Trends among platelet function, arterial calcium, and vascular function measures

Arterial tonometry and vascular calcification measures are useful in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment. Prior studies found associations between tonometry measures, arterial calcium, and CVD risk. Activated platelets release angiopoietin-1 and other factors, which may connect vascular structure and platelet function. We analyzed arterial tonometry, platelet function, aortic, thoracic and coronary calcium, and thoracic and abdominal aorta diameters measured in the Framingham Heart Study Gen3/NOS/OMNI-2 cohorts (n = 3,429, 53.7% women, mean age 54.4 years ±9.3). Platelet reactivity in whole blood or platelet-rich plasma was assessed using 5 assays and 7 agonists. We analyzed linear mixed effects models with platelet reactivity phenotypes as outcomes, adjusting for CVD risk factors and family structure. Higher arterial calcium trended with higher platelet reactivity, whereas larger aortic diameters trended with lower platelet reactivity. Characteristic impedance (Zc) and central pulse pressure positively trended with various platelet traits, while pulse wave velocity and Zc negatively trended with collagen, ADP, and epinephrine traits. All results did not pass a stringent multiple test correction threshold (p < 2.22e-04). The diameter trends were consistent with lower shear environments invoking less platelet reactivity. The vessel calcium trends were consistent with subclinical atherosclerosis and platelet activation being inter-related.

Abstract MP63: Higher Alternative Healthy Eating Index Scores Including Greater EPA and DHA Consumption Are Associated With Attenuated Platelet Function in the Framingham Heart Study

Introduction: Dietary modification that reflects healthy eating is a notable strategy for CVD prevention on a population level. The cardioprotective role diet plays in hemostasis and thrombosis, particularly in respect to platelet function remains unclear.

Hypothesis: Healthier Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores associate with attenuated platelet reactivity in a large-scale population cohort.

Methods: Cross-sectional data was obtained from Framingham Heart Study participants (N=3,429). AHEI scores were derived from self-reported Harvard semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires. Ranging from 0 to 110, higher AHEI scores reflect healthier overall diet quality. Five bioassays measured platelet reactivity traits across several agonists in whole blood and platelet-rich plasma samples. Linear mixed effects models adjusted for age, sex, aspirin use, family relatedness, daily energy intake, and BMI evaluated associations between platelet reactivity and AHEI scores and components.

Results: Higher AHEI scores associated with attenuated platelet reactivity among 16 different traits (P<0.01), with notable decreased platelet aggregation to collagen, TRAP6 (PAR1 agonist), ADP, and ristocetin. Of the 11 AHEI components, higher EPA & DHA intake was most strongly associated to decreased platelet function with the greatest number of significant associations to platelet traits (18 traits, P<0.01) and moderate negative effect sizes (Figure 1).

Conclusions: We report that higher AHEI scores associate with decreased platelet reactivity. Effects appear strongest for EPA & DHA intake consistent with several small randomized controlled trials. However, we found that a holistic AHEI score reflects a better interpretation of diet as a modulator of platelet function compared to individual components. Our results conclude that the impact of a healthier diet in preventing thrombosis may be partially mediated through a decline in platelet reactivity through multiple independent activation pathways.

Conserved motifs on the cytoplasmic face of the protein translocation channel are critical for the transition between resting and active conformations

The Sec61 complex is the primary cotranslational protein translocation channel in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The structural transition between the closed inactive conformation of the Sec61 complex and its open and active conformation is thought to be promoted by binding of the ribosome nascent-chain complex to the cytoplasmic surface of the Sec61 complex. Here, we have analyzed new yeast Sec61 mutants that selectively interfere with cotranslational translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum. We found that a single substitution at the junction between transmembrane segment TM7 and the L6/7 loop interferes with cotranslational translocation by uncoupling ribosome binding to the L6/7 loop from the separation of the lateral gate transmembrane spans. Substitutions replacing basic residues with acidic residues in the C-terminal tail of Sec61 had an unanticipated impact upon binding of ribosomes to the Sec61 complex. We found that similar charge-reversal mutations in the N-terminal tail and in cytoplasmic loop L2/3 did not alter ribosome binding but interfered with translocation channel gating. These findings indicated that these segments are important for the structural transition between the inactive and active conformations of the Sec61 complex. In summary our results have identified additional cytosolic segments of the Sec61 complex important for promoting the structural transition between the closed and open conformations of the complex. We conclude that positively charged residues in multiple cytosolic segments, as well as bulky hydrophobic residues in the L6/7-TM7 junction, are required for cotranslational translocation or integration of membrane proteins by the Sec61 complex.

