Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) soluble receptor 1 acts as a natural inhibitor of FGF2 neurotrophic activity during retinal degeneration.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 1 and 2 and their tyrosine kinase receptor (FGFR) are present throughout the adult retina. FGFs are potential mitogens, but adult retinal cells are maintained in a nonproliferative state unless the retina is damaged. Our work aims to find a modulator of FGF signaling in normal and pathological retina. We identified and sequenced a truncated FGFR1 form from rat retina generated by the use of selective polyadenylation sites. This 70-kDa form of soluble extracellular FGFR1 (SR1) was distributed mainly localized in the inner nuclear layer of the retina, whereas the full-length FGFR1 form was detected in the retinal Muller glial cells. FGF2 and FGFR1 mRNA levels greatly increased in light-induced retinal degeneration. FGFR1 was detected in the radial fibers of activated retinal Muller glial cells. In contrast, SR1 mRNA synthesis followed a biphasic pattern of down- and up-regulation, and anti-SR1 staining was intense in retinal pigmented epithelial cells. The synthesis of SR1 and FGFR1 specifically and independently regulated in normal and degenerating retina suggests that changes in the proportion of various FGFR forms may control the bioavailability of FGFs and thus their potential as neurotrophic factors. This was demonstrated in vivo during retinal degeneration when recombinant SR1 inhibited the neurotrophic activity of exogenous FGF2 and increased damaging effects of light by inhibiting endogenous FGF. This study highlights the significance of the generation of SR1 in normal and pathological conditions.

The serpin protease nexin-1 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion, spreading, migration and response to thrombin.

BACKGROUND: Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is an important physiological regulator of thrombin in the brain. PN-1 is also present in aortic smooth muscle cells and may thus participate in vascular biology. However, little is known about its function in the vessel wall. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated the effect of PN-1 overexpression in smooth muscle cells (SMCs), on their sensitivity to thrombin, and their capacity for adhesion, spreading and migration. RESULTS: Two clones exhibiting a two- to threefold increase in PN-1 expression were selected and compared with untransfected and mock-transfected cells. Overexpression of PN-1 was observed to inhibit thrombin-induced cell responses as indicated by a twofold decrease in induction of PAI-1 expression, a decreased calcium mobilization in response to low thrombin concentrations and a twofold increase in the capacity to inhibit thrombin catalytic activity. Overexpression of PN-1 did not modify adhesion, spreading, and migration of SMCs on type I collagen. In contrast, SMCs overexpressing PN-1 exhibited a 40% reduction in adhesion, a 50% reduction in spreading and a complete absence of migration on vitronectin when compared with control SMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies thus reveal that PN-1 is likely to play a critical role in regulating essential cell functions such as (i) thrombin-induced responses, which are dependent on its antiprotease activity, and (ii) adhesion, spreading, and migration, which are independent of its antiprotease activity and may be related to its interaction with other partners, such as vitronectin in the present case.

ERK2 activation in arteriolar and venular murine thrombosis: platelet receptor GPIb vs. P2X.

