Non-identity of the alpha-granules of human blood platelets with typical lysosomes

Platelet Physiology

Platelets are the smallest blood cells, numbering 150 to 350 × 109/L in healthy individuals. The ability of activated platelets to adhere to an injured vessel wall and form aggregates was first described in the 19th century. Besides their long-established roles in thrombosis and hemostasis, platelets are increasingly recognized as pivotal players in numerous other pathophysiological processes including inflammation and atherogenesis, antimicrobial host defense, and tumor growth and metastasis. Consequently, profound knowledge of platelet structure and function is becoming more important in research and in many fields of modern medicine. This review provides an overview of platelet physiology focusing particularly on the structure, granules, surface glycoproteins, and activation pathways of platelets.

Use of electron microscopy to study platelets and thrombi

Electron microscopy has been a valuable tool for the study of platelet biology and thrombosis for more than 70 years. Early studies using conventional transmission and scanning electron microscopy (EM) provided a foundation for our initial understanding of platelet structure and how it changes upon platelet activation. EM approaches have since been utilized to study platelets and thrombi in the context of basic, translational and clinical research, and they are instrumental in the diagnosis of multiple platelet function disorders. In this brief review, we provide a sampling of the many contributions EM based studies have made to the field, including both historical highlights and contemporary applications. We will also discuss exciting new imaging modalities based on EM and their utility for the study of platelets, hemostasis and thrombosis into the future.

The cellular basis of platelet secretion: Emerging structure/function relationships

Platelet activation has long been known to be accompanied by secretion from at least three types of compartments. These include dense granules, the major source of small molecules; α-granules, the major protein storage organelle; and lysosomes, the site of acid hydrolase storage. Despite ~60 years of research, there are still many unanswered questions about the cell biology of platelet secretion: for example, how are these secretory organelles organized to support cargo release and what are the key routes of cargo release, granule to plasma membrane or granule to canalicular system. Moreover, in recent years, increasing evidence points to the platelet being organized for secretion of the contents from other organelles, namely the dense tubular system (endoplasmic reticulum) and the Golgi apparatus. Conceivably, protein secretion is a widespread property of the platelet and its organelles. In this review, we concentrate on the cell biology of the α-granule and its structure/function relationships. We both review the literature and discuss the wide array of 3-dimensional, high-resolution structural approaches that have emerged in the last few years. These have begun to reveal new and unanticipated outcomes and some of these are discussed. We are hopeful that the next several years will bring rapid advances to this field that will resolve past controversies and be clinically relevant.

Lysosomal concept of platelet secretion--revisited

Certain morphological and biochemical aspects of platelet secretion are discussed. Based on own experiments and review of the literature a hypothesis is forwarded that platelet secretory granules or rather storage organelles can be viewed as secondary lysosomes participating in platelet endocytosis and exocytosis. Formation of the platelet thromboplastic activity, so called PF3, is linked to the platelet storage organelles disintegration and lypolysis during their exocytosis through the platelet plasma membrane.

Crystal containing membrane bound intracellular inclusion bodies in the epithelium of experimentally infected sinus mucosa

The sinus mucosa of 16 rabbits was experimentally infected with Bacteroides fragilis. This paper describes and discusses large inclusion bodies, which were found in abundance by light and electron microscopy inside ciliated cells of the sinus epithelium in 3 of the studied animals. The spindle-shaped inclusions were located in the apical portion of the cytoplasm. They were bound by a trilaminar membrane with several coils to the interior as well as to the exterior. The interior of an inclusion body consisted to a large extent of electron-lucent, floccular substance, but fibrogranular aggregates and rod-shaped crystals with a line periodicity center-to-center of about 15 nm were also conspicuous. These peculiar formations may be constituted by abnormally stored material from defective synthesis of cilia.

Structural defects in inherited and giant platelet disorders

As diverse as the group of inherited structural defects and giant platelet disorders presented in this chapter may seem, there is a common thread that ties them together. All appear to represent some form of membrane aberration. Sometimes only a small inclusion identifies the membrane defect, sometimes a massive increase in size. In others, whole populations of organelles are missing or surface membranes lack specific glycoproteins essential for their function. All of them are born in the deep recesses of a hidden cell, the bone marrow megakaryocyte. Getting the megakaryocyte out into the light of day, or at least into a culture medium, should certainly lead to the solution of many, if not all, of the disorders of platelet membranes and membrane disorders. We have not been completely successful in our efforts to study the megakaryocyte in vitro. As a result, we do not yet understand the normal megakaryocyte, much less normal platelet. The megakaryocyte presents one of the greatest of challenges to our understanding of membrane biology. As our knowledge of how its cytoplasm fills with interiorly and exteriorly derived membranes, and the mechanisms underlying their organization into platelet surfaces, channels of the OCS and DTS, membrane complexes, and five kinds of organelles become clear, our ability to define the basic nature and inheritance of defects will improve rapidly. Within the next decade most aspects of platelet molecular genetics and cell biology will be solved.

