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R Landolfi

Publications and source records attributed to R Landolfi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Defective platelet responsiveness to thrombin and protease-activated receptors agonists in a novel case of gray platelet syndrome: correlation between the platelet defect and the alpha-granule content in the patient and four relatives.

BACKGROUND: We report a novel case of gray platelet syndrome (GPS). A 14-year-old boy had bleeding diathesis, mild thrombocytopenia, giant platelets with severe defect of alpha-granule secretory proteins, myelofibrosis and splenomegaly. METHODS AND RESULTS: Platelet function studies showed a marked reduction of aggregation and Ca(2+) mobilization by thrombin, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1)-activating peptide (AP) and PAR4-AP, PAR1 expression at 55% of normal levels, and a more than two hundred fold reduction of in vitro whole-blood thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) production. Sequencing of coding regions of the PAR1 gene failed to show abnormalities. This patient was initially classified as a sporadic case of GPS, as electron microscopy failed to identify giant platelets and/or alpha-granule deficiency in his relatives. However, further studies on the father and three other relatives showed a relative lack of platelet alpha-granule proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy, a defective platelet response to PAR4-AP, and severely reduced in vitro whole-blood TXB(2) production. On this basis, we suggest that in this family, GPS was transmitted in a dominant fashion with highly variable penetrance. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that current diagnostic criteria fail to identify some patients with a mild GPS phenotype and that such patients might be identified by the methods cited above. It also better characterizes the pathogenesis of defective platelet responses to thrombin, and raises interesting questions on the correlation between abnormal PAR function and the lack of alpha-granule content in GPS.

Adolescent↗

Lipid and protein oxidation contribute to a prothrombotic state in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with enhanced lipid oxidation and persistent platelet activation. We investigated whether oxidant stress (OS) also affects circulating proteins and is associated with an abnormal coagulative pattern. In 72 type 2 DM (T2DM) patients, urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (TXM) were measured as markers of lipid peroxidation and platelet activation, respectively. The carbonyl content of plasma proteins (PCARB) was measured as global index of protein oxidation. 8-Iso-PGF2alpha and PCARB levels were higher in DM patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Likewise, both TXM and prothrombin F1+2 levels were higher in diabetics (P < 0.05). By contrast, anticoagulant markers, such as activated protein C, protein C activation peptide, and soluble thrombomodulin (TM) were depressed in T2DM (P < 0.05). In conclusion, OS in T2DM involves circulating proteins and is associated with an unbalanced promotion of procoagulant reactions. These effects in concert with platelet activation may contribute to atherothrombotic complications in T2DM.

Aged↗

Structural and functional mapping of the thrombin domain involved in the binding to the platelet glycoprotein Ib.

The activation of human platelets by alpha-thrombin is mediated in part by cleavage of the protease-activated receptor (PAR) 1 and 4 and by the glycoprotein (Ib)alpha, (Gp(Ib)alpha), which binds with high affinity to alpha-thrombin. Recent studies have shown that the thrombin domain referred to as heparin binding site (HBS) is involved in the interaction with the platelet Gp(Ib)alpha. The HBS is rich in basic amino acids. To identify the key amino acid residues involved in the binding to Gp(Ib)alpha, we have performed alanine scanning mutagenesis of the basic HBS R93, R97, R101, R233, K236, K240, R233/K236/Q239, as well as of the neutral Q239 residues, located in different regions of the domain. For comparison, mutation at R67 within the fibrinogen recognition site (FRS) of thrombin was performed as well. Solid-phase binding experiments showed that the Kd of thrombin-GpIb interaction was reduced 22-fold for R93A, 8-fold for R97A, 13-fold for R101A, 29-fold for R233A, 21-fold for K236A, 5-fold for K240A, and 31-fold for the triple mutant R233A/K236A/Q239A, while the Q239A and R67A forms did not show any significant affinity change. The platelet activating capacity of these mutants was evaluated as well. Using gel-filtered platelets, the EC50 value of thrombin-induced aggregation was from 5- to 13-fold higher in the HBS mutants than in the WT form, and was linearly and positively correlated with the corresponding Kd values pertaining to thrombin binding to GpIb. Measurements of PAR-1 hydrolysis on the platelet membrane showed that the HBS mutants R233A, R101A, R93A, K236A, and R233/K236/Q239 forms had a reduction of the apparent kcat/Km value. These results are a consequence of a defective binding to GpIb, which is known to optimize the interaction with PAR-1 in situ. A confirm of this hypothesis came from the demonstration that the kcat/Km value pertaining to the hydrolysis by the HBS-mutated thrombins of the synthetic PAR-1 38-60 peptide in solution was similar to that one obtained with the WT form. In conclusion, these experiments provide a structural and functional mapping of the thrombin HBS subregions involved in the binding to the platelet Gp(Ib)alpha and in the cell activation.

