Chemogenetic ON and OFF switches for RNA virus replication.

Therapeutic application of RNA viruses as oncolytic agents or gene vectors requires a tight control of virus activity if toxicity is a concern. Here we present a regulator switch for RNA viruses using a conditional protease approach, in which the function of at least one viral protein essential for transcription and replication is linked to autocatalytical, exogenous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease activity. Virus activity can be en- or disabled by various HIV protease inhibitors. Incorporating the HIV protease dimer in the genome of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) into the open reading frame of either the P- or L-protein resulted in an ON switch. Here, virus activity depends on co-application of protease inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, an N-terminal VSV polymerase tag with the HIV protease dimer constitutes an OFF switch, as application of protease inhibitor stops virus activity. This technology may also be applicable to other potentially therapeutic RNA viruses.

Ultrastructural analysis of the distribution of von Willebrand factor and fibrinogen in platelet aggregates formed in the PFA-100.

The PFA-100 is a new apparatus used to detect platelet dysfunction in vitro . Anticoagulated blood flows under constant pressure through a capillary, and across an aperture that pierces a membrane coated with collagen and either epinephrine or ADP. Through their ability to adhere and aggregate, platelets occlude the orifice and the closure time is a test of platelet function. Using electron microscopy and immunogold staining, we have analyzed the ultrastructure of platelet aggregates formed within the aperture and that are responsible for the occlusion. Standard electron microscopy showed that the aggregates formed on both collagen-epinephrine and collagen-ADP cartridges presented the same morphological features. The aggregates were exclusively composed of platelets, some of which were degranulated. Degranulation was particularly intense at the periphery of the aggregate where platelets were often totally devoid of secretory organelles. Immunogold staining on ultrathin frozen sections with polyclonal antibodies, allowed us to evaluate the distribution of adhesive proteins such as fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) within the aggregate. The latter was found to be abundant in the intercellular spaces between adjoining platelets. Although fibrinogen was also present, its labeling was less intense suggesting that vWF is the major protein implicated in the platelet-platelet interactions in the aggregates formed in the PFA-100 system. This may be because of the high shear rate that occurs across the aperture which suggests that the PFA-100 is particularly sensitive for detecting abnormalities of vWF-platelet interactions.

Ultrastructural studies of platelet aggregates from human subjects receiving clopidogrel and from a patient with an inherited defect of an ADP-dependent pathway of platelet activation.

Our study investigated the effect of the antithrombotic drug clopidogrel (75 mg/d for 7 days) on the ultrastructure of platelet aggregates induced by ADP or 2-methylthio-ADP (2-MeS-ADP) in citrated platelet-rich plasma and examined the activation state of the GP IIb/IIIa complexes. Results were compared with those obtained for patient M.L., who has a congenital disorder characterized by a reduced and reversible platelet response to ADP. When untreated normal platelets were stimulated with high-dose ADP, electron microscopy revealed large and stable aggregates often surrounded by a layer of what appeared to be degranulated platelets. The reversible aggregates of platelets from subjects receiving clopidogrel or from patient M.L. did not show this layer. Electron microscopy showed that in both situations, the aggregates were composed of loosely bound platelets with few contact points. Immunogold labeling of ultrathin sections of Lowicryl-embedded aggregates formed by ADP or 2-MeS-ADP showed a much decreased platelet surface staining by (1) a polyclonal anti-fibrinogen antibody and (2) AP-6, a murine anti-ligand-induced binding site monoclonal antibody specific for GP IIb/IIIa complexes occupied with fibrinogen. Similar findings were seen after disaggregation, when many single platelets were present that showed no signs of secretion. Flow cytometry confirmed that the number of ligand-occupied GP IIb/IIIa complexes was much lower on platelets stimulated with ADP or 2-MeS-ADP after clopidogrel treatment. As expected from previous studies, ADP-induced platelet shape change and Ca2+ influx were unaffected by clopidogrel. These results agree with the hypothesis that platelet activation by ADP is biphasic and highlight a receptor-induced activation pathway affected by clopidogrel (or congenitally impaired in patient M.L.) that is necessary for the full activation of GP IIb/IIIa and the formation of stable macroaggregates.

Glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase in normal human erythrocytes.

