potent antithrombotic agent because it pronouncedly blocked platelet plug formation in vivo.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 1582-1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei-Chi Chang ◽  
Hui-Kuan Lin ◽  
Hui-Chin Peng ◽  
Tur-Fu Huang

AbstractA potent platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) antagonist, crotalin, with a molecular weight of 30 kD was purified from the snake venom ofCrotalus atrox. Crotalin specifically and dose dependently inhibited aggregation of human washed platelets induced by ristocetin with IC50 of 2.4 μg/mL (83 nmol/L). It was also active in inhibiting ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (IC50, 6.3 μg/mL). 125I-crotalin bound to human platelets in a saturable and dose-dependent manner with a kd value of 3.2 ± 0.1 × 10−7 mol/L, and its binding site was estimated to be 58,632 ± 3,152 per platelet. Its binding was specifically inhibited by a monoclonal antibody, AP1 raised against platelet GPIb. Crotalin significantly prolonged the latent period in triggering platelet aggregation caused by low concentration of thrombin (0.03 U/mL), and inhibited thromboxane B2formation of platelets stimulated either by ristocetin plus von Willebrand factor (vWF), or by thrombin (0.03 U/mL). When crotalin was intravenously (IV) administered to mice at 100 to 300 μg/kg, a dose-dependent prolongation on tail bleeding time was observed. The duration of crotalin in prolonging tail bleeding time lasted for 4 hours as crotalin was given at 300 μg/kg. In addition, its in vivo antithrombotic activity was evidenced by prolonging the latent period in inducing platelet-rich thrombus formation by irradiating the mesenteric venules of the fluorescein sodium-treated mice. When administered IV at 100 to 300 μg/kg, crotalin dose dependently prolonged the time lapse in inducing platelet-rich thrombus formation. In conclusion, crotalin specifically inhibited vWF-induced platelet agglutination in the presence of ristocetin because crotalin selectively bound to platelet surface receptor-glycoprotein Ib, resulting in the blockade of the interaction of vWF with platelet membrane GPIb. In addition, crotalin is a potent antithrombotic agent because it pronouncedly blocked platelet plug formation in vivo.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 426
Author(s):  
Yu-Ju Kuo ◽  
Yao Tsung Chang ◽  
Ching-Hu Chung ◽  
Woei-Jer Chuang ◽  
Tur-Fu Huang

Polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG), or PEGylation of polypeptides improves protein drug stability by decreasing degradation and reducing renal clearance. To produce a pharmaceutical disintegrin derivative, the N-terminal PEGylation technique was used to modify the disintegrin derivative [KGDRR]trimucrin for favorable safety, pharmacokinetic profiles, and antithrombotic efficacy. We compared intact [KGDRR]trimucrin (RR) and PEGylated KGDRR (PEG-RR) by in vitro and in vivo systems for their antithrombotic activities. The activity of platelet aggregation inhibition and the bleeding tendency side effect were also investigated. PEG-RR exhibited optimal potency in inhibiting platelet aggregation of human/mouse platelet-rich plasma activated by collagen or ADP with a lower IC50 than the intact derivative RR. In the illumination-induced mesenteric venous thrombosis model, RR and PEG-RR efficaciously prevented occlusive thrombosis in a dose-dependent manner. In rotational thromboelastometry assay, PEG-RR did not induce hypocoagulation in human whole blood even given at a higher concentration (30 μg/mL), while RR slightly prolonged clotting time. However, RR and PEG-RR were not associated with severe thrombocytopenia or bleeding in FcγRIIa-transgenic mice at equally efficacious antithrombotic dosages. We also found the in vivo half-life of PEGylation was longer than RR (RR: 15.65 h vs. PEG-RR: 20.45 h). In conclusion, injectable PEG-RR with prolonged half-life and decreased bleeding risk is a safer anti-thrombotic agent for long-acting treatment of thrombus diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 1731-1739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Lu ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Guangyu Wei ◽  
Qi Luo ◽  
Jianlin Qiao ◽  
...  

Objective To investigate the role of alteplase, a widely-used thrombolytic drug, in platelet function. Methods Human platelets were incubated with different concentrations of alteplase followed by analysis of platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen, ristocetin, arachidonic acid or epinephrine using light transmittance aggregometry. Platelet activation and surface levels of platelet receptors GPIbα, GPVI and αIIbβ3 were analysed using flow cytometry. The effect of alteplase on clot retraction was also examined. Results This study demonstrated that alteplase significantly inhibited platelet aggregation in response to ADP, collagen and epinephrine in a dose-dependent manner, but it did not affect ristocetin- or arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. Alteplase did not affect platelet activation as demonstrated by no differences in P-selectin levels and PAC-1 binding being observed in collagen-stimulated platelets after alteplase treatment compared with vehicle. There were no changes in the surface levels of the platelet receptors GPIbα, GPVI and αIIbβ3 in alteplase-treated platelets. Alteplase treatment reduced thrombin-mediated clot retraction. Conclusions Alteplase inhibits platelet aggregation and clot retraction without affecting platelet activation and surface receptor levels.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 326-326
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Bergmeier ◽  
Jill R. Crittenden ◽  
Crystal L. Piffath ◽  
Denisa D. Wagner ◽  
David E. Housman ◽  
...  

