Platelets are involved in many processes ranging from fighting microbial infections and triggering inflammation to promoting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Nevertheless, the primary physiological function of platelets is to act as essential mediators in maintaining homeostasis of the circulatory system by forming hemostatic thrombi that prevent blood loss and maintain vascular integrity. CLEC-2 is a C-type lectin-like receptor that is highly expressed in platelets and lesser extent, in other cell types such as activated dendritic cells and B cells. Rhodocytin was the first ligand used to identify CLEC-2 receptor and it’s signaling on platelets. In the first chapter we identified a new agonist for CLEC-2 receptor. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from fucus vesiculosus, decreases bleeding time and clotting time in hemophilia, possibly through inhibition of tissue factor pathway inhibitor. However, its effect on platelets and the receptor by which fucoidan induces cellular processes has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that fucoidan induces platelet activation in a concentration-dependent manner. Fucoidan-induced platelet activation was completely abolished by the pan-Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitor, PP2, or when Syk is inhibited. PP2 abolished phosphorylation of Syk and Phospholipase Cγ−2. Fucoidan-induced platelet activation had a lag phase, which is reminiscent of platelet activation by collagen and CLEC-2 receptor agonists. Platelet activation by fucoidan was only slightly inhibited in FcRγ chain null mice, indicating that fucoidan was not acting primarily through GPVI receptor. On the other hand, fucoidan-induced platelet activation was inhibited in platelet-specific CLEC-2 knock-out murine platelets revealing CLEC-2 as a physiological target of fucoidan. Thus, our data show fucoidan as a novel CLEC-2 receptor agonist that activates platelets through a SFK-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, the efficacy of fucoidan in hemophilia raises the possibility that decreased bleeding times could be achieved through activation of platelets. Lipid rafts are distinct areas of the plasma membrane implicated in the regulation of signaling in a variety of cells including platelets. A previous study C-type lectin like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) has been reported to activate platelets through a lipid raft-dependent manner. Secreted ADP potentiates CLEC-2-mediated platelet aggregation. We have investigated whether the decrease in CLEC-2-mediated platelet aggregation, previously reported in platelets with disrupted rafts, is a result of the loss of agonist potentiation by ADP. We disrupted platelet lipid rafts with methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) and measured signaling events downstream of CLEC-2 activation. Lipid raft disruption decreases platelet aggregation induced by CLEC-2 agonists. The inhibition of platelet aggregation by the disruption of lipid rafts was rescued by the exogenous addition of epinephrine but not 2-methylthioadenosine diphosphate (2MeSADP), which suggests that lipid raft disruption effects P2Y12-mediated Gi activation but not Gz. Phosphorylation of Syk (Y525/526) and PLCγ2 (Y759), were not affected by raft disruption in CLEC-2 agonist-stimulated platelets. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation of the CLEC-2 hemi-ITAM was not effected when MβCD disrupts lipid rafts. Lipid rafts do not directly contribute to CLEC-2 receptor activation in platelets. The effects of disruption of lipid rafts in in vitro assays can be attributed to inhibition of ADP feedback that potentiates CLEC-2 signaling. Tyrosine kinase pathways are known to play an important role in the activation of platelets. In particular, the GPVI and CLEC-2 receptors are known to activate Syk upon tyrosine phosphorylation of an Immune Tyrosine Activation Motif (ITAM) and hemi-ITAM, respectively. However, unlike GPVI, the CLEC-2 receptor contains only one tyrosine motif in the intracellular domain. The mechanisms by which this receptor activates Syk are not completely understood. In chapter 3, we identified a novel signaling mechanism in CLEC-2-mediated Syk activation. CLEC-2-mediated, but not GPVI-mediated, platelet activation and Syk phosphorylation were abolished by inhibition of PI3-Kinase, which demonstrates that PI3-Kinase regulates Syk downstream of CLEC-2. Ibrutinib, a Tec family kinase inhibitor, also completely abolished CLEC-2-mediated aggregation and Syk phosphorylation in human and murine platelets. Furthermore, embryos lacking both Btk and Tec exhibited cutaneous edema associated with blood-filled vessels in a typical lymphatic pattern similar to CLEC-2 or Syk-deficient embryos. Thus our data show, for the first time, that PI3-Kinase and Tec family kinases play a crucial role in the regulation of platelet activation and Syk phosphorylation downstream of CLEC-2 receptor. / Physiology

