TNFR1/Fas engagement results in the cleavage of cytosolic Bid to truncated Bid (tBid), which translocates to mitochondria. We demonstrate that recombinant tBid induces in vitro immediate destabilization of the mitochondrial bioenergetic homeostasis. These alterations result in mild uncoupling of mitochondrial state-4 respiration, associated with an inhibition the adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-stimulated respiration and phosphorylation rate. tBid disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis was inhibited in mitochondria overexpressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. The inhibition of state-3 respiration is mediated by the reorganization of cardiolipin within the mitochondrial membranes, which indirectly affects the activity of the ADP/ATP translocator. Cardiolipin-deficient yeast mitochondria did not exhibit any respiratory inhibition by tBid, proving the absolute requirement for cardiolipin for tBid binding and activity. In contrast, the wild-type yeast mitochondria underwent a similar inhibition of ADP-stimulated respiration associated with reduced ATP synthesis. These events suggest that mitochondrial lipids rather than proteins are the key determinants of tBid-induced destabilization of mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Ticlopidine and clopidogrel belong to the same chemical family of thienopyridine adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-receptor antagonists. They have shown their efficacy as platelet antiaggregant and antithrombotic agents in many animal models, both ex vivo and in vivo. Although ticlopidine was discovered more than 30 years ago, it was only recently that the mechanism of action of ADP-receptor antagonists was characterized in detail. Ticlopidine and clopidogrel both behave in vivo as specific antagonists of P2Y (12), one of the ADP receptors on platelets. Metabolic steps that involve cytochrome P450-dependent pathways are required to generate the active metabolite responsible for this in vivo activity. The active moiety is a reactive thiol derivative that targets P2Y (12) on platelets. The interaction is irreversible, accounting for the observation that platelets are definitely antiaggregated, even if no active metabolite is detectable in plasma. The interaction is specific for P2Y (12); other purinoceptors such as P2Y (1) and P2Y (13) are spared. This results in inhibition of the binding of the P2Y (12) agonist 2-methylthio-ADP and the ADP-induced downregulation of adenylyl cyclase. Platelet aggregation is affected not only when triggered by ADP but also by aggregation inducers when used at concentrations requiring released ADP as an amplifier. The efficacy and safety of clopidogrel has been established in several large, randomized, controlled trials. The clopidogrel versus aspirin in patients at risk of ischaemic events (CAPRIE) trial demonstrated the superiority of clopidogrel over acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in patients at risk of ischemic events, including ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and peripheral arterial disease. The clopidogrel in unstable angina to prevent recurrent ischemic events (CURE) trial showed a sustained, incremental benefit when clopidogrel was added to standard therapy (including ASA) in patients with unstable angina and non-Q-wave MI. The clopidogrel for the reduction of events during observation (CREDO) trial demonstrated the benefit of continuing clopidogrel (plus ASA) for 12 months, as opposed to 1 month, after percutaneous coronary intervention. The proven efficacy of clopidogrel, coupled with its favorable safety and tolerability profile, has prompted its evaluation in an extensive, ongoing clinical trial program that will help to further characterize the benefit of clopidogrel in patients with a range of atherothrombotic profiles.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an important cause of severe liver disease and is associated with both quantitative and qualitative regulatory T-cell (Treg) impairments. Tregs express CD39, an ectonucleotidase responsible for extracellular nucleotide hydrolysis, culminating in the production of immunosuppressive adenosine. Here, we describe multiple CD39(pos) Treg defects that potentially contribute to the impaired immunoregulation that is characteristic of AIH. We have examined the frequency and phenotype of CD39(pos) Tregs by flow cytometry and measured their ectonucleotidase activity. The capacity of CD4(pos) CD25(high) , CD4(pos) CD25(high) CD39(pos) , and CD4(pos) CD25(high) CD39(neg) subsets to suppress both proliferation of effector T cells and interleukin (IL)-17 production was evaluated. In AIH, CD39(pos) Tregs are decreased in frequency, exhibit limited adenosine triphosphate/adenosine diphosphate hydrolysis activity, and fail to suppress IL-17 production by effector CD4 T cells. Moreover, these CD39(pos) Tregs display a more proinflammatory profile in AIH, which is characterized by elevated CD127 positivity, and a greater propensity to produce interferon-gamma or IL-17 upon challenge with proinflammatory stimuli.

