title: Platelet activation by fMLP-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes: the activity of cathepsin G is not prevented by antiproteinases.
abstract: Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) activated by fMLP (in the presence of CaCl2, fibrinogen, and cytochalasin B) were able to induce aggregation, cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase, and thromboxane A2 production in coincubated autologousplatelets. Cell-free supernatants prepared from n-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP)-stimulated PMN were able also to induce platelet activation. Antibodies against cathepsin G and different serin protease inhibitors completely suppressed the activity of PMN-derived supernatants, indicating that cathepsin G is the major platelet activator released by PMN in our system. However, antiproteinases only partially affected platelet activation induced by PMN in mixed cell suspensions. Superoxide dismutase and catalase added to the cell suspension did not affect platelet activation nor potentiated serin protease inhibitors, making a role for short-lived oxygen radicals in our experimental system unlikely. Electron microscopic observation of stirred mixed cell suspensions preincubated for 2 minutes at 37 degrees C before stimulation showed a close PMN-platelets contact without any morphologic or biochemical event suggesting platelet activation. Preincubation of the cells without stirring to minimize PMN-platelet interaction before stimulation did not modify subsequent aggregation and platelet cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase in control samples. However, in this condition trypsin inhibitor from soybean completely prevented PMN-induced platelet activation. In samples preincubated without stirring in the presence of the antiproteinase, activated PMN stuck together but platelets preserved their discoid shape and did not appear significantly activated. We propose that membrane-to-membrane contact could create a microenvironment in which cathepsin G, discharged from stimulated PMN on adherent platelets, is protected from antiproteinases.
authors.affiliation: Giulio Bizzozero Laboratory of Platelet and Leukocyte Pharmacology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rajtar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de Gaetano
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerletti
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000097:blood*; D003579:Cytochrome Reductases / Q000097:blood; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013481:Superoxides / Q000097:blood; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D013481:Superoxides; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003579:Cytochrome Reductases; D009113:Muramidase; D005966:Glucuronidase; D002403:Cathepsins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C534094:CTSG protein, human; D056649:Cathepsin G; D002118:Calcium