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Biomedical subjects

E M Bevers

Publications and source records attributed to E M Bevers.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Anticoagulant activity of beta 2-glycoprotein I is potentiated by a distinct subgroup of anticardiolipin antibodies.

Plasmas of 16 patients positive for both IgG anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and lupus anticoagulant (LA) antibodies were subjected to adsorption with liposomes containing cardiolipin. In 5 of these plasmas both the anticardiolipin and the anticoagulant activities were co-sedimented with the liposomes in a dose-dependent manner, whereas in the remaining cases only the anticardiolipin activity could be removed by the liposomes, leaving the anticoagulant activity (LA) in the supernatant plasma. aCL antibodies purified from the first 5 plasmas were defined as aCL-type A, while the term aCL-type B was used for antibodies in the other 11 plasmas, from which 2 were selected for this study. Prolongation of the dRVVT was produced by affinity-purified aCL-type A antibodies in plasma of human as well as animal (bovine, rat and goat) origin. aCL-type B antibodies were found to be devoid of anticoagulant activity, while the corresponding supernatants containing LA IgG produced prolongation of the dRVVT only in human plasma. These anticoagulant activities of aCL-type A and of LA IgG's were subsequently evaluated in human plasma depleted of beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GPI), a protein which was previously shown to be essential in the binding of aCL antibodies to anionic phospholipids. Prolongation of the dRVVT by aCL-type A antibodies was abolished using beta 2-GPI deficient plasma, but could be restored upon addition of beta 2-GPI. In contrast, LA IgG caused prolongation of the dRVVT irrespective of the presence or absence of beta 2-GPI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Defective Ca(2+)-induced microvesiculation and deficient expression of procoagulant activity in erythrocytes from a patient with a bleeding disorder: a study of the red blood cells of Scott syndrome.

The erythrocytes from a patient with Scott syndrome, a bleeding disorder characterized by an isolated defect in expression of platelet procoagulant activity, have been studied. When incubated with the calcium ionophore A23187, Scott syndrome red blood cells (RBCs) expressed less than 10% of the prothrombinase (enzyme complex of coagulation factors Va and Xa) activity of A23187-treated RBCs obtained from normal controls. Consistent with the results from enzyme assay, the ionophore-treated Scott syndrome erythrocytes exhibited diminished membrane vesiculation and decreased exposure of membrane binding sites for factor Va compared with identically treated controls. When examined by scanning electron microscopy, untreated Scott syndrome RBCs were indistinguishable from normal cells. After incubation with A23187, however, the morphology of Scott syndrome RBCs contrasted markedly from normal erythrocytes. Whereas the Ca2+ ionophore induced marked echinocytosis and spiculation of normal RBCs, Scott syndrome RBCs remained mostly discoid under these conditions, with only an occasional echinocyte-like cell observed. These aberrant responses to intracellular Ca2+ were also observed for resealed ghosts prepared from Scott syndrome erythrocytes, indicating that they are related to a defect in the membrane or membrane-associated cytoskeleton. The finding that the erythrocytes of this patient share many of the membrane abnormalities reported previously for Scott syndrome platelets suggests that this defect is common to both cell lines and involves a membrane component required for vesicle formation and for expression of prothrombinase sites.

Adult↗

Lupus anticoagulant IgG's (LA) are not directed to phospholipids only, but to a complex of lipid-bound human prothrombin.

Plasmas from 16 patients that were found to be positive both for anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) and lupus anticoagulants (LA) were incubated with liposomes that contained anionic phospholipids. In 11 of these plasmas, ACA could be cosedimented with the liposomes in a dose-dependent manner, whereas LA activity of the remaining supernatant was unaffected. LA activity of purified total IgG from 6 patients was measured in three different coagulation tests, using normal plasmas from different species. Prolongation of the aPTT, KCT and dRVV clotting times was observed only with normal plasma from human origin, not with bovine, rat or sheep plasma. Highly purified coagulation factors Xa, Va and prothrombin, both of human and bovine origin, were used to establish for two patient IgG's the effect of LA on the rate of thrombin formation in the presence and absence of lipid vesicles composed of 20 mole% phosphatidylserine and 80 mole% phosphatidylcholine. A strong and dose dependent inhibition by LA was observed only when human prothrombin was used as substrate in the prothrombinase complex in the presence of lipids. No inhibition was found when bovine prothrombin was used as substrate. The inhibitory effect observed in the presence of human prothrombin was independent of the source of factors Xa and Va, and was not found in the absence of lipid. Preliminary binding studies suggest that LA only associate with a lipid surface, provided that human prothrombin and calcium ions are present. These data indicate that LA are not directed to phospholipids alone, but presumably recognize an epitope which becomes exposed upon Ca(2+)-mediated binding of human prothrombin to phospholipids.