CONCLUSIONS

In AIH, CD39(pos) Tregs are decreased in number, fail to adequately hydrolyze proinflammatory nucleotides and do not efficiently suppress IL-17 production by effector CD4 T cells. CD39(pos) Tregs show plasticity and are unstable upon proinflammatory challenge, suggesting that defective immunoregulation in AIH might result not only from reduced Treg number and function, but also from increased conversion of Tregs into effector cells.

Residual platelet reactivity (RPR) to adenosine 5' diphosphate (ADP) was an independent predictor of stent thrombosis (ST) in patients receiving drug-eluting stents on dual-antiplatelet treatment and was associated with the cytochrome P450 (CYP)2C19*2 polymorphism. The aim was to evaluate the role of the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism in the occurrence of ST or the composite end point of ST and cardiac mortality within a 6-month follow-up in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with drug-eluting stent implantation on dual-antiplatelet treatment enrolled in the RECLOSE trial. Seven hundred seventy-two patients were studied for the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism and RPR (using 10-muM ADP-induced platelet aggregation). Patients with ST or the composite of ST and cardiac mortality showed a higher prevalence of carriers of the rare allele (54.1% vs 31.3%; p = 0.025 and 51.7% vs 31.2%; p = 0.020, respectively). At multivariate logistic regression analysis with ST or ST and cardiac mortality as dependent variables and the CYP2C19*2 polymorphism, ADP RPR, and additional previously shown clinical and procedural risk factors for ST as independent variables, the CYP2C19*2 allele (ST odds ratio [OR] 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 12.78, p = 0.047; ST and cardiac mortality OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.00 to 8.42, p = 0.049) and ADP RPR (ST OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.23 to 7.72, p = 0.016; ST and cardiac mortality OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.08 to 12.98, p = 0.019) were independent risk factors. Subjects with the contemporary presence of the CYP2C19*2 allele and ADP RPR showed a strong risk of ST or ST and cardiac mortality (OR 5.79, 95% CI 1.04 to 39.01, p = 0.033 and OR 11.45, 95% CI 1.84 to 71.27, p = 0.009, respectively). In conclusion, the CYP2C19*2 allele was associated with the occurrence of ST or ST and cardiac mortality in high-risk vascular patients on dual-antiplatelet treatment. These findings could impact on the future design of pharmacogenetic antiaggregant strategies.

The human P2Y1 receptor heterologously expressed in Jurkat cells behaves as a specific adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) receptor at which purified adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an ineffective agonist, but competitively antagonizes the action of ADP. This receptor is thus a good candidate to be the elusive platelet P2T receptor for ADP. In the present work, we examined the effects on ADP-induced platelet responses of two selective and competitive P2Y1 antagonists, adenosine-2'-phosphate-5'-phosphate (A2P5P) and adenosine-3'-phosphate-5'-phosphate (A3P5P). Results were compared with those for the native P2Y1 receptor expressed on the B10 clone of rat brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) and for the cloned human P2Y1 receptor expressed on Jurkat cells. A2P5P and A3P5P inhibited ADP-induced platelet shape change and aggregation (pA2 = 5) and competitively antagonized calcium movements in response to ADP in fura-2-loaded platelets, B10 cells, and P2Y1-Jurkat cells. In contrast, these compounds had no effect on ADP-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in platelets or B10 cells, whereas known antagonists of platelet activation by ADP such as Sp-ATPalphaS were effective. These identical signaling responses and pharmacologic properties suggest that platelets and BCEC share a common P2Y1 receptor involved in ADP-induced aggregation and vasodilation, respectively. This P2Y1 receptor coupled to the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores was found to be necessary to trigger ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The present results, together with data from the literature, also point to the existence of another as yet unidentified ADP receptor, coupled to adenylyl cyclase and responsible for completion of the aggregation response. Thus, the term, P2T, should no longer be used to designate a specific molecular entity.

Extracts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 7700) cells grown on glucose, gluconate, or glycerol had enzyme activities related to the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. These activities were present in no more than trace amounts when the bacteria were grown on succinate. Fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase could not be detected in extracts of the bacteria grown on any of the above carbon sources. Therefore, it appears that P. aeruginosa degrades glucose via an inducible Entner-Doudoroff pathway. The apparent absence of fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase in cells growing on succinate suggests that the bacteria can form hexose and pentose phosphates from succinate by an alternate route. d-Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a branch-point enzyme of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, was purified 50-fold from glucose-grown cells. Its molecular weight, estimated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, was found to be approximately 190,000. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by adenosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, and deoxyguanosine triphosphate, which decreased the apparent binding of glucose-6-phosphate to the enzyme. It is suggested that adenine nucleotide-linked control of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may regulate the overall catabolism of hexose phosphates and prevent their wasteful degradation under certain conditions requiring gluconeogenesis.