Ultrastructural study on the release reaction of the platelet. Release II

The ultrastructural changes of the platelets stimulated by release inducers II such as thrombin, collagen, and latex particles were studied to compare the differences in morphology of release I and II. The characteristics of platelets in response to thrombin were the decrease in number of alpha-granules and marked dilation of the open canalicular system containing fibrin preceded by the disappearance of very dense granules. In the platelets in response to collagen or latex, the release of alpha-granules was initiated after taking the particles into the open canalicular system. In all of the cases, the amount of microfibrils was seen in the cytoplasm, while contraction wave of the microtubules was rare in the cytoplasm during the release and uptake of particles. Accordingly, the release of very dense granules seems to be followed by that of alpha-granules. It is suggested that the microfibrils play a more important role than the microtubules in the release II as well as release I. Furthermore, the contents of alpha-granules may be discharged via the open canalicular system on the release II by thrombin, collagen or latex particles.

Subcellular localization and secretion of factor V from human platelets

Factor V, a plasma protein cofactor necessary for optimal conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, is also present in considerable concentration in blood platelets (9.9 units per 10(9) platelets). Subcellular fractionation by two methods has localized factor V in the alpha granules of unstimulated platelets. ADP and epinephrine cause release of 4.6% and 6.4%, respectively, of the total factor V, a process completely inhibited by cyclooxygenase alkylation by aspirin. In contrast, collagen causes release of 25% of platelet factor V, a process only partially suppressed by aspirin. Secretion of factor V depends on the availability of metabolic energy, because antimycin A, an inhibitor of aerobic metabolism, and 2-deoxyglucose, an inhibitor of anaerobic glycolysis, together almost totally inhibited the secretion of factor V induced by collagen. The data establish that factor V is not normally available on unstimulated platelets but can be secreted from alpha granules upon stimulation with physiological agents such as ADP, epinephrine, and collagen. Because factor V is known to serve as a receptor for factor Xa, the exposure of factor V on platelets consequent to release would accelerate the process of blood coagulation.

Ultrastructure of normal monkey liver

The normal ultrastructure of the liver of rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys is described. A classification of type A and B periportal hepatocytes is introduced together with a discussion of the high incidence of mitochondrial abnormalities. It is suggested that the rhesus monkey is more suitable as an experimental model than the cynomolgus since its liver ultrastructure is less variable.

Enzymatic and chemical analyses of pig platelet membrane subfractions isolated by zonal centrifugation

1. A mixed membrane fraction prepared from pig platelets was subfractionated, using the "B 14" zonal rotor, into two distinct subpopulations of membrane vesicles, each associated with a different phosphodiesterase activity. 2. The lighter subfraction (MI) was enriched 7-8 fold with bis-(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate phosphodiesterase activity and the denser subfraction (MII) showed a similar degree of enrichment of 5'dTMP-p-nitrophenyl ester phosphodiesterase activity. 3. Assays for other enzyme activities revealed slight enrichement (approx. 2 fold) of acid phosphatase, 3'-dTMP-p-nitrophenyl ester phosphodiesterase and beta-glucuronidase activities in MI, and beta-galactosidase in MII. Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase showed negligible activity in both MI and MII, and succinate dehydrogenase activity could not be detected in either subfraction. 4. Chemical analyses of the membrane subfractions demonstrated that MI contained approx. twice as much cholesterol, phospholipid, sialic acid and hexosamine per unit weight of protein than MII. These results are consistent with our previously reported observations from surface-labelling experiments, which indicated that MI was derived principally from the platelet surface-exposed membranes and that MII was probably intracellular in origin. 5. Analysis of the membrane polypeptides by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of 12-15 components, in each subfraction, in the mol. wt. range 12000-200000, including a prominent band of approx. mol. wt. 46000, which has beeen identified to be actin. Qualitative as well as possible quantitative differences were apparent in that MII contained three components in addition to those present in MI. 6. Analysis of the periodate-Schiff staining components by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated the presence of 4 major glycoproteins in both subfractions with apparent mol. wt. ranging from approx. 95000 to 150000; in addition two minor components were also present. Further, a very fast-migrating band, which did not stain with Coomassie blue, was observed in both MI and MII and probably represents lipid material.

