Glycoprotein IIIa is phosphorylated in intact human platelets

The glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex (GP IIb-IIIa) is a multifunctional transmembrane protein on platelets. Its most completely described function is as a fibrinogen receptor that mediates platelet aggregation, but it is also involved in clot retraction, signal transduction, calcium transport, and other events. However, the mechanisms that regulate the functions of GP IIb-IIIa during platelet activation are largely unknown. One possible mechanism is phosphorylation, since several other receptors are regulated by this process. We found that GP IIIa, but not GP IIb, was phosphorylated in 32P-labeled platelets, predominantly on threonine residues. Furthermore, GP IIIa phosphorylation increased four-fold in platelets activated with thrombin or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, but not at all in platelets treated with prostacyclin, an inhibitor of platelet activation. The thrombin-induced increase in phosphorylation was inhibited by pretreating platelets with prostacyclin or with staurosporin, a specific protein kinase C inhibitor. Thus, there is an increase in the level or turnover of phosphate on GP IIIa during platelet activation, most likely involving protein kinase C. This phosphorylation may regulate some aspect(s) of GP IIb-IIIa function.     

Crkl is constitutively tyrosine phosphorylated in platelets from chronic myelogenous leukemia patients and inducibly phosphorylated in normal platelets stimulated by thrombopoietin

Platelet functions such as aggregation and clot retraction are often abnormal in chronic mylogenous leukemia (CML) patients. However, the molecular mechanisms of these altered functions are unknown. As expression of the p210bcr-abl oncogene product, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, is known to have an essential role in the pathogenesis of CML and tyrosine phosphorylation is intimately involved in various aspects of platelet activation, we examined the pattern of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in platelets from 15 CML patients by immunoblotting with a monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody (4G10). Before and after stimulation with thrombin, the only consistent difference between normal and CML platelets was the presence of a tyrosine phosphorylated protein with a relative molecular weight of 39 kD. This tyrosine phosphorylated protein was identified as crid, an SH2, SH3 containing adapter protein. Thus, as previously demonstrated for neutrophils from CML patients, tyrosine phosphorylation of p39crkl persists in mature platelets. No tyrosine phosphorylation of crid was detected following stimulation with thrombin in normal platelets. However, crkl became incorporated into the Triton X-100 insoluble residue following thrombin stimulation in a manner dependent on platelet aggregation. Further, we found that crkl is an endogenous substrate for calpain, a protease that may be involved in postaggregation signaling processes. This suggests that crkl may be involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton during normal platelet aggregation and its tyrosine phosphorylation in CML platelets may contribute to the abnormal platelet function in CML patients. Finally, we found that thrombopoietin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of crk1 in normal platelets and FDCP cells genetically engineered to express human c-Mpl. This suggests that crk1 can be phosphorylated by a kinase other than p210bcr-abl and that crk1 may have a role in signaling by thrombopoietin.     

A molecular mimic demonstrates that phosphorylated human prolactin is a potent anti-angiogenic hormone

S179D prolactin (PRL) is an experimentally useful mimic of naturally phosphorylated human prolactin. S179D PRL, but not unmodified PRL, was found to be anti-angiogenic in both the chorioallantoic membrane and corneal assays. Further investigation using human endothelial in vitro models showed reduced cell number, reduced tubule formation in Matrigel, and reduced migration and invasion, as a function of treatment with S179D PRL. Analysis of growth factors in human endothelial cells in response to S179D PRL showed: a decreased expression or release of endogenous PRL, heme-oxygenase-1, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiogenin, epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor; and an increased expression of inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases. S179D PRL also blocked signaling from bFGF in these cells. We conclude that this molecular mimic of a pituitary hormone is a potent anti-angiogenic protein, partly as a result of its ability to reduce utilization of several well-established endothelial autocrine growth loops, partly by its ability to block signaling from bFGF and partly because of its ability to decrease endothelial migration. These findings suggest that circulating levels of phosphorylated PRL may influence the progression of cancer and, furthermore, that S179D PRL may be a useful anti-angiogenic therapeutic.     

Initial accumulation of platelets during arterial thrombus formation in vivo is inhibited by elevation of basal cAMP levels

Platelet accumulation at sites of vascular injury is the primary event in arterial thrombosis. Initial platelet accrual into thrombi is mediated by interactions of platelet adhesion receptors with ligands on the injured endothelium or in the sub-endothelial matrix. The role of intracellular signals in initial platelet accumulation at sites of endothelial injury, however, is the subject of debate. We have used a newly discovered inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3A (PDE3A) and the well-characterized PDE3A inhibitor, cilostazol, to modulate 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in an in vivo model that enables the kinetic analysis of platelet accumulation. These studies demonstrate that elevation of basal cAMP levels results in an overall decline in platelet accumulation at the site of vascular injury. In particular, the initial rate of accumulation of platelets is inhibited by elevation of cAMP. Analysis of the kinetics of individual platelets at injury sites using intravital microscopy demonstrates that cAMP directs the rate at which platelets attach to and detach from thrombi. These studies demonstrate that cAMP in circulating platelets controls attachment to and detachment from sites of arteriolar injury. Thus, the status of the intracellular signaling machinery prior to engagement of platelet receptors influences the rate of platelet accumulation during thrombus formation.     

Tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation is regulated by glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in platelets.

We have previously shown that a number of platelet proteins become phosphorylated at tyrosine residues in response to platelet-activating agents. Here we present two lines of evidence implicating a platelet integrin, glycoprotein IIb-IIIa, in the regulation of a specific subset of these tyrosine phosphorylations. (i) Two peptides that inhibit the binding of fibrinogen and other ligands to gpIIb-IIIa, Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser and His-His-Leu-Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Ala-Gly-Asp-Val, also inhibited the thrombin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of this subset of proteins. The tetrapeptide Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser, which does not inhibit fibrinogen binding, did not inhibit thrombin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation. (ii) Platelets lacking gpIIb-IIIa (from a subject with Glanzmann thrombasthenia) did not undergo this subset of tyrosine phosphorylation in response to thrombin, although other serine, threonine, and tyrosine phosphorylations proceeded normally. These findings suggest a role for tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation in integrin-mediated cell-matrix recognition.     

Serotoninergic agonists increase plasma levels of beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin in humans

A pharmacological approach was used to investigate the serotoninergic control of plasma levels on beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) in humans. Acute administration of L5-OH-triptophan, the physiologic precursor of serotonin (SE), induced a significant rise in plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels both when injected iv (20 and 40 mg) (four normal men) and when administered orally (200 and 400 mg) (seven normal men) (P less than 0.01 vs. placebo). The iv route of administration induced a prompt (mean peak values after 150 min) dose-dependent increase in beta-EP and beta-LPH levels. The responses evoked by oral administration (mean peak values after 130 and 240 min) were not dose dependent. Fluoxetine (15 and 30 mg orally) a blocker of SE reuptake, induced a significant dose-related rise in plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels in a group of seven normal men (P less than 0.01) (mean peak values after 150 min). Pretreatment with methysergide, a SE receptor antagonist (3 X 2.8 mg orally, five men), did not induce any significant changes in plasma beta-EP and beta-LPH levels, but blocked the increase in the two hormones evoked by L5-OH-triptophan (40 mg iv). Plasma cortisol levels changed similarly to those of beta-EP and beta-LPH in all the experiments, indicating that putative serotoninergic drugs exert a positive role on the various corticotropin-releasing hormone-mediated secretions.     

Characterization of a guanine nucleotide-releasing factor and a GTPase-activating protein that are specific for the ras-related protein p25rab3A.

The rab3A gene product is a 25-kilodalton guanine nucleotide-binding protein that is expressed at high levels in neural tissue and has about 30% homology to the ras gene product. Recombinant Rab3A protein and p25rab3A purified from bovine brain membranes have been used as substrates to look for factors that regulate its biochemical activity. A factor in rat brain cytosol exists that accelerates, by approximately 10-fold, the release and subsequent rebinding of guanine nucleotides to both native and recombinant p25rab3A. We have partially purified this activity, termed Rab3A-GRF, and a GTPase-activating protein (Rab3A-GAP) reported previously. The two activities copurified through a variety of procedures but were separated by Mono Q anion-exchange chromatography, indicating that the activities arise from distinct polypeptides. Both factors were thermolabile, sensitive to trypsin, and specific for Rab3A, exhibiting little or no activity toward c-Ha-Ras or Rab2 proteins. By gel filtration chromatography and sucrose density ultracentrifugation, both Rab3A-GRF and Rab3A-GAP have Stokes radii of 79 A and sedimentation coefficients of 8.9 S. We calculate a molecular mass of 295,000 daltons and a frictional ratio of 1.80 for each factor.     

Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase 2C is phosphorylated and inhibited by 44-kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase.

