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Neutrophil elastase (NE) upregulates the fibrinogen binding activity of the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) through proteolysis of the alpha(IIb) subunit. This cleavage allows a strong potentiation of platelet aggregation induced by low concentrations of cathepsin G (CG), another neutrophil serine proteinase. During this activation process, we observed a strong fibrinogen binding and aggregation-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bis-phosphate (PtdIns(3,4)P(2)) accumulation. PtdIns(3,4)P(2) has been suggested to play a role in the stabilization of platelet aggregation, possibly through the control of a maintained alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin activation. Here we show that inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-K) by very low concentrations of wortmannin or LY294002 transformed the irreversible platelet aggregation induced by a combination of NE and low concentrations of CG into a reversible aggregation. However, although inhibition of PI 3-K was very efficient in inducing platelet disaggregation, it did not modify the level of alpha(IIb)beta(3) activation as assessed by binding of an activation-dependent antibody. These results indicate that PI 3-K activity can control the irreversibility of platelet aggregation even under conditions where alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin remains activated.

The proteolytic activity of the neutrophil serine-proteinase cathepsin G (CG) on platelet adherence receptors, the glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex and the integrin alpha IIb beta 3, has been investigated. In the range 50 to 200 nmol/l, CG is a potent platelet agonist which induces shape change, granule exocytosis and aggregation. Investigation of the proteolysis of the receptors' subunits during the course of platelet activation by CG was performed by immunoblot analysis of platelet proteins using a panel of specific antibodies. Exposure of platelets for 3 min at 37 degrees C to CG at a concentration that induces full cell activation resulted in an extensive cleavage of the N-terminal region of the extracellular domain of GPIb alpha, the largest (relative molecular mass, M(r), 143,000) of the three subunits constituting the GPIb-IX complex. In contrast, no detectable proteolytic modification of the two other subunits, GPIb beta and GPIX, was detected. Similarly, we observed that neither of the two subunits of the alpha IIb beta 3 receptor were proteolytically modified by CG. Cleavage of GPIb alpha by CG leaves a remnant of the polypeptide chain with M(r) approx. 106,000 in the plasma membrane, while releasing into the extracellular milieu the N-terminal domain with M(r) in the range 40,000 to 46,000. N-terminal sequencing of the CG-derived fragments of GPIb alpha indicated that the Leu275-Tyr276 peptide bond was the primary cleavage site for this proteinase. Proteolysis of GPIb alpha was already detectable at concentrations of CG as low as 25 nmol/l, while with 200 nmol/l the cleavage was detected as soon as 10 s after exposure of platelets to the proteinase. Comparison of the kinetics and concentration dependency for the proteolysis of GPIb alpha and for the activation of platelets by CG showed that cleavage of the GPIb-IX receptor is an early event that accompanies exocytosis and aggregation. Quantitative evaluation of the conversion of GPIb alpha into its membrane fragment indicated that, under optimal conditions, a maximum of approx. 50% of the total GPIb alpha can be affected by proteolysis. However, this proteolysis was > 90% complete when platelets were in the presence of the potent antagonist prostacyclin, suggesting that cellular redistribution of the GPIb-IX receptor may also occur during activation by CG. These results thus indicate that the very early phase of platelet activation by CG is accompanied by extensive modifications in the structure and expression of the GPIb-IX receptor, an effect that might be of functional significance for the interaction of platelets with the vessel wall.

