ADAP interactions with talin and kindlin promote platelet integrin αIIbß3 activation and stable fibrinogen binding.

ADAP is a hematopoietic-restricted adapter protein that promotes integrin activation and is a carrier for other adapter proteins, Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1) and SKAP2. In T lymphocytes, SKAP1 is the ADAP-associated molecule that activates integrins through direct linkages with Rap1 effectors (regulator of cell adhesion and polarization enriched in lymphoid tissues; Rap1-interacting adapter molecule). ADAP also promotes integrin αIIbß3 activation in platelets, which lack SKAP1, suggesting an ADAP integrin-regulatory pathway different from those in lymphocytes. Here we characterized a novel association between ADAP and 2 essential integrin-ß cytoplasmic tail-binding proteins involved in αIIbß3 activation, talin and kindlin-3. Glutathione S-transferase pull-downs identified distinct regions in ADAP necessary for association with kindlin or talin. ADAP was physically proximal to talin and kindlin-3 in human platelets, as assessed biochemically, and by immunofluorescence microscopy and proximity ligation. Relative to wild-type mouse platelets, ADAP-deficient platelets exhibited reduced co-localization of talin with αIIbß3, and reduced irreversible fibrinogen binding in response to a protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4) thrombin receptor agonist. When ADAP was heterologously expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells co-expressing αIIbß3, talin, PAR1, and kindlin-3, it associated with an αIIbß3/talin complex and enabled kindlin-3 to promote agonist-dependent ligand binding to αIIbß3. Thus, ADAP uniquely promotes activation of and irreversible fibrinogen binding to platelet αIIbß3 through interactions with talin and kindlin-3.

Kindlins, integrin activation and the regulation of talin recruitment to αIIbß3.

Talins and kindlins bind to the integrin ß3 cytoplasmic tail and both are required for effective activation of integrin αIIbß3 and resulting high-affinity ligand binding in platelets. However, binding of the talin head domain alone to ß3 is sufficient to activate purified integrin αIIbß3 in vitro. Since talin is localized to the cytoplasm of unstimulated platelets, its re-localization to the plasma membrane and to the integrin is required for activation. Here we explored the mechanism whereby kindlins function as integrin co-activators. To test whether kindlins regulate talin recruitment to plasma membranes and to αIIbß3, full-length talin and kindlin recruitment to ß3 was studied using a reconstructed CHO cell model system that recapitulates agonist-induced αIIbß3 activation. Over-expression of kindlin-2, the endogenous kindlin isoform in CHO cells, promoted PAR1-mediated and talin-dependent ligand binding. In contrast, shRNA knockdown of kindlin-2 inhibited ligand binding. However, depletion of kindlin-2 by shRNA did not affect talin recruitment to the plasma membrane, as assessed by sub-cellular fractionation, and neither over-expression of kindlins nor depletion of kindlin-2 affected talin interaction with αIIbß3 in living cells, as monitored by bimolecular fluorescence complementation. Furthermore, talin failed to promote kindlin-2 association with αIIbß3 in CHO cells. In addition, purified talin and kindlin-3, the kindlin isoform expressed in platelets, failed to promote each other's binding to the ß3 cytoplasmic tail in vitro. Thus, kindlins do not promote initial talin recruitment to αIIbß3, suggesting that they co-activate integrin through a mechanism independent of recruitment.

Hematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein-1 (HS1) regulates PAR-mediated ERK activation and thromboxane generation in platelets.

Thrombin-induced platelet activation leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of hematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein-1 (HS1), a 75 kDa adapter protein expressed exclusively in cells of hematopoietic lineage. We have shown HS1 to be a functionally important signaling molecule downstream of PAR-4 and GPVI collagen receptor. We have thus begun to elucidate PAR signaling pathway of HS1 phosphorylation, and its functional implications. PAR-1 and PAR-4 activating peptides (SFLLRN and AYPGKF, respectively) induced HS1 phosphorylation in a Gq-dependent manner as shown by incubation with the Gq inhibitor, YM254890. Consistently, HS1 phosphorylation was abolished in platelets from Gq deficient mice upon AYPGKF stimulation. Treatment with ADP receptor antagonists did not affect HS1 phosphorylation. Pretreatment of platelets with Src kinase inhibitors abolished HS1 phosphorylation. Further Syk activation, as measured by tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk (residues 525/526), in response to PAR activation was abolished in the presence of Src inhibitors. HS1 null mice show inhibition of PAR-mediated thromboxane A2 generation compared to wild type littermates. Phosphorylation of Erk, a key signaling molecule in thromboxane generation, was also diminished in HS1 null mice platelets. Based on these findings, we conclude that tyrosine phosphorylation of HS1 occurs downstream of both PAR-1 and PAR-4. HS1 phosphorylation is a Gq mediated response regulated by Src kinases. Thus, HS1 may mediate PAR-induced thromboxane generation through regulation of Erk phosphorylation.

Role of P2Y receptor subtypes in platelet-derived microparticle generation.