Protein-tyrosine-phosphatase 2C (PTP2C, also named SHPTP2, SHPTP3, or PTP1D) is a cytosolic enzyme with two Src homology 2 domains. We have investigated its regulation by phosphorylation in PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells. In untreated cells, PTP2C was phosphorylated predominantly on serine residues. A 5-min treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced an increase in phosphorylation on threonine and, to a lesser degree, on serine. After 45 min of exposure to EGF, PTP2C phosphorylation returned to basal levels. Using an in vitro kinase assay, we found that the 44-kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase, p44mapk, phosphorylated PTP2C on serine and threonine residues. This phosphorylation resulted in a pronounced inhibition of PTP2C enzyme activity measured with phosphorylated EGF receptors as substrate. Moreover, in intact PC12 cells, PTP2C was also inhibited following a short EGF treatment, but its activity returned to normal when the exposure to EGF was maintained for 45 min. The profile of this response to EGF can be inversely correlated to that of the stimulatory action of EGF on p44mapk. These data suggest that the EGF-induced regulation of PTP2C activity is mediated by p44mapk. These findings provide evidence for an additional role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade--namely, the regulation of a PTP.     

Cauliflower mosaic virus coat protein is phosphorylated in vitro by a virion-associated protein kinase

A protein kinase has been found to be associated with particles of the plant virus cauliflower mosaic virus. This protein kinase can phosphorylate endogenous viral capsid proteins in vitro and exchange substrates with casein kinase type II. The activity is not affected by cAMP but is enhanced considerably by ADP. The cofactor is either Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺, and the phosphate donor is either ATP or GTP. Serine and threonine residues are phosphorylated.     

Insulin-stimulated microtubule-associated protein kinase is phosphorylated on tyrosine and threonine in vivo.

Exposure of 3T3-L1 cells to insulin stimulates a soluble, serine(threonine)-specific protein kinase that phosphorylates microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in vitro. The enzyme, termed MAP kinase, was isolated from insulin-treated or control cells radiolabeled with 32Pi. A 40-kDa phosphoprotein was found to elute in exact correspondence with enzymatic activity during hydrophobic interaction and gel filtration chromatography of extracts from cells stimulated with insulin. Both MAP kinase activity and the phosphoprotein were absent in fractions prepared from untreated cells. The 32P incorporated into the 40-kDa protein was stable during treatment with alkali. Phospho amino acid analysis confirmed that the radiolabel was primarily incorporated into phosphotyrosine and to a lesser extent phosphothreonine. In addition, MAP kinase was incompletely but specifically adsorbed by antibodies to phosphotyrosine. We conclude, based on these data and additional studies from this laboratory, that MAP kinase is phosphorylated on tyrosine in vivo. The data are consistent with the possibility that MAP kinase may be a substrate for the insulin receptor or another insulin-regulated tyrosine kinase.     

Varicella zoster virus glycoprotein gpI is selectively phosphorylated by a virus-induced protein kinase.

Varicella zoster virus glycoprotein I (VZV gpI; Mr 98,000) was phosphorylated in virus-infected human cell monolayers, while two other major VZV glycoproteins (gpII and gpIII) were not similarly modified. Phosphorylation of VZV gpI was not blocked by inhibitors of glycosylation, nor were the phosphoryl groups enzymatically removed by endoglycosidases. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed the presence of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues on the polypeptide backbone. The selective nature of the phosphorylation event was further demonstrated in vitro by a protein kinase (Mr 50,000), which was present in virus-infected cells but absent from uninfected cells or purified virions. The enzyme catalyzed the transfer of 32Pi from [gamma-32P]ATP to gpI but not to gpII and gpIII. Like VZV gpI, this virus-induced protein kinase was also a constituent of the plasma membrane of live VZV-infected cells.     

cAMP compartmentation is responsible for a local activation of cardiac Ca2+ channels by beta-adrenergic agonists.

The role of cAMP subcellular compartmentation in the progress of beta-adrenergic stimulation of cardiac L-type calcium current (ICa) was investigated by using a method based on the use of whole-cell patch-clamp recording and a double capillary for extracellular microperfusion. Frog ventricular cells were sealed at both ends to two patch-clamp pipettes and positioned approximately halfway between the mouths of two capillaries that were separated by a 5-micron thin wall. ICa could be inhibited in one half or the other by omitting Ca2+ from one solution or the other. Exposing half of the cell to a saturating concentration of isoprenaline (ISO, 1 microM) produced a nonmaximal increase in ICa (347 +/- 70%; n = 4) since a subsequent application of ISO to the other part induced an additional effect of nearly similar amplitude to reach a 673 +/- 130% increase. However, half-cell exposure to forskolin (FSK, 30 microM) induced a maximal stimulation of ICa (561 +/- 55%; n = 4). This effect was not the result of adenylyl cyclase activation due to FSK diffusion in the nonexposed part of the cell. To determine the distant effects of ISO and FSK on ICa, the drugs were applied in a zero-Ca solution. Adding Ca2+ to the drug-containing solutions allowed us to record the local effect of the drugs. Dose-response curves for the local and distant effects of ISO and FSK on ICa were used as an index of cAMP concentration changes near the sarcolemma. We found that ISO induced a 40-fold, but FSK induced only a 4-fold, higher cAMP concentration close to the Ca2+ channels, in the part of the cell exposed to the drugs, than it did in the rest of the cell. cAMP compartmentation was greatly reduced after inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity with 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine, suggesting the colocalization of enzymes involved in the cAMP cascade. We conclude that beta-adrenergic receptors are functionally coupled to nearby Ca2+ channels via local elevations of cAMP.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a substrate for protein phosphorylation and is phosphorylated by capillary endothelial cells in culture.