Adult↗

Platelet procoagulant activity: physiological significance and mechanisms of exposure.

This review describes an important function of blood platelets in the hemostatic process: the formation of a procoagulant surface. Two essential steps of the coagulation cascade, the formation of factor Xa and the formation of thrombin, require a catalytic surface on which the enzyme complexes can be assembled. This catalytic surface is provided by the phospholipids of the platelet plasma membrane. However, in the quiescent platelet, the negatively charged phospholipids which are essential to the catalytic properties of the surface, are located in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the membrane. Dependent on the activator, the normal asymmetric distribution of phospholipids is lost, resulting in the formation of a procoagulant surface. Although platelets are primarily predestined to exhibit this function, certain pathological conditions can lead to exposure of a procoagulant surface in other cells as well. Current views to explain the mechanisms of exposure of a procoagulant surface include the role of the cytoskeleton, the formation of microvesicles from the plasma membrane as well as the contribution of a membrane protein, which actively transports specific phospholipids from the outer-to inner leaflet of the membrane bilayer.

Blood Coagulation↗

Increased aminophospholipid translocase activity in human platelets during secretion.

Fluorescent labeled analogs of phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC) and phosphatidylserine (NBD-PS) were used to study transport of phospholipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane of human platelets. Platelets were stimulated with thrombin or Ca2(+)-ionophore at various extracellular [Ca2+]. No significant transport of NBD-PC could be observed either in resting or stimulated platelets. NBD-PS transport in platelets stimulated with thrombin (with or without extracellular Ca2+), or ionophore in the presence of EGTA, was enhanced 4-fold (t1/2 approximately 2 min) compared to unstimulated controls (t1/2 approximately 8 min). Stimulation with ionophore at extracellular [Ca2+] exceeding 8 microM caused a gradual decrease in inward transport of NBD-PS. At 100 microM Ca2+, NBD-PS transport becomes as slow as that of NBD-PC. We conclude that platelet activation by agonists that induce secretion without appreciable shedding is accompanied by an increase in translocase activity that maintains asymmetry during fusion which occurs during exocytosis.

Biological Transport↗

Loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry in platelets and red cells may be associated with calcium-induced shedding of plasma membrane and inhibition of aminophospholipid translocase.

Influx of calcium in platelets and red cells produces formation of vesicles shed from the plasma membrane. The time course of the shedding process closely correlates with the ability of both cells to stimulate prothrombinase activity when used as a source of phospholipid in the prothrombinase assay. This reflects increased surface exposure of phosphatidylserine, presumably resulting from a loss in membrane asymmetry. Evidence is presented that the shed vesicles have a random phospholipid distribution, while the remnant cells show a progressive loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry when more shedding occurs. Removal of intracellular calcium produces a decrease of procoagulant activity of the remnant cells but not of that of the shed vesicles. This is consistent with reactivation of aminophospholipid translocase activity, being first inhibited by intracellular calcium and subsequently reactivated upon calcium removal. Involvement of aminophospholipid translocase is further supported by the observation that reversibility of procoagulant activity is also dependent on metabolic ATP and reduced sulfhydryl groups. The finding that this reversibility process is not apparent in shed vesicles may be ascribed to the absence of translocase or to a lack of ATP. These data support and extend the suggestion made by Sims et al. [1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 17049-17057) that membrane fusion, which is required for shedding to occur, produces transient flip-flop sites for membrane phospholipids. Furthermore, the present results indicate that scrambling of membrane phospholipids can only occur provided that aminophospholipid translocase is inactive.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) directed not to cardiolipin but to a plasma protein cofactor.