Addition of platelets to activated human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) led to their aggregation and degranulation, with these responses decreasing as a function of the time interval between PMN activation and platelet addition. Thus, for a 15-second interval platelet aggregation and serotonin release reached 51.3% +/- 6.7% (n = 11) and 64.3% +/- 4.9% (n = 8), respectively, but after a 5-minute interval they were totally absent. This effect was correlated with the decrease in enzymatic activities of elastase (HLE) and cathepsin G (CAT-G) that were released on PMN activation and responsible for the activation of nearby platelets (r = 0.86 and 0.90 for CAT-G and HLE, respectively; p < 0.05). Because it has been recently shown that PMNs express an alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-Pl) gene and secrete this antiproteinase at their surface, we investigated whether the PMN alpha 1-Pl could regulate the biologic activities of both proteinases. Although superoxide anions oxidize alpha 1-Pl and reduce its affinity for CAT-G and HLE, maneuvers aimed at modifying their concentrations did not modify the loss of CAT-G and HLE. In fact, the progressive decrease of the two proteinase enzymatic activities followed the same pattern whether PMNs were present or not. It is concluded that PMN alpha 1-Pl is not involved in the time-dependent inactivation of CAT-G and HLE released from activated PMNs.

When human polymorphonuclear neutrophils and platelets were incubated with human leukocyte elastase before N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) challenge, a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of the resulting platelet activation was observed. Thus, when the mixed cell suspension was preincubated for 6 min with 1 microM elastase before stimulation of neutrophils with 0.5 microM FMLP, resulting aggregations and serotonin releases were respectively only 4.4 +/- 4.1% (n = 4) and 1.6 +/- 2.4% (n = 4) as compared to 41.6 +/- 5.2% (n = 9) and 71.3 +/- 16.0 (n = 9) for controls. A direct inhibitory action of elastase on neutrophil activation was ruled out, as well as a breakdown of cathepsin G, a mediator involved in neutrophil-mediated platelet activation. In fact, we demonstrated that the target for the inhibitory effect of elastase in such a cell-to-cell cooperation system was the platelet. This phenomenon is likely to play a role under in vivo conditions in pathologies in which a significant granulocytic proteolytic activity has been detected in the plasma.

1. The capacity of recombinant human secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) to inhibit human leukocyte elastase (HLE) and cathepsin G (Cat G) was investigated and compared with a recombinant truncated form (carboxyl-terminal domain, Asn55-Ala107) called 1/2 SLPI. 2. Both compounds were efficient when tested against enzymatic activities of purified HLE and Cat G indicating that the HLE- and Cat G-inhibitory sites were preserved in the truncated form. SLPI and 1/2 SLPI also affected platelet activation induced by 0.2 microM Cat G (IC50 = 112 +/- 13 nM for SLPI and 280 +/- 12 nM for 1/2 SLPI). 3. The effects of SLPI and 1/2 SLPI were then tested against polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-mediated platelet activation, a cell-to-cell interaction mediated by HLE and Cat G released from PMN. In this experimental system, addition of SLPI or 1/2 SLPI before N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) led to the inhibition of the resulting platelet activation. As was the case for Cat G enzymatic activity and Cat G-induced platelet activation, SLPI was more efficient than 1/2 SLPI (IC50 = 676 +/- 69 nM vs 1121 +/- 150 nM). 4. The ratio of the IC50 against PMN-mediated platelet activation compared to purified Cat G-mediated platelet activation was 6.03 for SLPI and 4.32 for 1/2 SLPI. This difference may be due to the smaller size of the truncated form which could allow this molecule to diffuse more easily between PMN and platelets. 5. In conclusion, 1/2 SLPI could be a promising candidate in the treatment of pathological states linked to inflammation in which participation of HLE and Cat G has been evoked.