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to establish evidence for physiologic activity and to study the safety of murine-derived monoclonal antibody 7E3 Fab (m7E3 Fab) in patients receiving recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA).

BACKGROUND

Platelet aggregation is believed to be a significant factor in the failure of pharmacologic reperfusion. By binding to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor, m7E3 Fab inhibits platelet aggregation and has been shown experimentally to decrease the time required for lysis and to prevent reocclusion. However, the safety of profound platelet inhibition after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction has not been tested in humans.

METHODS

Sixty patients receiving rt-PA, aspirin and heparin for acute myocardial infarction received m7E3 Fab bolus injections in ascending doses at 3, 6 and 15 h after initiation of the thrombolytic infusion. Ten patients treated with rt-PA but not m7E3 Fab were studied as control subjects.

RESULTS

Receptor site blockade and inhibition of platelet aggregation to 20 mumol/liter adenosine diphosphate were maximal at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg body weight of m7E3 Fab. Fifteen (25%) m7E3 Fab-treated patients and five (50%) control patients had major bleeding; eight of these events in seven m7E3 Fab-treated patients and one in a control patient occurred at the time of aortocoronary bypass surgery. Recurrent ischemia occurred in eight (13%) m7E3 Fab-treated patients and two (20%) control subjects. Coronary angiography was performed in 43 patients; the infarct-related coronary artery was patent in 5 of 9 (56%) control patients and 34 (92%) of 37 patients receiving m7E3 Fab.

CONCLUSIONS

Profound inhibition of platelet aggregation after thrombolysis was associated with bleeding rates comparable to those in control patients and a low rate of recurrent ischemia. The combination of m7E3 Fab and rt-PA, heparin and aspirin appears to be a promising and safe combination that should be evaluated in further studies of patients with acute myocardial infarction.

A short ischemic period induced by the transient occlusion of major brain arteries induces neuronal damage in selectively vulnerable regions of the hippocampus. Adenosine is considered to be one of the major neuroprotective substances produced in the ischemic brain. It can be released from damaged cells, but it also could be generated extracellularly from released ATP via a surface-located enzyme chain. Using the rat model of global forebrain ischemia, we applied a short (10 min) transient interruption of blood flow and studied the distribution of ectonucleotidase activities in the hippocampus. Northern hybridization of mRNA isolated from hippocampi of sham-operated and ischemic animals revealed an upregulation of ectoapyrase (capable of hydrolyzing nucleoside 5'-tri- and diphosphates) and ecto-5'-nucleotidase (capable of hydrolyzing nucleoside 5'-monophosphates). A histochemical analysis that used ATP, UTP, ADP, or AMP as substrates revealed a strong and selective increase in enzyme activity in the injured areas of the hippocampus. Enhanced staining could be observed first at 2 d. Staining increased within the next days and persisted at 28 d after ischemia. The spatiotemporal development of catalytic activities was identical for all substrates. It was most pronounced in the CA1 subfield and also could be detected in the dentate hilus and to a marginal extent in CA3. The histochemical staining corresponded closely to the development of markers for reactive glia, in particular of microglia. The upregulation of ectonucleotidase activities implies increased nucleotide release from the damaged tissue and could play a role in the postischemic control of nucleotide-mediated cellular responses.