The binding of affinity-purified anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) to liposomes that contained cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine was investigated. ACA bound to these liposomes only in the presence of plasma or serum, which indicated a requirement for a plasma component. This component--referred to as aca-cofactor--was purified; its activity to support ACA binding to liposomes that contained cardiolipin was not destroyed by heat (10 min at 90 degrees C), but was greatly diminished on incubation with trypsin. aca-cofactor bound liposomes that contained negatively charged phospholipid but had no affinity for liposomes that contained neutral phospholipid (eg, phosphatidylcholine); this binding was independent of calcium ions. aca-cofactor was essential for ACA to bind to liposomes that contained cardiolipin or phosphatidylserine and, when coated on a microtitre plate in the absence of any phospholipid, aca-cofactor was an apparent antigen for ACA in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. aca-cofactor is a single chain polypeptide with an apparent molecular weight of 50 kD (non-reduced), which increases to 70 kD upon reduction, and its properties closely resemble those of beta 2-glycoprotein I (apolipoprotein H).

Adult↗

Bidirectional transbilayer lipid movement in human platelets as vizualized by the fluorescent membrane probe 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene.

Transbilayer movement of the fluorescent membrane probe TMA-DPH [1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene] in the plasma membrane of human platelets was investigated by measuring fluorescence intensity and fluorescence decay. Labeling of unstimulated platelets by TMA-DPH results in a rapid increase in fluorescence intensity, leveling off within 1 min. Dilution of platelets into buffer without TMA-DPH leads to an almost complete rapid efflux of TMA-DPH, indicating that TMA-DPH labels only the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Transbilayer movement of the fluorescent probe in unstimulated platelets could be observed upon prolonged incubation and occurs with a t1/2 of 60-90 min. Stimulation of platelets with thrombin directly after the initial rapid uptake of TMA-DPH results in a fast increase in membrane-bound TMA-DPH, fully explained by the increase in plasma membrane caused by secretion of intracellular storage organelles. No indications for increased transbilayer movement of the probe were found, since dilution of thrombin-stimulated TMA-DPH-labeled platelets into buffer without TMA-DPH indicated no uptake of TMA-DPH by intracellular membranes. In contrast to thrombin, stimulation of TMA-DPH-labeled platelets with the Ca2(+)-ionophore ionomycin results in a much larger increase in fluorescence intensity. This process is accompanied by labeling of intracellular membranes as indicated by incomplete efflux of TMA-DPH after dilution of the stimulated platelets. Thus, stimulation of platelets by ionomycin gives rise to rapid and massive inward movement of TMA-DPH (t1/2 approximately 10-12 s). Prolonged incubation of platelets in the absence of any stimulus allows labeling of the total lipid pool, including intracellular membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biological Transport↗

Phospholipid asymmetry in the plasma membrane of malaria infected erythrocytes.

The transbilayer distribution of glycerophospholipids in the plasma membrane of Plasmodium knowlesi infected erythrocytes was studied by using lysine-116-epsilon-N-palmitoyl amidinated pancreatic phospholipase A2. As a consequence of its superior membrane penetrating capacities, this modified enzyme rapidly degrades its substrates in the outer membrane leaflet of intact erythrocytes, a property that makes the enzyme an excellent tool to study the malaria parasitized red cell. The modified phospholipase A2 caused a nonlytic hydrolysis of up to 12-15% of the phosphatidylethanolamine and none of the phosphatidylserine in the red cell membrane, irrespective of whether the cells harboured trophozoite and schizont stages of parasites or no parasites at all. The absence of phosphatidylserine at the exterior surface of Plasmodium infected erythrocytes was confirmed by applying the prothrombinase assay on Plasmodium falciparum infected human erythrocytes. Consequently, the results from these and previous studies indicate that the plasma membrane of Plasmodium infected erythrocytes exhibit a normal transbilayer phospholipid asymmetry.

Animals↗

Enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylserine on small scale by use of a one-phase system.

A modification of the phospholipase D-catalyzed synthesis of phosphatidylserine is described, which allows the handling of small quantities of lipid without the need for an ether-water system. By using octylglucoside to disperse the lipid during the enzymatic conversion, it was possible to reduce the volume of the reaction mixture to 50-100 microliters. The amount of lipid that can be handled in such small volumes is in the order of micrograms. This facilitates the synthesis of phosphatidylserine from rare or expensive phosphatidylcholine species. The yield of phosphatidylserine is increased by replacing phospholipase D from cabbage by the enzyme from Streptomyces species.

Detergents↗

Interaction between phosphatidylserine and the isolated cytoskeleton of human blood platelets.

Binding experiments were performed to demonstrate a direct interaction between cytoskeletons from human blood platelets and phosphatidylserine. A centrifugation technique using radiolabeled phosphatidylserine-vesicles and Triton X-100 insoluble residues from unstimulated human platelets was used to assess the binding. Interaction between cytoskeleton and phospholipid is demonstrated to be specific for phosphatidylserine. No binding was observed for phosphatidylcholine. The binding of phosphatidylserine was saturable and dependent on the concentration of cytoskeleton used. The interaction between phosphatidylserine and the cytoskeleton appeared to be completely reversible. The existence of a reversible and specific interaction between phosphatidylserine and the cytoskeleton of unstimulated platelets would suggest a role for the cytoskeleton in the maintenance of the asymmetric distribution of this lipid in the plasma membrane. We have previously shown (Comfurius et al. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 815, 143-148) that in activated platelets a strong correlation exists between degradation of platelet cytoskeletal proteins by the endogenous calcium-dependent proteinase (calpain) and exposure of phosphatidylserine at their outer surface. Nevertheless, hydrolysis of the isolated cytoskeleton by calpain did not result in a change in the parameters of the binding between phosphatidylserine and cytoskeleton. Also, sulfhydryl oxidation of the cytoskeleton by diamide did not affect its binding properties for phosphatidylserine, in spite of the fact that diamide treatment of platelets results in exposure of phosphatidylserine at the outer surface. Exposition of phosphatidylserine upon activation of platelets cannot be directly ascribed to a change in affinity or number of binding sites of the modified cytoskeleton as measured in model systems. However, it cannot be excluded that topological rearrangements of the cytoskeleton as occur within the cell during platelet activation lead to a decreased contact between cytoskeleton and lipid, irrespective of the binding parameters.

Binding Sites↗

Involvement of ATP-dependent aminophospholipid translocation in maintaining phospholipid asymmetry in diamide-treated human erythrocytes.

Crosslinking of membrane skeletal proteins such as spectrin by oxidation of their SH-groups can be provoked by treatment of intact erythrocytes with diamide. Shortly after exposure of human erythrocytes to diamide and despite the transverse destabilization of the lipid bilayer that was observed in these cells (Franck, P.F.H., Op den Kamp, J.A.F., Roelofsen, B. and Van Deenen, L.L.M. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 857, 127-130), no abnormalities could be detected regarding the asymmetric distribution of the phospholipids when probed by either the prothrombinase assay or brief exposure of the cells to a modified phospholipase A2 with enhanced membrane penetrating capacity. This asymmetry appeared to undergo dramatic changes however, when the ATP content of the cytosol had decreased to less than 10% of its original level during prolonged incubation of the treated cells. These observations indicate that the initial maintenance of phospholipid asymmetry in diamide-treated erythrocytes can be solely ascribed to the action of the ATP-dependent aminophospholipid translocase. This view is supported by experiments involving radiolabeled phospholipids of which trace amounts had been inserted into the outer membrane leaflet of diamide-treated red cells and which still showed a preferential translocation of both aminophospholipids in favour of the inner monolayer, be it that the efficiency of the translocase was found to be impaired when compared to control cells.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Exposure of endogenous phosphatidylserine at the outer surface of stimulated platelets is reversed by restoration of aminophospholipid translocase activity.

Phosphatidylserine (PS) in the plasma membrane of nonactivated human platelets is almost entirely located on the cytoplasmic side. Stimulation of platelets with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or combined action of collagen plus thrombin results in a rapid loss of the asymmetric distribution of PS. Also, treatment with the sulfhydryl-reactive compounds diamide and pyridyldithioethylamine (PDA) causes exposure of PS at the platelet outer surface. PS exposure is sensitively measured as the catalytic potential of platelets to enhance the rate of thrombin formation by the enzyme complex factor Xa-factor Va, since this reaction is essentially dependent on the presence of a PS-containing lipid surface. In this paper we demonstrate that endogenous PS, previously exposed at the outer surface during cell activation or sulfhydryl oxidation, can be translocated back to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the membrane by addition of dithiothreitol (DTT) but not by nonpermeable reducing agents like reduced glutathione. Treatment of platelets with trypsin or chymotrypsin, prior to addition of DTT, inhibits the inward transport of exposed PS. Moreover, severe depletion of metabolic ATP, as obtained by platelet stimulation with A23187 in the presence of metabolic inhibitors, though not inhibiting PS exposure at the outer surface, blocks the translocation of endogenous PS to the internal leaflet of the plasma membrane. These results strongly indicate the involvement of a membrane protein in the inward transport of endogenous PS. Recently, an aminophospholipid-specific translocase in the platelet membrane was postulated on the basis of the inward transport of exogenously added PS (analogues) [Sune, A., Bette-Bobillo, P., Bienvenue, A., Fellmann, P., & Devaux, P.F. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 2972-2978].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Fluoride-dependent calcium-induced platelet procoagulant activity shows that calpain is involved in increased phospholipid transbilayer movement.

Treatment of platelets with fluoride (10 mM) was found to result in a transient increase in Ca2+-permeability of the platelet plasma membrane. This phenomenon was used to provide supplementary evidence for the suggestions made earlier (Comfurius et al. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 815, 143; Verhallen et al. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 903, 206), that cytoskeletal disrupture by calpain is involved in the process leading to transbilayer movement of phosphatidylserine during expression of platelet procoagulant activity. This was achieved by relating both calpain activity and exposure of phosphatidylserine with platelet procoagulant activity. It was found that only upon addition of extracellular Ca2+ to fluoride-treated platelets, procoagulant activity, expressed as prothrombinase activity, and calpain activity, estimated from protein patterns after gel electrophoresis, were generated. Both Ca2+-inducible prothrombinase activity and calpain activity followed an identical time-course during incubation with fluoride: after a time-lag of about 10 min they sharply increased towards a peak level. Upon further incubation with fluoride, both activities decreased towards a final plateau, still above basal level. The presence of leupeptin during incubation with fluoride was found to inhibit Ca2+-inducible calpain activity and prothrombinase activity in an identical way. Ca2+-inducible exposure of phosphatidylserine, as determined with extracellular phospholipase A2, showed a similar pattern as Ca2+-inducible calpain activity and prothrombinase activity. From the strict parallelism between prothrombinase activity, calpain activity and exposure of phosphatidylserine, it is concluded that calpain plays an important role in the activation-dependent transbilayer movement of phosphatidylserine during expression of platelet procoagulant activity. It is suggested that degradation of the platelet membrane-skeleton by calpain disturbs the structural organization of the lipid bilayer of the platelet plasma membrane leading to enhanced transbilayer movement of phospholipids and appearance of phosphatidylserine at the platelet outer surface.

Blood Platelets↗

Potential anticoagulant activity of lipocortins and other calcium/phospholipid binding proteins.

Thrombin generation was determined in the presence of phospholipids, coagulation factors Xm, Vm and II (prothrombin), calcium, and various calcium/phospholipid bindings proteins, including lipocortins I and II, 35 kDa calelectrin, and 32.5 kDa endonexin. All of these proteins induced a dose-dependent inhibition of thrombin generation similar to the inhibition of pig pancreas phospholipase A2. It is suggested that the ability of lipocortins and other related proteins to interact with anionic phospholipids in the presence of Ca++ is responsible for both their anticoagulant and anti-phospholipase A2 activity.

Animals↗