Microparticles are shed from the platelet membrane upon platelet activation by strong agonists, and they aid in clot formation. As the P2Y1 and the P2Y12 receptors differentially contribute to different platelet functions, we studied the relative contribution of the P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors to microparticle formation from platelets. The P2Y12 receptor antagonist AR-C 69931MX, but not the P2Y1 receptor antagonist MRS2179, caused a significant decrease in the number microparticles formed by convulxin and thrombin. In addition, there was no significant decrease in microparticle formation in P2Y1 knockout mouse blood when compared to the wild type mice. These results illustrate that the P2Y12 receptor contributes to microparticle formation from activated platelets by a strong agonist, without any significant involvement of the P2Y1 receptor. We also conclude that there is no correlation in the number of microparticles circulating in vivo between the P2Y1 receptor null mice and the wild type mice under unstimulated conditions. Finally, we conclude that the increased bleeding time in the P2Y1 null mice is due to overall platelet dysfunction and not due to the decrease of circulating microparticles.

Hematopoietic lineage cell specific protein 1 (HS1) is a functionally important signaling molecule in platelet activation.

Collagen activates platelets through an intracellular signaling cascade downstream of glycoprotein VI (GPVI). We have investigated the contribution of hematopoietic lineage cell-specific protein 1 (HS1) downstream of GPVI in platelet activation. Stimulation of GPVI leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of HS1, which is blocked by Src-family kinase inhibitors. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that HS1 associates with Syk and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases. HS1-null mice displayed increased bleeding times and increased time to occlusion in the FeCl(3) in vivo thrombosis model compared with their wild-type littermates. In addition, aggregation and secretion responses were diminished in HS1-null mouse platelets after stimulation of GPVI and protease-activated receptor 4 (PAR-4) agonists compared with wild-type littermate mouse platelets. Finally, Akt phosphorylation was diminished after GPVI or PAR-4 stimulation in platelets from HS1-null mice compared with their wild-type littermates. These results demonstrate that phosphorylation of the HS1 protein occurs downstream of GPVI stimulation and that HS1 plays a significant functional role in platelet activation downstream of GPVI and PARs.

Do heterotrimeric G proteins redistribute upon G protein-coupled receptor stimulation in platelets?

Previous studies have proposed that stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors can cause a redistribution of G proteins to other receptors. The redistribution would cause a greater functional sensitivity of unsensitized 'secondary' receptors toward their agonists. Using platelets as a model system, we utilized a proximal signaling event, intracellular calcium mobilization, to determine if agonist stimulation of particular Gq-coupled receptors would result in increased sensitivity for stimulation of other Gq-coupled receptors. Platelets express three Gq-coupled receptors for thrombin, thromboxane A2, and ADP with different potencies. Varying concentrations of a primary agonist (PAR-1 agonist SFLLRN, or the TXA2 agonist U46619) was followed by a constant submaximal concentration of a secondary agonist (U46619, or the P2Y1 agonist ADP). We observed that initial stimulation by SFLLRN was followed by a decrease in the extent of secondary U46619 or ADP-mediated calcium mobilization in comparison to control responses (i.e. without primary stimulation). To extend these studies we examined calcium mobilization in platelets from mice that were either wild-type or homozygous null for the PAR-4 or P2Y1 receptors, hypothesizing that the loss of PAR-4 or P2Y1 receptors would cause redistribution of its Galphaq proteins to other receptors, and elicit a greater response when stimulated with other agonists than in platelets from a wild-type mouse. However, our results showed almost identical levels of peak calcium between wild-type or PAR-4 null mice when stimulated with either ADP or U46619. Similar results were obtained for the P2Y1 null mice stimulated with AYPGKF or U46619. We conclude that stimulation of one Gq coupled receptor does not result in redistribution of Gq to other Gq-coupled receptors.

G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels regulate ADP-induced cPLA2 activity in platelets through Src family kinases.

ADP-induced TXA2 generation requires the costimulation of P2Y1, P2Y12, and the GPIIb/IIIa receptors. Signaling events downstream of the P2Y receptors that contribute to ADP-induced TXA2 generation have not been clearly delineated. In this study, we have investigated the role of G-protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs), a recently identified functional effector for the P2Y12 receptor, in the regulation of ADP-induced TXA2 generation. At 10-microM concentrations, the 2 structurally distinct GIRK channel blockers, SCH23390 and U50488H, caused complete inhibition of ADP-induced cPLA2 phosphorylation and TXA2 generation, without affecting the conversion of AA to TXA2 or ADP-induced primary platelet aggregation in aspirin-treated platelets. In addition, Src family kinase selective inhibitors abolished 2MeSADP-mediated cPLA2 phosphorylation and TXA2 generation. Furthermore, these GIRK channel blockers completely blocked Gi-mediated Src kinase activation, suggesting that GIRK channels are upstream of Src family tyrosine kinase activation. In weaver mouse platelets, which have dysfunctional GIRK2 subunits, ADP-induced TXA2 generation was impaired. However, we did not observe any defect in 2MeSADP-induced platelet functional responses in GIRK2-null mouse platelets, suggesting that functional channels composed of other GIRK subunits contribute to ADP-induced TXA2 generation, via the regulation of the Src and cPLA2 activity.