Indirect evidence suggests that ATP is a neurotransmitter involved in inhibitory pathways in the neuromuscular junction in the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to characterize purinergic inhibitory neuromuscular transmission in the human colon. Tissue was obtained from colon resections for neoplasm. Muscle bath, microelectrode experiments, and immunohistochemical techniques were performed. 2'-deoxy-N(6)-methyl adenosine 3',5'-diphosphate tetraammonium salt (MRS 2179) was used as a selective inhibitor of P2Y(1) receptors. We found that 1) ATP (1 mM) and adenosine 5'-beta-2-thiodiphosphate (ADPbetaS) (10 microM), a preferential P2Y agonist, inhibited spontaneous motility and caused smooth muscle hyperpolarization (about -12 mV); 2) MRS 2179 (10 microM) and apamin (1 microM) significantly reduced these effects; 3) both the fast component of the inhibitory junction potential (IJP) and the nonnitrergic relaxation induced by electrical field stimulation were dose dependently inhibited (IC(50) approximately 1 microM) by MRS 2179; 4) ADPbetaS reduced the IJP probably by a desensitization mechanism; 5) apamin (1 microM) reduced the fast component of the IJP (by 30-40%) and the inhibitory effect induced by electrical field stimulation; and 6) P2Y(1) receptors were localized in smooth muscle cells as well as in enteric neurons. These results show that ATP or a related purine is released by enteric inhibitory motoneurons, causing a fast hyperpolarization and smooth muscle relaxation. The high sensitivity of MRS 2179 has revealed, for the first time in the human gastrointestinal tract, that a P2Y(1) receptor present in smooth muscle probably mediates this mechanism through a pathway that partially involves apamin-sensitive calcium-activated potassium channels. P2Y(1) receptors can be an important pharmacological target to modulate smooth muscle excitability.

The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway arose early during evolution of eukaryotic cells, when it appears to have been involved in the response to glucose starvation and perhaps also in monitoring the output of the newly acquired mitochondria. Due to the advent of hormonal regulation of glucose homeostasis, glucose starvation is a less frequent event for mammalian cells than for single-celled eukaryotes. Nevertheless, the AMPK system has been preserved in mammals where, by monitoring cellular AMP:adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP):ATP ratios and balancing the rates of catabolism and ATP consumption, it maintains energy homeostasis at a cell-autonomous level. In addition, hormones involved in maintaining energy balance at the whole-body level interact with AMPK in the hypothalamus. AMPK is activated by two widely used clinical drugs, metformin and aspirin, and also by many natural products of plants that are either derived from traditional medicines or are promoted as "nutraceuticals."

Thrombin is an important agonist for platelet activation and plays a major role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Thrombin activates platelets mainly through protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), PAR4, and glycoprotein Ib. Because adenosine diphosphate and thromboxane A(2) have been shown to cause platelet aggregation by concomitant signaling through G(q) and G(i) pathways, we investigated whether coactivation of G(q) and G(i) signaling pathways is the general mechanism by which PAR1 and PAR4 agonists also activate platelet fibrinogen receptor (alphaIIbbeta3). A PAR1-activating peptide, SFLLRN, and PAR4-activating peptides GYPGKF and AYPGKF, caused inhibition of stimulated adenylyl cyclase in human platelets but not in the presence of either Ro 31-8220, a protein kinase C selective inhibitor that abolishes secretion, or AR-C66096, a P2Y12 receptor-selective antagonist; alpha-thrombin-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase was also blocked by Ro 31-8220 or AR-C66096. In platelets from a P2Y12 receptor-defective patient, alpha-thrombin, SFLLRN, and GYPGKF also failed to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. In platelets from mice lacking the P2Y12 receptor, neither alpha-thrombin nor AYPGKF caused inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. Furthermore, AR-C66096 caused a rightward shift of human platelet aggregation induced by the lower concentrations of alpha-thrombin and AYPGKF but had no effect at higher concentrations. Similar results were obtained with platelets from mice deficient in the P2Y12. We conclude that (1) thrombin- and thrombin receptor-activating peptide-induced inhibition of adenylyl cyclase in platelets depends exclusively on secreted adenosine diphosphate that stimulates G(i) signaling pathways and (2) thrombin and thrombin receptor-activating peptides cause platelet aggregation independently of G(i) signaling.

Platelet response to activation varies widely between individuals but shows interindividual consistency and strong heritability. The genetic basis of this variation has not been properly explored. We therefore systematically measured the effect on function of sequence variation in 97 candidate genes in the collagen and adenosine-diphosphate (ADP) signaling pathways. Resequencing of the genes in 48 European DNA samples nearly doubled the number of known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and informed the selection of 1327 SNPs for genotyping in 500 healthy Northern European subjects with known platelet responses to collagen-related peptide (CRP-XL) and ADP. This identified 17 novel associations with platelet function (P < .005) accounting for approximately 46% of the variation in response. Further investigations with platelets of known genotype explored the mechanisms behind some of the associations. SNPs in PEAR1 associated with increased platelet response to CRP-XL and increased PEAR1 protein expression after platelet degranulation. The minor allele of a 3' untranslated region (UTR) SNP (rs2769668) in VAV3 was associated with higher protein expression (P = .03) and increased P-selectin exposure after ADP activation (P = .004). Furthermore the minor allele of the intronic SNP rs17786144 in ITPR1 modified Ca(2+) levels after activation with ADP (P < .004). These data provide novel insights into key hubs within platelet signaling networks.

