Cyclic nucleotide-dependent regulation of agonist-induced calcium increases in mouse megakaryocytes

Aspirin-induced microscopic surface changes stimulate thrombopoiesis in rat megakaryocytes

During the process of thrombopoiesis, invaginations of the plasma membrane occur in megakaryocytes. Since acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), the most commonly used anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet drug, interacts with the lipid bilayers of the plasma membranes, this drug would affect the process of thrombopoiesis. In the present study, employing a standard patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique, we examined the effects of aspirin on delayed rectifier K(+)-channel (Kv1.3) currents and the membrane capacitance in megakaryocytes. Using confocal imaging of di-8-butyl-amino-naphthyl-ethylene-pyridinium-propyl-sulfonate (di-8-ANEPPS) staining, we also monitored the membrane invaginations in megakaryocytes. Aspirin suppressed both the peak and the pulse-end currents with a significant increase in the membrane capacitance. Massive di-8-ANEPPS staining after treatment with aspirin demonstrated the impaired membrane micro-architecture of megakaryocytes. This study demonstrated for the first time that aspirin induces microscopic surface changes in megakaryocytes. Such surface changes were thought to stimulate thrombopoiesis in megakaryocytes as detected by the increase in the membrane invaginations.

Compensatory thrombopoietin production from the liver and bone marrow stimulates thrombopoiesis of living rat megakaryocytes in chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Decreased thrombopoiesis has been ascribed a role in the pathogenesis of uremic bleeding in chronic renal failure (CRF). However, serum thrombopoietin (TPO) levels are usually elevated in CRF patients, suggesting increased thrombopoiesis. The aim of this study was to determine the thrombopoietic activity in CRF.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats that underwent 5/6 nephrectomy were used as the model of CRF. Age-matched sham-operated rats were used as controls. Single megakaryocytes were isolated from the rat bone marrow, and their size distribution was examined. Megakaryocyte membrane invaginations were monitored by confocal imaging of di-8-ANEPPS staining, and patch clamp whole-cell recordings of membrane capacitance. TPO gene expression was assessed in various tissues.

RESULTS

Circulating platelet counts and the number of large megakaryocytes were increased in the bone marrow of CRF rats. Massive di-8-ANEPPS staining and increased membrane capacitance in large megakaryocytes demonstrated increased membrane invaginations. Unaffected Kv1.3-channel currents per cell surface area demonstrated unaltered channel densities. TPO transcription was decreased in the renal cortex but increased in the liver and bone marrow of CRF rats.

CONCLUSION

Increased thrombopoiesis in CRF was thought to be a reactive mechanism to platelet dysfunction. Increased TPO production from the liver and bone marrow compensated for decreased production from damaged kidneys.

Characterization of functional P2X(1) receptors in mouse megakaryocytes

INTRODUCTION

Although accumulating evidence within the past 5 years strongly supports the importance of platelet P2X(1) receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis, P2X(1) receptors of platelet and/or its progenitor cell, megakaryocyte, have not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to electrophysiologically and pharmacologically characterize the functional P2X(1) receptors on mouse megakaryocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The currents in response to nucleotides were examined using the patch-clamp whole-cell recording.

RESULTS

The agonist profile of megakaryocyte P2X(1) receptors was ATP>alpha,beta-methylene ATP>beta,gamma-methylene ATP. The P2X(1) receptors exhibited substantial monovalent as well as divalent cation permeability and the ratios of Na(+) to Cs(+) and Ca(2+) to Cs(+) permeability were 1 and 2.5, respectively. P2X receptor antagonists except suramin significantly inhibited the P2X(1) responses with an IC(50) values of 0.4 microM for pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS), 0.3 microM for 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitophenyl)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), 20 microM for reactive blue 2 (RB2), or 160 microM for 8,8'-(carbonylbis(imino-3,1-phenylene carbonylimino)bis(1,3,5-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid) (NF023), respectively. Suramin had no significant effect on the P2X(1) responses. In rat megakaryocytes, suramin similarly had no significant effect on the P2X(1) responses, but abolished the P2Y receptor-mediated responses, indicating that the suramin was active under present experimental condition.

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide the basic properties of mouse megakaryocyte P2X(1) receptors and would be helpful to examine the P2 receptor signaling in platelets and megakaryocytes.