No / The expression and potential role of platelet membrane CD154 and sCD154 in atherosclerosis was investigated in patients with peripheral arterial disease. This prospective observational study measured the expression of platelet-bound CD154 and soluble CD154 (sCD154) in 39 patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI, n = 15), stable intermittent claudication (SIC, n = 12) and age-matched controls (AMC, n = 12). Basal and agonist-stimulated CD154, P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding was measured by whole blood flow cytometry, while sCD154 was measured in paired plasma samples by ELISA. Basal expression of CD154 on the platelet surface was enhanced in both groups of patients with peripheral arterial disease. However, the critical limb ischaemics showed the highest level of basal expression 0.7 ± 0.3 [median ± IQR] and was significantly increased compared to both stable intermittent claudicants and age-matched controls (P < 0.001). On agonist stimulation with either ADP or thrombin critical limb ischaemics demonstrated greater platelet reactivity and propensity to express CD154 compared to age-matched controls (P < 0.05). Confirmation of the cellular expression of CD154 results was obtained by measuring sCD154 concentrations in autologous plasma samples. Here plasma levels of sCD154 in critical limb ischaemics were significantly greater than both stable intermittent claudicants and age-matched controls (P < 0.005).

No / Summary. Background: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity in endothelial cells is regulated by post-translational phosphorylation of critical serine, threonine and tyrosine residues in response to a variety of stimuli. However, the post-translational regulation of eNOS in platelets is poorly defined. Objectives: We investigated the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the regulation of platelet eNOS activity. Methods: Tyrosine phosphorylation of eNOS and interaction with the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 were investigated by coimmunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. An in vitro immunoassay was used to determine eNOS activity together with the contribution of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Results: We found platelet eNOS was tyrosine phosphorylated under basal conditions. Thrombin induced a dose- and time-dependent increase in eNOS activity without altering overall level of tyrosine phosphorylation, although we did observe evidence of minor tyrosine dephosphorylation. In vitro tyrosine dephosphorylation of platelet eNOS using a recombinant protein tyrosine phosphatase enhanced thrombin-induced activity compared to thrombin alone, but had no effect on endothelial eNOS activity either at basal or after stimulation with bradykinin. Having shown that dephosphorylation could modulate platelet eNOS activity we examined the role of potential protein phosphatases important for platelet eNOS activity. We found SHP-1 protein tyrosine phosphatase, co-associated with platelet eNOS in resting platelets, but does not associate with eNOS in endothelial cells. Stimulation of platelets with thrombin increased SHP-1 association with eNOS, while inhibition of SHP-1 abolished the ability of thrombin to induce elevated eNOS activity. Conclusions: Our data suggest a novel role for tyrosine dephosphorylation in platelet eNOS activation, which may be mediated by SHP-1.

A Trombocitopenia imune (PTI) é uma doença imuno mediada adquirida de adultos e crianças caracterizada por plaquetopenia transitória ou persistente, onde o grau de plaquetopenia aumenta o risco de sangramento. Geralmente, os pacientes apresentam manifestações clínicas apenas em plaquetopenias abaixo de 50x103/mm3, e contagem de plaquetas entre 100 e 150 x103/mm3, se estável por mais de 6 meses, necessariamente não indica uma condição patológica. Tem sido sugerido diferentes processos fisiopatológicos relacionados às plaquetas de acordo com a intensidade da plaquetopenia, e que alterações na megacariocitopoiese e diminuição da sobrevida plaquetária são eventos determinantes na PTI. Contagem de plaquetas reticuladas em citometria de fluxo é um teste muito útil para avaliação da plaquetopenia, pois reflete a atividade megacariocitopoiética, destruição das plaquetas e a própria contagem de plaquetas. Tanto as plaquetas quanto os megacariócitos apresentam a via intrínseca da apoptose. A atividade dos principais mediadores da apoptose intrínseca, como Bax a Bak, é regulada por proteínas anti-apoptótica da família Bcl-2, tais como Bcl-xL. Um balanço entre Bcl-xL e Bax regula a sobrevivência plaquetária. Pacientes de PTI apresentam aumento da ativação plaquetária e da formação de micropartículas derivadas de plaquetas (MPP). Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a relação entre produção e apoptose plaquetária, e associá-la com a ativação plaquetária e a formação de MPP nos diferentes graus de intensidade da PTI. Os pacientes recrutados foram diagnosticados para trombocitopenia imune (PTI) primária, \"idiopática\", não esplenectomizados, acompanhados regularmente no ambulatório de Doenças Hemorrágicas e Trombóticas, do Serviço de Hematologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, e foram divididos grupos de acordo com contagem de plaquetas: < 50x103/mm3 (n=7); entre 50-100x103/mm3 (n=7); > 100x103/mm3 (n=7). Como grupo controle, foram avaliados 10 doadores de sangue da Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo. A produção plaquetária foi estabelecida através da contagem de plaquetas reticuladas por citometria de fluxo com laranja de tiazol. Também por citometria de fluxo avaliamos a ativação plaquetária pela expressão de P-selectina (CD62P), e a formação de MPP através de beads de 1um e dupla positividade para CD41a (GPIIbIIIa) e CD31 (molécula de adesão PECAM-1). A apoptose foi avaliada pela relação entre as expressões das proteínas anti apoptótica, Bcl-xL, e pró apoptótica, Bax, (Bcl-xL/Bax) em Western Blotting. Evidenciamos que na PTI há um aumento do numero de plaquetas reticuladas, predomínio de Bax em relação à Bcl-xL, uma maior ativação plaquetária e formação de MPP, mas em níveis variados dependentes do grau de plaquetopenia instalado. Sugerimos que o nível de predomínio do sistema pró apoptose sobre o anti apoptótico estabelece a intensidade da plaquetopenia na PTI. E que os eventos ativação plaquetária e formação de MPP são regulados pelo balanço entre Bcl-xL/Bax / Immune thrombocytopenic (ITP) is an immune-mediated acquired disease of adults and children characterized by transient or persistent decrease of the platelet count and, depending upon the degree of thrombocytopenia, increased risk of bleeding. ITP usually presents with clinical manifestations only in platelet counts below 50x103/mm3, and counts between 100 and 150x103/mm3 if they have been stable for more than 6 months do not necessarily indicate a pathologic condition. It has been suggested the existence of different pathophysiological processes involving platelets according to the severity of thrombocytopenia, and that alterations in the megakaryopoiesis and reduced platelet lifespan play a key role in ITP. The flow cytometric analysis of reticulated platelets is useful for evaluating thrombocytopenia that reflect the activity megakaryopoiesis, platelets destruction, plataelet count, and age. Platelets and megakaryocytes contain intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The activity of key mediators of intrinsic apoptosis, Bak and Bax, is tightly controlled by anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, of which Bcl-xL, wich have been shown to coordinately regulate platelet survival. ITP patients have a larger amount of activated platelets that express P-selectin as well as an increase of platelets-derived microparticles (PMP). We suggest a relationship between platelet production and Bcl-xL and Bax expression in ITP patients from different degrees of thrombocytopenia, that has relate with platelet activation and PMP. Our aim was assessment of ratio between platelets production and apoptosis, and it associate with platelets activation and PMP in differents thrombocytopenia degree in ITP. Patients were considered eligible for the study if they were on regular follow-up at the clinic of haemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases of the Hematology Service of Clinics Hospital of University of São Paulo Medicine School diagnosed with primary immune thrombocytopenia, \"idiopathic\". Patients were divided into groups according to levels of thrombocytopenia: platelets count between 100 and 150x103/mm3 ( > 100x103/mm3); between 50 and 100x103/mm3 (50-100x103/mm3); and below 50x103/mm3 ( < 50x103/mm3). Healthy volunteers were blood donors in the Pró-Sangue Foundation of Blood Center of São Paulo, with platelets count between 150 and 450 x103/mm3. Platelets production was through reticulated platelets count by flow cytometry wiht thiazole orange. Also by flow cytometry evaluated platelet activation through expression of P-selectin, and PMP by beads of 1um and double positive for CD41a, and CD31. Apoptosis was evaluated by the relationship between anti apoptotic proteins Bcl- XL, and pro apoptotic, Bax (Bcl-XL / Bax) in Western blotting. We show that there higher reticulated platelets in ITP as well as Bax predominantly in relation to Bcl-xL, increased platelet activation and PMP, but at varying levels depending on the degree of thrombocytopenia. We suggest that the level of dominance of pro apoptotic system on the anti-apoptotic establishes the intensity of thrombocytopenia in ITP, and that platelet activation and formation of MPP events are regulated by the balance between Bcl-xL / Bax