Targeting a recombinant adenovirus vector to HCC cells using a bifunctional Fab-antibody conjugate

We developed a specific adenoviral gene delivery system with monoclonal antibody (mAb) AF-20 that binds to a 180 kDa antigen highly expressed on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. A bifunctional Fab-antibody conjugate (2Hx-2-AF-20) was generated through AF-20 mAb crosslinkage to an anti-hexon antibody Fab fragment. Uptake of adenoviral particles and gene expression was examined in FOCUS HCC and NIH 3T3 cells by immunofluorescence; beta-galactosidase expression levels were determined following competitive inhibition of adenoviral CAR receptor by excess fibre knob protein. The chimeric complex was rapidly internalized at 37 degrees C, and enhanced levels of reporter gene expression was observed in AF-20 antigen positive HCC cells, but not in AF-20 antigen negative NIH 3T3 control cells. Targeting of recombinant adenoviral vectors to a tumor associated antigen by a bifunctional Fab-antibody conjugate is a promising approach to enhance specificity and efficiency of gene delivery to HCC.

PEGylation of adenovirus with retention of infectivity and protection from neutralizing antibody in vitro and in vivo

Replication-defective recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors are under development for a wide variety of gene therapy indications. A potential limiting factor associated with virus gene therapy requiring repeated treatment is the development of a humoral immune response to the vector by the host. In animal models, there is a dose-dependent rise in neutralizing antibodies after primary vector administration, which can preclude effective repeat administration. The strategy we have developed to circumvent the neutralization of adenovirus vectors by antibodies is to mask their surface by covalent attachment of the polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). Covalent attachment of PEG to the surface of the adenovirus was achieved primarily by using activated PEG tresylmonomethoxypolyethylene glycol (TMPEG), which reacts preferentially with the epsilon-amino terminal of lysine residues. We show that the components of the capsid that elicit a neutralizing immune response, i.e., hexon, fiber, and penton base, are also the main targets for PEGylation. Several protocols for PEGylation of an adenovirus vector were evaluated with respect to retention of virus infectivity and masking from antibody neutralization. We show that covalent attachment of polymer to the surface of the adenovirus can be achieved with retention of infectivity. We show further that PEG-modified adenovirus can be protected from antibody neutralization in the lungs of mice with high antibody titers to adenovirus, suggesting that PEGylation will improve the ability to administer Ad vectors on a repeated basis.

Conformational analysis of 3-substituted-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1-benzoxepin by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance

2,3,4,5-Tetrahedro-1-benzoxepin (8) and its 3-substituted derivatives (9–13) have been studied by 1H and 13C dynamic nuclear magnetic resonance in a few solvent systems. The results show that, while 8 and its methyl derivative 9 exist solely in chair forms (C for 8 and Ce:Ca (96:4) for 9), the twist-boat (TB) conformation contributes significantly to the conformational equilibria of the derivatives 3-methoxy 10 (Ca:Ce:TB, 70:20:10), 3,3-dimethyl 11 (C:TB, 90:10), 3,3-methylmethoxy 12(Ca:Ce:TB, 89:4:7), and 3,3-dimethoxy 13 (C:TB, 92:8). The analysis of several factors (steric, electrostatic, and electronic) on the conformational behaviour of these molecules shows why the TB form is a viable conformational alternative to destabilized chair forms in this benzoxepin system.

The molecular conformations of 8,11-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin and 4,4-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin

The conformational properties of 8,11-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin (5) and of 4,4-dimethyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin (6) have been investigated using 1H and 13C dnmr as well as ir spectroscopy. Analysis of low temperature nmr spectra (down to −148 °C) and of S=O stretching vibrations in room temperature ir spectra indicates that the most stable conformations detected for solutions in CHF2Cl/CD2Cl2 (80:20) are TB (83%) and C-a (17%) for 5 and only the TB 7 for 6. Substituent effects of methyl groups at the peri and the benzylic positions on the conformational properties of the seven-membered sulfites are discussed.

The molecular conformations of the stereoisomers of 4-methyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin and of the 4,7-dimethyl derivative

The conformational and dynamic properties of the stereoisomers of 4-methyl-5,6-benzo-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxathiepin (5) and of the 4,7-dimethyl derivative (6) have been investigated by 1H and 13C dnmr methods, as well as by ir spectroscopy. Analysis of the nmr spectra at low temperature (−125 °C), together with the conformational interpretation of the stretching vibration bands of the S = O bond in the ir spectra, indicate that the most stable conformations detected for solutions in CHF2Cl are C-a (82%) and TB-t-Mec (18%) for 5a, TB-c-Mec, (96%) and TB-c-Mea, (4%) for 5b, C-a for 6a, TB-t-Mec, c-Mec, for 6b and C-e for 6c. The substituent effects of a methyl group at the benzylic position on both the conformational and dynamic properties of the seven-membered sulfite are discussed.