Suppressive effects of red wine polyphenols on voltage-gated ion channels in dorsal root ganglionic neuronal cells

Polyphenols are ubiquitous plant metabolites with multiple pharmacological properties. Using whole-cell patch-clamp current recording techniques, we studied the effects of polypnenols extracted from red wine (purity > 90% from Cabernet Sauvignon grape wine) on the activities of voltage-operated Na+-, K+-, and Ca2+-channel currents in mouse dorsal root ganglionic neuronal cells. The polyphenols suppressed all of the channel activities with half-effective concentrations of about 2.5, 4.0, and 0.8-1.5 micro g/ml, respectively. In contrast, they showed no noticeable effects on the ion channels in other types of cells, including large conductance K+-channels in mouse lacrimal acinar cells. Thus, the polyphenols suppress firings of the action potential in the neuronal cells and could show a sedative effect on the excitation. We expect that red wine can be used as a remedy for excessive sensory stimuli.

Sensitivity limits for voltage control of P2Y receptor-evoked Ca2+ mobilization in the rat megakaryocyte

G-protein-coupled receptor signalling has been suggested to be voltage dependent in a number of cell types; however, the limits of sensitivity of this potentially important phenomenon are unknown. Using the non-excitable rat megakaryocyte as a model system, we now show that P2Y receptor-evoked Ca2+ mobilization is controlled by membrane voltage in a graded and bipolar manner without evidence for a discrete threshold potential. Throughout the range of potentials studied, the peak increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to depolarization was always larger than the maximal reduction in [Ca2+]i following an equivalent amplitude hyperpolarization. Significant [Ca2+]i increases were observed in response to small amplitude (< 5 mV, 5 s duration) or short duration (25 ms, 135 mV) depolarizations. Individual cardiac action potential waveforms were also able to repeatedly potentiate P2Y receptor-evoked Ca2+ release and the response to trains of normally paced stimuli fused to generate prolonged [Ca2+]i increases. Furthermore, elevation of the temperature to physiological levels (36 degrees C) resulted in a more sustained depolarization-evoked Ca2+ increase compared with more transient or oscillatory responses at 20-24 degrees C. The ability of signalling via a G-protein-coupled receptor to be potentiated by action potential waveforms and small amplitude depolarizations has broad implications in excitable and non-excitable tissues.

Identification of cyclic ADP-ribose-dependent mechanisms in pancreatic muscarinic Ca(2+) signaling using CD38 knockout mice

We showed that muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulation increased the cellular content of cADPR in the pancreatic acinar cells from normal mice but not in those from CD38 knockout mice. By monitoring ACh-evoked increases in the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) using fura-2 microfluorimetry, we distinguished and characterized the Ca(2+) release mechanisms responsive to cADPR. The Ca(2+) response from the cells of the knockout mice (KO cells) lacked two components of the muscarinic Ca(2+) release present in wild mice. The first component inducible by the low concentration of ACh contributed to regenerative Ca(2+) spikes. This component was abolished by ryanodine treatment in the normal cells and was severely impaired in KO cells, indicating that the low ACh-induced regenerative spike responses were caused by cADPR-dependent Ca(2+) release from a pool regulated by a class of ryanodine receptors. The second component inducible by the high concentration of ACh was involved in the phasic Ca(2+) response, and it was not abolished by ryanodine treatment. Overall, we conclude that muscarinic Ca(2+) signaling in pancreatic acinar cells involves a CD38-dependent pathway responsible for two cADPR-dependent Ca(2+) release mechanisms in which the one sensitive to ryanodine plays a crucial role for the generation of repetitive Ca(2+) spikes.

Inhibitory effects of ruthenium red on inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate-induced responses in rat megakaryocytes

The effects of ruthenium red (RR) on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP(3))-induced responses were studied in rat bone marrow megakaryocytes with the patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique in combination with fura-2 microfluorometry. Internal application of InsP(3) (100 microM) increased intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and activated the Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) current. Administering InsP(3) together with RR (100-500 microM) inhibited InsP(3)-induced responses (both Ca(2+) and current responses) in a dose-dependent fashion. Pretreatment of megakaryocytes with extracellular RR (50 microM) also inhibited InsP(3)-induced responses. Intracellular and extracellular application of RR reduced ADP-induced increases in [Ca(2+)](i). In contrast, in isolated single pancreatic acinar cells, RR had no effect on InsP(3)-induced responses. Taken together, these results suggest that the site of the inhibitory action of RR is at the InsP(3) receptor, or its closely associated proteins. In addition, we have shown that RR is a useful pharmacological tool with which to examine the InsP(3)-mediated responses of megakaryocytes.