Acetylation↗

Binding of thrombin to glycoprotein Ib accelerates the hydrolysis of Par-1 on intact platelets.

The activation of human platelets by alpha-thrombin is mediated at least in part by cleavage of protease-activated G-protein-coupled receptors, PAR-1 and PAR-4. Platelet glycoprotein Ibalpha also has a high affinity binding site for alpha-thrombin, and this interaction contributes to platelet activation through a still unknown mechanism. In the present study the hypothesis that GpIbalpha may contribute to platelet activation by modulating the hydrolysis of PAR-1 on the platelet membrane was investigated. Gel-filtered platelets from normal individuals were stimulated by alpha-thrombin, and the kinetics of PAR-1 hydrolysis by enzyme was followed with flow cytometry using an anti-PAR-1 monoclonal antibody (SPAN 12) that recognizes only intact PAR-1 molecules. This strategy allowed measurement of the apparent k(cat)/K(m) value for thrombin hydrolysis of PAR-1 on intact platelets, which was equal to 1.5 +/- 0.1 x 10(7) m(-1) sec(-1). The hydrolysis rate of PAR-1 by thrombin was measured under conditions in which thrombin binding to GpIb was inhibited by different strategies, with the following results. 1) Elimination of GpIbalpha on platelet membranes by mocarhagin treatment reduced the k(cat)/K(m) value by about 6-fold. 2) A monoclonal anti-GpIb antibody reduced the apparent k(cat)/K(m) value by about 5-fold. 3) An oligonucleotide DNA aptamer, HD22, which binds to the thrombin heparin-binding site (HBS) and inhibits thrombin interaction with GpIbalpha, reduced the apparent k(cat)/K(m) value by about 5-fold. 4) Displacement of alpha-thrombin from the binding site on GpIb using PPACK-thrombin reduced the apparent k(cat)/K(m) value by about 5-fold, and 5) mutation at the HBS of thrombin (R98A) caused a 5-fold reduction of the apparent k(cat)/K(m) value of PAR-1 hydrolysis. Altogether these results show that thrombin interaction with GpIb enhances the specificity of thrombin cleavage of PAR-1 on intact platelets, suggesting that GpIb may function as a "cofactor" for PAR-1 activation by thrombin.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Autosomal-dominant giant platelet syndromes: a hint of the same genetic defect as in Fechtner syndrome owing to a similar genetic linkage to chromosome 22q11-13.