In the course of an investigation of hexosamine catabolism in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, it became apparent that a basic understanding of the relevant enzymatic reactions in the host erythrocyte is lacking. To acquire the necessary basic knowledge, we have determined the activities of several enzymes involved in hexosamine metabolism in normal human red blood cells. In the present communication we report the results of studies of glucosamine 6-phosphate deaminase (GlcN6-P) using a newly developed sensitive radiometric assay. The mean specific activity in extracts of fresh erythrocytes assayed within 4h of collection was 14.7 nmol/h/mg protein, whereas preparations from older erythrocytes that had been stored at 4 degrees C for up to 4 weeks had a mean specific activity of 6.2 nmol/h/mg. Characterization of the deaminase by chromatofocusing gave a pI of 8.55. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 9.0 and had a Km of 41 microM. The metal chelators EDTA and EGTA were non-inhibitory; however, inhibition was observed in the presence of metal ions, especially Cu2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+. In addition, the deaminase was also inhibited by several sugar phosphates including the reaction product, fructose 6-phosphate.

An inherited bleeding disorder linked to a defective interaction between ADP and its receptor on platelets. Its influence on glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex function.

Much discussion has concerned the central role of ADP in platelet aggregation. We now describe a patient (M.L.) with an inherited bleeding disorder whose specific feature is that ADP induces a limited and rapidly reversible platelet aggregation even at high doses. Platelet shape change and other hemostatic parameters were unmodified. A receptor defect was indicated, for, while epinephrine normally lowered cAMP levels of PGE1-treated (M.L.) platelets, ADP was without effect. The binding of [3H]2-methylthio-ADP decreased from 836 +/- 126 molecules/platelet for normals to 30 +/- 17 molecules/platelet for the patient. Flow cytometry confirmed that ADP induced a much lower fibrinogen binding to (M.L.) platelets. Nonetheless, the binding in whole blood of activation-dependent monoclonal antibodies showed that some activation of GP IIb-IIIa complexes by ADP was occurring. Platelets of a patient with type I Glanzmann's thrombasthenia bound [3H]2-methylthio-ADP and responded normally to ADP in the presence of PGE1. Electron microscopy showed that ADP-induced aggregates of (M. L.) platelets were composed of loosely bound shape-changed platelets with few contact points. Thus this receptor defect has a direct influence on the capacity of platelets to bind to each other in response to ADP.

Description of an in vitro platelet function analyzer--PFA-100.

A new in vitro system for the detection of platelet dysfunction, PFA-100, has been developed. It provides a quantitative measure of platelet function in anticoagulated whole blood. The system comprises a microprocessor-controlled instrument and a disposable test cartridge containing a biologically active membrane. The instrument aspirates a blood sample under constant vacuum from the sample reservoir through a capillary and a microscopic aperture cut into the membrane. The membrane is coated with collagen and epinephrine or adenosine 5'-diphosphate. The presence of these biochemical stimuli, and the high shear rates generated under the standardized flow conditions, result in platelet attachment, activation, and aggregation, slowly building a stable platelet plug at the aperture. The time required to obtain full occlusion of the aperture is reported as the "closure time." We have found that impairment of von Willebrand factor, or inhibition of platelet receptors glycoprotein Ib or IIb/IIIa with monoclonal antibodies or peptides, resulted in abnormal closure times. An antifibrinogen antibody, in contrast, failed to show any effect. The test appears to be sensitive to platelet adherence and aggregation abnormalities. The PFA-100 system has potential applications in routine evaluation of platelet function in the clinical setting because of its accuracy, ease of operation, and rapid turnaround of results.

Fluorescein derivatization of fibrinogen for flow cytometric analysis of fibrinogen binding to platelets.

Dog and human fibrinogen were derivatized with N-hydroxysuccinimido-fluorescein and utilized for flow cytometric estimation of fibrinogen binding to activated platelets. Fluorescein-fibrinogen binding fulfilled the criteria for specific binding to platelets; the binding was saturable, dependent on agonist activation, and inhibited by unlabeled fibrinogen. In addition, EDTA and barbourin, a KGD-containing peptide, were found to inhibit the binding of fluorescein-fibrinogen. Fluorescein-fibrinogen bound to dog platelets with an apparent affinity of 0.31 microM after stimulation with either adenosine-5'-diphosphate (ADP) or plateletactivating factor. The labeled fibrinogen was also used to study the fibrinogen binding capacity of aged, biotinylated platelets. Aged platelets were indistinguishable from young platelets with regard to fibrinogen binding in response to ADP. These studies document that direct derivatization of fibrinogen with fluorescein generates a useful probe for analyzing fibrinogen binding to platelets with flow cytometry.