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2001. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

A Trombocitopenia imune (PTI) é uma doença imuno mediada adquirida de adultos e crianças caracterizada por plaquetopenia transitória ou persistente, onde o grau de plaquetopenia aumenta o risco de sangramento. Geralmente, os pacientes apresentam manifestações clínicas apenas em plaquetopenias abaixo de 50x103/mm3, e contagem de plaquetas entre 100 e 150 x103/mm3, se estável por mais de 6 meses, necessariamente não indica uma condição patológica. Tem sido sugerido diferentes processos fisiopatológicos relacionados às plaquetas de acordo com a intensidade da plaquetopenia, e que alterações na megacariocitopoiese e diminuição da sobrevida plaquetária são eventos determinantes na PTI. Contagem de plaquetas reticuladas em citometria de fluxo é um teste muito útil para avaliação da plaquetopenia, pois reflete a atividade megacariocitopoiética, destruição das plaquetas e a própria contagem de plaquetas. Tanto as plaquetas quanto os megacariócitos apresentam a via intrínseca da apoptose. A atividade dos principais mediadores da apoptose intrínseca, como Bax a Bak, é regulada por proteínas anti-apoptótica da família Bcl-2, tais como Bcl-xL. Um balanço entre Bcl-xL e Bax regula a sobrevivência plaquetária. Pacientes de PTI apresentam aumento da ativação plaquetária e da formação de micropartículas derivadas de plaquetas (MPP). Nosso objetivo foi avaliar a relação entre produção e apoptose plaquetária, e associá-la com a ativação plaquetária e a formação de MPP nos diferentes graus de intensidade da PTI. Os pacientes recrutados foram diagnosticados para trombocitopenia imune (PTI) primária, \"idiopática\", não esplenectomizados, acompanhados regularmente no ambulatório de Doenças Hemorrágicas e Trombóticas, do Serviço de Hematologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, e foram divididos grupos de acordo com contagem de plaquetas: < 50x103/mm3 (n=7); entre 50-100x103/mm3 (n=7); > 100x103/mm3 (n=7). Como grupo controle, foram avaliados 10 doadores de sangue da Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo. A produção plaquetária foi estabelecida através da contagem de plaquetas reticuladas por citometria de fluxo com laranja de tiazol. Também por citometria de fluxo avaliamos a ativação plaquetária pela expressão de P-selectina (CD62P), e a formação de MPP através de beads de 1um e dupla positividade para CD41a (GPIIbIIIa) e CD31 (molécula de adesão PECAM-1). A apoptose foi avaliada pela relação entre as expressões das proteínas anti apoptótica, Bcl-xL, e pró apoptótica, Bax, (Bcl-xL/Bax) em Western Blotting. Evidenciamos que na PTI há um aumento do numero de plaquetas reticuladas, predomínio de Bax em relação à Bcl-xL, uma maior ativação plaquetária e formação de MPP, mas em níveis variados dependentes do grau de plaquetopenia instalado. Sugerimos que o nível de predomínio do sistema pró apoptose sobre o anti apoptótico estabelece a intensidade da plaquetopenia na PTI. E que os eventos ativação plaquetária e formação de MPP são regulados pelo balanço entre Bcl-xL/Bax / Immune thrombocytopenic (ITP) is an immune-mediated acquired disease of adults and children characterized by transient or persistent decrease of the platelet count and, depending upon the degree of thrombocytopenia, increased risk of bleeding. ITP usually presents with clinical manifestations only in platelet counts below 50x103/mm3, and counts between 100 and 150x103/mm3 if they have been stable for more than 6 months do not necessarily indicate a pathologic condition. It has been suggested the existence of different pathophysiological processes involving platelets according to the severity of thrombocytopenia, and that alterations in the megakaryopoiesis and reduced platelet lifespan play a key role in ITP. The flow cytometric analysis of reticulated platelets is useful for evaluating thrombocytopenia that reflect the activity megakaryopoiesis, platelets destruction, plataelet count, and age. Platelets and megakaryocytes contain intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The activity of key mediators of intrinsic apoptosis, Bak and Bax, is tightly controlled by anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, of which Bcl-xL, wich have been shown to coordinately regulate platelet survival. ITP patients have a larger amount of activated platelets that express P-selectin as well as an increase of platelets-derived microparticles (PMP). We suggest a relationship between platelet production and Bcl-xL and Bax