Families with 3 different syndromes characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance of low platelet count and giant platelets were studied. Fechtner syndrome is an autosomal-dominant variant of Alport syndrome manifested by nephritis, sensorineural hearing loss, and cataract formation in addition to macrothrombocytopenia and polymorphonuclear inclusion bodies. Sebastian platelet syndrome is an autosomal-dominant macrothrombocytopenia combined with neutrophil inclusions that differ from those found in May-Hegglin syndrome or Chediak-Higashi syndrome or the Dohle bodies described in patients with sepsis. These inclusions are, however, similar to those described in Fechtner syndrome. Other features of Alport syndrome, though, including deafness, cataracts, and nephritis, are absent in Sebastian platelet syndrome. Epstein syndrome is characterized by macrothrombocytopenia without neutrophil inclusions, in addition to the classical Alport manifestations-deafness, cataracts, and nephritis-and it is also inherited in an autosomal-dominant mode. We mapped the disease-causing gene to the long arm of chromosome 22 in an Italian family with Fechtner syndrome, 2 German families with the Sebastian platelet syndrome, and an American family with the Epstein syndrome. Four markers on chromosome 22q yielded an LOD score greater than 2.76. A maximal 2-point LOD score of 3.41 was obtained with the marker D22S683 at a recombination fraction of 0.00. Recombination analysis placed the disease-causing gene in a 3.37-Mb interval between the markers D22S284 and D22S693. The disease-causing gene interval in these 3 syndromes is similar to the interval described recently in an Israeli family with a slightly different Fechtner syndrome than the one described here. Recombination analysis of these 3 syndromes refines the interval containing the disease-causing gene from 5.5 Mb to 3.37 Mb. The clinical likeness and the similar interval containing the disease-causing gene suggest that the 3 different syndromes may arise from a similar genetic defect.

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome↗

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicating liver cirrhosis in type IIIa glycogen storage disease.

Type III glycogen storage disease (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the accumulation of abnormal glycogen in the liver and, in most patients, in the muscle. Although liver fibrosis is a well-known consequence of GSD III, until now only eight cases of liver cirrhosis and two cases of hepatocellular carcinoma have been described in patients affected by this disease. In this case report, the authors describe the clinical history of a patient affected by GSD III who developed severe liver disease during her adult life, progressing from fibrosis to cirrhosis and finally to hepatocellular carcinoma. Until now, the hepatic involvement in GSD III has been considered by most authors as mild and almost always self-limiting. This report, together with the previously published cases, clearly indicates that severe and progressive liver disease may complicate this metabolic disorder. These observations advise a careful hepatologic follow-up of patients affected by GSD III.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Inherited macrothrombocytopenia with distinctive platelet ultrastructural and functional features.

We report a family with inherited macrothrombocytopenia and characteristic large membrane complexes in the platelets. Two affected subjects had platelet counts of 40 and 65 x 10(9)/L respectively as assessed by contrast phase microscopy. Ultrastructural studies revealed giant spheroid platelets with characteristic large membrane complexes and/or giant vacuoles containing platelet organelles. Immunohistochemical studies of actin and tubulin showed a disorganization of the microtubule and actin systems. These abnormalities were absent in leukocytes, indicating a platelet-specific cytoskeleton disorder. Platelet autoantibodies were repeatedly absent. Nevertheless, in the peripheral blood we observed several figures of platelet phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils. The in vitro aggregometric response of platelets to ADP, collagen, thrombin, ristocetin was present, but shape change was absent. The urinary excretion of thromboxane A2 metabolites of the affected subjects were approximately 2 standard deviations above control values, in spite of a reduced maximal biosynthetic capacity of thromboxane from giant platelets assessed in vitro during whole blood clotting. This inherited platelet disorder shows structural and functional features which allow to distinguish it from other syndromes associated with giant platelets. We also propose to include ultrastructural and cytoskeletal studies in the diagnosis as well as in the classification of inherited giant platelet disorders.

Blood Platelets↗

Oxidation of human alpha-thrombin by the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system: structural and functional effects.

The myeloperoxidase-H2O2-chloride system (MPOS) is exploited by white blood cells to generate reactive oxygen species in many processes involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and atherothrombosis. This, study investigated the biochemical and functional effects of alpha-thrombin oxidation by MPOS. This system, in the presence of 100 microM L-tyrosine, caused in the thrombin molecule loss of tryptophan and lysine residues and formation of dityrosine, chloramine and carbonyl groups. The same changes could be directly induced by thrombin incubation with reagent HOCI, but not with H2O2 alone. Exposure to either MPOS or HOCl caused major functional abnormalities in human alpha-thrombin. The interaction of oxidized (ox-)thrombin with Protein C and antithrombin III-heparin complex were most sensitive to oxidation, being the kcat/Km value for Protein C hydrolysis roughly reduced 13-fold and the affinity for the antithrombin III-heparin complex decreased approximately 15-fold. Ox-thrombin interaction with small synthetic peptides showed several changes, arising from a perturbation of the S2-S3 specificity of the enzyme. Ox-thrombin was also characterized by a 5-fold decrease of the kcat/Km value for both fibrinopeptide A and B release from fibrinogen, a 5.8-fold increase of the EC50 value for platelet activation and a 2-fold decrease of binding affinity for thrombomodulin. The above results indicate a high sensitivity of thrombin to oxidative modifications by myeloperoxidase. Perturbed interactions with Protein C and the heparin-ATIII complex were the most relevant functional abnormalities of ox-thrombin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Immune tolerance by intermittent factor VIII boluses in two high responder hemophilia A patients.