The functional significance of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) activation was investigated during shear induced human platelet aggregation (SIPA) in vitro and during shear controlled thrombosis in vivo in intestinal arterioles and venules of wild type (WT) and transgenic (TG) mice with platelet-specific overexpression of human P2X(1) (TG). In SIPA, ERK2 was rapidly phosphorylated during GPIb stimulation, its activation contributing to SIPA for 50%, independently of P2X(1) regulation. Thrombotic occlusion of injured arterioles occurred considerably faster in TG (4.3 +/- 2.3 min) than in WT (38 +/- 8 min) arterioles, but occlusion times in TG (19 +/- 12) and WT (48 +/- 4.5 min) venules differed less. Both the alphabeta-meATP triggered desensitization of platelet P2X(1), as well as P2X(1) antagonism by NF279 or NF449 prolonged mean occlusion to about 75 min in WT and 65 min in TG arterioles, but venular occlusion times were less affected. Preventing ERK2 activation by U0126 prolonged occlusion times in TG (41 +/- 10 min) and WT (51 +/- 17) arterioles more than in TG (46 +/- 5 min) and WT (56 +/- 6 min) venules, uncovering a role for ERK2 in shear controlled thrombosis. Antagonism of GPIb by a recombinant murine von Willebrand factor (VWF)-A1 fragment prolonged occlusion times to comparable values, ranging from 55 to 58 min, both in TG and WT arterioles and venules. Further inhibition strategies, combining VWF-A1, U0126 and NF449 in WT and TG mice and resulting in occlusion in various time windows, identified that inhibition by VWF-A1 largely abrogated the ERK2 contribution to thrombosis. In conclusion, P2X(1) and ERK2 both participate in shear stress controlled thrombosis, but ERK2 activation is initiated predominantly via GPIb-VWF interactions.

Regulation of proliferation-survival decisions is controlled by FGF1 secretion in retinal pigmented epithelial cells.

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) induces proliferation and differentiation in a wide variety of cells of mesodermal and neuroectodermal origin. FGF1 has no 'classical' signal sequence to direct its secretion, and there has been considerable debate concerning FGF1 secretion and its role in the biological activities of FGF1. We investigated the effects of FGF1 secretion and the signalling induced by signal peptide (SP)-containing FGFI and SP-less FGF1, on the proliferation and the apoptosis in retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. Primary RPE cell cultures were transfected with FGF1 (FGF1 cells) and SP-FGF1 (SP-FGF1 cells) cDNAs. SP-FGF1 cells secreted large amount of FGF1 and actively proliferated, whereas FGF1 and control cells did not. Secreted FGF1 induced short-term activation of both FGFR1 and ERK2, which were required for cell proliferation. In contrast, SP-FGF1 cells stopped secreting FGF1 and died rapidly, if cultured in the absence of serum. Surprisingly, FGF1 cells, but not control cells, secreted FGF1 and were resistant to apoptosis induced by serum depletion. Secreted FGF1 induced long-term activation of FGFR1 and ERK2, which was necessary to induce a constant and high level of Bcl-x production, and to induce cell survival in FGFI cells. Downregulation of ERK2 and Bcl-x increased apoptosis. Thus, the proliferation and survival activities of FGF1 depend on the secretion of FGF1 which is determined by the cell culture conditions. Cell proliferation was SP-dependent, whereas cell survival was not. The signal peptide controls the level and duration, 'whispering or shouting', of ERK2 activation cells which determines FGF1 biological function and may have important implications for anti-degenerative and anti-proliferative treatments.

Both FGF1 and bcl-x synthesis are necessary for the reduction of apoptosis in retinal pigmented epithelial cells by FGF2: role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2.

Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells are of central importance in the maintenance of neural retinal function. Changes in the RPE cells associated with repair activities have been described as metaplasia, while RPE cell apoptosis is responsible for the development of a variety of retinal degenerations. We investigated the regulation of the anti-apoptotic properties of the fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 2 in serum-free cultures of RPE cells. In the absence of serum, confluent stationary RPE cells died by apoptosis via a caspase 3-dependent pathway. The addition of FGF2 greatly reduced apoptosis over a 7-day culture period. We demonstrated the involvement of an autocrine loop involving endogenous FGF1 in the mechanisms that govern FGF2-induced resistance to apoptosis by showing: (1) higher levels of apoptosis in cells treated with antisense FGF1 oligonucleotide or after neutralization of excreted FGF1; (2) the long-term activation of FGFR1 and of ERK2, (3) the inhibition of FGFR1 and ERK2 activation and an increase in apoptosis if excreted FGF1 was neutralized. FGF2 also increased the de novo synthesis and the production of Bcl-xl before the onset of apoptosis. Both inhibition of ERK2 activation, which decreased Bcl-xl synthesis, and downregulation of Bcl-x by antisense oligonucleotide treatment inhibited the survival-promoting activity of FGF2. Thus, FGF2-induced cell survival is a progressive adaptive phenomenon involving ERK2 activation by excreted FGF1 and ERK2-dependent Bcl-x production.