BACKGROUND

Increased levels of homocysteine are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine may cause this risk by impairing endothelial cell function.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of acute hyperhomocysteinemia with and without antioxidant vitamin pretreatment on cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial functions.

METHODS

Observer-blinded, randomized crossover study conducted at a university hospital in Italy.

METHODS

Twenty healthy hospital staff volunteers (10 men, 10 women) aged 25 to 45 years.

METHODS

Subjects were given each of 3 loads in random order at 1-week intervals: oral methionine, 100 mg/kg in fruit juice; the same methionine load immediately following ingestion of antioxidant vitamin E, 800 IU, and ascorbic acid, 1000 mg; and methionine-free fruit juice (placebo). Ten of the 20 subjects also ingested a placebo load with vitamins.

METHODS

Lipid, coagulation, glucose, and circulating adhesion molecule parameters, blood pressure, and endothelial functions as assessed by hemodynamic and rheologic responses to L-arginine, evaluated at baseline and 4 hours following ingestion of the loads.

RESULTS

The oral methionine load increased mean (SD) plasma homocysteine level from 10.5 (3.8) micromol/L at baseline to 27.1 (6.7) micromol/L at 4 hours (P<.001). A similar increase was observed with the same load plus vitamins (10.0 [4.0] to 22.7 [7.8] micromol/L; P<.001) but no significant increase was observed with placebo (10.1 [3.7] to 10.4 [3.2] micromol/L; P=.75). Coagulation and circulating adhesion molecule levels significantly increased after methionine ingestion alone (P<.05) but not after placebo or methionine ingestion with vitamins. While the mean (SD) blood pressure (-7.0% [2.7%]; P<.001), platelet aggregation response to adenosine diphosphate (-11.4% [4.5%]; P=.009) and blood viscosity (-3.0% [1.2%]; P=.04) declined in these parameters 10 minutes after an L-arginine load (3 g) following placebo, the increase after methionine alone (-2.3% [1.5%], 4.0% [3.0%], and 1.5% [1.0%], respectively; P<.05), did not occur following methionine load with vitamin pretreatment (-6.3% [2.5%], -7.9% [3.5%], and -1.5% [1.0%], respectively; P=.24).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that mild to moderate elevations of plasma homocysteine levels in healthy subjects activate coagulation, modify the adhesive properties of endothelium, and impair the vascular responses to L-arginine. Pretreatment with antioxidant vitamin E and ascorbic acid blocks the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia, suggesting an oxidative mechanism.

Within the leaf of an angiosperm, the vascular system is constructed in a complex network pattern called venation. The formation of this vein pattern has been widely studied as a paradigm of tissue pattern formation in plants. To elucidate the molecular mechanism controlling the vein patterning process, we previously isolated Arabidopsis mutants van1 to van7, which show a discontinuous vein pattern. Here we report the phenotypic analysis of the van3 mutant in relation to auxin signaling and polar transport, and the molecular characterization of the VAN3 gene and protein. Double mutant analyses with pin1, emb30-7/gn and mp, and physiological analyses using the auxin-inducible marker DR5::GUS and an auxin transport inhibitor indicated that VAN3 may be involved in auxin signal transduction, but not in polar auxin transport. Positional cloning identified VAN3 as a gene that encodes an adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor-guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activating protein (ARF-GAP). It resembles animal ACAPs and contains four domains: a BAR (BIN/amphiphysin/RVS) domain, a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, an ARF-GAP domain and an ankyrin (ANK)-repeat domain. Recombinant VAN3 protein showed GTPase-activating activity and a specific affinity for phosphatidylinositols. This protein can self-associate through the N-terminal BAR domain in the yeast two-hybrid system. Subcellular localization analysis by double staining for Venus-tagged VAN3 and several green-fluorescent-protein-tagged intracellular markers indicated that VAN3 is located in a subpopulation of the trans-Golgi network (TGN). Our results indicate that the expression of this gene is induced by auxin and positively regulated by VAN3 itself, and that a specific ACAP type of ARF-GAP functions in vein pattern formation by regulating auxin signaling via a TGN-mediated vesicle transport system.