Immune tolerance (IT) in hemophilia A patients with anti-factor VIII antibodies is generally based on daily factor VIII administrations. Here we report the preliminary results of an immune tolerance regimen based on recombinant high-dose (400 U/kg) factor VIII boluses administered at 48-hour intervals. Two high responder hemophilia A patients aged 2 and 3 years received this treatment without the need of permanent venous access. In both cases the IT regimen caused an anamnestic response of less than three weeks' duration and an antibody reduction to less than 5 Bethesda units was achieved in about 8-10 weeks. In the child with a more prolonged follow-up the inhibitor became undetectable after four months and factor VIII recovery at 6 months was > 85%. This intermittent high-dose regimen seems to be effective in rapidly inducing immune tolerance and seems particularly suitable for very young children in whom it may be useful to avoid the risks and to reduce the psychological burden of permanent venous access.

Child, Preschool↗

Thrombin-induced platelet activation is inhibited by high- and low-molecular-weight heparin.

BACKGROUND: Thrombin binds to platelet glycoprotein Ib (Gp Ib), and this interaction contributes to platelet activation. Thrombin ligation to Gp Ib was recently shown to be inhibited by heparin, thus raising the hypothesis, investigated in this article, that heparin might inhibit thrombin-induced platelet activation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Aggregation of gel-filtered platelets by 1 nmol/L thrombin was reduced by both high-molecular-weight (MW) (14 500-Da) and low-MW (4500-Da) heparin, with IC50 values of 1.65+/-0.26 and 5.13+/-0.8 micromol/L, respectively. Homogeneous-MW fractions (16 000- to 13 000-Da range) were used to evaluate the heparin effect on intracytoplasmic calcium release by thrombin. Calcium mobilization by 1 nmol/L thrombin was reduced as a function of heparin concentration, and the inhibitory effect was correlated to the MW of heparin fractions (IC50 values were 1.9+/-0.39, 6.07+/-0.83, and 14. 8+/-0.43 micromol/L for 16 000-, 9000-, and 3000-Da heparin, respectively). Platelet aggregation and calcium mobilization by ADP and by the thrombin receptor-activating peptide were not affected by heparin. The activation of Gp Ib-depleted platelets by alpha-thrombin was not inhibited by heparin. Moreover, platelet stimulation by heparin binding site phosphopyridoxylated thrombin, which has a severe impairment of Gp Ib ligation, was not affected by heparin. Finally, heparin did not interfere with the hydrolysis by thrombin of the protease-activated receptor 1. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that heparin, by inhibiting the thrombin-Gp Ib interaction, is able to interfere with thrombin-induced platelet activation. The extent of the inhibitory effect is directly related to the MW of heparin fractions.

Animals↗

Diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of the myeloproliferative disorders essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera and essential megakaryocytic granulocytic metaplasia and myelofibrosis.

