Initial assessment of α-synuclein structure in platelets.

Over the last few years data from our group have indicated that α-synuclein is important in development of immune cells as well as potentially erythrocytes and platelets. The latter is important since this protein may work as negative regulator of granule release. Thus, we sought to begin to understand the structure of this protein in platelets. Flow cytometric analysis of this protein using region-specific (N-terminus, central region and C-terminus) monoclonal antibodies was performed. Antibody to the central region gave the strongest shift among all three antibodies, with the C-terminus having intermediate shift and N-terminus minimal shift. Western blotting using the same antibodies showed similar binding of all antibodies to α-synuclein. These results suggest a similar arrangement of this protein in platelets as seen in neurons. Future studies ought to look at the role that each protein region plays in platelets.

Use of a whole-cell ELISA to detect additional antibodies in setting of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

OBJECTIVES: Type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is mediated by formation of antibodies to platelet factor 4 (PF4)-heparin complexes. We evaluated anti-PF4-heparin-negative samples for the presence of additional anti-platelet and anti-red blood cell (RBC) antibodies using whole-cell platelet/ RBC ELISAs we developed. METHODS: Seventy-three samples tested for anti-PF4-heparin by ELISA were included: 62 tested negative, 9 tested positive, and 2 had equivocal results. Plasma specimens from healthy donors were used as controls. RESULTS: 100% (9/9) anti-PF4-positive samples had anti-platelet antibodies detected by whole-cell platelet ELISA. 42.2% (27/64) anti-PF4-heparin-negative samples were negative for anti-platelet and anti-RBC antibodies. 32.8% (21/64) negative samples showed reactivity to both platelets and RBC; 12.5% (8/64) negative samples were each reactive with either platelet or RBC ELISA, respectively. Additionally, two samples that tested equivocal by anti-PF4-heparin ELISA had antibodies to both platelets and RBC by whole-cell ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that patients with thrombocytopenia testing negative for anti-PF4-heparin may still harbor antibodies to platelets. However, additional research is needed to determine the significance of these antibodies. Nevertheless, these findings may encourage clinicians to further investigate patients with possible immune-mediated etiologies of thrombocytopenia and anemia.

α-Synuclein concentration increases over time in plasma supernatant of single donor platelets.

OBJECTIVES: In platelets, α-synuclein is important in calcium-dependent granule release. Notably, cells release α-synuclein in setting of cell damage or death. Therefore, we investigated α-synuclein levels in plasma of single donor platelet (SDP) units during storage. METHODS: Aliquots were obtained from same SDP units for 7 days from day of donation. Additionally, randomly sampled SDP units at same storage time points were also assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: α-Synuclein in SDP plasma increased continuously over time at each assayed time point. Significant increases were measured on day 3 (11.7 ± 9.6 ng/mL, P = 0.025), day 5 (15.3 ± 5.9 ng/mL, P = 0.002), and highest on day 7 (23.7 ± 5.6 ng/mL, P < 0.0001) compared to day 0 (1.1 ± 0.8 ng/mL). Similar significant results were obtained in randomly sampled SDP units at same corresponding time points. Flow cytometry showed that platelets had strong expression of α-synuclein and lacked expression of other synucleins. CONCLUSIONS: Increases of α-synuclein during SDP storage is a steady and continuous process that increases with time. Our findings indicate that α-synuclein may represent a biomarker of platelet biological state during storage. Further research will be needed to determine how α-synuclein increases correlate with platelets' function.

Dynamic changes in absolute immature platelet count suggest the presence of a coexisting immune process in the setting of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated the usefulness of absolute immature platelet counts (A-IPCs) in the management and diagnostic algorithm of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Specifically a threefold increase in A-IPC from baseline may be diagnostic of TTP. Here, A-IPC was used to understand a coexisting immune dysregulation complicating TTP treatment. CASE REPORT: A 17-year-old previously healthy female was admitted with altered mental status, petechiae, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smear. Daily therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and corticosteroids were started for suspected TTP supported by ADAMTS13 activity of less than 5%, inhibitor more than 8, and more than threefold A-IPC increase from baseline post-TPE initiation. Despite daily TPE, the patient had significant and unexpected decreases in platelet (PLT) counts and A-IPCs during her hospital course. After each PLT count decline, response to TPE and immunosuppression led to increasingly prolonged count recovery with subsequent episodes. Decreases in both PLTs and A-IPCs indicated that both mature and immature PLTs were being cleared from circulation. Recovery occurred once A-IPC dynamics indicated restored negative feedback in relation to PLT count. CONCLUSION: Serial monitoring of A-IPC dynamics was indicative of coexisting processes in the setting of ADAMTS13 deficiency. Uncoupling of the expected A-IPC and PLT count seen in TTP suggested the presence of such an immune process in addition to TTP with high ADAMTS13 inhibitor. Monitoring of A-IPC is a clinically valuable, rapid, and noninvasive thrombopoietic measurement when TTP is suspected.