OBJECTIVE

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase uses chemiosmotic energy across the inner mitochondrial membrane to convert adenosine diphosphate and orthophosphate into ATP, whereas genetic deletion of Sirt3 decreases mitochondrial ATP levels. Here, we investigate the mechanistic connection between SIRT3 and energy homeostasis.

RESULTS

By using both in vitro and in vivo experiments, we demonstrate that ATP synthase F1 proteins alpha, beta, gamma, and Oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) contain SIRT3-specific reversible acetyl-lysines that are evolutionarily conserved and bind to SIRT3. OSCP was further investigated and lysine 139 is a nutrient-sensitive SIRT3-dependent deacetylation target. Site directed mutants demonstrate that OSCP(K139) directs, at least in part, mitochondrial ATP production and mice lacking Sirt3 exhibit decreased ATP muscle levels, increased ATP synthase protein acetylation, and an exercise-induced stress-deficient phenotype.

METHODS

This work connects the aging and nutrient response, via SIRT3 direction of the mitochondrial acetylome, to the regulation of mitochondrial energy homeostasis under nutrient-stress conditions by deacetylating ATP synthase proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that acetylome signaling contributes to mitochondrial energy homeostasis by SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of ATP synthase proteins.

β-Catenin has a dual function in cells: fortifying cadherin-based adhesion at the plasma membrane and activating transcription in the nucleus. We found that in melanoma cells, WNT5A stimulated the disruption of N-cadherin and β-catenin complexes by activating the guanosine triphosphatase adenosine diphosphate ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6). Binding of WNT5A to the Frizzled 4-LRP6 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6) receptor complex activated ARF6, which liberated β-catenin from N-cadherin, thus increasing the pool of free β-catenin, enhancing β-catenin-mediated transcription, and stimulating invasion. In contrast to WNT5A, the guidance cue SLIT2 and its receptor ROBO1 inhibited ARF6 activation and, accordingly, stabilized the interaction of N-cadherin with β-catenin and reduced transcription and invasion. Thus, ARF6 integrated competing signals in melanoma cells, thereby enabling plasticity in the response to external cues. Moreover, small-molecule inhibition of ARF6 stabilized adherens junctions, blocked β-catenin signaling and invasiveness of melanoma cells in culture, and reduced spontaneous pulmonary metastasis in mice, suggesting that targeting ARF6 may provide a means of inhibiting WNT/β-catenin signaling in cancer.

OBJECTIVE

We analyzed the benefit of a 600-mg clopidogrel loading dose on platelet reactivity and clinical outcomes after stenting for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS).

BACKGROUND

High post-treatment platelet reactivity (HPPR = adenosine diphosphate 10 mumol x l(-1) [ADP]-induced platelet aggregation >70%) is a marker for low responders to dual antiplatelet therapy with increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular (CV) events after stenting for NSTE ACS.

METHODS

A total of 292 consecutive NSTE ACS patients undergoing coronary stenting were included and randomly received a 300-mg (n = 146) or 600-mg (n = 146) loading dose of clopidogrel at least 12 h before percutaneous coronary intervention. A single post-treatment blood sample was obtained before percutaneous coronary intervention to analyze maximal intensity of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and platelet surface expression of P-selectin. One-month follow-up CV events were recorded.

RESULTS

The ADP-induced platelet aggregation and expression of P-selectin were significantly lower in patients receiving 600 mg than in those receiving 300 mg (mean +/- SD: 50 +/- 19% vs. 61+/- 16%, p < 0.0001 and 0.38 +/- 0.24 arbitrary units vs. 0.60 +/- 0.40 arbitrary units; p < 0.0001 respectively). Persistence of HPPR was less common in patients receiving 600 mg than in those receiving 300 mg (15 vs. 25%, p = 0.03). During the 1-month follow-up, 18 CV events (12%) occurred in the 300-mg group versus 7 (5%) in the 600-mg group (p = 0.02); this difference was not affected by adjustment for conventional CV risk factors (p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

In NSTE ACS patients undergoing coronary stenting, a 600-mg loading dose of clopidogrel shows its benefit on platelet reactivity and clinical prognosis.

Inappropriate platelet activation is a feature of acute and chronic diseases such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and atherosclerosis. Since proinflammatory microbial-derived agonists can be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases, we examined the potential role of TLR4 (mediating responses to LPS) and TLR2 (which responds to bacterial lipopeptides) in platelet activation. Our data suggested low-level expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on platelets, determined by flow cytometry, and we also observed expression of TLR4 on a megakaryocytic cell line by both flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Stimulation of the platelets with the TLR4 agonist LPS, and the synthetic TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4, resulted in no platelet aggregation, no increase in CD62P surface expression and no increase in the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+. The TLR agonists were also unable to directly activate platelets primed with epinephrine, or pretreated with a low concentration of ADP or PAF. Pretreatment of platelets with LPS or Pam3CSK4 also failed to modulate the platelet response to submaximal concentrations of the classical platelet agonists ADP and PAF. We conclude that the TLR agonists LPS and Pam3CSK4 have no direct effect on platelet activation and that platelet TLRs may be a remnant from megakaryocytes. TLR2 and TLR4 agonists are thought to have a significant role in diseases such as atherosclerosis and DIC, but our research suggests that this is through a mechanism other than direct platelet activation or by modification of platelet responses to other agonists.

The heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli, like cholera toxin, activates adenylate cyclase by catalyzing the transfer of adenosine diphosphate-ribose from HAD+ (oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) to the guanyl nucleotide-dependent regulatory component of the cyclase. A preparation of enterotoxin that had been released from E. coli following exposure to polymyxin B and then partially purified was found to contain two enzymatically active peptides, one of about 29,000 and the other of about 24,000 daltons, which correspond in molecular size to the enzymatically active subunit A and fragment A1 of cholera toxin, respectively. As with cholera toxin, the enzymatic activity of E. coli enterotoxin was elevated by incubation with sodium dodecyl sulfate to release active peptides. Treatment with dithiothreitol, however, had no effect. Dithiothreitol activates subunit A of cholera toxin by reducing an internal disulfide bond, but no corresponding bond appears to be present in the partially purified E. coli enterotoxin.

CD38/cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) signaling plays an important role in the regulation of intracellular calcium responses to agonists in a variety of cells, including airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells. The present study was aimed at determining the effect of interleukin (IL)-13, a cytokine implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma, on CD38/cADPR signaling and to ascertain the contribution of CD38/cADPR signaling to IL-13-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. Human ASM cells maintained in culture were exposed to 50 ng/ml IL-13 for 22 h and levels of CD38 expression and intracellular calcium responses to agonists were measured. Treatment of human ASM cells with IL-13 resulted in increased CD38 expression as determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and indirect immunofluorescence. Increased CD38 expression was reflected as increased ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity in the ASM cell membranes. The net intracellular calcium responses to bradykinin, thrombin, and histamine were significantly (P < or = 0.05) higher in cells treated with IL-13 compared with controls. Furthermore, 8-bromo-cADPR, a cADPR antagonist, attenuated IL-13-induced augmented intracellular calcium responses to agonists in human ASM cells. These findings indicate that the CD38/cADPR-dependent pathway has a major role in IL-13-induced modulation of calcium signaling in human ASM.

1. Extraction of a mouse liver plasma-membrane fraction with a detergent buffer, N-dodecylsarcosinate-Tris buffer (sarcosyl-Tris buffer), solubilized 90% of the protein and 70% of the 5'-nucleotidase activity. 2. The proteins of the sarcosyl-Tris buffer extract were fractionated by a rate-zonal centrifugation in a sucrose-detergent gradient. The major protein peak sedimented ahead of phospholipids, which mainly remained in the overlay. Glycoproteins were separated ahead of the protein peak. 3. The 5'-nucleotidase activity peak was associated with 5% of the protein applied to the gradient, and contained relatively few protein bands. 4. The 5'-nucleotidase was purified further by gel filtration on Sepharose and Sephadex columns equilibrated with sarcosyl-Tris buffer, to give a single glycoprotein band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme was lipid-free. 5. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels in sarcosyl-Tris buffers showed that the enzymic activity was coincident with the protein band. 6. The molecular weight suggested for the enzyme activity by gel filtration or centrifugation in sucrose gradients was 140000-150000. Sometimes, a minor enzyme peak of lower molecular weight was obtained. 7. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate indicated that as the polyacrylamide concentration was increased from 5 to 15%, the apparent molecular weight of the enzyme decreased from 130000 to 90000. 8. The evidence that 5'-nucleotidase is composed of two active and similar, if not identical, glycoprotein subunits and the role of detergent in effecting the separation of membrane proteins and glycoproteins are discussed. 9. Substrate requirements, pH optima and the nature of inhibition by an analogue of adenosine diphosphate are reported.

Experiments were designed to study endothelium-dependent responses in salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant Dahl rats (DR). The rats were fed a low sodium (0.1% NaCl) or high sodium (8% NaCl) diet for 8 weeks. Blood pressure in DS fed a high sodium diet was higher than that in the remaining animals. Aortic rings with and without endothelium were suspended for isometric tension recording. Acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and thrombin induced endothelium-dependent relaxations that were significantly depressed in the aorta of DS fed a high sodium diet. The relaxations in response to sodium nitroprusside were only slightly, but significantly, depressed in DS fed a high sodium diet. Removal of the endothelium greatly enhanced the response to serotonin and norepinephrine. In rings with, but not without, endothelium taken from rats fed a high sodium diet, the tension developed in response to serotonin and norepinephrine was significantly greater than that in animals fed a low sodium diet. These experiments indicate that endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, and thrombin are depressed in hypertensive Dahl rats; this effect probably reflects a decreased release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s), although structural changes might contribute; and the responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents is increased in DS and DR fed a high sodium diet. These findings may indicate differential effects of blood pressure and dietary salt on endothelial function.

The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449 is under stringent metabolic control. The partially purified enzyme was specifically activated by high concentrations of fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) and was inhibited by adenosine triphosphate. There appeared to be at least two binding sites for the activator which interacted in a cooperative manner. The interaction between the FDP sites was independent of the pH of the assay system, although the relative affinity of the enzyme for the activator was influenced by pH. There also appeared to be at least two pyruvate binding sites on the S. mutans LDH with some cooperative interaction between them, and the interaction between these sites was also independent of the hydrogen ion concentration. Two pyruvate analogues had different effects on the interaction of pyruvate with the LDH. One of the analogues, alpha-ketobutyrate, stimulated enzyme activity at limiting pyruvate concentrations, but had no significant effect at saturating concentrations of the substrate. The net effect of alpha-ketobutyrate was to shift the pyruvate saturation curve from sigmoidal to hyperbolic and to decrease the Hill coefficient from about 2.0 to 1.0. The other pyruvate analogue, oxamate, inhibited enzyme activity at all pyruvate concentrations but had no effect on the sigmoidal nature of the pyruvate saturation curve or on the apparent kinetic order of the reaction with respect to substrate. These results suggested that there may be two types of pyruvate binding sites on the LDH from S. mutans. Other kinetic properties of the S. mutans NCTC 10449 enzyme were studied and compared with those exhibited by the LDH from several other strains of the organism.

The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 hydrolyze extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to generate adenosine, which binds to adenosine receptors and inhibits T-cell and natural killer (NK)-cell responses, thereby suppressing the immune system. The generation of adenosine via the CD39/CD73 pathway is recognized as a major mechanism of regulatory T cell (Treg) immunosuppressive function. The number of CD39⁺ Tregs is increased in some human cancers, and the importance of CD39⁺ Tregs in promoting tumor growth and metastasis has been demonstrated using several in vivo models. Here, we addressed whether CD39 is expressed by tumor cells and whether CD39⁺ tumor cells mediate immunosuppression via the adenosine pathway. Immunohistochemical staining of normal and tumor tissues revealed that CD39 expression is significantly higher in several types of human cancer than in normal tissues. In cancer specimens, CD39 is expressed by infiltrating lymphocytes, the tumor stroma, and tumor cells. Furthermore, the expression of CD39 at the cell surface of tumor cells was directly demonstrated via flow cytometry of human cancer cell lines. CD39 in cancer cells displays ATPase activity and, together with CD73, generates adenosine. CD39⁺CD73⁺ cancer cells inhibited the proliferation of CD4 and CD8 T cells and the generation of cytotoxic effector CD8 T cells (CTL) in a CD39- and adenosine-dependent manner. Treatment with a CD39 inhibitor or blocking antibody alleviated the tumor-induced inhibition of CD4 and CD8 T-cell proliferation and increased CTL- and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In conclusion, interfering with the CD39-adenosine pathway may represent a novel immunotherapeutic strategy for inhibiting tumor cell-mediated immunosuppression.