According to strict clinical, hematological and morphological criteria, the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV), and agnogenic myeloid (megakaryocytic/granulocytic) metaplasia (AMM) or idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) are three distinct disease entities with regard to clinical manifestations, natural history and outcome in terms of life expectancy. As clonality studies have clearly demonstrated that fibroblast proliferation in AMM, as well as in many other conditions such as advanced stages of Ph(+)-essential thrombocythemia, Ph(+)-granulocytic leukemia, and Ph(-)-polycythemia vera, is polyclonal indicating that myelofibrosis is secondary to the megakaryocytic granulocytic metaplasia in these various conditions, AMM is illogically labeled as IMF. As abnormal megakaryocytic granulocytic metaplasia is the essential feature preceding the early prefibrotic stage of AMM, the term essential megakaryocytic granulocytic metaplasia (EMGM) can readily be used to characterize this condition more appropriately at the biological level. Clinical, hematological and morphological characteristics, in particular megakaryocytopoiesis and bone marrow cellularity, reveal diagnostic features, which enable a clear-cut distinction between ET, PV and EMGM or classical IMF. The characteristic increase and clustering of enlarged megakaryocytes with mature cytoplasm and multilobulated nuclei and their tendency to cluster in a normal or only slightly increased cellular bone marrow represent the hallmark of ET. The characteristic increase and clustering of enlarged mature and pleiomorphic megakaryocytes with multilobulated nuclei and proliferation of erythropoiesis in a moderate to marked hypercellular bone marrow with hyperplasia of dilated sinuses are the specific diagnostic features of untreated PV. EMGM, including the early prefibrotic stages as well as the various myelofibrotic stages of classical IMF appear to be a distinct neoplastic dual proliferation of abnormal megakaryopoiesis and granulopoiesis. The histopathology of the bone marrow in prefibrotic EMGM and in classical IMF is dominated by atypical, enlarged and immature megakaryocytes with cloud-like immature nuclei, which are not seen in ET and PV at diagnosis and during follow-up. Myelofibrosis in ET, PV and EMGM is graded into: no reticulin fibrosis (MF0), early reticulin fibrosis (MF1), advanced reticulin sclerosis with minor or moderate collagen fibrosis (MF2) and advanced collagen fibrosis with osteosclerosis (MF3). Myelofibrosis is not a feature of ET at diagnosis and during long-term follow-up. Myelofibrosis may be present in a minority of PV-patients at diagnosis and usually becomes apparent during long-term follow-up in the majority of PV-patients. Myelofibrosis secondary to the abnormal megakaryocytic and granulocytic myeloproliferation constitutes a prominent feature in the majority of EMGM/IMF at time of diagnosis and usually progresses more or less rapidly during the natural history of the disease. Life expectancy is normal in ET, normal during the 1st ten years and compromised during the 2nd ten years follow-up in PV, but significantly shortened in the prefibrotic stage of EMGM as well as in the various myelosclerotic stages of classical IMF. First line treatment options in prospective randomized clinical trials of newly diagnosed MPD-patients are control of platelet function with low-dose aspirin versus reduction of platelet count with anagrelide, interferon or hydroxyurea in ET; control of platelet and erythrocyte counts by interferon alone versus bloodletting plus hydroxyurea on indication in PV; interferon versus no treatment in the early stages of EMGM; a wait and see strategy in the fibrotic stages of EMGM or classical IMF with favorable prognostic factors, and bone marrow transplantation in classical IMF with poor prognostic factors at presentation or during short-term follow-up.

Aspirin↗

Allosteric modulation of BPTI interaction with human alpha- and zeta-thrombin.

In this study, thrombin interaction with the basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) was investigated in the presence of different allosteric modulators of thrombin, that is the C-terminal hirudin peptide 54-65 (Hir54-65), a recombinant thrombomodulin form (TMEGF4-6) and Na+. BPTI binding to alpha-thrombin is positively linked to Na+. Under low sodium concentration (5 mM Na+) the BPTI affinity for alpha-thrombin was roughly threefold lower than in the presence of 150 mM sodium (Ki = 320 microM vs. 100 microM). The hirudin fragment, which binds to the fibrinogen recognition site (FRS) of thrombin, induced a progressive and saturable decrease (3.6-fold) of alpha-thrombin affinity for BPTI, whereas the thrombomodulin peptide, which binds to a more extended region of FRS, caused a 5.5-fold increase of the enzyme affinity for the inhibitor. The opposite effect exerted by Hir54-65 and TMEGF4-6 was also observed for BPTI interaction with zeta-thrombin, in which the amidic bond between W148 and T149 is cleaved. However, in this case the effect by Hir54-65 and TMEGF4-6, although qualitatively similar to that observed with alpha-thrombin, had a smaller magnitude. Thrombin hydrolysis of Protein C was also differently affected by Hir54-65 and TMEGF4-6 peptides. While the latter enhanced the Protein C activation, the former caused a reduction of both alpha- and zeta-thrombin kcat/K(m)' for Protein C cleavage. These results showed that (a) Na+ facilitates BPTI interaction with thrombin; (b) Hir54-65 and TMEGF4-6, though sharing in part the same binding site at the thrombin FRS, can affect in opposite way thrombin's interaction with BPTI and Protein C; (c) such findings along with the results obtained with zeta-thrombin might be explained by admitting that the thermodynamic linkage between FRS and the critical W60-loop is also controlled by ligation and/or conformational state of the W148 insertion loop.