Inhibition of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca2+ release by cAMP-dependent protein kinase in a living cell

Interaction of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and cAMP signaling mechanisms was examined in intact single megakaryocytes by using a combination of single-cell fluorescence microscopy to measure [Ca2+]i and flash photolysis of caged Ca2+, inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate (IP3), or cAMP to elevate rapidly the concentration of these compounds inside the cell. Photolysis of caged IP3 stimulated Ca2+ release from an IP3-sensitive store. The cAMP-elevating agent carbacyclin inhibited this IP3-induced rise in [Ca2+]i but did not affect the rate of Ca2+ removal from the cytoplasm after photolysis of caged Ca2+. Photolysis of caged cAMP during ADP-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations caused the [Ca2+]i oscillation to transiently cease without affecting the rate of Ca2+ uptake and/or extrusion. We conclude that the principal mechanism of cAMP-dependent inhibition of Ca2+ mobilization in megakaryocytes appears to be by inhibition of IP3-induced Ca2+ release and not by stimulation of Ca2+ removal from the cytoplasm. Two inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, a specific peptide inhibitor of the catalytic subunit of cAMP protein kinase and KT5720, blocked the inhibitory effect of carbacyclin, indicating that the inhibition of IP3-induced Ca2+-release by carbacyclin is mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase.

[Ca2+]i oscillations and [Ca2+]i waves in rat megakaryocytes

ATP activated [Ca2+]i oscillations were measured in single rat megakaryocytes using fluorescence ratio microscopy. With increasing ATP concentration the duration of the [Ca2+]i oscillations increased, however, there was considerable variation from cell to cell in the absolute value of the peak [Ca2+]i and the frequency and duration of the oscillations. This variation depended, in part, on the level of Fura-2 loading suggesting that megakaryocytes are sensitive to buffering of [Ca2+]i by Fura-2. Agents, that increase the level of intracellular cGMP (sodium nitroprusside and 8-pCPT-cGMP) or cAMP (prostacyclin, IBMX, forskolin and 8-bromo-cAMP) inhibited [Ca2+]i oscillations. Despite the large cell to cell variation in the patterns of [Ca2+]i oscillations, reapplication of the agents that elevated cAMP or cGMP inhibited the oscillations similarly. Using video rate fluorescence ratio imaging we found that the agonist-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations were the result of a well-defined [Ca2+]i wave, which spread across the cell with an average speed of about 35 microns/s, during the rising phase of each oscillatory spike. After reaching a peak, [Ca2+]i decreased uniformly across the whole cell during the falling phase of the spike. Analysis of the temperature dependence of [Ca2+]i waves showed that the rate of [Ca2+]i decay exhibited a strong temperature dependence (Q10 approximately 4), whereas, the rate of rise exhibited a weak temperature dependence (Q10 approximately 1.3), suggesting, that the rate limiting process for [Ca2+]i wave propagation in rat megakaryocytes is the rate of [Ca2+]i diffusion.

ADP-induced rapid inward currents through Ca(2+)-permeable cation channels in mouse, rat and guinea-pig megakaryocytes: a patch-clamp study

1. The rapid inward currents in mouse megakaryocytes evoked by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), a ubiquitous platelet-activating substance, were studied. Time and current resolution were improved by using patch-clamp recording and an extracellular fast perfusion ("Y tube') technique. 2. Application of ADP (40 microM) to megakaryocytes immersed in physiological saline evoked rapid inward currents (80-340 pA at -42 mV). The cellular responses to a second ADP application were markedly reduced, but in the absence of external Ca2+, responses to repeated ADP application were maintained and did not deteriorate. 3. The ADP-induced current recorded in Ca(2+)-free external media showed short latency (less than 20 ms) and approximately exponential decay (time constant, 300-500 ms), which was independent of the holding potential and seemed to be caused mainly by receptor desensitization; it took over 5.5 min for complete recovery. 4. The ADP concentration response relationship of the megakaryocytes revealed that the half-maximal concentration and the Hill coefficient were 12.6 microM and 1.4, respectively. 5. An ion replacement experiment showed that the ADP-induced currents could be carried by Na+, Cs+ and K+, but not Cl-, and the cation channels were permeable to Ca2+, Ba2+ and Mg2+. 6. Neither Ca2+ chelators (10 mM EGTA and 10 mM BAPTA) nor hydrolysis-resistant guanine nucleotides (2 mM GDP-beta-S and 0.4 mM 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate) in the internal saline affected the rapid responses to ADP, and ADP-induced currents were recorded in excised membrane patches, suggesting that the ADP receptor site and the molecular structure forming the cation channel are tightly coupled and/or parts of the same molecule. 7. In rat and guinea-pig megakaryocytes, ADP-induced rapid inward currents showed the same properties as in mouse megakaryocytes.

Ca2+ spike initiation from sensitized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive Ca2+ stores in megakaryocytes

Ca(2+)-mediated Ca2+ spikes were analysed in fura-2-loaded megakaryocytes. Direct Ca2+ loading using whole-cell dialysis induced an all-or-none Ca2+ spike on top of a tonic increase in cellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) with a latency of 3-7 s. The latency decreased with increasingly higher concentrations of Ca2+ in the dialysing solution. Spike size and its initiation did not correlate with the tonic level of [Ca2+]i. Thapsigargin completely abolished the Ca(2+)-induced spike initiation, suggesting that Ca2+ spikes originate from thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pools. An inhibitor of phosphatidylinositide-specific phospholipase C (PLC), 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-N,N-diphenyl-carbamate prolonged the latency without changes of spike size in most cases (6/9 cells), but abolished the spike initiation in the other cells (3/9). The results suggest that an increase in [Ca2+]i charges up the inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-(InsP3)- and thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ pools which progressively sensitize to low or slightly elevated levels of InsP3 by the action of Ca(2+)-dependent PLC until a critical Ca2+ content is reached, and then the Ca2+ spike is triggered. Thus, the limiting step of Ca2+ spike triggering is the initial filling process and the level of InsP3 in megakaryocytes.

Suramin and reactive blue 2 are antagonists for a newly identified purinoceptor on rat megakaryocyte

1. The effects of purinoceptor antagonists on ATP-induced oscillatory K(+)-currents in rat isolated megakaryocytes were investigated. 2. Both reactive blue-2 (RB-2), a selective antagonist of the P2Y purinoceptor, purinoceptor, at concentrations of 0.3-10 microM and suramin, a non-selective P2 purinoceptor antagonist, at 1-30 microM blocked the ATP-induced oscillation in a concentration-dependent manner. 3. RB-2 and suramin also blocked the ADP-induced K(+)-current oscillation at the same concentration range as in the case of ATP. However, both suramin and RB-2 had no effect on thrombin- and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-induced K+ current oscillation, indicating that they act as specific purinoceptor antagonists. 4. Thus, the purinoceptors on megakaryocytes show the properties of the P2 subtype according to their blockade by antagonists.

Forskolin and phorbol myristate acetate inhibit intracellular Ca2+ mobilization induced by amitriptyline and bradykinin in rat frontocortical neurons

Regulations of the increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) production by increasing intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels or activating protein kinase C (PKC) were studied in rat frontocortical cultured neurons. Amitriptyline (AMI; 1 mM), a tricyclic antidepressant, and bradykinin (BK; 1 microM) stimulated IP3 production and caused transient [Ca2+]i increases. Pretreatment with forskolin (100 microM, 15 min) decreased the AMI- and BK-induced [Ca2+]i increases by 33 and 48%, respectively. However, this treatment had no effect on the AMI- and BK-induced IP3 productions. Dibutyryl-cAMP (2 mM, 15 min) also decreased the AMI- and BK-induced [Ca2+]i increases by 23 and 47%, respectively. H-8 (30 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA), attenuated the ability of forskolin to inhibit the AMI- and BK-induced [Ca2+]i increases, suggesting that the activation of cAMP/PKA was involved in these inhibitory effects of forskolin. On the other hand, forskolin treatment had no effect on 20 mM caffeine-, 10 microM glutamate-, or 50 mM K(+)-induced [Ca2+]i increases. Pretreatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 100 nM, 90 min) decreased both the AMI-induced [Ca2+]i increases and the IP3 production by 31 and 25%, respectively. H-7 (200 microM), an inhibitor of PKC, inhibited the ability of PMA to attenuate the [Ca2+]i increases. PMA also inhibited the BK-induced IP3 production and the [Ca2+]i increases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillation in rat megakaryocytes evoked by a novel type of purinoceptor

1. The responses of megakaryocytes isolated from rat bone marrow to externally applied adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were investigated in the whole-cell mode by the use of nystatin perforated patch-clamp technique. 2. ATP at 1-100 microM evoked periodic outward currents at a holding potential of -40 mV. The reversal potential of the currents was close to K+ equilibrium potential (EK) and the K+ channel blockers such as quinine and quinidine suppressed the currents, indicating that the outward currents are predominantly carried by K+. 3. Since it has been reported that adenosine diphosphate (ADP) evoked monophasic K+ current using a conventional whole-cell recording, we compared the results obtained by perforated and conventional patch-clamp techniques. The crucial difference between our results and previous results was due to the intracellular perfusion with internal solution containing a high concentration of EGTA by which both current shape and concentration response were modified. 4. The membrane permeable Ca2+ chelator, 1,2-bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (acetoxy methyl ester; BAPTA AM), inhibited the K+ current concentration dependently, suggesting that ATP-induced oscillatory K+ currents are caused by changes in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). 5. With increasing ATP concentration, the frequency and the maximum amplitude of K+ current oscillation increased and the latency of current, which is the period required to activate the first K+ current after ATP application, decreased. 6. ADP, 2-methylthio-ATP and ATP-gamma-S could also evoke the periodic K+ currents, but adenosine, uridine triphosphate (UTP) and alpha-beta-methylene adenosine 5'-triphosphate (AMP-CPP) failed. 2-Methylthio-ATP was the most potent agonist; next was ADP which showed a 10-30 times stronger effect than ATP. Cross-desensitization was observed between ATP and ADP, but not between ATP or ADP and thrombin. 7. Extracellular Ca2+ was not required for the ATP-induced K+ current activation, indicating that Ca2+ released from intracellular pools induced the oscillatory response. In addition, the agonist potency increased when extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) decreased, suggesting that the principal agonists might be ATP4- and ADP3-. 8. The results suggest the presence of a novel subtype of purinoceptor in the megakaryocyte plasma membrane which induces cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillation and evokes periodic K+ current flux.

Existence of rolipram-sensitive phosphodiesterase in rat megakaryocyte

1. The effect of rolipram (ME3176) on ADP- and IP3-induced repetitive IK(Ca) in rat megakaryocyte was investigated by use of the nystatin perforated patch and conventional whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. 2. The ADP-induced IK(Ca) was depressed by treatment with rolipram in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition by rolipram disappeared after treatment with a cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, H-8. The inhibition of IK(Ca) was also observed in the presence of cyclic AMP accumulating agents such as forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX). 3. Rolipram enhanced the inhibitory action of forskolin, suggesting that rolipram facilitates the accumulation of cyclic AMP by blocking its breakdown. Similar results was obtained with adenosine, an endogenous adenylate cyclase activator. 4. Intracellular application of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) induced repetitive IK(Ca) in megakaryocytes. The induced IK(Ca) was also inhibited by rolipram and by other cyclic AMP accumulating agents. 5. It was concluded that megakaryocytes possess rolipram-sensitive phosphodiesterase (PDE), which was not detected in platelets, but plays a distinct modulatory role in megakaryocytes for generating ADP-induced IK(Ca).

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate mediates adrenaline activation of K+ conductance in mouse peritoneal macrophages

In mouse peritoneal macrophages, alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation evokes a Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current [Io(Adr)][Hara et al. (1991) Pflügers Arch 419:371-379]. The roles of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and a GTP-binding protein (G protein) in Io(Adr) were investigated with tight-seal whole-cell recordings and fura-2 fluorescence measurements. Intracellular injection of InsP3 (5-50 microM) evoked transient outward currents [Io(InsP3)] with or without damped oscillations in membrane currents at -40 mV. Dialysis with 0.2 mM guanosine 5'-[3-thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S], a poorly hydrolysable GTP analogue) at -40 mV activated oscillatory outward currents or a slowly developing steady current on which such oscillations were superimposed after a delay of 10-90 s. Io(InsP3) and the GTP[gamma S]-induced current [Io(GTP[gamma S])] were accompanied by an increase in conductance. Reversal potentials of both responses closely depended on the extracellular K+ concentration. Fura-2 measurements revealed that Io(InsP3) and Io(GTP[gamma S]) result from a rise in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Removal of extracellular Ca2+ did not abolish Io(InsP3) and Io(GTP[gamma S]). Both were blocked by bath-applied charybdotoxin. Intracellular D-myo-inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (InsP4, 50 microM) did not evoke any responses, whereas D-myo-inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate [InsP3(2,4,5), 20 microM] elicited an outward current at -40 mV. Io(InsP3) was completely blocked by prior dialysis with the InsP3 receptor antagonist heparin (5 mg/ml). Inclusion of guanosine 5'-[2-thiol] diphosphate (GDP[beta S], 2 mM) or heparin (5 mg/ml) together with GTP[gamma S] in the patch pipette solution completely blocked Io(GTP[gamma S]). These results indicate that intracellular injection of InsP3 or GTP[gamma S] mimic Io(Adr).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)