Role of tumor cytoskeleton and membrane glycoprotein IRGpIIb/IIIa in platelet adhesion to tumor cell membrane and tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation.

Components of the tumor cell cytoskeleton (i.e., microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments) have been reported to affect metastatic ability, since disruption of these components leads to a decrease in metastasis. One mechanism of metastasis which has not been previously considered is the decreased interaction of tumor cells with platelets. We present evidence that disruption of the tumor cell cytoskeleton decreases the ability of tumor cells to aggregate homologous platelets. This effect is dependent upon the disruption of microfilaments/intermediate filaments but not disruption of microtubules. In addition, tumor cell platelet interactions require the lateral mobility of specific receptors (i.e., clustering) on the tumor cell plasma membrane. A membrane glycoprotein immunologically related to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex was identified on Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells using specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and Northern blot analysis using complementary DNA probes for IIb and IIIa. Mobility of this receptor is dependent upon tumor cell microfilaments/intermediate filaments, but not microtubules. Furthermore, treatment of tumor cells with specific antibodies to the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex inhibits tumor cell-platelet interaction at the macroscopic level (i.e., aggregation) and at the ultrastructural level (i.e., platelet adhesion to the tumor cell surface). These results suggest that this immunologically related glycoprotein IIb/IIIa is a receptor for platelet binding to the tumor cell surface, an event which precedes overt platelet aggregation and is dependent upon an intact tumor cell microfilament and intermediate filament network. Therefore, the decreased metastasis observed by others following disruption of the tumor cell cytoskeleton may be due, in part, to a decreased tumor cell-platelet interaction.

Role of platelet membrane in enhancement of tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cell extracellular matrix.

Tumor cell adhesion to subendothelial matrix in the presence of platelets and plasma has been examined in vitro using an entirely homologous system of rat Walker 256 carcinosarcoma cells, matrix laid down by rat aortic endothelial cells and rat platelets and plasma. In the presence of platelets or platelets plus plasma, tumor cell adhesion was significantly enhanced when compared to adhesion in the absence of platelets. In the presence of plasma alone (0.1%), we observed no significant increase in tumor cell adhesion. In order to determine which platelet factors contribute to the enhancement of tumor cell adhesion by platelets, we subjected washed rat platelets to mechanical lysis or thrombin stimulation followed by centrifugation. The membrane fractions and supernatant fractions containing platelet attachment proteins were compared for their abilities to support tumor cell adhesion to subendothelial matrix. Platelet membranes were also recombined with platelet supernatant fractions to determine if platelet attachment proteins or platelet membranes required the presence of the other to enhance tumor cell adhesion. Platelet supernatant fractions which contained release reaction proteins (confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) did not enhance tumor cell adhesion. Purified thrombospondin, fibronectin, beta-thromboglobulin, platelet derived growth factor, and serotonin had no effect on tumor cell adhesion. Platelet membrane containing fractions affected tumor cell adhesion to subendothelial matrix as follows: (a) platelets formed an adhesive bridge between tumor cells and the subendothelial matrix as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy; (b) intact platelets and thrombin stimulated platelets were the most effective at facilitating tumor cell adhesion; (c) preparations containing partially lysed platelet ghosts were more effective in supporting tumor cell adhesion to subendothelial matrix than were preparations containing completely lysed platelet membrane fragments; (d) recombination of platelet supernatant fractions with mechanically lysed platelets did not enhance their ability to support adhesion; (e) fixed platelets, either alone or in combination with platelet supernatant fractions, failed to enhance adhesion. These data indicate that platelet enhanced tumor cell adhesion appears to be dependent on platelet membrane factors including receptor mobility, rather than intraplatelet components.

A sensitive electrochemical method for quantitative hydroperoxide determination.

We report a general assay for hydroperoxides that is simple, selective, and sensitive. The assay is based on the reduction of hydroperoxides by glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by GSH peroxidase. Stoichiometric amounts of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) are produced that are separated from GSH by HPLC. GSSG eluting from the column is quantitated with a coulometric detector operating in the oxidizing mode (E = 0.82 V vs Pd). Picomole amounts of GSSG can be measured and related to the hydroperoxide concentration in the incubation mixture. GSH peroxidase has broad substrate specificity to many different hydroperoxides. Therefore, this method allows the determination of the total hydroperoxide concentration in the reaction mixture. For analysis of peroxidized phospholipids, phospholipase A2 is included in the reaction to release fatty acid hydroperoxides from the 2-position of the glycerol moiety. The presence of hydroperoxide is verified by addition of sodium borohydride or stannous chloride to sample extracts of biological fluids before analysis. The applicability of this method was tested by examination of human plasma from normal individuals for hydroperoxide levels.

EPR studies of spin-labeled bovine plasma amine oxidase: the nature of the substrate-binding site.

The carbonyl cofactor of bovine plasma amine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6), recently shown to be 6-hydroxydopa (also known as topa), has been spin labeled to the extent of one label per enzyme dimer molecule, using 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (4-amino-TEMPO) and 4-hydrazino-TEMPO followed by reduction with borohydride. By studying the EPR spectra of the labeled enzyme, it has been deduced that there is no magnetic interaction between the copper and the spin label, and that the spin label is at least 1.3 nm distant from the copper(II) ion in the resting enzyme. The bound label is strongly immobilized, is in a sterically constricted environment, and is not accessible to small anions. Removal of the copper does not alter the EPR spectrum of the label. The results are similar to results for porcine plasma amine oxidase, and show that the copper is not close to, and does not directly interact with, the topa-bound substrate.

Structural and catalytic properties of copper in lysyl oxidase.

The spectral and catalytic properties of the copper cofactor in highly purified bovine aortic lysyl oxidase have been examined. As isolated, various preparations of purified lysyl oxidase are associated with 5-9 loosely bound copper atoms per molecule of enzyme which are removed by dialysis against EDTA. The enzyme also contains 0.99 +/- 0.10 g atom of tightly bound copper per 32-kDa monomer which is not removed by this treatment. The copper-free apoenzyme, prepared by dialysis of lysyl oxidase against alpha,alpha'-dipyridyl in 6 M urea, catalyzed neither the oxidative turnover of amine substrates nor the anaerobic production of aldehyde at levels stoichiometric with enzyme active site content, thus contrasting with the ping pong metalloenzyme. Moreover, the spectrum of the apoenzyme was not measurably perturbed upon anaerobic incubation with n-butylamine, while difference absorption bands were generated at 250 and 308 nm in the spectrum of the metalloenzyme incubated under the same conditions. A difference absorption band also developed at 300-310 nm upon anaerobic incubation of pyrroloquinoline quinone, the putative carbonyl cofactor of lysyl oxidase, with n-butylamine. Full restoration of catalytic activity occurred upon the reconstitution of the apoenzyme with 1 g atom of copper/32-kDa monomer, whereas identical treatment of the apoenzyme with divalent salts of zinc, cobalt, iron, mercury, magnesium, or cadmium failed to restore catalytic activity. The EPR spectrum of copper in lysyl oxidase is typical of the tetragonally distorted, octahedrally coordinated Cu(II) sites observed in other amine oxidases and indicates coordination by at least three nitrogen ligands. The single copper atom in the lysyl oxidase monomer is thus essential at least for the catalytic and possibly for the structural integrity of this protein.