Abstract Inside-out activation of platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is a key step in agonist-induced platelet aggregation. Recent studies suggested the involvement of the small GTPase Rap1b in this process as it is highly expressed in platelets and becomes activated during platelet activation. In cell lines, overexpression of the Rap activator CalDAG-GEFI increased αIIbβ3-dependent adhesion, while overexpression of RapGAP, which inactivates Rap1, reduced αIIbβ3 activity. Here we provide evidence that CalDAG-GEFI is an essential component of this pathway in vivo. To generate CalDAG-GEFI knockout mice, we engineered mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells with a deletion that results in a frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon at the position encoding the 37th amino acid of CalDAG-GEFI. These ES cells were then used to derive chimeric mice that yielded germline transmission of the CalDAG-GEFI mutation. Deficiency of CalDAG-GEFI in mutant mice was confirmed by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. CalDAG-GEFI−/− platelets showed impaired Rap1b activation and aggregation in response to various agonists, with aggregation being completely blocked when platelets were activated with ADP, thromboxaneA2 analog, or calcium ionophore. Under physiological flow conditions in vitro and in vivo, CalDAG-GEFI-deficient platelets showed normal tethering to basement membrane components but failed to form thrombi. Mice deficient in CalDAG-GEFI were further characterized by a greatly increased bleeding time as well as by a strong protection against collagen-induced pulmonary thrombosis. In summary, we identified CalDAG-GEFI as a key signal integrator in the cascade leading through Rap1 and integrin αIIbβ3 to platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. The fact that CalDAG-GEFI knockout mice are resistant to collagen-induced thrombosis, and do not undergo spontaneous hemorrhaging, suggests that CalDAG-GEFI may be a promising new target for antithrombotic therapy.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 4154-4154
Author(s):  
Kazuya Hosokawa ◽  
Tomoko Ohnishi ◽  
Hiroyuki Matsuda ◽  
Kousuke Kashima ◽  
Takehiko Koide

Abstract Thrombosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and thrombin is a major inducer of thrombus formation. Thus several antithrombotic agents targeting thrombin have been developed. We previously reported an anticoagulant and antiplatelet thrombin derivative, ‘M-anhydrothrombin’ prepared by chemical modifications. In this study, we prepared a new thrombin mutant, specificity of which was highly modulated with substantially improved antithrombotic efficacy. The thrombin mutant designated “AAA-Thrombin” in which Lys65, His43 and Ser205 in B-chain have been replaced by Ala revealed higher affinity and specificity for factor VIII with no enzymatic activity. AAA-Thrombin prolonged APTT much more than anhydrothrombin in a dose dependent manner without affecting PT and TT. Platelet aggregation induced by activation of PAR-1 was also effectively suppressed by AAA-Thrombin. “M-AAA-Thrombin” prepared by further chemical modification of carboxyl groups in AAA-Thrombin enhanced its antithrombotic efficacy. M-AAA-Thrombin (250nM) prolonged APTT approx. two times, and suppressed platelet aggregation by PAR-1 activation, while AAA-Thrombin did not at the same concentration. M-AAA-Thrombin also suppressed ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation. In vivo experiments, M-AAA-Thrombin demonstrated significant antithrombotic property in the arterio-venous shunt thrombosis model and the FeCl3-induced carotid artery thrombosis model in guinea pigs. These results indicate that M-AAA-Thrombin would be a candidate for quite an innovative anticoagulant and antiplatelet agent for both arterial and venous thromboses. Further optimization of mutagenesis and modification, in terms of efficacy and safety is in progress in our laboratory.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 2964-2969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiwen Zhang ◽  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Rong Yan ◽  
Jingluan Tian ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
...  

Previous studies have shown that receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) is involved in many important biological processes, including necroptosis, apoptosis, and inflammation. Here we show that RIP3 plays a critical role in regulating platelet functions and in vivo thrombosis and hemostasis. Tail bleeding times were significantly longer in RIP3-knockout (RIP3−/−) mice compared with their wild-type (WT) littermates. In an in vivo model of arteriole thrombosis, mice lacking RIP3 exhibited prolonged occlusion times. WT mice repopulated with RIP3−/− bone marrow-derived cells had longer occlusion times than RIP3−/− mice repopulated with WT bone marrow-derived cells, suggesting a role for RIP3-deficient platelets in arterial thrombosis. Consistent with these findings, we observed that RIP3 was expressed in both human and mice platelets. Deletion of RIP3 in mouse platelets caused a marked defect in aggregation and attenuated dense granule secretion in response to low doses of thrombin or a thromboxane A2 analog, U46619. Phosphorylation of Akt induced by U46619 or thrombin was diminished in RIP3−/− platelets. Moreover, RIP3 interacted with Gα13. Platelet spreading on fibrinogen and clot retraction were impaired in the absence of RIP3. RIP3 inhibitor dose-dependently inhibited platelet aggregation in vitro and prevented arterial thrombus formation in vivo. These data demonstrate a role for RIP3 in promoting in vivo thrombosis and hemostasis by amplifying platelet activation. RIP3 may represent a novel promising therapeutic target for thrombotic diseases.


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