Differential up-regulation of Rap1a and Rap1b proteins during smooth muscle cell cycle.

The relationship between Rap1 proteins and cell proliferation was assessed by investigating the effect of isoforms AA and BB of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on Rap1 protein and mRNA expression throughout the smooth muscle cell cycle. Firstly, PDGF BB-induced cell cycle traverse was studied, thus demonstrating entry into S phase at 18 to 20 h. Western blotting carried out on total Rap1 proteins showed that 5 ng/ml of PDGF BB instigated a biphasic induction of total Rap1 proteins during the cell cycle. This involved a 2.1 +/- 0.4-fold increase at 6 h (early G1) and a 2.8 +/- 0.6-fold increase at 20 to 24 h (G1/S transition). Such an up-regulation was abolished by addition of 1 ng/ml of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), which inhibited up to 80% of the PDGF BB-induced entry into S phase. Comparative RT-PCR of both rap1a and rap1b mRNAs throughout the cell cycle allowed us to differentiate between the two rap1a and rap1b species. PDGF BB induced a 1.9 +/- 0.3-fold increase at 4 h and a 2.4 +/- 0.2-fold relative increase at 16 h for rap1b mRNA, whereas a unique 1.9 +/- 0.5-fold increase in rap1a mRNA was observed at 14 h. Again, this induction of rap1a and rap1b mRNAs by PDGF BB was totally abolished by TGF-beta 1. We conclude that the differential up-regulation of Rap1a and Rap1b proteins during the smooth muscle cell cycle is directly linked to cell proliferation.

Evidence for Rap1 in vascular smooth muscle cells. Regulation of their expression by platelet-derived growth factor BB.

The effect of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on Rap1 expression was investigated in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). First, evidence for Rap1 proteins was shown by their: (i) detection in membranes using a specific anti-Rap1 antibody, (ii) typical shift in electrophoretic mobility as a consequence of reduction, and (iii) cAMP-induced phosphorylation and immunoprecipitation. Then, the mitogenic activity of 10 ng/ml PDGF AA and BB for 48 h, resulting in a 2- and 5-fold increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation, was correlated with that of total Rap1 protein expression which was found to be 99% +/- 36% and 260% +/- 70%, respectively. Further time-course studies established that this up-regulation of Rap1 proteins was only observed after 48 h of PDGF BB treatment. Lastly, comparative RT-PCR of both rap1a and rap1b mRNAs showed that PDGF BB also up-regulated the rap1a mRNA species, which was 1.5-fold increased in contrast with the rap1b mRNA species. It is concluded that the PDGF BB-induced SMC proliferation is associated with an up-regulation of Rap1a protein.

[Gray platelet syndrome, an example of myelofibrosis of megakaryocytic origin]. / La maladie des plaquettes grises, un exemple de myélofibrose d'origine mégacaryocytaire.

In this study, the clinical history of two patients with the gray platelet syndrome, a rare congenital disorder associating thrombopathia and myelofibrosis is recalled. Complementary studies on platelets and megakaryocytes were performed, mainly with an immunocytochemical approach. In gray platelets, a general decrease of alpha-granule proteins, including PF4, beta tg and PDGF was observed. The decrease in platelet mitogenic activity (PDGF) was confirmed by biological and radio-immunological measurements. An abnormally high level of these compounds was also found in the plasma. In megakaryocytes cultured from the bone marrow of these patients, alpha-granule proteins were normally expressed in early maturation stages, whereas they were found to be absent in the mature megakaryocytes. An alpha-granule membrane glycoprotein, GMP 140 has been studied in resting and thrombin stimulated gray platelets and was found to be normally expressed at the surface of stimulated platelets. GMP140 was studied in resting platelets by immunoelectron microscopy and found to be present in vacuole probably corresponding to empty granules. This observation allows to conclude that alpha-granule membrane is formed in the gray platelet syndrome, but that there is a storage defect of alpha-granule soluble proteins, possibly due to an abnormal targetting of these proteins to the alpha-granule. Synthesis and subsequent release of these proteins, namely of the mitogenic factors, which can induce myelofibrosis and lung fibrosis by abnormal fibroblast stimulation, is discussed.