Allosteric Regulation↗

A simple assay for platelet-mediated hemostasis in flowing whole blood (PFA-100): reproducibility and effects of sex and age.

BACKGROUND: A simple assay for platelet-mediated hemostasis in flowing blood (PFA-100) has become available. Whole blood is aspirated through the central opening of a membrane coated with platelet agonists; the time required for a platelet thrombus to occlude the opening is defined as closure time; the shorter the closure time the greater the platelet aggregability. There are limited data on the normal range of values for this test, and the effects of sex and age are not known. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of sex and age on closure time in normal volunteers and to assess the reproducibility of the test in our laboratory. METHODS: Closure time using collagen/adenosine-5'-diphosphate was measured in 62 apparently healthy individuals 35 to 75 years of age (11 men and 17 women < 55 years and 22 men and 12 women > 55 years). RESULTS: Closure time was 96.6 +/- 24 s in men and 93.1 +/- 16 s in women (p = 0.20). In the entire group, closure time did not significantly correlate with age (r = -0.17, p = 0.18). However, men < 55 years tended to have a longer closure time than men > 55 years (109.7 +/- 23 vs 90.0 +/- 22 s, p = 0.08), whereas in women closure time was similar in those younger or older than 55 years (93.1 +/- 16 vs 93.3 +/- 18 s, respectively). In 20 samples tested in duplicate, the mean closure time was 80.9 +/- 10 s on the first determination and 81.5 +/- 12 s on the second (r = 0.89, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between closure time and hematocrit, platelet number, mean platelet volume, or leukocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: The platelet function analyzer PFA-100 showed a good reproducibility in apparently healthy subjects. No significant difference in closure time was found between men and women, nor between subjects younger or older than 55 years, although a tendency towards shorter values was found in older compared with younger men.

Adult↗

Chromosome band 1p36 contains a putative tumor suppressor gene important in the evolution of chronic myelocytic leukemia.

Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is a common neoplasm of hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells. Although the evolution from chronic phase to blast crisis (BC) in CML patients is an inevitable clinical feature, little is understood about the mechanisms responsible for the transformation. We have previously performed allelotype analysis in CML BC and have detected frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the short arm of chromosome 1. To know the common region of LOH where a putative tumor suppressor gene may reside, deletional mapping was performed using 33 microsatellite markers spanning chromosome 1 in 30 patients with CML BC (21 myeloid and 9 lymphoid). DNA was extracted from slides of bone marrow smears or from bone marrow mononuclear cells. In each patient, DNA from chronic phase was analyzed alongside DNA from either their BC or accelerated phase. Allelic loss on 1p was observed in 14 of the 30 individuals (47%): 10 of the 21 myeloid and 4 of the 9 lymphoid BC cases. Serial cytogenetic information was available in 10 cases with LOH on 1p; interestingly, deletions in this region were not detected. Two samples showed LOH at all informative loci on 1p, whereas the other 12 samples showed LOH on at least one but not all loci on 1p. The common region of LOH resided proximal to D1S508 and distal to D1S507 (1p36). Our results suggest that a tumor suppressor gene that frequently plays an important role in the evolution to BC resides on 1p36 in CML.

Adult↗