Identification of Platelet Antigens by Monoclonal Antibodies Using Crossed Immunoelectrophoresis with Immunoblotting of the Monoclonal Antibody

Biochemical and functional characterization of a new murine monoclonal antibody against human platelet glycoprotein IIIa

A new murine monoclonal antibody, MDP-1, specific for human platelet glycoprotein IIIa has been produced and characterized. Following SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, MDP-1 reacted with a 94kDa protein immobilized on a nitrocellulose membrane. Upon reduction, MDP-1 no longer bound to the 94kDa protein indicating an epitope requiring at least one disulfide bond. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis MDP-1 reacted to the same peak as the GP IIb-IIIa complex-specific antibody AP-2. After dissociation of the GP IIb-IIIa complex with EDTA, AP-2 showed no reactivity while MDP-1 bound to a new peak that was broader and anodal to the original GP IIb-IIIa peak, consistent with GP IIIa. MDP-1 inhibited ADP and thrombin induced aggregation. In addition, MDP-1 inhibited ADP induced release of ATP, but did not inhibit thrombin stimulated ATP release. Following chymotrypsin digestion, MDP-1 bound to a cleaved GP IIIa protein (nonreduced M, = 122 kDa) consistent with opening of the major disulfide loop. A second cleavage resulted in a 63 kDa species that reacted with MDP-1. Scatchard analysis revealed 22 000 molecules of MDP-1 bound per platelet, and indicated a type of binding consistent with positive cooperativity. The antibody bound equally well to stimulated and unstimulated platelets. MDP-1 binding was inhibited by a polyclonal anti-PI(A1) antibody, but bound to platelets from a PI(A1) negative individual indicating a binding site close to but not identical to the PI(A1) epitope. In addition, MDP-1 binding was not inhibited by Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) suggesting that it is not directed to the RGD binding site on GP IIIa.

Electrokinetic properties of human cryopreserved platelets

A method for the cryopreservation of human platelets with glycerol/glucose is described which was a simplified modification of the method of Dayian and Pert (1979). The effect of cryoinjury of the platelet surface membrane was investigated by studying the surface electrokinetic properties of the platelet. A significant increase in platelet electrophoretic mobility was found after cryopreservation. The fresh platelets had a mean electrophoretic mobility of 1.04 +/- 0.05 microns s-1 V-1 cm-1 and cryopreserved platelets 1.18 +/- 0.05 microns s-1 V-1 cm-1, P < 0.05. However, the total platelet sialic acid of fresh platelets was 62.5 +/- 5.6 nmol 10(-9) platelets compared to 47.2 +/- 4.6 nmol 10(-9) platelets after cryopreservation, P < 0.001. Similarly, the neuraminidase-labile sialic acid was 26.4 +/- 4.3 nmol 10(-9) platelets for fresh platelets and 17.6 +/- 4.0 nmol 10(-9) platelets after cryopreservation, P < 0.001. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with Western blotting, we showed a reduction in the platelet glycoprotein Gp Ib after cryopreservation, this was confirmed by using crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Electron microscopy revealed a significant change in platelet morphology after the cryopreservation procedure with disruption of the platelet membrane and also platelet shape change. These features may explain the changes in platelet electrokinetic properties.

Correlation of light transmission changes to changes of platelet glycoprotein Ib during storage of platelet concentrates

The present study compares some properties of platelet concentrates, i.e. their ability to transmit light and the degree of platelet lysis and the deterioration of the platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GPIb). Extracellular levels of glycocalicin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) served as indicators for the proteolytic cleavage of GPIb and platelet lysis, respectively. The light transmission of 16 platelet apheresis concentrates was monitored continuously during storage using a specially designed apparatus. Determination of platelet counts and extracellular glycocalicin levels was carried out on day 1. In addition, after 7 days of storage extracellular concentrations of LDH and glycocalicin were determined. After 7 days highly significant correlations were found both when comparing light transmission changes and extracellular glycocalicin levels (r = 0.78; p < 0.001) and when comparing light transmission changes and extracellular concentrations of LDH (r = 0.83; p < 0.001).