Effects of P2Y(1) receptor antagonism on the reactivity of platelets from patients with stable coronary artery disease using aspirin and clopidogrel.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: P2Y(1) is a purine receptor that triggers platelet aggregation. Its inhibition was studied in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving standard anti-platelet therapy. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Blood samples from 10 patients on aspirin therapy (ASA, 80 mg·day(-1) ) were withdrawn before and 24 h after the administration of 450 mg clopidogrel (ASA/C) and were anti-coagulated with citrate or hirudin/PPACK in the presence or absence of the P2Y(1 ) inhibitor MRS2179 (M, 100 µM). Platelet responses to ADP (2.5 µM) and TRAP (2.5 µM), and collagen-induced thrombosis under flow conditions were analysed. KEY RESULTS: Compared with ASA, ASA + M strongly inhibited ADP-induced peak platelet aggregation (88%), late aggregation (84%), P-selectin expression (85%) and α(IIb) ß(3) activation (62%) (28%, 65%, 70% and 51% inhibition, respectively, for ASA/C vs. ASA). ASA + M also inhibited platelet/monocyte and platelet/neutrophil conjugate formation by 69% and 71% (57% and 59% for ASA/C vs. ASA). In TRAP-activated blood, ASA + M unexpectedly inhibited α(IIb) b(3) activation by 30%. In blood perfused in collagen-coated glass capillaries (shear rate of 1500 s(-1) ), ASA/C prevented thrombus growth beyond 5 min in relation to thrombus fragments embolization. ASA + M with or without clopidogrel completely prevented thrombus formation. Finally, ex vivo addition of MRS2179 and ASA to the blood of healthy donors markedly blocked thrombus formation on collagen in flow conditions, in contrast to ASA plus the P2Y(12) inhibitor 2-MeSAMP. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Through particularly efficient complementarities with ASA to inhibit platelet activation and thrombus formation, the inhibition of P2Y(1) in the blood of patients with CAD appears to play a more important role than previously anticipated.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases in hemostasis and thrombosis.

The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases ERK2, p38 and JNK1 are present in platelets and are activated by various stimuli, such as thrombin, collagen, von Willebrand factor (VWF) and ADP. Until recently, MAP kinases were only studied in the conventional model of agonist-induced platelet aggregation mediated by fibrinogen and integrin alphaIIbbeta3. However, this approach is likely to be too limited for a physiological understanding of platelet MAP kinases and their signaling pathways. Recent studies with varying blood-flow conditions and animal models of thrombosis have provided deeper insight into the role of MAP kinases in thrombus formation and the dependence of these kinases on shear conditions. This review summarizes and discusses the physiological functions of these kinases in hemostasis and thrombosis as revealed by various technical approaches.

Platelet-derived growth factor inhibits smooth muscle cell adhesion to fibronectin by ERK-dependent and ERK-independent pathways.