Association of platelets and neutrophils is frequently observed within thrombi or inflammatory sites. Interactions between these two cell populations have been reported for the production of several mediators of inflammation such as hydrogen peroxides or leukotrienes. Another potential mediator of thrombosis and inflammation is paf-acether, which is synthesized by activated platelets and neutrophils. Since platelets form and release large amounts of the paf-acether precursor lyso paf-acether, platelet and neutrophil cooperation for paf-acether biosynthesis was investigated. Purified human neutrophils (4 x 10(6)/ml) stimulated by opsonized zymosan (ZC, 1 mg/ml) formed 4.5 +/- 2.5 ng/ml paf-acether. Human washed platelets (3 x 10(8)/ml) stimulated with thrombin (1 IU/ml) formed 0.60 +/- 0.43 ng/ml paf-acether. Platelets and neutrophils, incubated together and both stimulated by their specific agonist, formed more than twice as much paf-acether as did platelets and neutrophils separately (10.90 +/- 4.25 ng/ml, n = 6, P less than .001). The formation of lyso paf-acether and the release of lysozyme and LDH were unchanged under the cooperation conditions. The formation of paf-acether almost doubled (10.24 +/- 3.81 ng/ml paf-acether vs. 5.30 +/- 2.23, P less than .05, n = 4) when ZC-stimulated neutrophils were incubated with supernatants from thrombin-stimulated platelets as well as with synthetic lyso paf-acether. Extracted and purified lyso paf-acether from thrombin-stimulated platelets led to an increase of biosynthesis of paf-acether by neutrophils (13.86 +/- 2.26 ng/ml paf-acether vs. 5.76 +/- 0.38, P less than .05, n = 3). These results indicate that a cooperation between platelets and neutrophils exists for paf-acether formation. The phenomenon depends on a platelet-derived soluble factor, possibly lyso paf-acether. This cell-to-cell interaction is of interest since paf-acether is formed by and acting on platelets and neutrophils and represents a molecular basis for potent amplification of inflammatory reactions.

Thrombin-activated platelets formed paf-acether (1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine), a molecule susceptible to play a role in haemostasis and thrombosis, and its deacetylated analogue, lyso paf-acether, a biologically inactive molecule. We presently show the presence in human and rabbit platelet lysates of an acetyltransferase which transfers the acetyl moiety of acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) onto synthetic lyso paf-acether, yielding the fully active paf-acether molecule. Under our optimal standard conditions, 0.36 +/- 0.23 nmol paf-acether/10 min/mg proteins was formed by the acetyltransferase from resting human platelets. Upon thrombin stimulation, the acetyltransferase activity doubled within 30 s, reaching a maximum at 2 min (1.17 +/- 0.31 nmol paf-acether/10 min/mg proteins) and decreased progressively. Similar results were obtained using rabbit platelets. In addition we demonstrated that the activation and deactivation of the acetyltransferase correlated with the kinetics of paf-acether formation by thrombin-activated rabbit platelets. It is hypothesized that this enzyme may represent one of the regulating mechanism of paf-acether formation by platelets.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) indomethacin, aspirin and salicylic acid, as well as the anti-histamine, mepyramine, and the anti-serotonin, methysergide, fail to interfere with bronchoconstriction, thrombo-cytopenia and hypotension induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether, 1-O-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-3-glycerylphosphorylcholine) in the guinea-pig. When one of the NSAID was given combined with mepyramine and with methysergide, bronchoconstriction was suppressed, but thrombocytopenia and hypotension persisted. Platelets prepared from blood collected from animals treated with the NSAID or with mepyramine and/or methysergide, aggregated to a similar extent to PAF-acether; however, the accompanying release of ATP was inhibited in those animals which had been treated with the drug combination effective in vivo against bronchoconstriction. In vitro application to platelets of the drugs effective in vivo and ex vivo was ineffective in blocking the platelet-release reaction. This suggests the existence of in vivo sites of action for the synergistic inhibitory activity of NSAID and anti-histamine/anti-serotonin drugs on bronchoconstriction and on platelet secretion. PAF-acether possible releases from the platelets a bronchoconstrictor component, distinguishable from thromboxane A2 and depleted by reserpine administration to the animals, which could account for the in vivo effects on the bronchopulmonary system.