Co-regulation of invected and engrailed by a complex array of regulatory sequences in Drosophila.

invected (inv) and engrailed (en) form a gene complex that extends about 115 kb. These two genes encode highly related homeodomain proteins that are co-regulated in a complex manner throughout development. Our dissection of inv/en regulatory DNA shows that most enhancers are spread throughout a 62 kb region. We used two types of constructs to analyze the function of this DNA: P-element based reporter constructs with small pieces of DNA fused to the en promoter driving lacZ expression and large constructs with HA-tagged en and inv inserted in the genome with the phiC31 system. In addition, we generated deletions of inv and en DNA in situ and assayed their effects on inv/en expression. Our results support and extend our knowledge of inv/en regulation. First, inv and en share regulatory DNA, most of which is flanking the en transcription unit. In support of this, a 79-kb HA-en transgene can rescue inv en double mutants to viable, fertile adults. In contrast, an 84-kb HA-inv transgene lacks most of the enhancers for inv/en expression. Second, there are multiple enhancers for inv/en stripes in embryos; some of these may be redundant but others play discrete roles at different stages of embryonic development. Finally, no small reporter construct gave expression in the posterior compartment of imaginal discs, a hallmark of inv/en expression. Robust expression of HA-en in the posterior compartment of imaginal discs is evident from the 79-kb HA-en transgene, while a 45-kb HA-en transgene gives weaker, variable imaginal disc expression. We suggest that the activity of the imaginal disc enhancer(s) is dependent on the chromatin structure of the inv/en domain.

Reversal of life-threatening bleeding with protamine sulfate in a patient with plasma cell leukemia.

Plasma cell disorders, such as multiple myeloma, can cause numerous derangements of hemostasis. In this case report, we present a life-threatening coagulopathy in a patient with progressing multiple myeloma in which the antibody-producing heparin-like activity is a free light chain. The patient's bleeding was successfully treated using protamine sulfate, which then allowed treatment of her plasma cell leukemia. In the literature, other authors have reported similar patients who have responded to protamine sulphate either in vitro or in vivo , providing further evidence for the role of protamine sulfate in the reversal of coagulopathy and resolution of bleeding diathesis. Standard treatments of transfusion with fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate are likely to be ineffective in life-threatening bleeding related to this mechanism (heparin-like effect), and it is essential that treating physicians are aware of this potential mechanism of bleeding in their patients.

Corrigendum to "Chromosome 3p Inverted Duplication with Terminal Deletion: Second Postnatal Case Report with Additional Clinical Features".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/5384295.].

Chromosome 3p Inverted Duplication with Terminal Deletion: Second Postnatal Case Report with Additional Clinical Features.

Distal deletions and duplications of 3p are individually well-characterized chromosome abnormalities. Here, we report an inverted duplication of 3p with an adjacent terminal 3p deletion in a 17-month-old girl who had prenatal intrauterine growth restriction and cardiac defects. Other findings included hemangiomas, neutropenia, umbilical hernia, hypotonia, gross motor delay, microcephaly, and ptosis. Family history was noncontributory. Microarray analysis revealed a 5.37 Mb deletion of chromosome bands 3p26.1 to 3p26.3 and a 13.68 Mb duplication of 3p24.3 to 3p26.1. FISH analysis confirmed that the duplication was inverted. Upon literature review, only one postnatal patient and one second trimester pregnancy have been reported with this finding. Many of our patient's features are present in both 3p deletion and 3p duplication syndromes, including congenital heart disease, growth restriction, microcephaly, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Our patient has additional features not commonly reported in 3p deletion or duplication patients, such as aortic dilation, hemangiomas, and neutropenia. The identification of this patient contributes to additional understanding of features associated with concurrent deletion and inverted duplication in the distal 3p chromosome. This report may assist clinicians working with patients who have constellations of similar features or similar cytogenomic abnormalities.

Double feature: carcinoma and sarcoma present in a single breast tumor.

Introduction. Primary breast sarcomas (PBSs) are rare nonepithelial breast tumors compromised of mesenchymal mammary tissue. Although its rare nature has made the best mode of PBS treatment difficult to determine, it seems better to treat it more like a sarcoma creating clear negative margins verses breast carcinoma utilizing lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, and total mastectomy. Case. A 47-year-old obese Caucasian postmenopausal female G2P2 presents with a breast lump demonstrating a histological sample with a biphasic pattern consistent with both ductal carcinoma containing typical malignant epithelial cells and sarcomatous differentiation of carcinosarcoma. Conclusion. Carcinosarcoma is a rare breast malignancy. Sarcomas of the breast tend to be negative for estrogen receptor and lack known risk factors. Current recommended treatment is to treat breast sarcomas like other soft tissue sarcomas by performing wide local excision instead of partial mastectomy. Antiestrogens and other chemotherapeutic agents typically used in breast epithelial malignancies are not recommended since these sarcomas tend to be negative with these receptors.