Activation of integrin-beta3-associated syk in platelets. (1/648)

Published data suggest that the tyrosine kinase syk participates in platelet signalling through the integrin alphaIIbbeta3. Our data show an association of syk and integrin beta3 in immunoprecipitates from unstimulated and stimulated platelets. We detected syk in anti-beta3 precipitates and, conversely, beta3 in anti-syk precipitates. In vitro kinase assays with anti-beta3 precipitates demonstrated that syk activity was enhanced in ADP-stimulated platelets.  (+info)

A mutation in the extracellular cysteine-rich repeat region of the beta3 subunit activates integrins alphaIIbbeta3 and alphaVbeta3. (2/648)

Inside-out signaling regulates the ligand-binding function of integrins through changes in receptor affinity and/or avidity. For example, alphaIIbbeta3 is in a low-affinity/avidity state in resting platelets, and activation of the receptor by platelet agonists enables fibrinogen to bind. In addition, certain mutations and truncations of the integrin cytoplasmic tails are associated with a high-affinity/avidity receptor. To further evaluate the structural basis of integrin activation, stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell transfectants were screened for high-affinity/avidity variants of alphaIIbbeta3. One clone (AM-1) expressed constitutively active alphaIIbbeta3, as evidenced by (1) binding of soluble fibrinogen and PAC1, a ligand-mimetic antialphaIIbbeta3 antibody; and (2) fibrinogen-dependent cell aggregation. Sequence analysis and mutant expression in 293 cells proved that a single amino acid substitution in the cysteine-rich, extracellular portion of beta3(T562N) was responsible for receptor activation. In fact, T562N also activated alphaVbeta3, leading to spontaneous binding of soluble fibrinogen to 293 cells. In contrast, neither T562A nor T562Q activated alphaIIbbeta3, suggesting that acquisition of asparagine at residue 562 was the relevant variable. T562N also led to aberrant glycosylation of beta3, but this was not responsible for the receptor activation. The binding of soluble fibrinogen to alphaIIbbeta3(T562N) was not sufficient to trigger tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125(FAK), indicating that additional post-ligand binding events are required to activate this protein tyrosine kinase during integrin signaling. These studies have uncovered a novel gain-of-function mutation in a region of beta3 intermediate between the ligand-binding region and the cytoplasmic tail, and they suggest that this region is involved in integrin structural changes during inside-out signaling.  (+info)

Thrombopoietin combined with early-acting growth factors effectively expands human hematopoietic progenitor cells in vitro. (3/648)

Thrombopoietin (TPO) is established as a powerful stimulant of megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet production both in vivo and in vitro. In preparation for future transplantation of ex vivo expanded CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), we have examined the in vitro effect of TPO on cultures of HPC when combined with other early-acting hematopoietic growth factors (GFs) in an attempt to decrease post-transplant thrombocytopenia and accelerate engraftment. By adding TPO to all possible combinations of GM-CSF, IL-3, and c-kit ligand (CKL) in a suspension culture system, we found a significant increase in both relative and absolute numbers of cells in cultures containing TPO of the megakaryocytic lineage and CD34+ cells after 14 days of culture. The most efficient GF combinations for expansion of cell populations of the megakaryocytic lineage and HPCs were TPO, GM-CSF, and CKL, which increased the number of cells of the megakaryocytic lineage 78 fold and the number of CD34+ cells 1.8 fold. The number of CD34+ cells decreased in the cultures containing GM-CSF and CKL with no TPO present, and the number of cells of the megakaryocytic lineage was increased merely 27 fold. Based on our findings, we suggest adding cells from HPCs expanded in cultures containing TPO, GM-CSF, and CKL to unexpanded stem cells for stem cell transplantation.  (+info)

Divalent cations differentially regulate integrin alphaIIb cytoplasmic tail binding to beta3 and to calcium- and integrin-binding protein. (4/648)

