Tyrosine phosphorylation and association of FcgammaRII and p72(Syk) are not limited to the FcgammaRII signalling pathway

Human platelet IgG Fc receptor FcγRIIA in immunity and thrombosis

Beyond their prominent role in hemostasis and thrombosis, platelets are increasingly recognized as having immunologic functions. Supporting this, human platelets express FcγRIIA (CD32a), a low-affinity Fc receptor (FcR) for the constant region of IgG that recognizes immune complexes (ICs) and IgG-opsonized cells with high avidity. In leukocytes, FcγRIIA engagement initiates strong effector functions that are key for immune and inflammatory responses, including cytokine release, antibody-dependent cell-mediated killing of pathogens, and internalization of ICs. However, the physiologic relevance of platelet-expressed FcγRIIA has received little attention in previous reviews on FcRs. This article summarizes and discusses the available information on human platelet FcγRIIA. The importance of this receptor in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, a prothrombotic adverse drug effect, is well documented. However, studies demonstrating platelet activation by IgG-opsonized bacteria point to the physiologic relevance of platelet FcγRIIA in immunity. In this context, platelet activation and secretion may facilitate both a direct antimicrobial function of platelets and crosstalk with other immune cells. Additionally, a role for platelet FcγRIIA in IgG-independent hemostasis and physiologic thrombosis, by means of amplifying integrin αII b β3 outside-in signaling, has also been proposed. Nonetheless, the thrombotic complications found in some infective and autoimmune diseases may result from unbalanced FcγRIIA-mediated platelet aggregation. Moreover, FcγRIIA is not expressed in mice, and thrombocytopenia and/or thrombotic events found after drug administration can only be recapitulated by the use of human FcγRIIA-transgenic mice. Altogether, the available data support a functional role for platelet FcγRIIA in health and disease, and emphasize the need for further investigation of this receptor.

Fcγ receptor polymorphisms and clinical efficacy of rituximab in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia

It has been 40 years since the discovery of Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) and their function. FcγRs regulate a variety of immune responses, including phagocytosis, degranulation, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, transcriptional regulation of cytokines, chemokine expression, B-cell activation, and immune complex clearance. It is well known that FcγRs serve as a critical link between the humoral and cellular branches of the immune system and play an important role in many conditions, including infection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Recent studies suggest that FcγR polymorphisms influence efficacy and side effects of monoclonal antibody-based immunotherapy, which might provide a useful prognostic marker for treatment in the future. Rituximab has been proven effective in treating patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Some FcγR genotypes correlate with rituximab efficacy in patients with NHL but not in patients with CLL. In this review, FcγR function and the association between FcγR polymorphisms and rituximab efficacy in NHL and CLL are discussed.

Integrin αIIbβ3signals lead cofilin to accelerate platelet actin dynamics

Cofilin, in its Ser3 dephosphorylated form, accelerates actin filament turnover in cells. We report here the role of cofilin in platelet actin assembly. Cofilin is primarily phosphorylated in the resting platelet as evidenced by a specific antibody directed against its Ser3 phosphorylated form. After stimulation with thrombin under nonstirring conditions, cofilin is reversibly dephosphorylated and transiently incorporates into the actin cytoskeleton. Its dephosphorylation is maximal 1–2 min after platelet stimulation, shortly after the peak of actin assembly occurs. Cofilin rephosphorylation begins 2 min after activation and exceeds resting levels by 5–10 min. Cofilin is dephosphorylated with identical kinetics but fails to become rephosphorylated when platelets are stimulated under stirring conditions. Cofilin is normally rephosphorylated when platelets are stimulated in the presence of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) peptide or wortmannin to block αIIbβ3cross-linking and signaling or in platelets isolated from a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia, which express only 2–3% of normal αIIbβ3levels. Furthermore, actin assembly and Arp2/3 complex incorporation in the platelet actin cytoskeleton are decreased when αIIbβ3is engaged. Our results suggest that cofilin is essential for actin dynamics mediated by outside-in signals in activated platelets.

1alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 alters Syk activation through FcgammaRII in monocytic THP-1 cells

In monocytes and macrophages, activation of the tyrosine kinase Syk is an essential step in the biochemical cascade linking aggregation of receptors for immunoglobulin G (FcgammaR) to initiation of effector functions. An increase in Syk activation during differentiation of myeloid cells by different agents has been reported. We studied the activation state of Syk in response to FcgammaRII crosslinking in monocytic cells before and after in vitro differentiation with 1alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3. We show here that while in undifferentiated THP-1 cells clustering of FcgammaRII induces significant phosphorylation and activation of Syk, in THP-1 cells differentiated in vitro by 1alpha, 25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3, FcgammaRII crosslinking induced a decrease in Syk activity. In vitro differentiation did not induce changes in the expression of FcgammaRII isoforms. The observed effect on Syk activation though FcgammaRII could be mediated by differentiation-induced changes in the expression and basal activation level of Syk, as well as changes in the association of Syk with the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. These results suggest that the biochemical signaling pathways induced by FcgammaRII could be dependent on the differentiation state of the cell.

The carboxy-terminal region of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor transduces a phagocytic signal

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces proliferation, maturation, and functional activities of myeloid progenitors and mature neutrophils through a specific receptor, the G-CSF-R. Different signals are mediated by distinct regions of the cytoplasmic domain of G-CSF-R, but the precise role of each region has not yet been fully clarified. We evaluated the involvement of Syk kinase, essential in mediating phagocytic signals by Fcgamma receptors, in G-CSF-induced phagocytosis, using murine myeloid 32D cells transfected with wild-type (WT) human G-CSF-R (hG-CSF-R) or with a G-CSF-R mutant truncated at cytoplasmic amino acid 715. The G-CSF-R mutant lacks the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), putative binding site for Syk. Following treatment of WT hG-CSF-R transfectants with IgG-coated particles, there was a significant increase in phagocytosis in G-CSF-stimulated cells, in which Syk tyrosine phosphorylation occurred, paralleled by enhancement of its tyrosine kinase activity. In the mutant transfectants, no significant increase in phagocytosis or Syk tyrosine phosphorylation occurred after stimulation with G-CSF. We also demonstrated that tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src kinases Hck and Lyn occurs following G-CSF stimulation of cells expressing WT G-CSF-R, but that Hck is not phosphorylated in mutant G-CSF-R transfectants. The increase in phagocytosis following G-CSF stimulation cannot be attributed to a rapid de novo increase in expression of Fcgamma receptors. G-CSF induced expression of Fcgamma receptors only after prolonged stimulation. Our data provide evidence that the carboxy-terminal region of G-CSF-R plays a role in the phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles and that Syk and Hck kinase tyrosine phosphorylation is involved.

Lyn and Syk kinases are sequentially engaged in phagocytosis mediated by Fc gamma R

Recent data indicate that phagocytosis mediated by FcgammaRs is controlled by the Src and Syk families of protein tyrosine kinases. In this study, we demonstrate a sequential involvement of Lyn and Syk in the phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles. The particles isolated at the stage of their binding to FcgammaRs (4 degrees C) were accompanied by high amounts of Lyn, in addition to the signaling gamma-chain of FcgammaRs. Simultaneously, the particle binding induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins. During synchronized internalization of the particles induced by shifting the cell to 37 degrees C, Syk kinase and Src homology 2-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) were associated with the formed phagosomes. At this step, most of the proteins were dephosphorylated, although some underwent further tyrosine phosphorylation. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy studies confirmed that Lyn accumulated under the plasma membrane beneath the bound particles. High amounts of the gamma-chain and tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were also observed under the bound particles. When the particles were internalized, the gamma-chain was still detected in the region of the phagosomes, while amounts of Lyn were markedly reduced. In contrast, the vicinity of the phagosomes was heavily decorated with anti-Syk and anti-SHP-1 Abs. The local level of protein tyrosine phosphorylation was reduced. The data indicate that the accumulation of Lyn during the binding of IgG-coated particles to FcgammaRs correlated with strong tyrosine phosphorylation of numerous proteins, suggesting an initiating role for Lyn in protein phosphorylation at the onset of the phagocytosis. Syk kinase and SHP-1 phosphatase are mainly engaged at the stage of particle internalization.

