Asymmetry of arachidonic acid metabolism in the phospholipids of the human platelet membrane as studied with purified phospholipases

Forty five years with membrane phospholipids, phospholipases and lipid mediators: A historical perspective

Phospholipases play a key role in the metabolism of phospholipids and in cell signaling. They are also a very useful tool to explore phospholipid structure and metabolism as well as membrane organization. They are at the center of this review, covering a period starting in 1971 and focused on a number of subjects in which my colleagues and I have been involved. Those include determination of phospholipid asymmetry in the blood platelet membrane, biosynthesis of lysophosphatidic acid, biochemistry of platelet-activating factor, first attempts to define the role of phosphoinositides in cell signaling, and identification of novel digestive (phospho)lipases such as pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (PLRP2) or phospholipase B. Besides recalling some of our contributions to those various fields, this review makes an appraisal of the impressive and often unexpected evolution of those various aspects of membrane phospholipids and lipid mediators. It is also the occasion to propose some new working hypotheses.

Platelet membrane phospholipid asymmetry: from the characterization of a scramblase activity to the identification of an essential protein mutated in Scott syndrome

Like all eukaryotic cells, platelets maintain plasma membrane phospholipid asymmetry in normal blood circulation via lipid transporters, which control transbilayer movement. Upon platelet activation, the asymmetric orientation of membrane phospholipids is rapidly disrupted, resulting in a calcium-dependent exposure of the anionic phospholipid, phosphatidylserine (PS), at the outer platelet surface. This newly-exposed PS surface is a major component of normal hemostasis because it supports platelet procoagulant function. Binding of blood clotting enzyme complexes to this negatively-charged membrane surface allows a dramatic increase in the rate of conversion of zymogens to active serine proteases, which in turn produce a burst of thrombin leading to the formation of a fibrin clot and further platelet activation. Cells have the capacity to catalyze transbilayer phospholipid exchange via ATP-requiring translocase enzymes (flippases and floppases), which control unidirectional phospholipid transport against a concentration gradient. They also use an energy-independent, calcium-dependent scramblase activity to govern the bidirectional exchange of phospholipids between the two leaflets of the bilayer; this activity is essential for PS exposure during platelet activation. Scramblase activity, biochemically characterized in the 1980s, is deficient in patients with Scott syndrome, a rare inherited bleeding disorder with defective platelet procoagulant activity. Despite considerable efforts, the platelet scramblase protein remained elusive for years but a significant advance has recently been made with the identification of TMEM16F, a membrane protein essential for calcium-dependent PS exposure whose loss of function mutations are found in Scott syndrome. This review recalls historical aspects of platelet membrane asymmetry characterization, summarizes the mechanisms and roles of PS exposure following platelet activation and discusses the recent identification of TMEM16F and its significance in the scrambling process.

Human platelets have cholesteryl ester hydrolytic activity toward plasma high density lipoproteins

Human platelet cholesteryl ester hydrolytic (CEH) activity was determined toward high density lipoprotein (HDL) labelled with cholesteryl [1-(14)C] oleate resulting in esterilkation of [l-(14)C] oleate to platelet phospholipid. The observed CEH activity was enhanced by 100 nM prostacyclin (PGI(2)), inhibited by 500 μM 2', 3' dideoxyadenosine (DDA), but unaffected by 100 mM chloroquine diphosphate. The CEH activity may represent a mechanism for delivery of other unsaturated fatty acids from HDL to platelets with subsequent modification of the fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids and potential modification of platelet reactivity.

Dietary saturated, monounsaturated, n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, and cholesterol influence platelet fatty acids in the exclusively formula-fed piglet

Platelet lipid composition is important to normal platelet morphology and function, and is influenced by dietary fatty acids and cholesterol. The fatty acid composition and cholesterol content of infant formulas differs from those of human milk, but the possible effects on platelet lipids in young infants is not known. This was studied in piglets fed from birth to 18 d of age with one of eight formulas differing in saturated fatty acid chain length, or content of 18:1, 20:5n-3 plus 22:6n-3, or cholesterol. A reference group of piglets fed sow milk was also studied. Sow milk has a fatty acid composition and cholesterol content similar to that of human milk. Piglets fed formulas high in 18:1 (34.9-40.8% wt fatty acids) and low in 16.0 (< or = 6.5% wt fatty acids) had lower platelet counts and greater platelet size than piglets fed sow milk (40.4% 18:1, 30.7% 16:0). Piglets fed formulas high in 16:0 (27-29.6%) and 18:1 (40-40.6%), or low in both 16:0 (5.9-6.1%) and 18:1 (10.8-11.2%), had similar platelet counts and size to piglets fed sow milk. Platelet phospholipid % 20:4n-6 was lower in all the groups of piglets fed formula than in the group fed sow milk. Addition of fish oil with 20:5n-3 plus 22:6n-3 to the formula further decreased platelet phospholipid 20:4n-6. Addition of cholesterol to the formula increased the platelet phospholipid % 20:4n-6 and platelet volume.