We have used recombinant or synthetic alphaIIb and beta3 integrin cytoplasmic peptides to study their in vitro complexation and ligand binding capacity by surface plasmon resonance. alpha.beta heterodimerization occurred in a 1:1 stoichiometry with a weak KD in the micromolar range. Divalent cations were not required for this association but stabilized the alpha.beta complex by decreasing the dissociation rate. alpha.beta complexation was impaired by the R995A substitution or the KVGFFKR deletion in alphaIIb but not by the beta3 S752P mutation. Recombinant calcium- and integrin-binding protein (CIB), an alphaIIb-specific ligand, bound to the alphaIIb cytoplasmic peptide in a Ca2+- or Mn2+-independent, one-to-one reaction with a KD value of 12 microM. In contrast, in vitro liquid phase binding of CIB to intact alphaIIbbeta3 occurred preferentially with Mn2+-activated alphaIIbbeta3 conformers, as demonstrated by enhanced coimmunoprecipitation of CIB with PAC-1-captured Mn2+-activated alphaIIbbeta3, suggesting that Mn2+ activation of intact alphaIIbbeta3 induces the exposure of a CIB-binding site, spontaneously exposed by the free alphaIIb peptide. Since CIB did not stimulate PAC-1 binding to inactive alphaIIbbeta3 nor prevented activated alphaIIbbeta3 occupancy by PAC-1, we conclude that CIB does not regulate alphaIIbbeta3 inside-out signaling, but rather is involved in an alphaIIbbeta3 post-receptor occupancy event.  (+info)

Prothrombotic genetic risk factors in young survivors of myocardial infarction. (5/648)

It has long been thought that an individual thrombotic tendency increases the risk of myocardial infarction, especially in young adults. Several "prothrombotic" genetic factors that may influence the individual thrombotic risk have been identified. To investigate the association between the risk of myocardial infarction at a young age and genetic factors thought to be associated with an increased tendency to thrombosis (the polymorphisms 4G/5G of the PAI-1 gene, PIA1/PIA2 of the platelet glycoprotein IIIa, C3550T of the platelet glycoprotein Ib gene, G10976A of the factor VII gene, C677T of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene, G1691A of the factor V gene, and G20210A of the prothrombin gene), we performed a case-control study evaluating 200 survivors (185 men, 15 women) of myocardial infarction who had experienced the event before the age of 45 years and 200 healthy subjects with a negative exercise test, individually matched for sex, age, and geographic origin with the cases. The presence of the PIA2 polymorphic allele was the only prothrombotic genetic factor associated with the risk of myocardial infarction at a young age. The odds ratio for carriers of the PIA2 allele compared with those of the PIA1 allele was 1.84 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.12 to 3.03). There was a significant interaction between the presence of the PIA2 allele and smoking: with their simultaneous presence, 46% (95% confidence intervals 11% to 81%) of premature myocardial infarctions were attributable to the interaction between the two factors. In conclusion, carrying the PIA2 polymorphic allele of platelet glycoprotein IIIa was the only genetic prothrombotic factor associated with the risk of developing myocardial infarction at a young age. The clinical expression of this genetic predisposition seems to be enhanced by smoking.  (+info)

Inflammatory cytokines synergize with the HIV-1 Tat protein to promote angiogenesis and Kaposi's sarcoma via induction of basic fibroblast growth factor and the alpha v beta 3 integrin. (6/648)

The Tat protein of HIV-1, a transactivator of viral gene expression, is released by acutely infected T cells and, in this form, exerts angiogenic activities. These have linked the protein to the pathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a vascular tumor frequent and aggressive in HIV-1-infected individuals (AIDS-KS). In this study, we show that a combination of the same inflammatory cytokines increased in KS lesions, namely IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma, synergizes with Tat to promote in nude mice the development of angioproliferative KS-like lesions that are not observed with each factor alone. Inflammatory cytokines induce the tissue expression of both basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), two angiogenic molecules highly produced in primary KS lesions. However, bFGF, but not VEGF, synergizes with Tat in vivo and induces endothelial cells to migrate, to adhere, and to grow in response to Tat in vitro. Tat angiogenic effects correlate with the expression of the alpha v beta 3 integrin that is induced by bFGF and binds the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) region of Tat. In contrast, no correlation is observed with the expression of alpha v beta 5, which is promoted by VEGF and binds Tat basic region. Finally, KS lesion formation induced by bFGF and Tat in nude mice is blocked by antagonists of RGD-binding integrins. Because alpha v beta 3 is an RGD-binding integrin that is highly expressed in primary KS lesions, where it colocalizes with extracellular Tat on vessels and spindle cells, these results suggest that alpha v beta 3 competitors may represent a new strategy for the treatment of AIDS-KS.  (+info)