expression in ITP patients from different degrees of thrombocytopenia, that has relate with platelet activation and PMP. Our aim was assessment of ratio between platelets production and apoptosis, and it associate with platelets activation and PMP in differents thrombocytopenia degree in ITP. Patients were considered eligible for the study if they were on regular follow-up at the clinic of haemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases of the Hematology Service of Clinics Hospital of University of São Paulo Medicine School diagnosed with primary immune thrombocytopenia, \"idiopathic\". Patients were divided into groups according to levels of thrombocytopenia: platelets count between 100 and 150x103/mm3 ( > 100x103/mm3); between 50 and 100x103/mm3 (50-100x103/mm3); and below 50x103/mm3 ( < 50x103/mm3). Healthy volunteers were blood donors in the Pró-Sangue Foundation of Blood Center of São Paulo, with platelets count between 150 and 450 x103/mm3. Platelets production was through reticulated platelets count by flow cytometry wiht thiazole orange. Also by flow cytometry evaluated platelet activation through expression of P-selectin, and PMP by beads of 1um and double positive for CD41a, and CD31. Apoptosis was evaluated by the relationship between anti apoptotic proteins Bcl- XL, and pro apoptotic, Bax (Bcl-XL / Bax) in Western blotting. We show that there higher reticulated platelets in ITP as well as Bax predominantly in relation to Bcl-xL, increased platelet activation and PMP, but at varying levels depending on the degree of thrombocytopenia. We suggest that the level of dominance of pro apoptotic system on the anti-apoptotic establishes the intensity of thrombocytopenia in ITP, and that platelet activation and formation of MPP events are regulated by the balance between Bcl-xL / Bax

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 1977 / Includes bibliographical references. / by Frederick H. Silver. / Ph. D. / Ph. D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The focus of this study was to explore process-structure-property relationships in biodegradable polymer nanocomposite films in order to eliminate the commonly used trial and error approach to materials design and to enable manufacturing of composites with tailored properties for targeted applications. The nanofiller type and concentration, manufacturing method and compounding technique, as well as processing conditions were systematically altered in order to study the process-structure-property relationships. Polylactic acid (PLA) was used as the polymer and exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (GNP), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were used as reinforcement. The nanocomposite films were fabricated using three different methods: 1) melt compounding and melt fiber spinning followed by compression molding, 2) solution mixing and solvent casting, and 3) solution mixing and electrospinning followed by compression molding. Furthermore, the physical properties of the polymer, namely the crystallization characteristics were altered by using two different cooling rates during compression molding. The electrical response of the composite films was examined using impedance spectroscopy and it was shown that by altering the physical properties of the insulating polymer matrix, increasing degree of crystallinity, the percolation threshold of the GNP/PLA films is significantly reduced. Additionally, design of experiments was used to examine the influence of nanofiller type (CNT versus GNP), nanofiller content, and processing conditions (cooling rate during compression molding) on the elastic modulus of the composite films and it was concluded that the cooling rate is the primary factor influencing the elastic modulus of both melt compounded CNT/PLA and GNP/PLA films. Furthermore, the effect of nanofiller geometry and compounding method was examined and it was shown that the high nanofiller aspect ratio in the CNT/PLA films led to decreased percolation threshold compared to the GNP/PLA films. The melt compounded GNP/PLA films displayed a lower percolation threshold than the solution cast GNP/PLA films most likely due to the more homogeneous distribution and dispersion of GNP in the solution cast films. Fully biodegradable and biorenewable nanocomposite films were fabricated and examined through the incorporation of CNC in PLA. Through the addition of CNC, the degree of crystallinity of the matrix was significantly increased. Focusing the design space through investigation of process-structure-property relationships in PLA nanocomposites, can help facilitate nanocomposites with tailored properties for targeted applications.

published_or_final_version / Physiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Dentistry / Master / Master of Dental Surgery