Dog platelets accumulate intracellular fibrinogen as they age.

The alpha granules of circulating platelets are dynamic structures that acquire endogenous and exogenous components by synthesis and uptake, respectively. The uptake of exogenous components is a result of either receptor-mediated endocytosis or fluid-phase pinocytosis. Despite many detailed studies on the function and content of alpha-granules, little is known of the impact of platelet age on these organelles. In this report, we describe the use of platelet biotinylation to identify and isolate aged platelets for the analysis of alpha-granule contents. When aged platelets were permeabilized and examined by flow cytometry utilizing fluorescently labeled antibodies, two exogenously acquired proteins, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G, were found to increase significantly with platelet age. The levels of intracellular fibrinogen were found to be elevated relative to control, 114 +/- 2% and 119 +/- 5% on days 4 and 5 postbiotinylation, respectively; the life span of dog platelets is 6.0 days. Intracellular immunoglobulin G content increased similarly. Levels of two endogenously synthesized proteins, thrombospondin and P-selectin, were not elevated in aged platelets. Confirmation of the flow cytometric data was obtained by isolating aged, biotinylated platelets by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and quantitating the fibrinogen levels with an ELISA assay. For platelets averaging 4.6 days of age, the fibrinogen level was elevated to 128 +/- 23% of the level for the entire platelet population. These data demonstrate that age-dependent changes in exogenously acquired alpha-granule proteins do occur and that the uptake mechanism for these proteins is active throughout the platelet life span.

Aged platelets have an impaired response to thrombin as quantitated by P-selectin expression.

After the intravenous infusion of N-hydroxysuccinimido biotin into dogs, 80.6% +/- 9.7% (n = 5) of platelets were covalently labeled with biotin. The in vivo survival of the biotinylated platelets was monitored by flow cytometry and was normal as compared with previous reports for dog platelets. The ability of the biotinylated platelets to be activated was analyzed by measuring the expression of cell-surface P-selectin after incubation with graded concentrations of thrombin. When P-selectin expression was examined 3 hours after labeling, biotinylated platelets were indistinguishable from the nonlabeled population of platelets, indicating that biotinylation did not adversely affect the cells. On consecutive days after biotinylation, the thrombin dose-response curves for biotinylated and nonbiotinylated platelets were repeated, and as the biotinylated-platelets aged, they became less responsive to thrombin. On days 3, 4, and 5, the thrombin EC50 for the aged, biotinylated platelets as compared with the total population of platelets was 136%, 150%, and 178%, respectively. Increasing age clearly impairs the reactivity of platelets towards thrombin as quantitated by the expression of cell-surface P-selectin.

Biotinylated platelets: a new approach to the measurement of platelet life span.

The in vivo life span of dog platelets was determined by derivatizing whole blood with N-hydroxysuccinimido biotin, reinfusing the biotinylated blood and subsequently monitoring the survival of the biotinylated platelets with flow cytometry. We found that the biotinylated platelets had a mean life span of 6.0 +/- 1.1 d as determined by curve-fitting the platelet disappearance data to gamma functions. These data are in good agreement with literature values of platelet life span for canine platelets labelled with either 111Indium-oxine or 51Chromium. Biotinylated platelets were analysed after reinfusion and found to aggregate normally in response to the agonists adenosine diphosphate and phorbol myristate acetate. These experiments demonstrate that biotinylated platelets survive normally in vivo and that this labelling method can be used for determining platelet life spans.

A defect of platelet aggregation associated with an abnormal distribution of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complexes within the platelet: the cause of a lifelong bleeding disorder.

A young Italian man (A.P.) has a lifelong history of bleeding from gums and mucocutaneous tissue. Electron microscopy showed a wide diversity of platelet size including giant forms. In citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and other agonists was much reduced. Both secretion and clot retraction were normal. The aggregation of washed platelets with ADP was improved but remained subnormal, as was aggregation with collagen and thrombin. Fibrinogen-binding was analyzed by flow cytometry using platelets in whole blood or PRP and was markedly decreased. Crossed immunoelectrophoresis of Triton X-100 extracts of (A.P.) platelets showed that GP IIb-IIIa levels were 40% to 50% of normal. Glycoprotein (GP) IIb and GP IIIa were of usual migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, but their labeling was much reduced during lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination. Binding to (A.P.) platelets of four different 125I-labeled monoclonal antibodies to GP IIb-IIIa complexes was reduced to 12% to 20% of normal levels. However, when the patient's platelets were stimulated with alpha-thrombin, monoclonal antibody binding showed the same increase (approximately 20,000 sites) as normal platelets. Both flow cytometry and immunocytochemical studies showed that the distribution of residual surface GP IIb-IIIa within the total (A.P.) platelet population was heterogeneous and not related to platelet size. Staining of ultrathin sections confirmed the presence of an internal pool of GP IIb-IIIa. Monoclonal antibodies to other membrane glycoproteins bound normally to (A.P.) platelets. The patient has a selective deficiency of the surface pool of GP IIb-IIIa complexes that is manifested clinically by a mild Glanzmann's thrombasthenia-like syndrome.

von Willebrand factor bound to glycoprotein Ib is cleared from the platelet surface after platelet activation by thrombin.

We recently reported that after activation of human platelets by thrombin, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complexes are translocated to the surface-connected canalicular system (SCCS) (Blood 76:1503, 1990). As GPIb is a major receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWF) in platelet adhesion, we have now examined the consequences of thrombin activation on the organization of vWF bound to GPIb on the platelet surface. Studies were performed using monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies in either immunogold staining and electron microscopy (Au-EM) or in flow cytometry. When unstirred platelet-rich plasma was incubated with ristocetin, bound vWF was located by Au-EM as discrete masses regularly distributed over the cell surface. Platelets from a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, lacking GPIIb-IIIa complexes, gave a similar pattern, confirming that this represented binding to GPIb. That ristocetin was not precipitating vWF before their binding to the platelets was shown by the detection of similar masses on the surface of platelets of a patient with type IIB von Willebrand disease. Experiments were continued using washed normal platelets incubated in Tyrode-EDTA, the purpose of the EDTA being to limit the surface expression of endogenous vWF after platelet stimulation. Under these conditions, platelets were treated with ristocetin for 5 minutes at 37 degrees C in the presence of increasing amounts of purified vWF. This was followed by incubation with thrombin (0.5 U/mL) for periods of up to 10 minutes. Flow cytometry showed a time-dependent loss in the surface expression of vWF bound to GPIb and these changes were confirmed by Au-EM. In particular, immunogold staining performed on ultrathin sections showed that the bulk of the vWF was being cleared to internal membrane systems. Surface clearance of vWF during thrombin-induced platelet activation is a potential mechanism for regulating platelet adhesivity.

Thrombin-induced platelet aggregates have a dynamic structure. Time-dependent redistribution of glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complexes and secreted adhesive proteins.

The role of glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complexes and of adhesive proteins in mediating platelet aggregation is now well defined. However, less is known of the changes that occur once aggregation has begun. We report immunogold staining of thin sections of platelets or platelet aggregates, embedded in Lowicryl K4M, after the use of polyclonal antibodies to GP IIb or GP IIIa, fibrinogen (Fg), von Willebrand factor (vWF), and thrombospondin (TSP). Bound immunoglobulin G (IgG) was located by species-specific anti-IgG coupled to 5-nm gold particles and by electron microscopy. Initial experiments with platelet-rich plasma confirmed the feasibility of visualizing adhesive proteins between platelets in aggregates. Experiments then continued, using stirred suspensions of washed platelets incubated with alpha-thrombin. After 20 seconds, platelets were in contact without detectable release, although giant secretory vesicles containing adhesive proteins were seen. Internal pools of GP IIb-IIIa were progressively externalized within the aggregate. Secreted Fg was readily detected between platelets at 40 seconds. After 3 minutes, when most of the secretion had occurred, Fg had a patchwork-like distribution within the aggregate. After 6 minutes, zones with closely interspaced surface membranes, usually representing pseudopods, were dominant and Fg free. Results for vWF and TSP were similar to those for Fg. Nonetheless, GP IIb-IIIa complexes continued to be located between adjacent surface membranes throughout the aggregate. Thrombin-induced platelet aggregates were isolated, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble extracts were obtained. Western blot experiments showed that, although fibrinopeptide A had been cleaved, degradation of adhesive proteins by platelet proteases had not occurred. These results emphasize that a platelet aggregate is a dynamic structure and suggest that not all surface-contact interactions are mediated by Fg or the other adhesive proteins tested in this study.

Thrombin induces a rapid redistribution of glycoprotein Ib-IX complexes within the membrane systems of activated human platelets.

Previous studies have shown a decreased binding of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) to glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complexes on thrombin-stimulated platelets, but the reason for this is poorly understood. We have used (1) immunofluorescence procedures and flow cytometry, and (2) immunogold staining and electron microscopy to investigate this phenomenon. Washed platelets were incubated with alpha-thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, or ionophore A23187 for increasing lengths of time. For alpha-thrombin, but not the other agonists, flow cytometry confirmed a dose- and time-dependent decrease in the binding of MoAbs specific for GP Ib alpha (AP-1, Bx-1), GP IX (FMC 25), or to the complex itself (SZ 1). Immunoglold staining performed using standard transmission or scanning electron microscopy high-lighted surface areas devoid of bound antibody. However, a quantitatively normal immunofluorescence was restored if paraformaldehyde-fixed, thrombin-stimulated platelets were permeabilized with Triton X-100 (Sigma Chemical Co, St Louis, MO) before MoAb addition, while immunogold staining was now seen to be concentrated within the interior of the platelet. Glutaraldehyde-fixed samples were then embedded in the resin Lowicryl K4M (Taab Laboratories Equipment Ltd, Aldermaston, England) and immunogold staining performed on thin sections using a polyclonal antibody to glycocalicin. An increased presence of GP Ib-IX complexes within surface-connected membrane systems of the thrombin-stimulated platelets was confirmed. Interestingly, GP Ib-IX movement was opposite to the thrombin-induced externalization of internal pools of GP IIb-IIIa complexes and of the alpha-granule membrane GP, GMP-140.

Protein synthesis and storage in human platelets: a defective storage of fibrinogen in platelets in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

In vivo metabolic labelling experiments were performed to investigate the ability of human platelets to synthesize and store fibrinogen and thrombospondin. Newly synthesized proteins were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results were compared with those obtained for the platelets of a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia where endogenous fibrinogen levels were severely reduced. Normal human platelets were able to synthesize the different subunits of fibrinogen and thrombospondin and to assemble them into native fibrinogen and thrombospondin molecules. This synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide. Synthesis of both fibrinogen and thrombospondin was observed in the platelets of the Glanzmann's thrombasthenia patient. However, radiolabelled fibrinogen was no longer detected after an 18-h non-radioactive chase, although it was retained in the control platelets. Neosynthesized thrombospondin of the patient was normally preserved during the same chase period. When the fate of the radioactive fibrinogen was studied, it was found to be degraded in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia platelets to the same extent as neosynthesized cytoplasmic proteins, whereas in control platelets less degradation had occurred. We conclude that human platelets maintain a residual capacity to synthesize fibrinogen and that its deficiency in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia results from a storage abnormality and not from a synthesis defect.

[Serum factors in chronic myeloid leukemia]. / Serumfaktoren bei chronischer myeloischer Leukämie.

Mononuclear cells from the peripheral blood of healthy test persons were cultivated in a methylcellulose medium with serum samples taken from 13 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and with osteomyelosclerosis (OMS) as well as with serum samples of 6 healthy test persons. From evaluating the proliferation of granulopoietic cells quantitatively, conclusions were made concerning the concentrations of granulopoietic stimulating substances in these sera. In all cultures with the serum of patients the number of granulopoietic cell colonies was greater than that in cultures with the serum of normal persons. The stronger proliferation of granulopoietic precursor cells in cultures with serum of patients is seen to be due to an enhanced production of the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by leukemic cells. The differential hemograms and curves indicating the course of leukocytes in patients are compared with the corresponding results of cultures. In patients with CML an increased output of GM-CSF will apparently influence the increase in size of the granulopoietic stem cell pool, which is evident in the steep increase of those curves indicating the course of leukocytes. In patients with OMS, however, there is a discrepancy between granulopoietic serum activity and proliferation in vivo. From these investigations the hypothesis is derived that an increased synthesis of GM-CSF in patients with CML may be one of the causes underlying hyperplastic granulopoiesis. A direct advantage of leukemic cells in proliferation cannot be derived from it.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Micromethod for colony growth of erythroid and granulocytic cell colonies in glass capillaries.

Mononuclear cells of peripheral blood were cultured in glass capillary tubes under various conditions. The highest number of granulopoietic colonies was found with 5 X 10(4) cells per capillary and 10% conditioned medium. The growth of erythroid colonies did not depend on erythropoietin linearly, but a good correlation was found between the number of cells and the erythropoietin concentration respectively when the single erythroid precursor cells were counted on the slides. The highest yield of erythroid cells was noted at 0.5 U erythropoietin at all cell concentrations.