The human platelet alphaIIb gene is not closely linked to its integrin partner beta3. (7/648)

alphaIIbb3 integrin is a heterodimeric receptor facilitating platelet aggregation. Both genes are on chromosome 17q21.32. Intergenic distance between them has been reported to be 125 to 260 kilobasepairs (kb) by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) genomic analysis, suggesting that they may be regulated coordinately during megakaryopoiesis. In contrast, other studies suggest these genes are greater than 2.0 megabasepairs (mb) apart. Because of the potential biological implications of having these two megakaryocytic-specific genes contiguous, we attempted to resolve this discrepancy. Taking advantage of large kindreds with mutations in either alphaIIb or beta3, we have developed a genetic linkage map between the thyroid receptor hormone-1 gene (THRA1) and beta3 as follows: cen-THRA1-BRCA1-D17S579/alphaIIb-beta3-qte r, with a distance of 1.3 centiMorgans (cM) between alphaIIb and beta3 and the two genes being oriented in the same direction. PFGE genomic and YAC clone analysis showed that the beta3 gene is distal and >/=365 kb upstream of alphaIIb. Additional restriction mapping shows alphaIIb is linked to the erythrocyte band 3 (EPB3) gene, and beta3 to the homeobox HOX2b gene. Analysis of alphaIIb(+)-BAC and P1 clones confirm that the EPB3 gene is approximately 110 kb downstream of the alphaIIb gene. Sequencing the region surrounding the human alphaIIb locus showed the Granulin gene approximately 18 kb downstream to alphaIIb, and the KIAA0553 gene approximately 5.7 kb upstream. This organization is conserved in the murine sequence. These studies show that alphaIIb and beta3 are not closely linked, with alphaIIb flanked by nonmegakaryocytic genes, and imply that they are unlikely to share common regulatory domains during megakaryopoiesis.  (+info)

Identification of a talin-binding site in the integrin beta(3) subunit distinct from the NPLY regulatory motif of post-ligand binding functions. The talin n-terminal head domain interacts with the membrane-proximal region of the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail. (8/648)

Following platelet aggregation, integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) becomes associated with the platelet cytoskeleton. The conserved NPLY sequence represents a potential beta-turn motif in the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail and has been suggested to mediate the interaction of beta(3) integrins with talin. In the present study, we performed a double mutation (N744Q/P745A) in the integrin beta(3) subunit to test the functional significance of this beta-turn motif. Chinese hamster ovary cells were co-transfected with cDNA constructs encoding mutant beta(3) and wild type alpha(IIb). Cells expressing either wild type (A5) or mutant (D4) alpha(IIb)beta(3) adhered to fibrinogen; however, as opposed to control A5 cells, adherent D4 cells failed to spread, form focal adhesions, or initiate protein tyrosine phosphorylation. To investigate the role of the NPLY motif in talin binding, we examined the ability of the mutant alpha(IIb)beta(3) to interact with talin in a solid phase binding assay. Both wild type and mutant alpha(IIb)beta(3), purified by RGD affinity chromatography, bound to a similar extent to immobilized talin. Additionally, purified talin failed to interact with peptides containing the AKWDTANNPLYK sequence indicating that the talin binding domain in the integrin beta(3) subunit does not reside in the NPLY motif. In contrast, specific binding of talin to peptides containing the membrane-proximal HDRKEFAKFEEERARAK sequence of the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail was observed, and this interaction was blocked by a recombinant protein fragment corresponding to the 47-kDa N-terminal head domain of talin (rTalin-N). In addition, RGD affinity purified platelet alpha(IIb)beta(3) bound dose-dependently to immobilized rTalin-N, indicating that an integrin-binding site is present in the talin N-terminal head domain. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that the NPLY beta-turn motif regulates post-ligand binding functions of alpha(IIb)beta(3) in a manner independent of talin interaction. Moreover, talin was shown to bind through its N-terminal head domain to the membrane-proximal sequence of the beta(3) cytoplasmic tail.  (+info)