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M W Mosesson

Publications and source records attributed to M W Mosesson.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

ADP-induced platelet aggregation depends on the conformation or availability of the terminal gamma chain sequence of fibrinogen. Study of the reactivity of fibrinogen Paris 1.

Fibrinogen Paris I contains a mutant gamma chain that is longer than the normal chain, resulting in altered fibrin polymerization and cross-linking. Because these functions involve the carboxy-terminal region of the gamma chain, we decided to determine whether fibrinogen Paris I or the isolated Paris I gamma chain supports normal ADP-induced platelet aggregation, a function that requires the ultimate 12 residues of the normal gamma chain (400 through 411). Aggregation of ADP-stimulated normal platelets was defective with fibrinogen Paris I and markedly depressed with the gamma Paris I chain. These findings prompted us to characterize the carboxy-terminal structure of the region of the gamma Paris I chain responsible for this activity. The carboxy-terminal cyanogen bromide (CNBr) peptide of the normal gamma chain (385 through 411) or that from gamma Paris I was isolated by differential adsorption to triethylene-tetramine resin or by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The CNBr peptide from the Paris I gamma chain was identical to that of the normal gamma chain in its retention time on HPLC, its amino acid composition, and its sequence. Thus, the primary structure of the gamma Paris I chain from residue 384 through 411 is normal, indicating that a peptide insertion has occurred upstream from residue 384, resulting in an impairment of those physiologic functions attributable to the carboxy-terminal end of the gamma chain from position 384 (ie, cross-linking, ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and at least a portion of the gamma chain polymerization site). These observations demonstrate that the gamma chain platelet recognition site in the fibrinogen molecule is necessary but not alone sufficient to support normal ADP-induced platelet aggregation. There appears to be an additional requirement for normal conformation of the gamma chain or availability of its terminal sequence during the interaction of fibrinogen with platelets.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Effect of hepatocyte-stimulating factor and glucocorticoids on plasma fibronectin levels.

We evaluated the effects of hepatocyte-stimulating factor (HSF) and a glucocorticoid (dexamethasone) on changes in the levels, in vivo and in vitro, of plasma fibronectin (Fn), a glycoprotein that is synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes. In turpentine-treated chickens, plasma levels of Fn, which peaked at 48 h (whereas fibrinogen levels were maximum at 72 h) rose 200-250% over basal levels, whereas albumin levels decreased by 20-40%. Corticosterone levels in serum samples taken between 5 and 48 h after injection revealed a 124% increase in hormone levels at 24 h in turpentine-treated chickens. We also showed that circulating HSF levels were maximal 8 to 12 h after injection and that HSF activity, as assessed by molecular-exclusion chromatography, was eluted in the 30-45 kDa range. Addition of either serum-derived HSF or dexamethasone (2 nM) to chick hepatocyte cultures resulted in a 130-150% increase in secreted Fn as well as in fibrinogen. When HSF and dexamethasone were added together, a 360-489% increase in the secreted levels of both proteins was found. Chicken mononuclear phagocytic cells treated with lipopolysaccharide secreted an HSF activity that was eluted in two peaks, a minor peak at approximately 70 kDa and a major peak in the 25-40 kDa range. Addition of mononuclear-cell-derived HSF resulted in a greater increase in Fn levels than did the addition of serum HSF. These findings indicate that Fn, like fibrinogen, is an acute-phase protein, the production of which, at least in chickens, is stimulated by HSF and glucocorticoids in an additive manner.

Acute-Phase Reaction↗

Evidence that chicken antithrombin III is a developmentally regulated glycoprotein synthesized by hepatocytes.

Antithrombin III is the principal circulating active-site inhibitor of thrombin and other serine proteinases. We studied a protein synthesized and secreted by cultured chick embryo hepatocytes that has very similar immunological, structural and functional properties to adult antithrombin III. Its presence was demonstrated by; immunodiffusion analysis of a 100-fold concentrate of culture medium, which produced a single precipitin line of identity with adult and 1-day-old hatchling plasma antithrombin III; immunoprecipitation of a metabolically labelled protein from culture medium, having the same molecular size as adult chicken antithrombin III; conversion of antithrombin activity in culture medium to a faster acting thrombin inhibitory activity in the presence of heparin. Antithrombin III antigen levels were increased 3- to 4-fold in the presence of dexamethasone (2 nM) during a 3-day culture period. Plasma antithrombin III antigen levels from unhatched chicks increased from 26 +/- 6 micrograms/ml at 16 days of development to 104 /+- 6 micrograms/ml at 20 days, whereas 1-day-old hatchlings (21 days) had levels similar to that in adults (135 +/- 7 micrograms/ml vs. 143 +/- 24 micrograms/ml). In contrast to immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic analysis of hepatocyte or hatchling plasma antithrombin III, which showed lines of identity with adult antithrombin III, 16- and 20-day-old embryonic plasma antithrombin III yielded lines of partial identity and migrated less anodally than adult antithrombin III. Consistent with this finding, embryonic plasma antithrombin III had no sialic acid (less than 0.01 residue/mol) in contrast with the adult form (3.5 residues/mol). These studies show that the increase in adult antigen levels and sialation of antithrombin III occurs rapidly after hatchling, suggesting developmental changes in expression at the transcriptional and translational levels in addition to post-translational carbohydrate processing.

Animals↗

Amino acid sequences of the carboxyl-terminal regions of rat plasma fibrinogen gamma A and gamma' chains.

Amino acid sequence analysis of human fibrinogen gamma' chains have shown that the larger size relative to the gamma A chains is due to differences at the COOH-terminus. As shown by DNA sequencing, these differences as well as those in rat fibrinogen gamma' and gamma A chains result from differential processing of the primary mRNA transcript. We isolated and sequenced carboxyl-terminal CNBr peptides from gamma' and gamma A chains. As predicted by DNA sequencing, the gamma A peptide has the carboxyl-terminal sequence Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys Gln-Val-Gly-Asp-Met-COOH. The gamma' peptide is identical through residue 6 and terminates with Ser-Val-Glu-His-Glu-Val-Asp-Val-Glu Tyr-Pro-COOH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evidence that rat platelet fibrinogen molecules lack the gamma' chain variant found in plasma fibrinogen molecules.

Heterogeneity of rat plasma fibrinogen gamma chains (gamma A, gamma') is due to differential splicing of the primary mRNA transcript. Human gamma' chains, which amount to 7% of the total gamma chain population of plasma (hepatic) fibrinogen, are not detectable in fibrinogen isolated from platelets. In this investigation, we extended our studies to rats and found that gamma' chains, representing 30% of the rat plasma gamma chain population, are not detectable in their platelet fibrinogen.

Animals↗

Preparation of functionally intact monomers by limited disulfide reduction of human plasma fibronectin dimers.

Most (90 to 95%) human plasma fibronectin (PFn) molecules exist as 450-kDa disulfide-rich dimers comprised of two major types of subunits (A, 220 kDa; B, 215 kDa) that are joined near the COOH terminus by two disulfide bonds. Smaller PFn species (Zone II; 190-235 kDa) consist mainly of monomers and/or a monomeric subunit joined covalently to a smaller peptide remnant presumably derived by proteolysis of a parent 450-kDa molecule. A relatively simple and selective method for preparing functionally active, partially reduced monomeric fibronectin subunits (PR-PFn) by limited and selective reduction of dimeric plasma fibronectin (PFn) has been developed. PR-PFn was prepared by incubating PFn in phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, for 2 h at room temperature in the presence of 17 mM dithiothreitol (DTT). Following S-carboxymethylation or S-carboxyamidomethylation, the material was passed through a gelatin-Sepharose column and nonbinding material was discarded; gelatin-bound material was eluted using a 0 to 2 M KSCN gradient. Residual dimeric species (10-20%) could be separated from monomers in high yield by gel-sieving chromatography on a Sepharose 6B-Cl in the presence of a chaotropic salt, 0.3 M KSCN. Most new SH groups (74-81%) in that fraction of PR-PFn binding to gelatin were localized in proteolytic fragments containing the COOH terminus, thus suggesting that selective cleavage of the interchain disulfide bridges had taken place. The binding affinity of PR-PFn to gelatin- and fibrin-Sepharose was lower than that of dimeric PFn, but the same as that of Zone II PFn and other monomeric gelatin-binding proteolytic derivatives. PR-PFn also bound to heparin-Sepharose and promoted cell attachment and spreading. We conclude that PR-PFn monomers possess the same functional activities as those of the parent chains.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Studies of fibronectin synthesized by cultured chick hepatocytes.

We have adapted a chick embryo liver cell system for studying the synthesis of proteins secreted by hepatocytes. In primary liver cell cultures maintained for several days in arginine-deficient medium containing ornithine (0.7 mM) and carbamyl phosphate (1 mM), only hepatocytes demonstrated normal morphological and biosynthetic characteristics, indicating that they possessed a functional ornithine cycle as a source of arginine production. Non-parenchymal liver cells, such as fibroblasts, which lack the ornithine cycle were excluded. Hepatocytes in arginine-deficient or arginine-containing medium synthesized fibronectin (Fn) over several days at a constant rate of 3 micrograms +/- 1 microgram/mg cell protein per day, with fibronectin representing approximately 3% of the total secreted hepatocyte proteins during any culture period after the first 24 h. Pulse-chase experiments indicated that Fn synthesis and secretion was relatively rapid (t1/2 = 45 min) and represented approximately 95% of the intracellularly labelled Fn. This Fn is secreted predominantly as a 450 kD dimer with a subunit size that is indistinguishable from the plasma form as assessed by one-dimensional electrophoretic analysis. Continuous exposure of hepatocytes to insulin caused a moderate decrease (26%) in Fn synthesis, whereas there was no effect of short-term exposure. In contrast, dexamethasone stimulated Fn production 2-3-fold, consistent with its known ability to stimulate hepatocyte production of acute phase proteins. Under these conditions, electrophoretic analyses showed that an increased quantity of intact hepatocyte Fn was produced having the same molecular size of plasma Fn.

Animals↗

Evidence that production of platelet fibrinogen is synchronous with platelet production in the turpentine-induced acute phase response.

Fibrinogen is synthesized by both hepatocytes and megakaryocytes, and available evidence indicates that cellular production of this protein is controlled by a single gene. We evaluated platelet and plasma fibrinogen production in rats injected with turpentine to induce the acute phase response. After turpentine injection, plasma fibrinogen levels, as expected, rose to more than double the baseline values within 48 hours and then declined to the upper limit of the normal range in 6 days. When levels were expressed as a percentage of total plasma protein, a rise form 4.2% to 10.0% occurred. Thrombocytosis was not observed until day 4; platelet counts returned to the normal range by day 8. The mean fibrinogen content per platelet did not change significantly (P greater than 0.05) during this period of observation. Thus, in contrast to the abrupt rise in the level of plasma fibrinogen, changes in the blood level of platelet fibrinogen paralleled changes in the platelet count. We interpret these findings to indicate that platelet fibrinogen production is synchronized with platelet production by megakaryocytes and thus suggest that fibrinogen production is regulated differently in these cells than it is in hepatocytes.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Studies on the structure of bovine factor V by scanning transmission electron microscopy.

We studied purified bovine factor V (mol wt 330,000) by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) of freeze-dried unstained or negatively contrasted preparations. Freeze-dried molecules revealed discrete shapes ranging from roughly spheroidal (100 to 120 nm) to oblong (140 to 200 nm in length X 50 to 100 nm in width). Oblong shapes could often be resolved into two or three distinct domains, ranging from 60 to 100 nm in diameter. A "satellite" nodular structure (30 to 50 nm in diameter) connected to the main molecule by a thin stalk (approximately 10 nm wide) up to 80 nm in length was occasionally seen. Glutaraldehyde-treated preparations yielded the same shapes as were seen in unfixed preparations but revealed better definition of submolecular features and "satellite" nodules. STEM mass analysis confirmed that each of the different shapes represented a monomolecular form of factor V. Negatively stained images revealed objects having the same general shapes as freeze-dried molecules, although greater detail was evident. Some images suggested that molecules consist of five or more discrete parts. Taken together, these observations indicate that factor V molecules are multidomainal, flexible structures that tend to have an irregular oblong shape with an axial ratio between 3:2 and 2:1.

Animals↗

Human platelet fibrinogen: purification and hemostatic properties.

Conditions were developed in which 80% to 90% of platelet fibrinogen could be routinely purified in nondegraded form from the fluid phase of platelet suspensions stimulated with the calcium ionophore, A23187, in the presence of calcium, leupeptin, and prostaglandin E1. Fibrinogen was separated from other released proteins by chromatography on diethylaminoethanol (DEAE)-cellulose using a continuous pH and ionic strength gradient. Purified platelet fibrinogen, greater than 98% homogeneous by immunoelectrophoresis and sodium-dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), consisted of intact A alpha, B beta and gamma A chains, but not gamma' chains, and was 95% to 96% clottable. Platelet fibrinogen was shown to compete for the binding of radiolabeled plasma fibrinogen to ADP-activated platelets in a manner identical to that of unlabeled plasma fibrinogen itself. Also, at equivalent protein concentrations, platelet and plasma fibrinogens supported platelet aggregation to an equivalent extent. Based upon these results, we conclude that there is no significant difference between platelet and plasma fibrinogen with respect to their size, their clottability, their affinity for the activated platelet fibrinogen receptor, or their capacity to support subsequent platelet aggregation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Cleavage of fibrinogen by human platelet calcium-activated protease.

In lysates of washed human platelets produced by sonication or by addition of nonionic detergent, fibrinogen (Mr 340,000) was rapidly degraded, under conditions favorable to activation of the endogenous calcium-activated protease (CAP), to a core derivative (Mr 280-290,000) composed of partially degraded A alpha chains (Mr 47,000, 46,000, and 34,000) and B beta chains (Mr 56,000), and apparently intact gamma chains (Mr 53-54,000). Extensive degradation occurred within one minute at 4 degrees C, ambient temperature or at 37 degrees C, and was inhibited by leupeptin, EDTA, EGTA, or N-Ethylmaleimide, but not by soybean trypsin inhibitor, hirudin, aprotonin, benzamidine, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride or epsilon-aminocaproic acid. Purified plasma fibrinogen exposed to lysates containing active protease was cleaved in an identical fashion. The cleavage pattern of A alpha chains produced by this platelet protease activity is different from that produced by plasmin in vitro or that found in fibrinogen catabolites in vivo, and is unlike that produced by any cellular fibrinolytic enzyme yet described. In view of this finding, as well as the striking differential inhibitory effect of the agents cited above, we conclude that the degradation of platelet fibrinogen observed in these studies is due to direct proteolysis by platelet CAP.

Blood Platelets↗

Fibronectin deposition in delayed-type hypersensitivity. Reactions of normals and a patient with afibrinogenemia.

During development of delayed hypersensitivity (DH) skin reactions, fibronectin accumulates in two distinct sites: (a) the dermal interstitium in a pattern similar to fibrin and with a time course similar to that of fibrin deposition and mononuclear cell infiltration, and (b) blood vessel walls in a pattern suggestive of basement membrane staining and with a time course similar to that of endothelial cell proliferation. In vitro fibronectin can bind to monocytes or endothelial cells and simultaneously bind to fibrin or collagen matrices; by such interaction in vivo it may affect cell migration or proliferation. Thus, fibronectin deposition in DH reactions may facilitate cell-matrix interactions; however, the possibility exists that extravascular fibronectin accumulation may be only secondary to interstitial fibrin clot formation, and that blood vessel-associated fibronectin may be only a function of adsorption onto basement membrane (type IV) collagen. To address these possibilities, we investigated the association of fibronectin with fibrin, type IV collagen, and mononuclear cell infiltrates in DH reactions. Skin sites of DH reactions in normal volunteers were biopsied at 24, 48, and 72 h after intradermal challenge and examined by immunofluorescence technique. At all time points most of the interstitial fibronectin coincided with fibrin; however, some interstitial fibronectin was coincident with mononuclear cells positive for HLA-DR or monocyte-specific antigen. The coincidence of fibronectin with mononuclear cells was more apparent in a 48-h DH reaction from a patient with congenital afibrinogenemia. Vessel wall fibronectin was increased by 48 h after challenge and appeared as a fine linear band on the luminal side of a much thicker band of type IV collagen. Thus, the coincidence of extravascular fibronectin with mononuclear cells, its appearance without fibrin in the site from a patient with afibrinogenemia, and incomplete correspondence of vessel wall fibronectin with type IV collagen suggest that fibronectin localization in DH reactions involves endothelial cell and mononuclear cell binding as well as adsorption to fibrin and/or type IV collagen.

Afibrinogenemia↗

The role of fibronectin in monocyte/macrophage function.

"Fibronectin" is a term describing a class of immuno-chemically related glycoproteins that are found in blood, in connective tissues, and in most basement membranes. All types of fibronectins have distinct binding domains that serve to mediate an adhesive function between collagen, cells (e.g., fibroblasts, macrophages), fibrin(ogen), and/or certain glycosaminoglycans (e.g., heparin). Monocytes and macrophages are phagocytic cells which collectively comprise the "mononuclear phagocytic" system. Plasma fibronectin (CIg) mediates: a) the attachment of monocytes to gelatin-coated surfaces; and b) the attachment of gelatin-coated RBCs or latex particles to surface-bound monocytes. This process was mediated only by surface-bound forms of fibronectin. Particle attachment to cells, per se, was not associated with augmented particle ingestion, although particle binding did result in increased expression of the monocyte C3 and Fc receptors. These data indicate that monocytes have surface receptors for fibronectin. It appears that the relatively strong affinity between fibrin and fibronectin may provide a mechanism for recognition and subsequent clearance of fibrin-fibrinogen complexes from the blood by attachment to fibronectin receptors on mononuclear phagocytes. One can also speculate that fibronectin binds to exposed or denatured collagen at sites of injury, leading to macrophage attachment and differentiation. Such events probably play an important role in wound organization and healing.

Cell Adhesion↗

Human platelet fibrinogen gamma chain structure.

Human plasma fibrinogen is produced by liver parenchymal cells. Such molecules contain two classes of gamma-chains (gamma A, gamma'), which differ with respect to their COOH-terminal sequences. When fibrin is crosslinked in the presence of factor XIIIa and Ca2+, three types of gamma-dimer are formed (gamma A-gamma A; gamma A-gamma'; gamma'-gamma'). A separate fibrinogen pool is located in platelet alpha-granules. We analyzed this fibrinogen to determine whether gamma'-chains were present to the same extent (7%) that they are found in plasma fibrinogen. Electrophoretic analysis (Laemmli system) of reduced samples of the clot that formed subsequent to release of fibrinogen from thrombin-stimulated washed platelets, revealed a single crosslinked gamma-dimer band in the gamma A-gamma A position. Material collected into EDTA-containing buffer and subsequently crosslinked in the presence of added factor XIII and Ca2+ also revealed a gamma A-gamma A dimer band. This finding was further investigated by Western blotting of reduced gel specimens that had been reacted with an anti-gamma-chain antibody followed by 125I-labeled protein A. A single type of gamma-chain, gamma A, was present in the fibrinogen from a Triton X-100 or 10 M urea platelet lysate, or in noncrosslinked fibrin obtained from thrombin-treated platelets. Crosslinked reduced fibrin from thrombin-treated platelets or that prepared from the Triton lysate revealed a single type of gamma-dimer, gamma A-gamma A. We conclude that there are no gamma'-chains (less than 1%) in platelet fibrinogen. This structural difference from hepatic fibrinogen probably results from differences in the processing and/or regulation of the fibrinogen gamma-chain gene in megakaryocytes.

Afibrinogenemia↗

Plasma fibronectin-C1q complex formation and its effect on C1q inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation.

The first component of complement (C1q) contains a collagen-like structure which evidently accounts for its ability to bind to platelets and to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation. This present investigation explored the interaction among C1q, plasma fibronectin (Pl Fn) and platelets. Gel filtration chromatography (Sepharose 2B and 4B) of preincubated mixtures of C1q and Pl Fn yielded evidence of complex formation. Preincubation of Pl Fn with platelets did not affect collagen-induced platelet aggregation nor did preincubation of Pl Fn with C1q significantly affect C1q-mediated inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation. These observations may indicate that the site of interaction between Pl Fn and C1q is different from the site of interaction between C1q and platelets.

Blood Platelets↗

Separation and analysis of the major forms of plasma fibronectin.

Human plasma fibronectin exists in circulation in multiple molecular forms that are distinguishable by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (zone I, approx. 450 kDa dimers; zone II, 190-235 kDa; Zone III, 146-175 kDa). (Chen, A.B., Amrani, D.L. and Mosesson, M.W. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 493, 310-322). We report here on investigations of plasma fibronectin that had been purified from the 'heparin-precipitable fraction' of plasma by DEAE-cellulose chromatography using buffers containing a chaotropic salt (KSCN). Zone I fibronectin and zone II fibronectin were subsequently separated by Sepharose CL-6B chromatography in the presence of 0.3 M KSCN. Electrophoresis of reduced zone I fibronectin dimers showed the presence of three types of subunits (i.e., 220 kDa, 215 kDa, 207 kDa), evidently all having the same NH2-terminal sequence. Subunits of this size were also found in reduced zone II fibronectin, as well as another polypeptide of 190 kDa, the latter amounting to under 5% of the total. Unreduced zone I fibronectin was resolved by gel electrophoresis into a doublet. The upper component amounted to approx. 90% of the total and was comprised of 220 kDa and/or 215 kDa subunits; the lower component contained 207 kDa plus a 220 kDa or 215 kDa subunit. Scanning transmission electron microscopy indicated that under physiologic conditions zone II fibronectin molecules, like those in zone I, exist as pleiomorphic, loosely folded structures (approx. 16 X 8-12 nm) that are somewhat smaller than dimeric zone I molecules (approx. 24 X 16 nm). Circular dichroic spectral analyses suggests that both types have similarly folded local domains. Affinity chromatography experiments revealed a relative decrease in the binding of zone II fibronectin to gelatin but no difference from zone I fibronectin with respect to heparin or fibrin binding.

Amino Acids↗