Phencyclidine inhibits epinephrine-stimulated platelet aggregation independently of high affinity N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamatereceptors

Ionotropic glutamate receptors in platelets: opposing effects and a unifying hypothesis

Ionotropic glutamate receptors include α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR), kainate receptors (KAR), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR). All function as cation channels; AMPAR and KAR are more permeable to sodium and NMDAR to calcium ions. Compared to the brain, receptor assemblies in platelets are unusual, suggesting distinctive functionalities.There is convincing evidence that AMPAR and KAR amplify platelet function and thrombus formation in vitro and in vivo. Transgenic mice lacking GluA1 and GluK2 (AMPAR and KAR subunits, respectively) have longer bleeding times and prolonged time to thrombosis in an arterial model. In humans, rs465566 KAR gene polymorphism associates with altered in vitro platelet responses suggesting enhanced aspirin effect. The NMDAR contribution to platelet function is less well defined. NMDA at low concentrations (≤10 μM) inhibits platelet aggregation and high concentrations (≥100 μM) have no effect. However, open NMDAR channel blockers interfere with platelet activation and aggregation induced by other agonists in vitro; anti-GluN1 antibodies interfere with thrombus formation under high shear rates ex vivo; and rats vaccinated with GluN1 develop iron deficiency anemia suggestive of mild chronic bleeding. In this review, we summarize data on glutamate receptors in platelets and propose a unifying model that reconciles some of the opposing effects observed.

Heavy metals modulate glutamatergic system in human platelets

Research strategies have been developed to characterize parameters in peripheral tissues that might easily be measured in humans as surrogate markers of damage, dysfunction or interactions involving neural targets of toxicants. The similarities between platelet and neuron may even be clinically important, as a number of biochemical markers show parallel changes in the central nervous system (CNS) and platelets. The purpose of our research was to investigate the effect of Hg(2+), Pb(2+) and Cd(2+) on the [(3)H]-glutamate binding and [(3)H]-glutamate uptake in human platelets. The involvement of oxidative stress in the modulation of glutamatergic system induced by heavy metals was also investigated. The present study clearly demonstrates that Hg(2+), Cd(2+), and Pb(2+) inhibited [(3)H]-glutamate uptake in human platelets. Hg(2+) inhibited [(3)H]-glutamate binding, while Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) stimulated [(3)H]-glutamate binding in human platelets. Hg(2+), Cd(2+) and Pb(2+) increased lipid peroxidation levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement in platelets. The present limited results could suggest that glutamatergic system may be used as a potential biomarker for neurotoxic action of heavy metals in humans.

Expression of a Functional N-Methyl-d-Aspartate–Type Glutamate Receptor by Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes

Better understanding of hemostasis will be possible by the identification of new lineage-specific stimuli that regulate platelet formation. We describe a novel functional megakaryocyte receptor that belongs to a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors of theN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype responsible for synaptic neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies identified expression of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2D type subunit mRNA in rat marrow, human megakaryocytes, and MEG-01 clonal megakaryoblastic cells. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo autoradiographic binding of the NMDA receptor-specific antagonist MK-801 confirmed that megakaryocytes expressed open channel-forming NMDA receptors in vivo. Western blots indicated that megakaryocyte NMDAR1 was either unglycosylated or only glycosylated to low levels, and of identical size to CNS-type NMDAR1 after deglycosylation with endoglycosidase F/peptide-N-glycosidase F. In functional studies, we demonstrated that NMDA receptor activity was necessary for phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of megakaryoblastic cells; NMDA receptor blockade by specific antagonists significantly inhibited PMA-mediated increases in cell size, CD41 expression, and adhesion of MEG-01 cells. These results provide evidence for a novel pathway by which megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production may be regulated.

Expression of a Functional N-Methyl-d-Aspartate–Type Glutamate Receptor by Bone Marrow Megakaryocytes

Better understanding of hemostasis will be possible by the identification of new lineage-specific stimuli that regulate platelet formation. We describe a novel functional megakaryocyte receptor that belongs to a family of ionotropic glutamate receptors of theN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype responsible for synaptic neurotransmission in the central nervous system (CNS). Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies identified expression of NMDAR1 and NMDAR2D type subunit mRNA in rat marrow, human megakaryocytes, and MEG-01 clonal megakaryoblastic cells. Immunohistochemistry and in vivo autoradiographic binding of the NMDA receptor-specific antagonist MK-801 confirmed that megakaryocytes expressed open channel-forming NMDA receptors in vivo. Western blots indicated that megakaryocyte NMDAR1 was either unglycosylated or only glycosylated to low levels, and of identical size to CNS-type NMDAR1 after deglycosylation with endoglycosidase F/peptide-N-glycosidase F. In functional studies, we demonstrated that NMDA receptor activity was necessary for phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of megakaryoblastic cells; NMDA receptor blockade by specific antagonists significantly inhibited PMA-mediated increases in cell size, CD41 expression, and adhesion of MEG-01 cells. These results provide evidence for a novel pathway by which megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet production may be regulated.

Inhibition of human platelet aggregation by diazeniumdiolates: extent of inhibition correlates with nitric oxide load delivered

The profile of nitric oxide (NO) release from the diazeniumdiolate class of NO donors was evaluated using inhibition of platelet aggregation as a model. At 37 degrees C, the NO complexes (Z)-1-¿N-methyl-N-[6-(N-methylammoniohexyl)amino]¿-diazen-1- ium-1,2-diolate (dimethylhexanediamine complex), sodium (Z)-1-(N,N-diethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (diethylamine complex), (Z)-1-¿N-[3-aminopropyl]-N-[4-(3-aminopropylammonio)butyl]amino diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (spermine complex), and (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1- ium-1,2-diolate (diethylenetriamine complex) have half-lives of 1, 2 and 39 min, and 20 h, respectively. All the diazeniumdiolates caused concentration-dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation; IC50 values (values for which the effect was half the maximum) were 26.0+/-24.1, 34.9+/-24.0 and 14.9+/-6.4 nM for dimethylhexanediamine complex, diethylamine complex and spermine complex, respectively, when pre-incubated with platelets for one half-life. Inhibition by all compounds was time-dependent. Pretreatment of platelets with spermine complex for 5 and 39 min resulted in IC50 values of 1.7+/-0.85 microM and 19.7+/-0.12 nM, whereas IC50 values for sodium nitroprusside were 27.3+/-1.25 nM and 25 nM (average, n = 2), at 5 and 39 min, respectively. Pre-incubation of each diazeniumdiolate at a concentration of 100 nM for 5 min at 37 degrees C, which resulted in the theoretical delivery of NO loads from 96.9% down to 0.3%, resulted in decreasingly efficacious inhibition of platelet aggregation. Linear regression analysis of the theoretical NO load delivered against the actual maximum inhibition (%) showed a strong correlation (r2 = 0.975). All four diazeniumdiolates caused concentration- and time-dependent inhibition of agonist-stimulated elevation of intra-platelet Ca2+ levels; IC50 values were, respectively, 8.7+/-1.49 nM and 11.5+/-1.36 nM for dimethylhexanediamine complex and diethylamine complex at their half-lives, and 176+/-16.9 nM and >100 microM, for spermine complex and diethylenetriamine complex at 2 min pre-incubation time. The respective nucleophiles not complexed with NO did not show anti-aggregatory properties or inhibition of agonist-induced elevation of intra-platelet Ca2+ levels. The inhibitory effects of all diazeniumdiolates tested were attenuated by 10 microM haemoglobin. These studies indicate that these compounds induce controlled, predictable release of NO at biological pH and temperature.