ABSTRACT
TREM-like transcript-1 (TLT-1) is a novel platelet membrane receptor, which has been recently characterized in mice. TLT-1 is expressed exclusively in platelets and megakaryocytes, and its expression is dramatically upregulated upon platelet activation, suggesting that it plays a unique role in hemostasis and/or thrombosis. In this study we identified and characterized highly specific human monoclonal antibodies that bind to TLT-1 by screening a naïve library of single chain Fv fragments (scFvs) displayed on filamentous phage (Thomlinson I library). These scFvs detected plate-bound TLT-1, captured soluble TLT-1, and readily reacted with cell-bound TLT-1 on transfectants and primary human platelets. Most importantly, anti-TLT-1 scFvs inhibited thrombin-mediated human platelet aggregation. This inhibition was specific for thrombin-induced aggregation and was reversible with higher doses of agonist. These data are the first to demonstrate a biological role for TLT-1 and its potential as a therapeutic target. The human scFvs isolated in this study may represent novel anti-platelet therapeutic agents.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology , Blood Platelets/drug effects , Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/pharmacology , Platelet Aggregation/drug effects , Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism , Thrombin/antagonists & inhibitors , Antibodies, Monoclonal/genetics , Antibodies, Monoclonal/isolation & purification , Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism , Antibody Specificity , Binding, Competitive , Blood Platelets/metabolism , Cell Line , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Fibrinolytic Agents/isolation & purification , Fibrinolytic Agents/metabolism , Humans , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/genetics , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/isolation & purification , Immunoglobulin Variable Region/metabolism , In Vitro Techniques , Peptide Library , Receptors, Immunologic/genetics , Receptors, Immunologic/immunology , Thrombin/metabolism , TransfectionABSTRACT
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells like transcript-1 (TLT-1) is an abundant platelet-specific, type I transmembrane receptor. The extracellular fragment of TLT-1 consists of a single, immunoglobulin-like domain connected to the platelet cell membrane by a linker region called the stalk. Here we present evidence that a soluble fragment of the TLT-1 extracellular domain is found in serum of humans and mice and that an isoform of similar mass is released from platelets following activation with thrombin. We also report the crystal structure of the immunoglobulin domain of TLT-1 determined at the resolution of 1.19 A. The structure of TLT-1 is similar to other immunoglobulin-like variable domains, particularly those of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1), the natural killer cell-activating receptor NKp44, and the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. Particularly interesting is a 17-amino acid segment of TLT-1, homologous to a fragment of murine TREM-1, which, in turn, showed activity in blocking the TREM-1-mediated inflammatory responses in mice. Structural similarity to TREM-1 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, and evidence for a naturally occurring soluble fragment of the TLT-1 extracellular domain, suggest that this immunoglobulin-like domain autonomously plays an as yet unidentified, functional role.
