Extensive oligonucleotide microarray transcriptome analysis of the rat cerebral artery and arachnoid tissue

Cerebral vessels have certain distinct anatomical and developmental characteristics which are well known, but their characteristic genetic expression profile remains as yet only poorly understood.We investigated gene expression in the rat cerebral artery in comparison with the rat descending aorta, two locations which have obviously different anatomical and developmental characteristics.Since the contamination of cerebral small arteries by arachnoid tissue is to a certain extent inevitable, we also performed a gene expression analysis of arachnoid tissue as a background. In an effort to obtain the necessary quality and quantity of total RNA, a novel freeze-fracture apparatus minimizing the time required for the entire procedure from tissue separation to RNA preparation was used.With the material obtained, a group of genes highly expressed in each tissue was detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis.In the circle of Willis, peptide-19 (PEP-19), connexin-37 (CXN-37), growth arrest-and DNA damage-inducible gene (GADD45), and the putative G protein coupled receptor RA1c, Notch-1, and jagged-1 were predominantly expressed.In arachnoid tissue, bone morphologic protein (BMP)-7, BMP-6, beta defensin-1, neuroendocrine protein 7B2, thiol-specific antioxidant protein, IL-18, beta-chain clathrin-associated protein complex AP-1, and angiopoietin-2 were highly expressed.In the aorta, most of the abundantly expressed genes related to lipid metabolism.By means of oligonucleotide microarray analysis, the distinct gene expression profiles in the circle of Willis arachnoid tissue, and aorta were made evident.From these findings it is reasonable to conclude that a functional interaction exists between the circle of Willis and arachnoid tissue.     

Platelet kinetics with indium-111 platelets: comparison with chromium-51 platelets

The application of 111In-oxine to platelet labeling has contributed to the understanding of platelet kinetics along three lines: 1. It allows the measurement of new parameters of splenic function, such as the intrasplenic platelet transit time, which has shed new light on the physiology of splenic blood cell handling. 2. It facilitates the measurement of platelet life span in conditions, such as ITP, in which 51Cr may undergo undesirable elution from the platelet as a result of platelet-antibody interaction. 3. It allows the determination of the fate of platelets, that is, the site of platelet destruction in conditions in which reduced platelet life span is associated with abnormal platelet consumption, as a result of either premature destruction of "abnormal" platelets by the RE system, or the consumption (or destruction) of normal platelets after their interaction with an abnormal vasculature. Future research using 111In platelets may yield further valuable information on the control as well as the significance of intrasplenic platelet pooling, on the role of platelets in the development of chronic vascular lesions, and on the sites of platelet destruction in ITP. With regard to the latter, methods will have to be developed for harvesting sufficient platelets representative of the total circulating platelet population from severely thrombocytopenic patients for autologous platelet labeling. This would avoid the use of homologous platelets, which is likely to be responsible for some of the contradictory data relating to the use of radiolabeled platelet studies for the prediction of the response of patients with ITP to splenectomy.     

Platelet membrane fluidity and aggregation of rabbit platelets

Aggregation of rabbit platelets from citrated plasma in response to ADP was directly correlated with platelet plasma membrane fluidity as determined by fluorescence depolarization measurements with the probe diphenylhexatriene. Rabbits were maintained for periods of 200 and 400 days on potentially hyperlipidemic diets (20% fat by weight) with varying levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dietary variations were effective in modulating the mole percentage distribution patterns of the platelet phospholipid fatty acids. The major chemical control of membrane fluidity was the actual mass of unsaturated lipid in the cells and not simply the relative percentage distributions of such unsaturated fatty acids. Substantially higher phospholipid/protein ratios were observed upon analysis of platelets and platelet membranes from rabbits after 200- than after 400-day diet periods. Accordingly lipid structures were significantly more fluid in either whole platelets or membrane isolates at the end of the shorter diet period. The observations pertaining to the extent of aggregation and membrane fluidity are in consonance with the general role of membrane fluidity in controlling biological activity and support the concept that platelet aggregation is a membrane-associated phenomenon.     

Platelet activation and binding of complement components to platelets induced by immune complexes

Clinical disorders such as malignant diseases, infectious diseases or autoimmune diseases are associated with circulating immune complexes. These immune complexes can activate the complement system in the blood or interact with complement or Fc receptors on the surface of cells. Complement activation may cause cytolysis and the immune complex interaction with receptors may cause activation of cells. We have used flow cytometry and labelled chicken antibodies to study the in vitro effects of model immune complexes on platelets and show that such immune complexes activate platelets and deposit Clq, C4 and C5 on them. Either low levels or no C3 could be detected on the platelets by flow cytometry. The immune complexes also induced formation of microparticles from purified platelets. Flow cytometry might become a useful tool in estimation of risk of thrombosis or thrombocytopenia in patients with autoimmune disease. Chicken antibodies are superior to mammalian antibodies for the measurement of platelet bound plasma proteins as they do not induce complement activation or platelet activation.     

Correspondence analysis applied to microarray data

Correspondence analysis is an explorative computational method for the study of associations between variables. Much like principal component analysis, it displays a low-dimensional projection of the data, e.g., into a plane. It does this, though, for two variables simultaneously, thus revealing associations between them. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of correspondence analysis to and high value for the analysis of microarray data, displaying associations between genes and experiments. To introduce the method, we show its application to the well-known Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell-cycle synchronization data by Spellman et al. [Spellman, P. T., Sherlock, G., Zhang, M. Q., Iyer, V. R., Anders, K., Eisen, M. B., Brown, P. O., Botstein, D. & Futcher, B. (1998) Mol. Biol. Cell 9, 3273-3297], allowing for comparison with their visualization of this data set. Furthermore, we apply correspondence analysis to a non-time-series data set of our own, thus supporting its general applicability to microarray data of different complexity, underlying structure, and experimental strategy (both two-channel fluorescence-tag and radioactive labeling).     

Acidic preparations of lysed platelets upregulate proliferative pathways in osteoblast-like cells as demonstrated by genome-wide microarray analysis

Platelets contain numerous growth factors essential for wound and fracture healing. We investigated the gene expression in human osteoblast-like cells stimulated with lysed platelets prepared in acidic, neutral, or alkaline buffers. Lysed platelets prepared in buffers at pH 5.4, 7.4, and 7.9, were added after neutralization to hFOB 1.19?cells. Genome-wide microarray analysis was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip 7G Scanner. Biometric, cluster, and pathway analyses were performed with GeneSpring GX. Biometric analyses demonstrated that 53 genes were differentially regulated (p?≤?0.005, ≥2-fold increase). Pathway analysis revealed 10 significant pathways of which eight are common ones regulating bone formation and cancer growth. Eleven genes were selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the microarray analysis of the lysed platelets prepared in the pH 5.4 experiments. In conclusion, acidic preparations of lysed platelet concentrates release factors essential for cell proliferation and particularly cell metabolism under hypoxic conditions. The genetic response from these factors was dominated by genes associated with the same pathways observed in bone formation and cancer growth. Activation of TGF-β in the acidic preparation could be a stimulatory key factor of cell proliferation. These results support the hypothesis that acidification of platelets modifies the stimulatory response of mesenchymal cells in?vitro, which is analogous with the observed milieu of a low pH present in wound and fracture sites, as well as in growing tumors.     

Acidic preparations of lysed platelets upregulate proliferative pathways in osteoblast-like cells as demonstrated by genome-wide microarray analysis

Platelets contain numerous growth factors essential for wound and fracture healing. We investigated the gene expression in human osteoblast-like cells stimulated with lysed platelets prepared in acidic, neutral, or alkaline buffers. Lysed platelets prepared in buffers at pH 5.4, 7.4, and 7.9, were added after neutralization to hFOB 1.19?cells. Genome-wide microarray analysis was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip 7G Scanner. Biometric, cluster, and pathway analyses were performed with GeneSpring GX. Biometric analyses demonstrated that 53 genes were differentially regulated (p?≤?0.005, ≥2-fold increase). Pathway analysis revealed 10 significant pathways of which eight are common ones regulating bone formation and cancer growth. Eleven genes were selected for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the microarray analysis of the lysed platelets prepared in the pH 5.4 experiments. In conclusion, acidic preparations of lysed platelet concentrates release factors essential for cell proliferation and particularly cell metabolism under hypoxic conditions. The genetic response from these factors was dominated by genes associated with the same pathways observed in bone formation and cancer growth. Activation of TGF-β in the acidic preparation could be a stimulatory key factor of cell proliferation. These results support the hypothesis that acidification of platelets modifies the stimulatory response of mesenchymal cells in vitro, which is analogous with the observed milieu of a low pH present in wound and fracture sites, as well as in growing tumors.     

Platelet calcium-dependent proteins: Identification and localization of the calcium-dependent regulator,calmodulin, in platelets

The calcium-dependent regulator protein, calmodulin, is a 17,000 molecular weight polypeptide which binds calcium and has been shown to confer calcium sensitivity on contractile and other proteins. In the present study, we have examined the presence and subcellular distribution of this protein in preparations of human platelets. Calmodulin was quantified using a two-stage phosphodiesterase assay. Whole platelets contained 1.33 ± 0.06 units calmodulin per 10⁶ platelets or 26.5 ± 3.4 fg calmodulin per platelet. The distribution of calmodulin in the platelet was predominantly soluble with over 80 percent of calmodulin activity in the soluble fraction of the cell. There was no apparent difference in the distribution of calmodulin between soluble and particulate compartments in recalcified platelet homogenates compared to homogenates in EDTA. Indirect immunofluorescent studies with monospecific antisera to dinitrophenylated calmodulin showed intense staining of platelets in a diffuse pattern. The identification of calmodulin in platelets raises the possibility that this protein may participate in calcium-dependent reactions important in platelet aggregation and release.     

