Intracellular origin and ultrastructure of platelet-derived microparticles.

Essentials Platelet microparticles play a major role in pathologies, including hemostasis and thrombosis. Platelet microparticles have been analyzed and classified based on their ultrastructure. The structure and intracellular origin of microparticles depend on the cell-activating stimulus. Thrombin-treated platelets fall apart and form microparticles that contain cellular organelles. SUMMARY: Background Platelet-derived microparticles comprise the major population of circulating blood microparticles that play an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Despite numerous studies on the (patho)physiological roles of platelet-derived microparticles, mechanisms of their formation and structural details remain largely unknown. Objectives Here we studied the formation, ultrastructure and composition of platelet-derived microparticles from isolated human platelets, either quiescent or stimulated with one of the following activators: arachidonic acid, ADP, collagen, thrombin or calcium ionophore A23187. Methods Using flow cytometry, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, we analyzed the intracellular origin, structural diversity and size distributions of the subcellular particles released from platelets. Results The structure, dimensions and intracellular origin of microparticles depend on the cell-activating stimulus. The main structural groups include a vesicle surrounded by one thin membrane or multivesicular structures. Thrombin, unlike other stimuli, induced formation of microparticles not only from the platelet plasma membrane and cytoplasm but also from intracellular structures. A fraction of these vesicular particles having an intracellular origin contained organelles, such as mitochondria, glycogen granules and vacuoles. The size of platelet-derived microparticles depended on the nature of the cell-activating stimulus. Conclusion The results obtained provide a structural basis for the qualitative differences of various platelet activators, for specific physiological and pathological effects of microparticles, and for development of advanced assays.

An anti-DNA antibody prefers damaged dsDNA over native.

DNA-protein interactions, including DNA-antibody complexes, have both fundamental and practical significance. In particular, antibodies against double-stranded DNA play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Elucidation of structural mechanisms of an antigen recognition and interaction of anti-DNA antibodies provides a basis for understanding the role of DNA-containing immune complexes in human pathologies and for new treatments. Here we used Molecular Dynamic simulations of bimolecular complexes of a segment of dsDNA with a monoclonal anti-DNA antibody's Fab-fragment to obtain detailed structural and physical characteristics of the dynamic intermolecular interactions. Using a computationally modified crystal structure of a Fab-DNA complex (PDB: 3VW3), we studied in silico equilibrium Molecular Dynamics of the Fab-fragment associated with two homologous dsDNA fragments, containing or not containing dimerized thymine, a product of DNA photodamage. The Fab-fragment interactions with the thymine dimer-containing DNA was thermodynamically more stable than with the native DNA. The amino acid residues constituting a paratope and the complementary nucleotide epitopes for both Fab-DNA constructs were identified. Stacking and electrostatic interactions were shown to play the main role in the antibody-dsDNA contacts, while hydrogen bonds were less significant. The aggregate of data show that the chemically modified dsDNA (containing a covalent thymine dimer) has a higher affinity toward the antibody and forms a stronger immune complex. These findings provide a mechanistic insight into formation and properties of the pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, associated with skin photosensibilization and DNA photodamage.

[Molecular dynamics of immune complex of photoadduct-containing DNA with Fab-Anti-DNA antibody fragment].

Antibodies to DNA play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The elucidation of structural mechanisms of both the antigen recognition and the interaction of anti-DNA antibodies with DNA will help to understand the role of DNA-containing immune complexes in various pathologies and can provide a basis for new treatment modalities. Moreover, the DNA-antibody complex is an analog of specific intracellular DNA-protein interactions. In this work, we used in silico molecular dynamic simulations of bimolecular complexes of the dsDNA segment containing the Fab fragment of an anti-DNA antibody to obtain the detailed thermodynamic and structural characteristics of dynamic intermolecular interactions. Using computationally modified crystal structure of the Fab-DNA complex (PDB ID: 3VW3), we studied the equilibrium molecular dynamics of the 64M-5 antibody Fab fragment associated with the dsDNA fragment containing the thymine dimer, the product of DNA photodamage. Amino acid residues that constitute paratopes and the complementary nucleotide epitopes for the Fab-DNA construct were identified. Stacking and electrostatic interactions were found to play the main role in mediating the most specific antibody-dsDNA contacts, while hydrogen bonds were less significant. These findings may shed light on the formation and properties of pathogenic anti-DNA antibodies in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus associated with skin photosensitivity and DNA photodamage.

[STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PLATELETS AND PLATELET-DERIVED MICROVESICLES].

Platelets are the anucleated blood cells, wich together with the fibrin stop bleeding (hemostasis). Cellular microvesicles are membrane-surrounded microparticles released into extracellular space upon activation and/or apoptosis of various cells. Platelet-derived macrovesicles from the major population of circulating blood microparticles that play an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Despite numerous studies on the pathophysiology of platelet-derived macrovesicles, mechanisms of their formation and structural details remain poorly understood. Here we investigated the ultrastructure of parental platelets and platelet-derived microvesicles formed in vitro by quiescent cells as well as by cells stimulated with one of the following activators: arachidonic acid, ADP, thrombin, calcium ionophore A23187. Using transmission electron microscopy of human platelets and isolated microvesicles, we analyzed the intracellular origin, steps of formation, structural diversity, and size distributions of the subcellular particles. We have revealed that thrombin, unlike other stimuli, not only induced vesiculation of the plasma membrane but also caused break-up of the cells followed by formation of microparticles that are comparable with microvesicles by size. A fraction of these microparticles contained cellular organelles surrounded by a thin membrane. The size of platelet-derived macrovesicles varied from 30 nm to 500 nm, however, the size distributions depended on the nature of a cell-activating stimulus. The results obtained provide new information about the formation of platelet-derived macrovesicles and their structural diversity, wich is important to understand their multiple functions in normal and disease states.

[Antibodies to DNA stimulates death of mononuclear cells of healthy persons in vitro].

We have shown that polyclonal antibody IgG to native DNA leads to increased levels of apoptosis of moonuclear cells of healthy persons in vitro. Possible biological role of antibodies to DNA is discussed.

Mechanism of action of DNA-hydrolyzing antibodies to DNA from blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Four fractions of IgG antibodies to native DNA (nDNA) were obtained from blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These antibodies displayed a thermostable DNA-hydrolyzing activity and were different in affinity for DNA-cellulose and sorption on DEAE-cellulose. DNA-hydrolyzing antibodies to nDNA are metal-dependent endonucleases, cause mainly single-strand breaks in DNA, and are active over a wide range of pH. By atomic-force microscopy, three-dimensional images of DNA complexes with DNA-hydrolyzing antibodies to nDNA were obtained with nanometer resolution, and a nonprocessive action mechanism was shown for the DNase activity of antibodies to nDNA.

Special features of the DNA-hydrolyzing activity of the antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Two types of IgG anti-DNA antibodies exhibiting DNA-hydrolyzing activity have been isolated from blood serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. This DNase activity of antibodies differs from serum DNases by the non-processive mode, temperature resistance, pH optimum, and the rate of DNA hydrolysis. It is suggested that the anti-DNA antibody molecule possessing DNase activity contains two sites: one site determines specificity of antibody-DNA interaction, whereas the other is responsible for manifestation of the catalytic activity.

[Clinical picture and dynamics of psychopathologic disorders in subacute leuko-and panencephalitis]. / Klinika i dinamika psikhopatologicheskikh rasstroistv pri podostrykh leiko-i panéntsefalitakh

The report contains the results of clinico-dynamic studies of mental disorders in patients with Schilder's leukoencephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis after van-Bogart. The authors come to the conclusion that only parallel comparisons of the psychopathological symptomatology with focal neurological signs and a simultaneous study of the EEG and other paraclinical indices may facilitate the differential diagnosis of encephalitis.