A phosphorylated basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) can be detected in extracts of bovine capillary endothelial cells and human hepatoma cells. Accordingly, human basic FGF contains consensus sequences that account for its phosphorylation on Thr-112 by the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PK-A) and on Ser-64 by the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C (PK-C). A kinetic analysis of both of these reactions revealed that basic FGF is among the better substrates for these enzymes. Although the kinase responsible for the phosphorylation in vivo has not yet been identified, we examined the effects of phosphorylation on the biological activity, heparin-binding capacity, and receptor-binding capacity of phosphorylated basic FGF. No effects of phosphorylation were observed when the mitogen was phosphorylated by PK-C. In contrast, when basic FGF was phosphorylated in the receptor-binding domain with PK-A, the growth factor was 3-8 times better at displacing radiolabeled basic FGF in the radioreceptor assay. No effects were seen on the binding of this FGF to immobilized heparin or cell-associated glycosaminoglycans, suggesting that this phosphorylation modifies the affinity of basic FGF for its receptor. Biological assays for basic FGF failed to identify differences between the phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of recombinant basic FGFs presumably because of the presence of ectophosphatases and the experimental conditions of proliferation and mitogenic assays (37 degrees C, 24-96 hr). Because the relative affinity of basic FGF for its receptor and cell-associated glycosaminoglycans may regulate its activity, the identification of a modified form of basic FGF may be of particular importance in understanding the mechanisms that regulate its biological activity, bioavailability, and processing to and from the extracellular matrix.     

Both protein kinase A and exchange protein activated by cAMP coordinate adhesion of human vascular endothelial cells

cAMP regulates integrin-dependent adhesions of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) to extracellular matrix proteins, their vascular endothelial cadherin-dependent intercellular adhesions, and their proliferation and migration in response to growth and chemotactic factors. Previously, we reported that cAMP-elevating agents differentially inhibited migration of human VECs isolated from large vascular structures (macro-VECs, human aortic endothelial cells [HAECs]) or small vascular structures (micro-VECs, human microvascular endothelial cells [HMVECs]) and that cAMP hydrolysis by phosphodiesterase (PDE)3 and PDE4 enzymes was important in coordinating this difference. Here we report that 2 cAMP-effector enzymes, namely protein kinase (PK)A and exchange protein activated by cAMP (EPAC), each regulate extracellular matrix protein-based adhesions of both macro- and micro-VECs. Of interest and potential therapeutic importance, we report that although specific pharmacological activation of EPAC markedly stimulated adhesion of micro-VECs to extracellular matrix proteins when PKA was inhibited, this treatment only modestly promoted adhesion of macro-VECs. Consistent with an important role for cAMP PDEs in this difference, PDE3 or PDE4 inhibitors promoted EPAC-dependent adhesions in micro-VECs when PKA was inhibited but not in macro-VECs. At a molecular level, we identify multiple, nonoverlapping, PKA- or EPAC-based signaling protein complexes in both macro- and micro-VECs and demonstrate that each of these complexes contains either PDE3B or PDE4D but not both of these PDEs. Taken together, our data support the concept that adhesion of macro- and micro-VECs is differentially regulated by cAMP and that these differences are coordinated through selective actions of cAMP at multiple nonoverlapping signaling complexes that contain PKA or EPAC and distinct PDE variants.     

Agonist-induced ADP-ribosylation of a cytosolic protein in human platelets.

alpha-Thrombin and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate stimulated the mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of a 42-kDa cytosolic protein of human platelets. This effect was mediated by protein kinase C activation and was inhibited by protein kinase C inhibitor staurosporine. It also was prevented by prostacyclin, which is known to inhibit the phospholipase C-induced formation of 1,2-diacylglycerol, which is one of the endogenous activators of protein kinase C. On sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the 42-kDa protein that is ADP-ribosylated by alpha-thrombin was clearly distinct from the alpha subunits of membrane-bound inhibitory and stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins, respectively Gi alpha and Gs alpha; the 47-kDa protein that is phophorylated by protein kinase C in platelets; and the 39-kDa protein that has been shown to be endogenously ADP-ribosylated by agents that release nitric oxide. This information shows that agonist-induced activation of protein kinase leads to the ADP-ribosylation of a specific protein. This covalent modification might have a functional role in platelet activation.