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Biomedical subjects

J Gabbeta

Publications and source records attributed to J Gabbeta.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Streptozotocin (STZ) mediates acute upregulation of serum and pancreatic osteopontin (OPN): a novel islet-protective effect of OPN through inhibition of STZ-induced nitric oxide production.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted acidic phosphoprotein that binds to a cell-surface integrin-binding motif and is involved in many inflammatory and immune-modulating disorders. There is compelling evidence that soluble OPN can in a variety of situations help cells survive an otherwise lethal insult. In this study we show that OPN is localized in the rat pancreatic islets and ducts. Staining of pancreatic serial sections with islet hormone antibodies showed that all islet cells express OPN. Rats treated with a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ; 50 mg/kg) showed acute upregulation of serum OPN levels and pancreatic OPN mRNA and protein. Serum OPN dropped by the end of day 7 but was still higher than prediabetic levels. Pancreatic mRNA and protein showed a similar pattern. Twenty-four hours after STZ injection, the intensified OPN expression was localized towards the periphery of the islets and surrounded the remaining insulin-positive cells. To explore the significance of OPN acute upregulation, freshly isolated islets were pretreated with OPN (0.15-15 nM) before addition of STZ. OPN significantly reduced the STZ-induced NO levels in the islets through an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-dependent reduction of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels. Addition of OPN to freshly isolated mildly diabetic islets (blood glucose <300 mg/dl) significantly improved their glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and reduced their NO levels. Next we investigated the regulation of OPN in beta-cells. When STZ (5 mM) was added to the beta-cell line RINm5F it significantly increased OPN mRNA levels within 6 h. To distinguish between the effect of STZ and high glucose on OPN transcription, RINm5F cells were transfected with luciferase-labeled rat OPN promoter and treated with STZ (0.05-5 mM) or with glucose (5-25 mM). STZ induced upregulation of OPN promoter activity within 3 h, while high glucose induced upregulation of OPN promoter activity after 48 h. Our data introduce OPN as a novel islet protein that is differentially regulated by STZ and glucose in the islets. OPN initial upregulation after diabetes induction was probably due to STZ-induced toxicity, while maintenance of the high OPN levels might be due to hyperglycemia. The acute induction of OPN after STZ-induced diabetes might represent an endogenous mechanism to protect the islets against STZ-induced cytotoxicity, partly via an RGD-dependent NO regulatory mechanism.

Alkylating Agents↗

Human platelet Galphaq deficiency is associated with decreased Galphaq gene expression in platelets but not neutrophils.

G-proteins play an important role in platelet signal transduction and regulate responses upon activation of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). We have previously reported a patient with impaired platelet responses associated with deficiency in platelet Galphaq. To understand the molecular basis for this defect, the cDNA sequence encoding Galphaq (1080 bp) was obtained by reverse-transcription and polymerase chain reaction of platelet RNA; the cDNA sequence showed no mutations in the patient. Platelet Galphaq mRNA levels were decreased by >50% compared to normal subjects; platelet Galphai2 mRNA levels were normal. Neutrophil calcium mobilization and elastase secretion, upon activation with several agonists, and neutrophil Galphaq mRNA and protein levels were normal. These studies demonstrate that the patient has a defect in Galphaq gene expression in platelets but not neutrophils, possibly due to defects in transcriptional regulation or mRNA stability, and suggest a hematopoietic-lineage specific defect.

Blood Platelet Disorders↗

Combined defect in membrane expression and activation of platelet GPIIb--IIIa complex without primary sequence abnormalities in myeloproliferative disease.