Cytochemical localization of lysosomal enzymes in rat megakaryocytes and platelets

Platelets secrete lysosmal enzymes during the "platelet release reaction" early in clot formation. This study was undertaken to identify primary lysosomes of platelets and to detemine their origin in megakaryocytes. Using electron microscopy and cytochemistry, we localized two lysosomal enzymes, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase, in megakaryocytes and platelets of normal and thrombocytopenic rats. In platelets and mature megakaryocytes, reaction product for both enzymes is confined to vesicles measuring 175-250 nm. These vesicles, which are primary lysosmes, first appear in the earliest recognizable megakaryocytes and increase in number during cellular maturation. In immature and maturing megakaryocytes, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase can also be demonstrated in an organell similar to GERL (Golgi-endoplasmic reticulumlysosome), i.e., single smooth-surfaced cisternal with associated vesicles near the stacked Golgi cisternae. Scant reaction product for acid phosphatase is also sometimes seen in Golgi cisternae and endoplasmic reticulum. No reaction product was found in alpha-granules at any stage of megakaryocyte maturation, nor in alpha- or serotonin granules of platelets. Thus, our findings indicate that the primay lysosomes of megakaryocytes and platelets are small vesicles derived from GERL early in megakaryocyte differentiation. They can be indentified only after cytochemical staining and are distinct from both alpha- and serotonin granules.

Fine structural localization of arylsulfatase B activity in the rabbit blood platelets

Fine structural localization of arylsulfatase in the rabbit blood platelets has been investigated in this study. Among many cell organellae, reaction products were exclusively observed in the alpha granules of the platelets. Within the alpha granules, arylsulfatase activity appeared to localize in variable patterns, i.e. reaction products confined mainly at the peripheral region in many granules, while they deposited heavily throughout the granule matrices in some others. In a blood platelets, each alpha granule showed the different staining pattern which indicated more variable functional heterogeneity in the granules.

Accumulation of basic drugs in 5-hydroxytryptamine storage organelles of rabbit blood platelets

The subcellular distribution of basic substances such as mepacrine, chloroquine, chlorpromazine and imipramine was studied in rabbit blood platelets exposed to these compounds in vitro and to some in vivo. All the drugs showed a preferential concentration in the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) storage organelles (5HT vesicles). Chloroquine and mepacrine accumulated more specifically in the organelles than did chlorpromazine and imipramine. After osmotic shock of the 5HT vesicles chlorpromazine sedimented mostly with the vesicular membranes, whereas the other compounds preferentially went into the supernatant. It is concluded that (a) fluorescent basic compounds such as mepacrine are rather specific markers for the 5HT storage organelles in live platelets and (b) drugs such as chlorpromazine and imipramine also have a considerable affinity for these organelles.

The release of nucleotides, 5-hydroxytryptamine and enzymes from human blood platelets during aggregation

1. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adrenaline caused the aggregation of human platelets suspended in plasma containing citrate anticoagulant and stirred at 37 degrees C. The aggregation occurred in two phases and the second phase was associated with the appearance in the plasma of up to 30% of the ATP and 55% of the ADP present in the platelets. The concentration of ADP appearing in the plasma was up to 7 times the concentration added.2. Radioactivity was released by ADP and by adrenaline from platelets labelled with radioactive 5-hydroxytryptamine; this release was closely correlated with the second phase of aggregation and with the release of nucleotides.3. Acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronidase and adenylate kinase were released to a small extent during second phase aggregation by ADP or adrenaline; thrombin and collagen particles caused significantly greater release of beta-glucuronidase than of either acid phosphatase or of adenylate kinase.4. Morphological changes indicating degranulation of the platelets were observed during the second phase of aggregation produced by adrenaline and by ADP.5. The second phase of aggregation, degranulation of platelets, and the release of nucleotides, of labelled 5-hydroxytryptamine and of enzymes, were all inhibited by concentrations of amitriptyline which did not inhibit aggregation.