The adhesion of cells to the extracellular matrix plays a major role in cell migration. Pretreatment with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) inhibited the adhesion of smooth muscle cells to fibronectin by 80%. This inhibition decreased as concentrations of fibronectin increased. In the presence of 200 microm GRGDS peptide, only 45% of PDGF-treated cells adhered to fibronectin compared with 80% of control cells. This indicates that a decrease in integrin avidity was induced by PDGF. Cell adhesion was partially restored when the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was inhibited with PD98059. The remaining inhibition of adhesion (50%) was independent of the fibronectin concentration, suggesting that the ERK pathway is involved in the decrease in integrin avidity. This was confirmed by depleting ERK protein levels by treatment with ERK antisense oligonucleotide. The adhesion of ERK control oligonucleotide-treated cells decreased by 41% when the concentration of GRGDS peptide was increased from 50 to 200 microm but only decreased by 11% in ERK antisense oligonucleotide-treated cells. Treatment with PDGF also delayed focal complex assembly and inhibited stress fiber formation. Consistent with a delay in tyrosine phosphorylation of paxillin, PDGF treatment caused a lag in focal complex formation, although this was not associated with any change in Src family tyrosine kinase activity. Our results indicate that PDGF inhibits smooth muscle cells adhesion by two pathways. The first involves an ERK-dependent decrease in integrin avidity; the second involves the ERK-independent inhibition of focal complex assembly.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 inhibitory effect of platelet-derived growth factor-induced signal transduction on human bone marrow fibroblasts: possible involvement of protein phosphatases.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a potent growth inhibitor for many cell types. On fibroblasts, TGF-beta 1 has been shown to inhibit human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced mitogenicity. The mechanism implicated in this growth inhibition is unknown. In this work, we show on human bone marrow fibroblasts that TGF-beta 1, which inhibited PDGF-BB mitogenicity, was able to block PDGF-BB-induced early events such as polyphosphoinositide (PtdIns 4,5-P2, PtdIns 4-P, and PtdIns) breakdown and Ins 1,4,5-P3 formation. No significant modification by TGF-beta 1 of PDGF-BB binding (n1 = 200,000 vs. n2 = 195,000 sites per cell with TGF-beta 1; Kd1 = Kd2 = 0.5 x 10(-9) M) and of internalization kinetics was observed. In addition, TGF-beta 1 was shown to inhibit PDGF-BB receptor autophosphorylation either in intact cells or in partially isolated membranes and to partially inhibit PDGF-R tyrosine kinase activity. Since a dephosphorylation mechanism through protein phosphatases could be implicated, we used okadaic acid, a potent inhibitor of type 1 and 2A serine/threonine phosphatases and showed that okadaic acid restored PDGF-receptor autophosphorylation on tyrosine residues. Based on these data, we suggest that an alternative regulatory mechanism of PDGF tyrosine phosphorylation seems to involve serine/threonine phosphatase activation.

PDGF modifies phosphoinositide metabolism and inhibits aggregation and release in human platelets.

While platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) did not induce any platelet aggregation nor secretion, it modified the polyphosphoinositide metabolism of human platelets prelabeled with 32P-orthophosphate. We found a decrease of 32P associated with phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate after 3 min, with parallel increase of 32P-phosphatidylinositol 4 phosphate and 32P-phosphatidylinositol using 100 ng/ml of PDGF. This modification was PDGF concentration dependent. PDGF inhibited thrombin and collagen induced platelet aggregation and 14C-serotonin release in a dose dependent manner, but was without effect when arachidonic acid was used. These results suggest that PDGF (i) stimulated the hydrolysis of polyphosphoinositides (ii) and could exert a negative feedback control on platelet activation induced by thrombin or collagen.