The platelet-activating factor, or PAF-acether, is a phospholipid derivative that is a potent aggregating agent. It is formed by platelets themselves and also by basophils, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages including alveolar macrophages. A role for PAF-acether during inflammation is envisaged since its intravenous administration induces hypotension, thrombocytopenia and bronchoconstriction in anaesthetized guinea-pigs. It is hypothesized that platelets, which contain and synthetize many pro-inflammatory substances, play a primary role in some pathological states.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) injected into guinea-pigs induced platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia. Treatment of the animals with sulphinpyrazone suppressed bronchoconstriction without affecting thrombocytopenia. When tested ex vivo and in vitro, sulphinpyrazone suppressed the PAF-acether-induced platelet release reaction, as measured by the release of ATP, more efficiently than platelet aggregation. In contrast, bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia in vivo, as well as platelet aggregation and the release reaction ex vivo and in vitro, induced by arachidonic acid (AA), were suppressed by sulphinpyrazone. This effect is accounted for by the known anti-arachidonate cyclooxygenase activity of sulphinpyrazone. Finally, aggregation by ADP was only marginally inhibited by sulphinpyrazone, and the inhibition was easily surmounted when the amounts of ADP added were increased. Sulphinpyrazone exerts a specific and cyclooxygenase-independent protective effect towards platelet activation by PAF-acether, which results in inhibition of platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction even though aggregation, and consequently in vivo thrombocytopenia, may persist.

The aggregation of plasma-free rabbit platelets induced by convulxin (Cx), a glycoprotein extracted from the venom of Crotalus durissus cascavella was accompanied by the secretion of ATP and by the formation of thromboxane A2 (TxA2) and of 'platelet-activating factor' (PAF-acether). Thrombin-induced exhaustion of the pool of releasable ADP, or inactivation of cyclooxygenase with aspirin or with arachidonic acid failed to suppress Cx-induced activation. Electron microscopy studies showed that platelets exposed to Cx could be recovered without damage to the cytoplasmic membrane, whereas dense bodies were depleted. Convulxin-treated platelets aggregated in response to ADP, to arachidonic acid and to thrombin, but failed to aggregate in response to Cx itself as well as to collagen. Crossed desensitisation between Cx and collagen was also observed when platelets were exposed to Cx in the presence of prostaglandin E1, which prevented granule depletion, demonstrating that desensitisation was not due to the inability of Cx-treated platelets to secrete ADP in response to collagen. Formation of PAF-acether by thrombin-treated platelets was impaired when thrombin was used as a second stimulus but was maintained when Cx was used as such. The formation of TxA2 by Cx-treated platelets stimulated with arachidonic acid or with thrombin was preserved of only slightly reduced whereas these platelets failed to synthesize TxA2 when stimulated with Cx or with collagen, showing that crossed desensitization between Cx and collagen was not restricted to aggregation, but extended to stimulation of arachidonate metabolism as well. Convulxin is a powerful platelet-stimulating agent which operates through mechanisms which may involve PAF-acether, and which interacts with sites related with those of collagen at an unknown level.

Platelet aggregation is triggered by at least three distinct pathways. The first one is mediated by adenosine diphosphate, the second one by arachidonic acid metabolites and the third is defined somehow by exclusion of the first two. In fact rabbit platelets synthesize, during their activation, another substance with potent aggregating activity, namely platelet-activating factor or PAF-acether. Indirect pieces of evidence are presented, which suggest that PAF-acether is the mediator of the third pathway of platelet aggregation.

Paf-acether, whose role has been suggested in asthma, is a mediator released by stimulated neutrophils, platelets and other cells. Neutrophils and platelets are activated in vivo during exercise or allergen-induced asthma. Upon in vitro stimulation, macrophages from mice treated with an inflammatory stimulus, such as thioglycoccollate, release less paf-acether than macrophages from non-treated mice. We hypothesized that upon in vitro activation platelets and neutrophils should produce less paf-acether after exercise- or allergen-induced asthma. To test this hypothesis, we measured the production of paf-acether by neutrophils and platelets obtained before, 15 and 75 min after exercise in seven normal subjects and five asthmatic subjects with exercise-induced asthma, and in five other asthmatic subjects after specific challenge with Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus. Purified neutrophils and washed platelets were incubated independently for 10 min at 37 degrees C with no specific activator, with a platelet activator (thrombin, 1 IU.ml-1), a neutrophil activator (opsonized zymosan, 1 mg.ml-1), and both together. We found no significant difference between asthmatic and normal subjects in the amount of paf-acether synthesized by platelets or neutrophils and no fall in the production of paf-acether after exercise- or allergen-induced asthma. However, our method may lack sensitivity in detecting partial activation of these cells and is based on the assumption that changes in peripheral blood cells are representative of changes of these cells in lungs.

Platelet-activating factor is a 1.0-alkyl-2 acetyl analogue of phosphatidylcholine (PAF-acether) which triggers platelet aggregation independently from ADP release and thromboxane A2 (TxA2) formation. PAF-acether was described initially as being secreted by rabbit basophils during an immunological challenge. We have now found that it is also formed by washed rabbit platelets stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187, thrombin and collagen. These three agents are known to trigger platelet aggregation independently from the release of ADP and from the formation of TxA2. By contrast, ADP and arachidonic acid, the precursor of TxA2, which do not share these properties, and PAF-acether itself, were unable to induce PAF-acether formation. Our results suggest that PAF-acether may be the mediator responsible for ADP and TxA2 independent-aggregation.

The in vivo effects of PAF-acether in the guniea-pig are reviewed, particularly with respect to bronchoconstriction and to platelets, the former being suppressed when the latter are depleted. Bronchoconstriction by PAF-acether is not inhibited by aspirin, and when the latter was associated to mepyramine and to methysergide, bronchoconstriction was blocked, whereas thrombocytopenia persisted. Our results indicated that platelets collected from aspirin--mepyramine--methysergide-treated animals are less reactive for PAF-acether than control platelets, with respect to secretion of ATP, but aggregated fully. Secretion and aggregation are thus dissociable, the former being involved with bronchoconstriction. Results obtained with sulphinpyrazone and with reserpine are also discussed, and lead to the concept that platelet may release a presently unknown mediator when stimulated with PAF-acether.

Convulxin (Cx), a component of the venom of the snake Crotalus durissus cascavella, induced the concentration-dependent aggregation of guinea-pig platelets when used at and above 50 +/- 5 ng/ml, accompanied by the release of ATP and by the formation of thromboxanes (Tx). Platelet activation by Cx was not due to potential contaminants found in the crude snake venom, such as phospholipase A2 and clotting enzymes. Aspirin (50-100 microM) failed to interfere with the platelet effects of Cx, demonstrating independence from cyclo-oxygenase. In contrast, indomethacin (50 microM) displayed a distinct inhibitory activity on the effects of Cx, as compared to aspirin, and thus exerts cyclo-oxygenase-independent effects on platelet activation. The ADP scavenger creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase (CP/CPK) inhibited aggregation by Cx used at concentrations below 6-8 times the threshold, but failed to interfere with higher amounts. Platelet aggregation by Cx was inhibited and reversed once established by EDTA (5mM) and by prostacyclin (0.1-1 microM). Cx-induced activation of platelets is thus Ca2+-dependent and liable to control by the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP system. Convulxin induced hypotension, bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia when injected i.v. to the anesthetised guinea pig at 0.3-3 microgram/kg. Aspirin and indomethacin (20 and 5 mg/kg respectively) mepyramine and methysergide (02. mg/kg) failed to interfere with these effects, but the combination of either aspirin or indomethacin with methysergide and mepyramine, suppressed the bronchial effects of Cx, leaving the hypotensive and thrombopenic effects unchanged. This synergism remains unexplained. Bronchoconstriction was platelet-dependent, being suppressed by platelet depletion with antiplatelet serum or by i.v. prostacyclin (1-10 microgram/kg).

Metal-chelating agents inhibited platelet aggregation and the accompanying generation of rabbit aorta contracting and PG-like activities, when platelets were challenged with arachidonic acid. Inhibition required the presence of the chelating agents in the medium, and was insured by reagents avid for free or protein-bound copper. Catalase also prevented aggregation and generation of pharmacologically active substances; its activity was reversed by aminothiol agents and by Cu2+ and Zn2+, shown previously to potentiate the platelet effects of arachidonic acid. Inhibition by indomethacin was not prevented by amino-thiol drugs nor by Cu2+ or Zn2+. The catalase-induced inhibition was not affected by scavenging of thiol groups; this rules out, as a mechanism of action of catalase, the increased destruction of popoperoxides by glutathione peroxidase, which requires reduced glutathione as hydrogen donor. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that the agent that mediates platelet aggregation by arachidonic acid is a popoperoxide, requiring the presence either of H2O2 or of a similarly catalase-sensitive substance to be generated.

Ether-linked glyceryl-phosphorylcholines (GPC) are potential precursors for paf-acether biosynthesis. We show that such phospholipids are present in rabbit platelets in sufficient amounts to insure lyso paf-acether and paf-acether formation. Indeed, upon stimulation, platelets formed lyso paf-acether and paf-acether in amounts representing 10% and 0.2% of the total amounts of ether-linked GPC. Following preincubation with [3H]paf-acether, ether-linked GPC labelled at position 1 of the glycerol were detected in platelets. They were hydrolysed, and gave birth to lyso paf-acether upon platelet activation. Platelet ether-linked GPC labelled at position 2 with [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) were also hydrolyzed under the same experimental conditions. These data indicate that in rabbit platelets these phospholipids are precursors for paf-acether and AA, two mediators of platelet activation.

Three family members from two successive generations had a bleeding tendency. Their template bleeding time was prolonged and platelet aggregation induced by ADP and adrenaline showed no second wave; collagen at low to moderate concentrations failed to aggregate and release ATP, whereas higher amounts aggregated and released. Aggregation and release due to thrombin, ristocetin, and synthetic epoxy derivatives (U 44069 and U 46619) were normal. Arachidonate (AA) was inactive, and was not converted either in thromboxane (TX) A2 activity evaluated on the rabbit aorta strip, nor in TXB2 evaluated by radioimmunoassay and by radiochromatography. The parallel impairment of TXB2 and PGE2 formation by the patient's platelets are compatible with a platelet cyclo-oxygenase deficiency. This study suggests that transmission is autosomal dominant, and confirms that cyclo-oxygenase is not needed for aggregation and ATP release by high amounts of collagen.

The present studies were undertaken to characterize a serine protease released by N-formyl-L-Met-L-Leu-L-Phe (fMet-Leu-Phe)-stimulated neutrophils that rapidly induces platelet calcium mobilization, secretion and aggregation. The biological activity associated with this protease was unaffected by leupeptin, was only weakly diminished by N-p-tosyl-L-Lys-chloromethane, but was strongly inhibited by alpha 1-antitrypsin, soyabean trypsin inhibitor, N-tosyl-L-Phe-chloromethane and benzoyloxycarbonyl-Gly-Leu-Phe-chloromethane (Z-Gly-Leu-PheCH2Cl). These observations indicated that the biological activity of neutrophil supernatants could be attributed to a chymotrypsin-like enzyme such as cathepsin G. Furthermore, platelet aggregation and 5-hydroxytryptamine release induced by cell-free supernatants from fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated neutrophils were found to be blocked by antiserum to cathepsin G in a concentration-dependent manner but were unaffected by antiserum to elastase. The biological activity present in neutrophil supernatants co-purified with enzymic activity for cathepsin G during sequential Aprotinin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and carboxymethyl-Sephadex chromatography. SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the reduced, purified protein, demonstrated three polypeptides with apparent Mr values of 31,500, 29,000 and 28,000 and four polypeptides were resolved on acid-gel electrophoresis. Purified cathepsin G from neutrophils cross-reacted with anti-(cathepsin G) serum in a double immunodiffusion assay and elicited platelet calcium mobilization, 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion and aggregation. Calcium mobilization and secretion induced by low concentrations of cathepsin G were partially dependent on arachidonic acid metabolites and ADP, while stimulation by higher enzyme concentrations was independent of amplification pathways, indicating that cathepsin G is a strong platelet agonist. These results suggest that pathological processes which stimulate neutrophils and release cathepsin G can in turn result in the recruitment and activation of platelets.

The role of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the formation of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) by rabbit platelets is supported by several pieces of evidence. First, the release of PAF-acether was accompanied by that of its deacetylated analog, lyso-PAF-acether. Second, EDTA, EGTA, db-AMPc, p'-bromophenacylbromide and 874 CB, which, in spite of their structural diversity, are all PLA2 blockers, inhibited the release of both PAF-acether and of the lyso-compound. Third, addition of hog pancreas PLA2 to platelets as well as platelet lysis resulted in the release of lyso-PAF-acether, thus mimicking the metabolic events initiating formation of PAF-acether. These results indicate that PLA2 activation triggers both the second and the third pathway of platelet activation.

Aggregation of washed rabbit platelets by thrombin and by carrageenan is accompanied by the activation of phospholipase A2 and by the synthesis of thromboxanes. Accordingly, aggregation, the accompanying release reaction and the activation of phospholipase are blocked by p-bromophenacyl bromide and by CB 874 (2,3-dibromo (4'-cyclohexyl-3'-chloro)-phenyl-4-oxo-butyric acid), two recognized inhibitors of the enzyme. Since these two reagents also inhibit aggregation and the release reaction induced by thrombin and by carrageenan on washed human platelets, it might have been anticipated that the mechanisms of aggregation of the platelets from the two species are similar. Nevertheless, no thromboxanes A2 or B2, nor activation of phospholipase A2 could be demonstrated with the use of carrageenan on human platelets, under conditions where thrombin was effective. It is concluded that carrageenan activates the human platelets by phospholipase A2- and thromboxane A2-independent mechanisms, and that the inhibitors of phospholipase A2 may block platelet functions by mechanisms other than inhibition of the expected enzyme.

Platelet-activating-factor (PAF-acether, 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine) is formed by and released from rabbit platelets stimulated with thrombin, with the ionophore A23187, with collagen and with the platelet-stimulating glycoprotein convulxin. We here show that 3-deazaadenosine (C3ado) and L-homocysteine (HCy), two inhibitors of platelet methylation, reduced the formation of PAF-acether and of its deacetylated product lyso-PAF-acether by rabbit platelets challenged with thrombin, under conditions where the accompanying aggregation was not significantly modified. In contrast, platelet aggregation induced by convulxin was completely and irreversibly blocked when C3ado and HCy were associated. Aggregation by thrombin was not affected by the methylation inhibitors even when ADP was scavenged and thromboxane formation was suppressed. Our results indicate that phospholipid methylation, thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and formation of PAF-acether can be dissociated. The formation of PAF-acether by rabbit platelets can be blocked by mechanisms other than inhibition of phospholipase A2, since the latter is not affected by C3ado and/or HCy.

The simultaneous evaluation of platelet behaviour in vivo and of the accompanying bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig is described. Arachidonic acid induces bronchoconstriction, accompanied by, but independent from, thrombocytopenia, whereas collagen induces bronchoconstriction also accompanied by, but dependent from, thrombocytopenia. In both cases bronchoconstriction is due to cyclo-oxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid. Use of potential inhibitors of thromboxane synthetase failed to reveal which of prostaglandin endoperoxides or thromboxane A2 is responsible for aspirin-inhibitive bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia. In contrast to PGE1 prostacyclin failed to interfere with bronchoconstriction by serotonin or by arachidonic acid, even though thrombocytopenia by the latter was suppressed. Bronchoconstriction by collagen, in contrast, was inhibited by nanogram doses of prostacyclin, confirming platelet-dependency. The combined bronchoconstriction/thrombocytopenia test in guinea pigs can discriminate sites of action of anti-inflammatory drugs, of agents which block specific platelet and/or bronchial receptors, which stimulate the cyclic AMP system, or generically which interfere with the mechanisms of bronchoconstriction and of thrombocytopenia.

Dog platelets are refractory to aggregation by arachidonic acid (AA) but generate an unstable activity that aggregates rabbit platelets. Formation of this activity is inhibited by indomethacin, by the peroxide scavenging enzyme catalase, by two chelating agents that bind Cu+ and Cu2+ ions, by the -SH agent dithiothreitol and is stimulated by cysteine. Agitation of dog platelets is followed by spontaneous aggregation and uncovers aggregation by AA, which is blocked by indomethacin. Neither indomethacin nor apyrase prevent spontaneous aggregation, ruling out both activation of prostaglandin synthetase and leakage of ADP as possible explanations. Complexation of plasma Ca2+ by citrate as an explanation for refractoriness to AA was ruled out by replacing citrate with heparin. Dog platelets are also refractory to PGH2 formed from AA by the cyclo oxygenase component of prostaglandin synthetase. Aggregation of rabbit platelets by PGH2 is not inhibited by indomethacin, by catalase, by dithiothreitol or by metal chelating agents and is not potentiated by cysteine. This confirms that the reagents act before PGH2 is formed. Aggregating activity generated by dog platelets is probably due to an unstable lipoperoxide whose generation involves mechanisms similar to those responsible for aggregation of rabbit platelets, since similar antagonists block both processes.

PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine) induces platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig which correlates with its in vivo thrombocytopenic effect. We investigated the influence of modifications of the polar head group in position 3 of the glycerol skeleton of PAF-acether on guinea-pig platelet activation and bronchoconstriction. PAF-acether itself induced concentration-dependent platelet activation (EC50 for aggregation = 0.41 nM and EC20 for secretion of ATP = 0.56 nM). The 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-morpholino ethanol analogue was slightly more active than PAF-acether and the 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-piperidinium ethanol, 3-phopshoryl-(N-methyl-piperidino-3') methanol and 3-phosphoryl-(N-methyl-hydroxy-4') piperidine analogues were equieffective to PAF-acether in activating platelets. The 3-phosphoryl-piperidino ethanol analogue was 8 times less active than PAF-acether; the 3-phosphoryl-morpholino ethanol analogue and the 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-acetyl-3-O-[trimethyl-ammonio)-propyl) glycerol were inactive up to 1 microM. Our data show that the choline head group is not a compulsory requirement for activity. When injected i.v. to the propranolol-treated guinea-pigs, the platelet-activating analogues also induced bronchoconstriction. Two PAF-acether antagonists, compounds 48740 RP and BN 52021, inhibited PAF-acether-induced platelet activation when added to PRP at the final concentration of 0.1 mM (aggregation inhibited by 91 +/- 4 and by 94 +/- 3% respect.; secretion inhibited by 80 +/- 12 and 79 +/- 10% respectively, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4). Both antagonists also suppressed platelet activation and in vivo bronchoconstriction, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and hypotension induced by PAF-acether and the various analogues. Our results indicate that PAF-acether and the analogues studied trigger platelet activation and the consequent bronchoconstriction through mechanisms which share sensitivity to same antagonists.

Dog platelets challenged with arachidonic acid fail to aggregate but synthesize a substance which aggregates rabbit and human platelets, this aggregation being suppressed by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. The aggregating substance contracts strips of rabbit aorta and of coeliac and mesenteric arteries, is soluble in diethyl ether, has a half-life of about 40 seconds at 37 degrees C and of 100 seconds at 22 degrees C. Its generation is blocked by various inhibitors of prostaglandin biosynthesis. The thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitor imidazole and its analogue benzimidazolamine also suppress generation of vessel contracting activity in incubates of dog platelets and prostaglandin H2. Since dog platelets also transform prostaglandin H2 into thromboxane A2 their failure to aggregate, when stimulated by arachidonic acid or by prostaglandin H2, is not due to lack of thromboxane synthesizing ability.