Non-genomic effects of PPARgamma ligands: inhibition of GPVI-stimulated platelet activation

BACKGROUND

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-(gamma) (PPAR(gamma)) is expressed in human platelets although in the absence of genomic regulation in these cells, its functions are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

In the present study, we aimed to demonstrate the ability of PPAR(gamma) ligands to modulate collagen-stimulated platelet function and suppress activation of the glycoprotein VI (GPVI) signaling pathway.

METHODS

Washed platelets were stimulated with PPAR(gamma) ligands in the presence and absence of PPAR(gamma) antagonist GW9662 and collagen-induced aggregation was measured using optical aggregometry. Calcium levels were measured by spectrofluorimetry in Fura-2AM-loaded platelets and tyrosine phosphorylation levels of receptor-proximal components of the GPVI signaling pathway were measured using immunoblot analysis. The role of PPAR(gamma) agonists in thrombus formation was assessed using an in vitro model of thrombus formation under arterial flow conditions.

RESULTS

PPAR(gamma) ligands inhibited collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation that was accompanied by a reduction in intracellular calcium mobilization and P-selectin exposure. PPAR(gamma) ligands inhibited thrombus formation under arterial flow conditions. The incorporation of GW9662 reversed the inhibitory actions of PPAR(gamma) agonists, implicating PPAR(gamma) in the effects observed. Furthermore, PPAR(gamma) ligands were found to inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation levels of multiple components of the GPVI signaling pathway. PPAR(gamma) was found to associate with Syk and LAT after platelet activation. This association was prevented by PPAR(gamma) agonists, indicating a potential mechanism for PPAR(gamma) function in collagen-stimulated platelet activation.

CONCLUSIONS

PPAR(gamma) agonists inhibit the activation of collagen-stimulation of platelet function through modulation of early GPVI signalling.

The SCHOOL of nature: I. Transmembrane signaling

Receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling plays an important role in health and disease. Recent significant advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking ligand binding to receptor activation revealed previously unrecognized striking similarities in the basic structural principles of function of numerous cell surface receptors. In this work, I demonstrate that the Signaling Chain Homooligomerization (SCHOOL)-based mechanism represents a general biological mechanism of transmembrane signal transduction mediated by a variety of functionally unrelated single- and multichain activating receptors. within the SCHOOL platform, ligand binding-induced receptor clustering is translated across the membrane into protein oligomerization in cytoplasmic milieu. This platform resolves a long-standing puzzle in transmembrane signal transduction and reveals the major driving forces coupling recognition and activation functions at the level of protein-protein interactions-biochemical processes that can be influenced and controlled. The basic principles of transmembrane signaling learned from the SCHOOL model can be used in different fields of immunology, virology, molecular and cell biology and others to describe, explain and predict various phenomena and processes mediated by a variety of functionally diverse and unrelated receptors. Beyond providing novel perspectives for fundamental research, the platform opens new avenues for drug discovery and development.

Glycoprotein VI oligomerization in cell lines and platelets

BACKGROUND

Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is a physiologic receptor for collagen expressed at the surface of platelets and megakaryocytes. Constitutive dimerization of GPVI has been proposed as being necessary for the interaction with collagen, although direct evidence of dimerization has not been reported in cell lines or platelets.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate oligomerization of GPVI in transfected cell lines and in platelets under non-stimulated conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

By using a combination of molecular and biochemical techniques, we demonstrate that GPVI association occurs at the surface of transfected 293T cells under basal conditions, through an interaction at the extracellular domain of the receptor. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer was used to confirm oligomerization of GPVI under these conditions. A chemical crosslinker was used to detect constitutive oligomeric forms of GPVI at the surface of platelets, which contain the Fc receptor (FcR) gamma-chain.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results directly demonstrate GPVI-FcR gamma-chain oligomerization at the surface of the platelet, and thereby add to the growing evidence that oligomerization of GPVI may be a prerequisite for binding of the receptor to collagen, and therefore for proper functioning of platelets upon vascular damage.

Physical and functional association of the Src family kinases Fyn and Lyn with the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI-Fc receptor gamma chain complex on human platelets

We have previously shown that uncharacterized glycoprotein VI (GPVI), which is constitutively associated and coexpressed with Fc receptor gamma chain (FcRgamma) in human platelets, is essential for collagen-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of FcRgamma, Syk, and phospholipase Cgamma2 (PLCgamma2), leading to platelet activation. Here we investigated involvement of the Src family in the proximal signals through the GPVI-FcRgamma complex, using the snake venom convulxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus, which specifically recognizes GPVI and activates platelets through cross-linking GPVI. Convulxin-coupled beads precipitated the GPVI-FcRgamma complex from platelet lysates. Collagen and convulxin induced tyrosine phosphorylation of FcRgamma, Syk, and PLCgamma2 and recruited tyrosine-phosphorylated Syk to the GPVI-FcRgamma complex. Using coprecipitation methods with convulxin-coupled beads and antibodies against FcRgamma and the Src family, we showed that Fyn and Lyn, but not Yes, Src, Fgr, Hck, and Lck, were physically associated with the GPVI-FcRgamma complex irrespective of stimulation. Furthermore, Fyn was rapidly activated by collagen or cross-linking GPVI. The Src family-specific inhibitor PP1 dose-dependently inhibited collagen- or convulxin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins including FcRgamma, Syk, and PLCgamma2, accompanied by a loss of aggregation and ATP release reaction. These results indicate that the Src family plays a critical role in platelet activation via the collagen receptor GPVI-FcRgamma complex.