Collagen-induced binding to human platelets of platelet-derived growth factor leading to inhibition of P43 and P20 phosphorylation.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is known to inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Collagen-induced binding of 125I-PDGF to human washed platelets was therefore investigated. It was found 1) to be time-dependent, reaching a plateau at 20 degrees C after 30 min, 2) collagen concentration-dependent, 3) specifically inhibited by unlabeled PDGF, and 4) saturable. Scatchard plot analysis showed a single class of sites with 3000 +/- 450 molecules bound/cell and an apparent KD of 1.2 +/- 0.2 10(-8) M. The effects of PDGF on collagen-induced phosphoinositide breakdown and protein phosphorylation were also investigated. At 50 ng/ml PDGF, a concentration which completely inhibited collagen-induced aggregation, the breakdown of [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (PIP2) and [32P]phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) was observed, but the subsequent replenishment of [32P]PIP2 was inhibited. The same PDGF concentration totally inhibited collagen-induced phosphatidic acid formation. PDGF also completely prevented phosphorylation of P43 and P20, as a result of protein kinase C activation consecutive to phosphoinositide metabolism. These results suggest that (i) a specific PDGF receptor can be induced by collagen, and (ii) PDGF can effect the early events of collagen-induced platelet activation by inhibiting PIP2 resynthesis and P43 and P20 phosphorylation. It is concluded that PDGF might be involved in a negative feed-back control of platelet activation.

The domain of platelet glycoprotein I as recognized by various antibodies, both monoclonal and polyspecific.

Platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib plays a major role in the binding of factor VIII/von Willebrand factor to allow platelet adhesion to subendothelium. We have used polyspecific and monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein Ib and have demonstrated that both antibodies were directed to glycoprotein Is, a soluble fragment of glycoprotein Ib. By showing an inhibition of the binding of factor VIII/von Willebrand factor to control platelets in presence of the antibodies, it can be concluded that glycoprotein Is is involved in these binding sites.

Increased mitogenic activity of scleroderma serum: inhibitory effect of human recombinant interferon-gamma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of platelet activation in the development of systemic sclerosis and the role of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) in the inhibition of mitogenic activity induced by whole blood serum of patients with systemic sclerosis. METHODS: The mitogenic activity of whole blood serum in the absence or presence of different concentrations of IFN gamma (a potent inhibitor of induced collagen synthesis in dermal fibroblasts) and platelet-poor plasma derived serum were tested on human dermal fibroblasts by measuring incorporation of [3H]thymidine. Platelet activation was determined by quantification of plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) using a beta-TG radioimmunoassay kit. RESULTS: The mitogenic activity was significantly increased in whole blood serum and in platelet-poor plasma derived serum of the patients compared with controls. In contrast, no significant increase in beta-TG concentration was observed in scleroderma platelet-poor plasma compared with control. Recombinant human IFN gamma had a greater inhibitory effect on the mitogenic activity induced by whole blood serum of patients than on that produced with control sera, at any concentration of IFN gamma tested. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that mitogenic activity observed in the plasma of sclerodermic patients could originate from cells other than platelets and could be involved in the development of fibrosis. The potent inhibitory effect of IFN gamma on this proliferative activity may account for the beneficial effect of this cytokine in the treatment of progressive systemic sclerosis.

Increased proliferation of bone marrow-derived fibroblasts in primitive hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with severe myelofibrosis.

Pachydermoperiostosis or primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a rare congenital growth disorder of connective tissue. We report a case of severe myelofibrosis in a patient with HOA. When cultured in vitro, patient bone marrow-derived fibroblasts displayed a high proliferative potential with a shortened doubling time (24 hours v 36 to 48 hours for normal fibroblasts). The role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), previously implicated in the pathogenesis of secondary acquired myelofibrosis, was studied. HOA fibroblasts expressed an increased number of PDGF-BB binding sites (300,000 sites/cell v 200,000 sites/cell for normal fibroblasts) without any modification of affinity. The increased expression of PDGF-R beta appeared to result from an accelerated rate of PDGF-R beta resynthesis with normal kinetics of endocytosis. As a consequence, a several-fold increase of PDGF-R beta tyrosine kinase activity was observed. No autocrine mechanism of growth was suspected as neither spontaneous PDGF-R beta autophosphorylation nor mitogenic activity in HOA fibroblast-conditioned medium was detected. Patient serum and platelet lysate were less potent than controls in inducing [3H]thymidine incorporation into HOA fibroblasts. This was inconsistent with a paracrine mechanism of growth. In vitro, human serum or PDGF-BB were not more mitogenic for HOA than normal fibroblasts. High levels of cyclin D1, a putative oncogene, were detected in serum-deprived HOA fibroblasts. Cyclin D1 overexpression could be implicated in the accelerated growth of these cells. Our results suggest that the mechanism of fibroblastic proliferation observed in this case of myelofibrosis might differ from those reported in other acquired myeloproliferative syndromes and could be associated with an intrinsic abnormality of HOA fibroblast growth.