Defects in glycoprotein (GP)IIb-IIIa or in its activation may cause abnormal platelet aggregation and a bleeding diathesis. We report studies in a 67-year-old man with a myeloproliferative disease and markedly abnormal platelet responses. By flow cytometry, platelet binding of two complex-specific anti-GPIIb-IIIa monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), A2A9 and 10E5, was approximately 50% of normal. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using immobilized kistrin showed 18% of normal membrane GPIIb-IIIa complex. By immunoblot analysis, GPIIb and GPIIIa levels in platelet lysates and membranes were near normal. Activation of GPIIb-IIIa, monitored with mAb PAC-1, was markedly decreased (< 20% of normal) in response to ADP, thrombin and platelet-activating factor (PAF); expression of ligand-induced binding sites (LIBS) was < or = 30% of normal. Signal transduction-independent LIBS expression, induced by echistatin, was approximately 60% of normal, suggesting that the integrin present had intact ligand-binding capability. Sequence analysis of GPIIb and GPIIIa cDNA, and platelet mRNA levels for both subunits, were normal. These findings document an acquired combined defect in membrane expression (secondary to a defect in post-translational processing of the complex) and inside-out signalling-dependent activation of the GPIIb-IIIa complex.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗

G alpha q cDNA sequence from human platelets.

G-proteins play a major role in cell signaling and specific abnormalities in these proteins have been implicated in some diseases. Although, two human G alpha q coding sequences are published, they differ at functionally important regions. We have sequenced the human G alpha q cDNA synthesized from normal platelet mRNA by reverse transcription. Our results showed that the penultimate amino acid leucine is conserved in the human G alpha q sequence which has 94.4% identity in nucleotide sequence and 99.2% homology in amino acid sequence with murine sequence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Platelet activation with combination of ionophore A23187 and a direct protein kinase C activator induces normal secretion in patients with impaired receptor mediated secretion and abnormal signal transduction.

Defects in signal transduction mechanisms may underlie the impaired aggregation and secretion in patients with congenital platelet function defects (CPD). Both protein kinase C (PKC) induced pleckstrin phosphorylation and cytoplasmic Ca2+ mobilization play a major role in secretion. We postulated that combined platelet activation with a cell permeable direct PKC activator 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DiC8) and ionophore A23187, which possibly bypass the steps involved in the intracellular synthesis of two major mediators (inositol trisphosphate, diacylglycerol), may induce normal dense granule secretion in patients with impaired receptor mediated secretion. We studied eight CPD patients with abnormal aggregation and secretion in response to several different surface receptor-mediated agonists despite the presence of normal dense granule contents. Receptor mediated Ca2+ mobilization and/or pleckstrin phosphorylation were abnormal in seven patients. Platelet activation with a combination of ADP (8 microM) with DiC8 (200 microM) or A23187 (10 microM) improved secretion in four patients. However, platelet activation with a combination of 200 microM DiC8 with 10 microM A23187, or 100 microM DiC8 with 5 microM A23187 induced normal secretion in platelet-rich plasma in all patients. These studies suggest that in such patients with CPD the ultimate process of exocytosis or secretion per se is intact and impaired secretion results from abnormalities in early signal transduction events, possibly upstream of diacylglycerol formation and calcium mobilization. Detailed studies are needed to delineate the specific abnormalities in these heterogenous patients with signal transduction defects.

Adolescent↗

Platelet signal transduction defect with Galpha subunit dysfunction and diminished Galphaq in a patient with abnormal platelet responses.

G proteins play a major role in signal transduction upon platelet activation. We have previously reported a patient with impaired agonist-induced aggregation, secretion, arachidonate release, and Ca2+ mobilization. Present studies demonstrated that platelet phospholipase A2 (cytosolic and membrane) activity in the patient was normal. Receptor-mediated activation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex measured by flow cytometry using antibody PAC-1 was diminished despite normal amounts of GPIIb-IIIa on platelets. Ca2+ release induced by guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gammaS]) was diminished in the patient's platelets, suggesting a defect distal to agonist receptors. GTPase activity (a function of alpha-subunit) in platelet membranes was normal in resting state but was diminished compared with normal subjects on stimulation with thrombin, platelet-activating factor, or the thromboxane A2 analog U46619. Binding of 35S-labeled GTP[gammaS] to platelet membranes was decreased under both basal and thrombin-stimulated states. Iloprost (a stable prostaglandin I2 analog) -induced rise in cAMP (mediated by Galphas) and its inhibition (mediated by Galphai) by thrombin in the patient's platelet membranes were normal. Immunoblot analysis of Galpha subunits in the patient's platelet membranes showed a decrease in Galphaq (<50%) but not Galphai, Galphaz, Galpha12, and Galpha13. These studies provide evidence for a hitherto undescribed defect in human platelet G-protein alpha-subunit function leading to impaired platelet responses, and they provide further evidence for a major role of Galphaq in thrombin-induced responses.

Blood Platelets↗

Abnormal inside-out signal transduction-dependent activation of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa in a patient with impaired pleckstrin phosphorylation.

Platelet-agonist interaction results in activation of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex and fibrinogen binding, a prerequisite for platelet aggregation. Fibrinogen binding exposes new antibody binding sites on GPIIb-IIIa (ligand-induced binding sites: LIBS). Signal transduction events, including pleckstrin phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC), are considered to regulate GPIIb-IIIa activation. We studied a 16-year-old white male with lifelong mucocutaneous bleeding manifestations and abnormal platelet aggregation and secretion in response to multiple agonists. Pleckstrin phosphorylation was diminished in response to platelet-activating factor (PAF; 4 and 400 nmol/L) and thrombin (0.05 U/mL). Binding of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) 10E5 and A2A9, which bind to both resting and activated GPIIb-IIIa, was normal. Binding of MoAb PAC1, which binds to only activated GPIIb-IIIa, was diminished upon activation with PAF, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin receptor agonist peptide (SFLLRN), A23187, and 1,2-dioctonylglycerol (DiC8). Signal transduction-dependent LIBS expression (studied using MoAb 62) induced by ADP, SFLLRN, and DiC8 and signal transduction-independent LIBS expression induced by RGDS peptide or disintegrin albolabrin were normal or minimally decreased, indicating the presence of intact ligand binding sites. We conclude that the patient's platelets have a defect in inside-out signal transduction-dependent GPIIb-IIIa activation due to an upstream defect in the signal transduction mechanisms rather than in the GPIIb-IIIa complex itself. Our findings extend the spectrum of congenital mechanisms leading to impaired aggregation from defects in GPIIb-IIIa per se to aberrations in signaling mechanisms.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

A comparison of the effect of decorsin and two disintegrins, albolabrin and eristostatin, on platelet function.

Naturally-occurring fibrinogen receptor antagonists and platelet aggregation inhibitors that are found in snake venom (disintegrins) and leeches share many common features, including an RGD sequence, high cysteine content, and low molecular weight. There are, however, significant selectivity and potency differences. We compared the effect of three proteins on platelet function: albolabrin, a 7.5 kDa disintegrin, eristostatin, a 5.4 kDa disintegrin in which part of the disintegrin domain is deleted, and decorsin, a 4.5 kDa non-disintegrin derived from the leech Macrobdella decora, which has very little sequence similarity with either disintegrin. Decorsin was about two times less potent than albolabrin and six times less potent than eristostatin in inhibiting ADP-induced human platelet aggregation. It had a different pattern of interaction with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa as compared to the two disintegrins. Decorsin bound with a low affinity to resting platelets (409 nM) and to ADP-activated platelets (270 nM), and with high affinity to thrombin activated platelets (74 nM). At concentrations up to 685 nM, it did not cause expression of a ligand-induced binding site epitope on the beta 3 subunit of the GPIIb/IIIa complex. It did not significantly inhibit isolated GPIIb/IIIa binding to immobilized von Willebrand Factor. At low doses (1.5-3.0 micrograms/mouse), decorsin protected mice against death from pulmonary thromboembolism, showing an effect similar to eristostatin. This suggested that decorsin is a much more potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in vivo than in vitro, and it may have potential as an antiplatelet drug.

Amino Acid Sequence↗