Potential role of platelet FcgammaRIIA in collagen-mediated platelet activation associated with atherothrombosis

Collagen-mediated platelet activation contributes significantly to coronary and cerebrovascular thrombus formation associated with atherosclerotic plaque destabilization. Recent clinical and laboratory observations support a potential role for the platelet Fc receptor (FcgammaRIIA) in this process. The purpose of this study was to elucidate any association between platelet Fc receptor (FcR) expression levels and both atherosclerosis risk factors (ARFs) along with collagen-dependent platelet activation. Age and gender-independent variation has been described in the expression of this receptor that is stable over time. Platelet Fc surface expression was compared between patients experiencing an acute coronary or cerebrovascular event, healthy patients with two or more ARFs, and healthy patients with fewer than two ARFs. Platelet FcR expression was significantly and stably (6-52 weeks, mean 20 weeks) increased in 101 patients with acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or ischemic stroke syndrome (P<0.001) and 38 healthy patients with two or more ARFs (P=0.027) compared with 109 healthy patients with fewer than two ARFs. Patients with diabetes mellitus from all groups had significantly increased platelet FcR expression over those without diabetes (P<0.0001). Platelet aggregation studies suggested a correlation between number of ARFs per patient, platelet Fc expression levels, and relative sensitivity to collagen stimulation. Platelet FcR surface expression is increased in patients with an acute coronary or cerebrovascular event, non-acutely ill patients with two or more ARFs, and in patients with diabetes mellitus. Increased platelet FcR expression may therefore contribute towards risk for atherothrombotic events.

Constitutive kinase activation of the TEL-Syk fusion gene in myelodysplastic syndrome with t(9;12)(q22;p12)

The TEL gene on 12p12-13 is a target for a number of translocations associated with various hematological malignancies. The fusion of the TEL gene to the Syk gene in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with t(9;12)(q22;p12) is reported. Southern blot analysis of patient bone marrow cells with TEL and Syk gene probes detected rearranged fragments. Anchored polymerase chain reaction identified the Syk gene, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, on 9q22 fused downstream of TEL exon 5. The TEL gene was fused in-frame to Syk and produced a fusion protein that was constitutively phosphorylated in tyrosine with dimerization that was mediated by the helix-loop-helix domain of TEL. A TEL-Syk fusion product transformed the murine hematopoietic cell line BaF3 to interleukin-3 growth factor independence. TEL-Syk is a novel transforming protein and leads to the transformation of hematopoietic cells. These data implicate that the rearranged Syk gene is involved in the pathogenesis of hematopoietic malignancies.

Hematopoietic reconstitution of SLP-76 corrects hemostasis and platelet signaling through alpha IIb beta 3 and collagen receptors

Mice deficient in the hematopoietic cell-specific adapter protein SLP-76 demonstrate a failure of T cell development and fetal hemorrhage. Although SLP-76-deficient platelets manifest defective collagen receptor signaling, this alone may not explain the observed bleeding diathesis. Because alpha IIb beta 3, the platelet fibrinogen receptor, is required for normal hemostasis, we explored a potential role for SLP-76 in alpha IIb beta 3 signaling. Interaction of soluble or immobilized fibrinogen with normal human or murine platelets triggers rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of SLP-76. Moreover, platelet adhesion to fibrinogen stimulates actin rearrangements, filopodial and lamellipodial extension, and localization of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins to the cell periphery. In contrast, SLP-76-deficient murine platelets bind fibrinogen normally, but spread poorly and exhibit reduced levels of phosphotyrosine. The in vivo bleeding diathesis as well as the defects in platelet responses to fibrinogen and collagen are reversed by retroviral transduction of SLP-76 into bone marrow derived from SLP-76-deficient mice. These studies establish that SLP-76 functions downstream of alpha IIb beta 3 and collagen receptors in platelets. Furthermore, expression of SLP-76 in hematopoietic cells, including platelets, plays a necessary role in hemostasis.