Quantitation of reticulated platelets: methodology and clinical application

Summary. A practical technique for the preparation and analysis of reticulated platelets is described. The use of fixed platelet-rich plasma has given optimal results and sample stability. This technique has detected consumptive causes of a platelet count <80 × 10⁹/1 with a positive predictive value of 96% and negative predictive value of 100%. The course of the reticulated platelet percentage (RP%) in patients with resolving thrombocytopenic states is described, contrasting the elevation seen in consumptive disorders with the fall in aplastic states. In patients undergoing stem cell transplant procedures a rise in the RP% precedes the rise in the platelet count, indicating that the reticulated platelets represent cells that are recently released from the bone marrow. The RP% peak in patients receiving autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplants is higher and more closely temporally related to the recovery of platelet count than it is in patients receiving autologous bone marrow transplants.     

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 signaling inhibits the activation of human platelets.

Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is a 130-kd transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the growing family of receptors with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs). PECAM-1 is expressed on platelets, certain T cells, monocytes, neutrophils, and vascular endothelial cells and is involved in a range of cellular processes, though the role of PECAM-1 in platelets is unclear. Cross-linking of PECAM-1 results in phosphorylation of the ITIM allowing the recruitment of signaling proteins that bind by way of Src-homology domain 2 interactions. Proteins that have been implicated in the negative regulation of cellular activation by ITIM-bearing receptors include the tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2. Tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activatory motif (ITAM)-bearing receptors such as the collagen receptor GPVI-Fc receptor gamma-chain complex on platelets leads to activation. Increasing evidence suggests that ITIM- and ITAM-containing receptors may act antagonistically when expressed on the same cell. In this study it is demonstrated that cross-linking PECAM-1 inhibits the aggregation and secretion of platelets in response to collagen and the GPVI-selective agonist convulxin. In these experiments thrombin-mediated platelet aggregation and secretion were also reduced, albeit to a lesser degree than for collagen, suggesting that PECAM-1 function may not be restricted to the inhibition of ITAM-containing receptor pathways. PECAM-1 activation also inhibited platelet protein tyrosine phosphorylation stimulated by convulxin and thrombin; this was accompanied by inhibition of the mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores. These data suggest that PECAM-1 may play a role in the regulation of platelet function in vivo.     

A microarray analysis of the temporal response of liver to methylprednisolone: a comparative analysis of two dosing regimens

Microarray analyses were performed on livers from adrenalectomized male Wistar rats chronically infused with methylprednisolone (MPL) (0.3 mg/kg.h) using Alzet mini-osmotic pumps for periods ranging from 6 h to 7 d. Four control and 40 drug-treated animals were killed at 10 different times during drug infusion. Total RNA preparations from the livers of these animals were hybridized to 44 individual Affymetrix REA230A gene chips, generating data for 15,967 different probe sets for each chip. A series of three filters were applied sequentially. These filters were designed to eliminate probe sets that were not expressed in the tissue, were not regulated by the drug, or did not meet defined quality control standards. These filters eliminated 13,978 probe sets (87.5%) leaving a remainder of 1989 probe sets for further consideration. We previously described a similar dataset obtained from animals after administration of a single dose of MPL (50 mg/kg given iv). That study involved 16 time points over a 72-h period. A similar filtering schema applied to the single-bolus-dose dataset identified 1519 probe sets as being regulated by MPL. A comparison of datasets from the two different dosing regimens identified 358 genes that were regulated by MPL in response to both dosing regimens. Regulated genes were grouped into 13 categories, mainly on gene product function. The temporal profiles of these common genes were subjected to detailed scrutiny. Examination of temporal profiles demonstrates that current perspectives on the mechanism of glucocorticoid action cannot entirely explain the temporal profiles of these regulated genes.     

The application of high density microarray for analysis of mitogenic signaling and cell-cycle in the adrenal

Angiotensin II (AII) binds to specific G-protein coupled receptors and is mitogenic in adrenal, liver epithelial, and vascular smooth muscle cells. The H295R human adrenocortical cell line, which expresses AII receptors predominantly of the AT1 subclass, proliferates in response to treatment with AII. The induction and maintenance of cellular proliferation involves a precisely coordinated induction of a variety of genes. As the human genome sequencing projects near completion a variety of high throughput technologies have been developed in order to create dynamic displays of genomic responses. One high throughput method, the gridded cDNA microarray has been developed in which immobilised DNA samples are hybridized on glass slides for the identification of global genomic responses. For this purpose high precision robotic microarrayers have been developed at AECOM. The cyclin D1 gene, which encodes the regulatory subunit of the cyclin D1-dependent kinase (CD1K) required for phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB), was induced by AII in H295R cells. Abundance of the cyclin D1 gene is rate-limiting in G1 phase progression of the cell-cycle in a variety of cell types. AII induced cyclin D1 promoter activity through a c-Fos and c-Jun binding sequence at -954 bp. Theabundance of c-Fos within this complex was increased by AII treatment. Analysis of AII signaling in adrenal cells by cDNA microarray demonstrated an induction of the human homologue of Xenopus XPMC2 (HXPMC2). The cDNA for XPMC2 was previously shown to rescue mitotic catastrophe in mutant S. Pombe defective in cdc2 kinase function. Further studies are required to determine the requirement for cyclin D1 and XPMC2H in AII-induced cell-cycle progression and cellular proliferation in the adrenal.