Visualization of platelet glycoproteins Ib and IIIa by immunoenzymatic stain using avidin-biotin peroxidase complex

A method is described here for the identification and quantitation of antigens by monoclonal antibodies. This method is based upon 1) separation (crossed-immunoelectrophoresis) and immunoprecipitation (rocket immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis) of glycoproteins Ib and IIIa with a polyspecific antiserum; 2) binding of the non precipitating monoclonal antibody to glycoproteins precipitated by the rabbit antibody; 3) visualization of the monoclonal antibody with secondary biotinylated antibody and after addition of avidin biotin peroxidase complex, the peroxidase activity is detected by 4-Cl-1-naphtol. By this technique, the agarose gel plate could be stained directly and this allowed us to eliminate electrophoretic transblotting and radioactive compounds.

Activation of human platelets by exposure to a monoclonal antibody, PM6/248, to glycoprotein IIb-IIIa

Monoclonal antibody PM6/248, which recognizes the GPIIb-IIIa complex on human platelets, causes platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma or in gel-filtered platelet suspensions. Aggregation follows a concentration-dependent lag phase and reaches a maximum at 8 micrograms/ml. High concentrations of antibody (less than 30 micrograms/ml) produce complete inhibition of the aggregation response. Aggregation is accompanied by serotonin secretion and thromboxane A2 synthesis, neither of which are inhibited by high concentrations of antibody, and by the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. The F(ab')2 fragment of PM6/248 does not cause platelet activation and pre-incubation of platelets with this fragment inhibits all platelet responses stimulated by the whole antibody. Pre-incubation with the F(ab')2 fragment of the anti-Fc gamma RII Mab, IV. 3, also inhibits all responses to PM6/248. These data indicate that platelet activation stimulated by PM6/248 is caused by cross-linking of GPIIb-IIIa to the Fc gamma RII which stimulates signal transduction across the plasma membrane through a conformational change in the Fc gamma RII.

Integration of monoclonal antibodies in quantitative immunoelectrophoresis by indirect immunoprecipitation

Characterization of the specificity of monoclonal antibody in crossed immunoelectrophoresis has been achieved by mixing the monoclonal antibody with mycobacterial antigen in the circular antigen well. After electrophoresis in the first dimension, the separated antigens and antigen complexed with monoclonal antibody were run into an intermediate gel containing rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin and a top gel with polyvalent rabbit anti-BCG immunoglobulin. Monoclonal antibody with bound antigen precipitated in the intermediate gel while the other antigens precipitated in their reference positions. The method was simple, efficient and sensitive. Selected monoclonal antibodies were used to demonstrate the characteristic features of the method. In rocket immunoelectrophoresis the rocket height of a monoclonal antibody may be significantly altered by adding the relevant antigen. This principle can be exploited when the polyvalent antibodies do not precipitate the antigen, and it may be used for efficient screening of monoclonal hybridoma culture supernatants. This approach may permit the quantitation of an antigen when only monoclonal antibody is available.

Studies on a patient with thrombocytopenia, giant platelets and a platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib with reduced amount of sialic acid

A 70-year-old patient with a life-long bleeding tendency, giant platelets and thrombocytopenia (10-40 x 10(9) platelets/l) has been studied. This is a condition often associated with lack of platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GP Ib). Electron microscopy of fixed platelets incubated with monoclonal antibodies to GP Ib (AN 51, AP 1) and gold-labelled goat anti-mouse IgG, showed a distinct distribution of GP Ib on the patient's platelets, however. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis and SDS-PAGE demonstrated a reduced mobility of the patient's GP Ib which could be explained by absence of sialic acid. Blotting with peroxidase-conjugated peanut agglutinin confirmed this conclusion. This lectin binds to galactose-N-acetyl-galactosamine residues exposed terminally when sialic acid is absent from the carbohydrate side-chains. Such binding could be seen with normal GP Ib only after neuraminidase treatment. Fluorescence studies with FITC-conjugated peanut agglutinin showed binding of the lectin to intact patient platelets, indicating that lack of sialic acid was not introduced during the platelet isolation procedure. Neither could the lack of sialic acid be attributed to increased neuraminidase activity as studied in vitro. Platelets treated with neuraminidase in vivo or in vitro are rapidly cleared from the circulation. Therefore the patient's thrombocytopenia may be associated with the reduced amount of GP Ib sialic acid. As far as we know, similar cases have not been described previously.

The use of PhastSystem crossed immunoelectrophoresis with immunoblotting to demonstrate a complex between glycoprotein Ib and the actin-binding protein (ABP) of human platelets

The study shows how a technique described in an accompanying paper can be applied to solve a biological problem. The technique makes use of the observation that a monoclonal antibody that has been coprecipitated with its antigen during crossed immunoelectrophoresis can be transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane and visualized. Previous studies using crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of platelets have indicated that a particular immunoprecipitate (peak III) of the membrane receptor glycoprotein Ib (GP Ib) might contain a complex between the receptor and the actin-binding protein (filamin). When a monoclonal antibody (PM6/317) directed towards the actin-binding protein was added to a platelet extract prior to immunoelectrophoresis and blotting, this was visualized on the blot as a replica of the peak III immunoprecipitate. This demonstrates a colocalization of GP Ib and the actin-binding protein in the precipitate, and thus the existence of a complex between the membrane receptor and the cytoskeletal protein.

The PhastSystem equipment used for crossed immunoelectrophoresis combined with immunoblotting of coprecipitated monoclonal antibodies as studied with platelet membrane receptor proteins

The Pharmacia PhastSystem equipment has been used for crossed immunoelectrophoresis combined with a technique for immunoblotting with monoclonal antibodies. This miniaturized gel system is compared to the conventional approach using platelet membrane receptor proteins as a model. Whereas in the conventional system the electrophoretic procedure takes place within 20 h, 3 h are adequate for the small gel system. Because of the short second-dimensional electrophoresis, and only one overnight incubation, the total electrophoretic and blotting procedure could be reduced from about 48 h to 24 h. The amount of antiserum used during the second-dimensional electrophoresis could be reduced roughly by a factor of 5. The examples with electrophoresis and immunoblotting using platelet extracts in 1% Triton X-100 demonstrate that membrane receptor proteins can be studied even when present as noncovalent complexes. The immunoblotting can be used with monoclonal antibodies that do not function in Western blotting.

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody ITI-Pl 1 directed against human platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb using extracts of whole platelets and platelet surface and intracellular membranes

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) termed ITI-Pl 1 has been prepared by the hybridoma procedure. Using immuno-absorption and crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of untreated and EDTA-treated human platelets it was shown to be directed against the surface membrane glycoprotein IIb (GP IIb). This mAb binds to whole platelets independently of ADP-stimulation and the presence of Ca2+-ions. It saturates at around 870 ng/10(8) cells corresponding to approximately 35,800 molecules/platelet. ITI-Pl 1 did not significantly inhibit GP IIb-IIIa dependent functions such as platelet aggregation or fibrinogen binding. Immunofluorescence could be demonstrated using ITI-Pl 1 and intact normal platelets, but not with platelets from a Glanzmann's thrombasthenia patient. Crossed immuno-electrophoresis with platelet extracts from four different thrombasthenic patients gave a line precipitate in the intermediate gel with 125I-labelled ITI-Pl 1 and autoradiography indicating trace amounts of free GP IIb or the GP IIb-IIIa complex. The epitope on GP IIb detected by ITI-Pl 1 is not destroyed by neuraminidase treatment. Thus the mAb also interacts with neuraminidase-treated GP IIb-IIIa complex in highly purified platelet surface membrane fractions as well as with GP IIb-IIIa from untreated internal membranes isolated by continuous flow electrophoresis.