The activities of acyl-CoA:1-acyl-lysophospholipid acyltransferase(s) in human platelets

The activities of acyl-CoA:1-acyl-lysophospholipid acyltransferases (EC 2.3.1.23) have been studied in human platelet lysates by using endogenously formed [14C]acyl-CoA from [14C]fatty acid, ATP and CoA in the presence of 1-acyl-lysophosphatidyl-choline (lysoPC), -ethanolamine (lysoPE), -serine (lysoPS) or -inositol (lysoPI). Linoleic acid as fatty acid substrate had the highest affinity to acyl-CoA:1-acyl-lysophospholipid acyltransferase with lysoPC as variable substrate, followed by eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA). The activity at optimal conditions was 7.4, 7.3 and 7.2 nmol/min per 10(9) platelets with lysoPC as substrate, with linoleic acid, AA and EPA respectively. EPA and AA were incorporated into all lyso-forms. Linoleic acid was also incorporated into lysoPE at a high rate, but less into lysoPS and lysoPI. DHA was incorporated into lysoPC and lysoPE, but only slightly into lysoPI and lysoPS. Whereas incorporation of all fatty acids tested was maximal for lysoPC and lysoPI at 200 and 80 microM respectively, maximal incorporation needed over 500 microM for lysoPE and lysoPS. The optimal concentration for [14C]fatty acid substrates was in the range 15-150 microM for all lysophospholipids. Competition experiments with equimolar concentrations of either lysoPC and lysoPI or lysoPE resulted in formation of [14C]PC almost as if lysoPI or lysoPE were not added to the assay medium.

Analysis of phospholipid transfer during HDL binding to platelets using a fluorescent analog of phosphatidylcholine

Electron microscopic examination of the interaction of gold labelled HDL with platelets indicates that the internalized lipoprotein becomes closely associated with surface connected canaliculae and endocytic vacuoles. At the same time granule centralization occurs. Using fluorescent derivatives of naturally occurring lipids we have further investigated lipid exchange between HDL and platelets. Analogs of phosphatidylcholine containing fluorescent fatty acids are rapidly transferred from the lipoproteins to the cells and remain at the plasma membrane as long as they are kept at 4 degrees C. However when the platelets are warmed to 37 degrees C, a rapid degradation of the fluorescent lipids occurs, generating fluorescent diacylglycerol as a consequence of the activation of platelet enzymes.

Docosahexaenoic acid metabolism and effect on prostacyclin production in endothelial cells

Bovine aortic endothelial cultures readily take up docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Most of the DHA was incorporated into phospholipids, primarily in ethanolamine and choline phosphoglycerides, and plasmalogens accounted for 34% of the DHA contained in the ethanolamine fraction after a 24-h incubation. The retention of DHA in endothelial phospholipids was not greater than other polyunsaturated fatty acids and unlike arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids, DHA did not continue to accumulate in the ethanolamine phosphoglycerides after the initial incorporation. About 15% of the [14C(U)]DHA uptake was retroconverted to docosapentaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids in 24 h. Some of the newly incorporated [14C(U)]DHA was released when the cells were incubated subsequently in a medium containing serum and albumin. The released radioactivity was in the form of free fatty acid and phospholipids and after 24 h, 11% was retroconverted to docosapentaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids. Total DHA uptake was decreased only 10% by the presence of a 100 microM mixture of physiologic fatty acids, but as little as 10 microM docosatetraenoic acid reduced DHA incorporation into phospholipids by 25%. DHA was not converted to prostaglandins or lipoxygenase products by the endothelial cultures. When DHA was available, however, less arachidonic acid was incorporated into endothelial phospholipids, and less was converted to prostacyclin (PGI2). Enrichment of the endothelial cells with DHA also reduced their capacity to subsequently produce PGI2. These findings indicate that endothelial cells can play a role in DHA metabolism and like eicosapentaenoic acid, DHA can inhibit endothelial PGI2 production when it is available in elevated amounts.

Selective inhibition of human platelet phospholipase A2 by buffering cytoplasmic calcium with the fluorescent indicator quin 2. Evidence for different calcium sensitivities of phospholipases A2 and C