In vitro changes in plasma membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans and in perlecan expression participate in the regulation of fibroblast growth factor 2 mitogenic activity.

Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) and 2 (FGF2) bind to two classes of receptors: the high affinity receptors, a family of four known transmembrane tyrosine kinases (FGF R1-R4), and the low affinity receptors, cell surface and basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). During early (first and second) passages of retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells, both FGF1 and FGF2 exhibited low mitogenic activity, while in later (fifth to ninth) passages the activity of FGF1 remained constant but FGF2 activity increased two- to threefold. We have investigated aspects of FGF receptor interactions and the role of heparin/heparan sulfate which modulates FGF activity on RPE cells during in vitro senescence. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that FGF receptor type 1 (FGF R1) is the major high affinity receptor expressed in RPE cells and that its level of expression did not change during serially passage. Both the FGF R1 and the FGF low affinity receptors' binding characteristics (i.e., Kd and number of sites per cell) for FGF1 were unaffected by passage number, whereas the capacity of FGF2 binding to FGF R1 and to the low affinity receptors increased by two- and fivefold, respectively, in late passages, although the affinities were unchanged. This change in the capacity of FGF2 to bind to FGF R1 and to HSPG was not due to a switch of the IIIc splice form of FGF R1 to the IIIb splice form since the exon IIIc was the most predominant splice form of FGF R1 during RPE cell cultures. Furthermore the ratio of the IIIb to the IIIc splice form was not modified during cell subcultures. In parallel in the older RPE cell passages, expression of perlecan, the major FGF low affinity binding site localized on the extracellular matrix of RPE cells, was much elevated compared to early RPE cell passages. Moreover, the cell surface of late passage RPE cells had 79% more HSPG than early passage cells. Therefore, it is suggested that the increase in the number of FGF low affinity receptors present on the cell surface or basement membrane could account for a part of the greater proliferative response of aged RPE cells to FGF2.

Increased intraplatelet levels of platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is thought to play some role in the genesis of fibrosis associated with myeloproliferative disorders. In addition, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been confirmed to promote fibrotic process. Both PDGF and TGF-beta have been shown to cooperate with epidermal growth factor (EGF) in regulating the growth of human marrow fibroblasts. All three are contained in platelet alpha-granules. We report the results of a study in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). We evaluated PDGF, TGF-beta and EGF-like activities in circulating platelets from patients compared to healthy subjects. In contrast to EGF-like intraplatelet levels which were similar in patients and in normal donors (1-4 ng/10(9) platelets), we found constantly higher values for both PDGF and TGF-beta in MMM patients. In both radioimmunoassay (RIA) and assay for mitogenic activity on human bone marrow fibroblasts, PDGF levels were increased on the average 2-3.5-fold over the levels found in normal donors (P less than 0.01 and P less than 0.001, respectively). PDGF serum levels in patients were consistent with those found in platelets. In platelet-poor plasma (PPP), PDGF concentrations were undetectable or congruent to 2 ng/ml in patients and in control donors as well. The total TGF-beta activity in platelet lysates, determined using a competitive radioreceptor binding assay on Swiss 3T3 mouse cells and an inhibition growth assay on CCL64 cells, was found 2-3-fold increased in patients with MMM as compared to control subjects (P less than 0.003). These results emphasize that, not only PDGF, but also TGF-beta are implicated in the myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia.