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Masaaki Moroi

Publications and source records attributed to Masaaki Moroi.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Analyzing the mechanism of Rap1 activation in platelets: Rap1 activation is related to the release reaction mediated through the collagen receptor GPVI.

The abundant Rap1 in platelets becomes activated when these cells are stimulated by various agonists, but its function has remained unknown. In view of this, we developed an assay to quantitatively measure activated Rap1 and used it to determine relationships between Rap1 activation and several platelet functions: integrin alpha2beta1 activation, tyrosine phosphorylation, and the release reaction. We looked at how these processes are affected by the protein kinase C inhibitor BIMI, tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2, PI 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin, and ADP scavenger apyrase. In CRP (collagen related peptide)-activated platelets, all the inhibitors severely inhibited Rap1 activation, but had little effect on integrin alpha2beta1 activation, indicating that the integrin activation mechanism is different from the Rap1 activation mechanism, at least in GPVI-dependent activation. With p85alpha-null mouse platelets, we demonstrated that Rap1 activation involves PI 3-kinase p85alpha-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation. All the inhibitors similarly decreased Rap1 activation and the serotonin release reaction, and the inhibition of Rap1 activation was not due to the lack of released ADP. Our results indicate that platelet Rap1 activation is closely related to the release reaction and not to integrin alpha2beta1 activation in GPVI-mediated platelet activation.

Androstadienes↗

Laminin stimulates spreading of platelets through integrin alpha6beta1-dependent activation of GPVI.

The extracellular matrix protein, laminin, supports platelet adhesion through binding to integrin alpha6beta1 In the present study, we demonstrate that human laminin, purified from placenta, also stimulates formation of filopodia and lamellipodia in human and mouse platelets through a pathway that is dependent on alpha6beta1 and the collagen receptor GPVI. The integrin alpha6beta1 is essential for adhesion to laminin, as demonstrated using an alpha6-blocking antibody, whereas GPVI is dispensable for this response, as shown using "knockout" mouse platelets. On the other hand, lamellipodia formation on laminin is completely inhibited in the absence of GPVI, although filopodia formation remains and is presumably mediated via alpha6beta1 Lamellipodia and filopodia formation are inhibited in Syk-deficient platelets, demonstrating a key role for the kinase in signaling downstream of GPVI and integrin alpha6beta1 GPVI was confirmed as a receptor for laminin using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and by demonstration of lamellipodia formation on laminin in the presence of collagenase. These results identify GPVI as a novel receptor for laminin and support a model in which integrin alpha6beta1 brings laminin to GPVI, which in turn mediates lamellipodia formation. We speculate that laminin contributes to platelet spreading in vivo through a direct interaction with GPVI.

Animals↗

The influence of N-linked glycosylation on the function of platelet glycoprotein VI.

Using recombinant human glycoprotein VI (GPVI), we evaluated the effect of N-linked glycosylation at the consensus site Asparagine92-Glycine-Serine94 (N92GS94) on binding of this platelet-specific receptor to its ligands, human type I collagen, collagen-related peptide (CRP), and the snake venom C-type lectin convulxin (CVX). In COS-7 cells transiently transfected with GPVI, deglycosylation with peptide-N-glycosidase F (PNGase F; specific for complex N-linked glycans) or tunicamycin decreases the molecular weight of GPVI and reduces transfected COS-7 cell binding to both CRP and CVX. In stably transfected Dami cells, the substitutions N92A or S94A, but not L95H, resulted in a 30% to 40% decrease in adhesion to CVX, but a 90% or greater decrease in adhesion to CRP and a 65% to 70% decrease in adhesion to type I collagen. Treatment with PNGase F, but not Endoglycosidase H (Endo H) (specific for high-mannose N-linked glycans), produced an equivalent decrease in molecular weight. Neither N92A nor S94A affected the expression of GPVI, based on the direct binding of murine anti-human GPVI monoclonal antibody 204-11 to transfected Dami cells. These findings indicate that N-linked glycosylation at N92 in human GPVI is not required for surface expression, but contributes to maximal adhesion to type I collagen, CRP and, to a lesser extent, CVX.

Animals↗

Thrombopoietin initiates demethylation-based transcription of GP6 during megakaryocyte differentiation.

Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is an essential platelet receptor for collagens that is exclusively expressed in the megakaryocytic lineage. Transcription of the human gene GP6 is driven largely by GATA-binding protein 1 (GATA-1), specificity protein 1 (Sp1), and Friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli-1). In this report, we show that GPVI expression during megakaryocytic differentiation is dependent on cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) demethylation that can be initiated by thrombopoietin (TPO). Sodium bisulfite genomic sequencing established that a CpG-rich island within the GP6 promoter region is fully methylated at 10 CpG sites in GPVI-nonexpressive cell lines, such as UT-7/EPO and C8161, but completely unmethylated in GPVI-expressive cell lines, including UT-7/TPO and CHRF288-11. To further confirm the relationship between CpG demethylation and expression of GPVI in primary cells, we treated human cord blood cells with TPO. The GP6 promoter is highly methylated in cord blood mononuclear cells (progenitors) but not in CD41+-enriched cells obtained after TPO differentiation. Furthermore, when UT-7/EPO-Mpl cells, which stably express human C-myeloproliferative leukemia virus ligand (c-Mpl), were treated with TPO, demethylation of the GP6 promoter was induced. In every case, demethylation of the GP6 promoter correlated with an increase in mRNA level. Thus, megakaryocyte-specific expression of the GP6 gene is regulated, in part, by CpG demethylation, which can be directly initiated by TPO.

Base Sequence↗

Relative antithrombotic effect of soluble GPVI dimer compared with anti-GPVI antibodies in mice.

Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is an essential platelet collagen receptor; therefore, the inhibition of GPVI-collagen interactions may be an attractive antithrombotic strategy. We have previously shown that targeting of GPVI with antibodies leads to the depletion of the receptor and to long-term antithrombotic protection in mice. An alternative agent to interfere with GPVI-collagen interactions might be soluble GPVI acting as a competitive inhibitor, thereby averting undesired effects on platelets. To test this, we expressed soluble dimeric human GPVI, comprising the extracellular domain of the receptor fused to the human immunoglobulin Fc domain (GPVI-Fc), and compared its antithrombotic potential with that of anti-GPVI antibodies in mice. In contrast to a recent report, we found by intravital fluorescence microscopy and ultrasonic flow measurements that GPVI-Fc had no effect on platelet adhesion and thrombus formation at the injured arterial wall, whereas anti-GPVI antibodies profoundly inhibited these processes. Similar results were obtained with a fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of mouse GPVI and human IgG-Fc. This indicates that direct targeting of GPVI provides significantly stronger protection against arterial thrombosis than soluble GPVI dimer.

Animals↗

Von Willebrand factor accelerates platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on a collagen surface in platelet-reduced blood under flow conditions.

Plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) has been identified as an indispensable factor for platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on a collagen surface under flow conditions. VWF binds to collagen and then tethers platelets to the collagen surface through interaction with platelet glycoprotein Ib and also contributes to the thrombus formation on the collagen surface. In the present study, we demonstrated that the addition of VWF/factor VIII complex or purified VWF (> 2 ristocetin cofactor activity units/mL) increased platelet adhesion to the collagen surface in platelet-reduced blood ( approximately 5 x 10(4) platelets/microL) to the normal level. VWF had no stimulatory effect when it was allowed to bind to the collagen surface before blood flow was initiated. Addition of an excess of FITC (fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate)-labeled VWF to platelet-reduced blood under these flow conditions demonstrated that the VWF was mainly incorporated into the platelet aggregates. These results indicated that the supplemented VWF stimulates the platelet adhesion onto the collagen surface by enhancing platelet aggregation in the platelet-reduced condition. This also suggests a possibility that supplementation of VWF to individuals with thrombocytopenia might be effective for increasing their hemostatic potential.

Anticoagulants↗

Platelet glycoprotein VI: its structure and function.

Glycoprotein (GP) VI is a platelet membrane protein with a molecular weight of 62 kDa that was identified as a physiological collagen receptor from studies of patients deficient in this protein. GPVI-deficient platelets lacked specifically collagen-induced aggregation and the ability to form thrombi on a collagen surface under flow conditions, suggesting that GPVI makes an indispensable contribution to collagen-induced platelet activation. On the platelet surface, GPVI is present as a complex with the Fc receptor (FcR) gamma-chain, probably composed of two GPVI molecules and one FcR gamma-chain dimer. GPVI must form such a dimeric complex to exhibit high affinity binding to collagen. The GPVI-induced activation mechanism is initiated by tyrosine phosphorylation of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) of the FcR gamma-chain, and then this signal is transduced to many related proteins, mainly by tyrosine phosphorylation. GPVI is widely recognized as a requisite factor for the formation of platelet aggregates on a collagen surface under blood flow. However, individuals with GPVI-deficient or null platelets do not exhibit any strong bleeding tendency. Analyzing this apparent dichotomy should provide us with a more precise understanding of the mechanism of thrombus formation.

Animals↗

GPVI levels in platelets: relationship to platelet function at high shear.

We have investigated the density of the collagen receptors glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and alpha 2 beta 1 on human platelets and their relationship to polymorphisms within the GPVI gene. GPVI levels varied 1.5-fold and showed a weak correlation (r = 0.35) with the levels of alpha 2 beta 1, which varied 3-fold. GPVI genotype had a significant effect on receptor levels with carriers of the proline 219 allele (approximately 22% of the population) having 10% lower GPVI levels than the more common serine homozygotes. GPVI and alpha 2 beta 1 levels were found to be significantly decreased on platelets from patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). In both the MPD and the control group, GPVI levels were found not to affect platelet function under high shear in whole blood. Similarly murine platelets that express up to 5-fold lower levels of GPVI showed no significant difference than controls in thrombus formation on a high-density collagen-coated surface. However platelets lacking the GPVI/Fc receptor gamma-chain (FcR gamma-chain) complex or a functional FcR gamma-chain (immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif [ITAM] point mutant) exhibited severely abrogated thrombus formation at 800 s-1 and 1500 s-1. These results demonstrate that GPVI levels are tightly controlled and play a critical role in thrombus formation on collagen; nevertheless, a range of receptor densities can support platelet function under high shear.

Alleles↗

Functional phenotype of phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85alpha-null platelets characterized by an impaired response to GP VI stimulation.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), a family of lipid kinases comprising 3 classes with multiple isoforms, have been shown to participate in different phases of platelet signaling. To investigate the roles that enzymes play in platelet function in vivo and determine which isoforms are important for particular signaling events, we analyzed platelet function of gene knockout mice deficient in the p85alpha regulatory subunit of heterodimeric class IA PI3K. The kinase activity of p85alpha-/- platelets was only 5% of the activity of platelets from wild-type littermates. Platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), thrombin, U46619, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), or botrocetin was not defective in p85alpha-/- mice, compared with wild-type animals. In contrast, aggregation induced by collagen and collagen-related peptide (CRP) was partially but readily impaired in p85alpha-/- mice. Both P-selectin expression and fibrinogen binding in response to CRP were also decreased to a similar extent in p85alpha-/- platelets. Platelets from p85alpha-/- mice appeared to spread poorly over a CRP-coated surface with intact filopodial protrusions. Significant attenuation of CRP-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in known PI3K effectors such as Btk, Tec, PKB/Akt, and phospholipase Cgamma2 were observed with p85alpha-/- platelets, whereas no alteration was noted in upstream molecules of Syk, LAT, and SLP-76. Considered as a whole, these results provide the first genetic evidence that PI3K p85alpha plays a significant role in platelet function, almost exclusively in the glycoprotein (GP) VI/Fc receptor gamma chain complex-mediated signaling pathway.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗

A new monoclonal antibody, mAb 204-11, that influences the binding of platelet GPVI to fibrous collagen.

The newly identified platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI binds to fibrous collagen, inducing platelet activation. Several antibodies against GPVI have been reported, including a patient's auto-antibodies, that activates platelets through their ability to crosslink this glycoprotein. We have developed a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against GPVI using the recombinant extracellular domain of GPVI as an antigen. This antibody, mAb 204-11, induced platelet aggregation and tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins similar to those induced by GPVI-reactive proteins, collagen and convulxin. Its interaction with GPVI was analyzed by measuring the effect of the antibody on GPVI binding to collagen using a dimeric form of recombinant GPVI, GPVI-Fc2. MAb 204-11 inhibited the binding of GPVI-Fc2 to fibrous collagen particles, but enhanced the GPVI binding to immobilized collagen, suggesting that the antibody binds to a region near the collagen binding site of GPVI. MAb 204-11 also inhibited the GPVI binding to convulxin at a low concentration, but not completely. Since mAb 204-11 reacts specifically with GPVI and is applicable for immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation, this antibody would be useful for studies on GPVI.

Animals↗

Analysis of the interaction of platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) with collagen. A dimeric form of GPVI, but not the monomeric form, shows affinity to fibrous collagen.

Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is a platelet-specific glycoprotein that has been indicated to react with collagen and activate platelets. Its structure was recently identified by cDNA cloning (Clemetson, J. M., Polgar, J., Magnenat, E., Wells, T. N., and Clemetson, K. J. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 29019-29024). However, the mechanism of the interaction between collagen and GPVI has not been analyzed in detail because both collagen and GPVI are insoluble molecules. In this study, we expressed the extracellular domain of GPVI as soluble forms as follows: the monomeric form (GPVIex) and the dimeric form of GPVI fused with the human immunoglobulin Fc domain (GPVI-Fc(2)). Purified GPVIex strongly inhibited convulxin (Cvx)-induced platelet aggregation but only weakly inhibited that induced by collagen-related peptide. However, only GPVI-Fc(2), and not GPVIex, inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The dimeric form of GPVI exhibits high affinity for collagen, as concluded from measurements of GPVI binding to immobilized collagen by both the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and surface plasmon resonance methods. GPVI-Fc(2) bound to the surface of immobilized collagen with a dissociation constant (K(D)) of 5.76 x 10(-7) m, but the binding of GPVIex was too weak to allow estimation of this parameter. Cvx did not inhibit the binding of dimeric GPVI to collagen, indicating that the binding site of GPVI to collagen was different from that to Cvx. Taken together, our data indicate that the high affinity binding site for collagen is composed from two chains of GPVI. Furthermore, they suggest that the binding sites for Cvx are different from the collagen-binding sites and do not need to be formed by two GPVI molecules. Because dimeric GPVI is the only form that shows high affinity to fibrous collagen, our results indicate that GPVI would be present as a dimeric form on the platelet. Moreover, surface plasmon resonance indicated that there is no detectable interaction between soluble collagen and GPVI, supporting our previous observation that GPVI only reacts with fibrous collagen.

Animals↗

Association of Fyn and Lyn with the proline-rich domain of glycoprotein VI regulates intracellular signaling.

The glycoprotein VI (GPVI)-Fc receptor (FcR) gamma-chain complex, a key activatory receptor for collagen on platelet surface membranes, is constitutively associated with the Src family kinases Fyn and Lyn. Molecular cloning of GPVI has revealed the presence of a proline-rich domain in the sequence of GPVI cytoplasmic tail which has the consensus for interaction with the Src homology 3 (SH3) domains of Fyn and Lyn. A series of in vitro experiments demonstrated the ability of the SH3 domains of both Src kinases to bind the proline-rich domain of GPVI. Furthermore, depletion of the proline-rich domain in GPVI (Pro(-)-GPVI) prevented binding of Fyn and Lyn and markedly reduced phosphorylation of FcR gamma-chain in transiently transfected COS-7 cells, but did not affect the association of the gamma-chain with GPVI. Jurkat cells stably transfected with wild type GPVI show robust increases in tyrosine phosphorylation and intracellular Ca2+ in response to the snake venom convulxin that targets GPVI. Importantly, convulxin is not able to activate cells transfected with Pro(-)-GPVI, even though the association with the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif-containing chains is maintained. These findings demonstrate that the proline-rich domain of GPVI mediates the association with Fyn/Lyn via their SH3 domain and that this interaction initiates activation signals through GPVI.

Animals↗

The Fc receptor gamma-chain is necessary and sufficient to initiate signalling through glycoprotein VI in transfected cells by the snake C-type lectin, convulxin.

There is extensive evidence that FcR gamma-chain couples to the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and becomes phosphorylated on tyrosines upon receptor cross-linking. However, it is not established whether this receptor complex is sufficient to initiate the signalling cascade. We transfected GPVI and the FcR gamma-chain into the human erythroleukaemia cell line K562, which lacks detectable expression of GPVI and the FcR gamma-chain. The results show that GPVI is unable to signal when expressed alone, despite its surface expression, upon stimulation with the snake C-type lectin, convulxin. Coexpression of the FcR gamma-chain confers signalling properties on the receptor. Furthermore, cotransfection of the FcR gamma-chain and two mutant versions of GPVI shows that the transmembrane arginine and cytoplasmic tail of GPVI are necessary for association with the FcR gamma-chain. These results demonstrate that reconstitution of the GPVI-FcR gamma-chain complex in cells expressing the necessary signalling network is sufficient to initiate signalling events in response to convulxin and collagen-related peptide.

Animals↗

A defect in collagen receptor-Ca2+ signaling system in platelets from cattle with Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Decreased platelet aggregation to collagen is a cause for bleeding diathesis of Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS). We investigated whether the collagen receptor-Ca2+ signaling system was impaired in platelets from cattle affected with CHS. A collagen-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was depressed in CHS platelets, which was accompanied by a decrease in the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. When the influences of endogenous arachidonic acid metabolites and ADP were excluded, convulxin or collagen-related peptide, which are specific agonists for the collagen receptor GPVI, increased [Ca2+]i in both normal and CHS platelets. In contrast, rhodocytin, which was thought to activate another collagen receptor GPIa/IIa, increased [Ca2+]i in CHS platelets to a lesser extent than in normal ones. Cytochalasin D, an actin polymerization inhibitor, depressed the response to collagen or rhodocytin but not the response to convulxin. Adhesion of CHS platelets to acid soluble type I collagen, which was mediated by GPIa/IIa, was similar to that of normal platelets. These results suggest that a defect in the rhodocytin-sensitive pathway is responsible for decreasing the response to collagen in CHS platelets. It remains to be determined which receptor is associated with the mechanism.

Animals↗