Human platelets labelled with either [14C]arachidonic acid or [32P]orthophosphate were loaded or not with the Ca2+ fluorescent indicator quin 2. They were then incubated in the presence or in the absence of human thrombin (1 U/ml) in a medium where Ca2+ concentration was adjusted near zero or to 1 mM. Under these conditions, phospholipase A2 activity, as detected by the release of [14C]arachidonate and of its metabolites, or by the hydrolysis of [14C]phosphatidylcholine, was severely impaired in quin 2-loaded platelets upon removal of external Ca2+. However, Ca2+ was not required in non-loaded platelets, where a maximal phospholipase A2 activity was detected in the absence of external Ca2+. In contrast, phospholipase C action, as determined from the amounts of [14C]diacylglycerol, [14C]- or [32P]phosphatidic acid formed, appeared to be much less sensitive to the effects of quin 2 loading and of Ca2+ omission. By using various concentrations of quin 2, it was found that the inhibitory effect exerted against phospholipase A2 could be overcome by external Ca2+ only when the intracellular concentration of the calcium chelator did not exceed 2 mM. At higher concentrations averaging 3.5 mM of quin 2, phospholipase A2 activity was fully suppressed even in the presence of external Ca2+, whereas phospholipase C was still active, although partly inhibited. It is concluded that platelet phospholipase A2 requires higher Ca2+ concentrations than phospholipase C to display a maximal activity. By comparing platelet phospholipase A2 activity under various conditions with the values of cytoplasmic free Ca2+ as detected by quin 2 fluorescence, it is proposed that cytoplasmic free Ca2+ in control platelets stimulated with thrombin can attain concentrations above 1 microM, probably close to 5-10 microM, as recently determined with the photoprotein aequorin (Johnson, P.C., Ware, J.A., Cliveden, P.B., Smith, M., Dvorak, A.M. and Salzman, E.W. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2069-2076).

Arachidonate synthesis and uptake in isolated guinea-pig megakaryocytes and platelets

Arachidonic acid (20:4) synthesis and uptake were studied in guinea-pig megakaryocytes and platelets. Isolated megakaryocytes and platelets were incubated with [3H]20:4, 8,11,14-[14C]eicosatrienoic acid (gamma-20:3) and [14C]linoleic acid (18:2) and their lipids were analyzed for radioactivity. The study showed that there was 0.153 microM of unesterified 20:3 and 0.237 microM of 20:4 in guinea-pig plasma in nonfasting animals. At these concentrations, 42.6 pmol of gamma-20:3 and 53.3 pmol of 20:4 were taken up per h per 10(5) megakaryocytes in vitro. Megakaryocytes desaturated 27% of the gamma-20:3 to 20:4 but could not desaturate 18:2. Platelets could not desaturate gamma-20:3 or 18:2. In megakaryocytes, the distribution of 20:4 synthesized by the desaturation of gamma-20:3 and 20:4 taken up reflected the endogenous distribution of 20:4 in megakaryocyte phospholipids and 20:4 was predominantly incorporated into phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). In contrast, the distribution of [3H]20:4 taken up into platelets did not reflect the endogenous distribution. 20:4 was primarily incorporated into platelet phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol. The study showed that megakaryocytes but not platelets possess a delta 5 desaturase and can synthesize 20:4 from gamma-20:3. Neither cell was shown to have a delta 6 desaturase. Megakaryocytes appear to have the capacity to determine the composition of all pools of platelet 20:4 either by uptake or synthesis of 20:4. Platelets, most likely, have a limited capacity to alter structural pools of 20:4 contained primarily in PE and phosphatidylserine (PS).

Activity of endogenous phospholipase C and phospholipase A2 in glucose stimulated pancreatic islets

In cultured pancreatic islets from neonatal rats labelled with [3H] arachidonic acid, glucose stimulation prompted a fall in the labelled arachidonate concentration of phosphatidylinositol and a concomitant rise in 1,2 diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. The time course of glucose stimulation indicated that this early event was followed by an increased liberation of arachidonic acid and incorporation into arachidonate metabolites. Incubation of homogenates of glucose stimulated islets with both phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine specifically labelled with arachidonate in the 2-position acyl chain generated arachidonic acid. This indicated both phospholipase C with 1,2 diacylglycerol lipase and phospholipase A2 activities in the action of glucose. Calcium dependent arachidonic acid release was also seen from arachidonic acid labelled phosphatidic acid. The findings suggest multiple sources of islet arachidonic acid following glucose stimulation including phospholipase A2 hydrolysis of phosphatidic acid.

Induction by lysophospholipids of CoA-dependent arachidonyl transfer between phospholipids in rat platelet homogenates

Rat platelet homogenates are able to catalyze CoA-mediated, ATP-independent transfer of arachidonic acid from platelet phospholipids to added lysophospholipids. Homogenates of platelets prelabelled with radioactive arachidonic or oleic acid were incubated in the presence of CoA and various lysophospholipids. Transfer observed with arachidonic acid-labelled platelets was dependent on the lysophospholipid added. When 1-alkenyl- or 1-acyllysophosphatidylethanolamine was used, there was a more efficient arachidonyl transfer from phosphatidylcholine than from phosphatidylinositol to the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. Lysophosphatidylserine also accepted arachidonyl from phosphatidylcholine. Addition of lysophosphatidylcholine resulted in a decrease in the labelling of phosphatidylinositol and to a lesser extent of phosphatidylethanolamine with concomitant transfer to phosphatidylcholine. Lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatic acid did not act as substrate for this transfer reaction. Free, non-radioactive arachidonic acid did not compete for the labelled arachidonic acid transfer. This pathway may play a major role in the synthesis of arachidonyl species of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine and for the arachidonyl transfer to the phosphatidylethanolamine plasmologen in stimulated platelets.