Effects of the extract from Conyza canadensis on human blood platelet aggregation.

The effects of different parts of extract from medicinal plant Conyza canadensis, used to control bleeding, on human blood platelet aggregation in vitro were investigated. Aqueous extract of Conyza c. from young or old plants, glycoconjugate part, polysaccharide part and aglycon part at the concentrations above 0.75 mg/ml strongly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen (2 microg/ml) in dose-dependent manner. Polysaccharide part isolated from plant extract had the strongest inhibitory effect on aggregation stimulated by collagen and seems to be responsible for antiaggregatory properties.

The effect of lipopolysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis on the level of the stable end metabolic products of nitric oxide in blood platelets.

Nitric oxide ((*)NO) plays an important role in a number of physiologic processes. Evidence exists that (*)NO, which stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase and enhances cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, may inhibit platelet activation. In contrast, during platelet activation induced by different agonists, synthesis of (*)NO in platelets occurs. In these studies, production of the stable end-products of (*)NO-nitrite and nitrate (NO(x)) in human platelets, stimulated by different doses of lipopolysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis (LPS; endotoxin), has been evaluated. LPS is a weak platelet agonist that may activate various steps of platelet activation with the generation of reactive oxygen species. The mechanism of platelet activation induced by the endotoxin is not known. The aim of the present study was to measure the level of nitrite and NO(x) in blood platelets treated with LPS and to examine the level of nitrotyrosine in platelet proteins caused by LPS. Our results show that LPS at a low concentration (6.8 ng/ml) caused a decrease (approximately 80%) in the NO(x) level, whereas at higher concentrations (13.6 and 25 ng/ml) it induced an increase in the NO(x) level (approximately 210% and 260%, respectively). Our results indicate that LPS, like other agonists (thrombin, platelet-activating factor), can stimulate (*)NO production in platelets. After incubating platelets with LPS, we also observed a distinct increase in platelet protein nitration (3-nitrotyrosine).

Novel selenoorganic compounds as modulators of oxidative stress in blood platelets.

Many selenoorganic compounds play an important role in biochemical processes and act as antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors, or drugs. The effects of five new synthesized selenoorganic compounds (2-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-7-azabenzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one; 2-phenyl-7-azabenzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one; 2-(pyridyl)-7-azabenzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one; 7-azabenzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one; bis(2-aminophenyl) diselenide) on oxidative changes in human blood platelets and in plasma were studied in vitro and compared with those of ebselen, a well known antioxidant. Our studies demonstrated that bis(2-aminophenyl) diselenide has distinctly protective effects against oxidative stress in blood platelets and in plasma. It might have greater biological relevance and stronger pharmacological effects than ebselen.

Antioxidant activity of resveratrol in endotoxin-stimulated blood platelets.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural molecule with antioxidant action. It is also considered to be a molecule with antiplatelet, anticancer and anti-inflammatory action. The effects of trans-resveratrol on the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in blood platelets induced by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) or thrombin were studied in vitro. The production of superoxide radicals (O2.-) and other reactive oxygen species (H2O2, singlet oxygen, and organic radicals) in the presence of resveratrol was measured by a chemiluminescence method in resting blood platelets and platelets stimulated by LPS (0.3 microg/ 10(8) platelets) or thrombin (2.5 U/10(8) platelets). We have shown that resveratrol (6.25-100 microg/ml) inhibits chemiluminescence and generation of O2.- in blood platelets. It has an inhibitory effect on the production of ROS and TBARS in platelets caused by LPS or thrombin.

The generation of superoxide anion in blood platelets in response to different forms of Proteus mirabilis lipopolysaccharide: effects of staurosporin, wortmannin, and indomethacin.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria may activate blood platelets. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of different forms of Proteus mirabilis LPS and isolated lipid A and polysaccharide part on the production of superoxide radicals in blood platelets and to estimate the role staurosporin, wortmannin and indomethacin on this process. We compared the generation of superoxide radicals in platelets treated with LPS after preincubation with inhibitors of the signal transduction pathways, namely staurosporin (inhibitor of protein kinase C), wortmannin (inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and indomethacin (inhibitor of cycloxygenase). Our results demonstrate that all LPS molecules and their fragments caused a stimulation of O2- generation in platelets (P<.5). LPSS1959 had the strongest stimulatory effect. Straurosporin and wortmannin, but not indomethacin inhibited O2- production in LPS-stimulated platelets. Staurosporin (8 nM) and wortmannin (50 nM) caused about 50% inhibition of thrombin-induced O2- generation in platelets, while indomethacin (10 microM) had only a slight inhibitory effect on this process. Our results provide support that in LPS- and thrombin-activated platelets, at least part of O2- generation in platelets, while indomethacin (10 microM) had only a slight inhibitory effect on this process. Our results provide support that in LPS- and thrombin-activated platelets, at least part of O2- is generated due to the activation of the enzymes (protein kinase C and phosphoinositide 3-kinase) involved in signal transduction pathway. Cycloxygenase seems to be not involved in this process.

The effect of resveratrol on the platelet secretory process induced by endotoxin and thrombin.

The effect of resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) on the release of adenine nucleotides and proteins from blood platelets activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), from Proteus mirabilis and by thrombin, were studied. Thrombin stimulated the release of adenine nucleotides from dense granules and proteins from alpha-granules. The LPS (0.3 microg/10(8) platelets, 5 min, 37 degrees C), like thrombin (2.5 U/10(8) platelets, 5 min, 37 degrees C) was found to cause a release of adenine nucleotides and proteins (p <0.05). Resveratrol (6.25-100 microg/ml, 30 min, 37 degrees C) had a different effect on the platelet release reaction caused by either LPS or thrombin. The results indicated that resveratrol inhibited, in dose-dependent manner, the secretory process (release of adenine nucleotides and proteins) induced by thrombin (p <0.05), but it significantly stimulated the liberation of proteins from blood platelets activated by LPS (p <0.05).

Adhesion of thrombin-stimulated and unstimulated blood platelets to collagen in the presence of Proteus mirabilis lipopolysaccharides.

Adhesion of blood platelets to collagen may be involved in pathogenesis of septic shock after damage of endothelial cells by LPS or inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, analysis of platelet adhesion in the presence of endotoxin seems to be of great importance. We studied in vitro the effects of LPSs (S1959, R110, R45) from Proteus mirabilis (smooth and rough types differing significantly in their composition) on the adhesion of unstimulated and thrombin-stimulated platelets to collagen. The adhesion was measured by a static method as absorbance of cell attached proteins. In this work we report that adhesion of resting platelets to collagen was stimulated by all tested LPSs. The effects were dependent on the doses of LPSs. In the presence of LPSs the inhibition of adhesion of thrombin-treated platelets to collagen was observed. The results presented in this paper indicate that LPSs from Proteus mirabilis may act directly on blood platelets and stimulate adhesion of resting platelets to collagen. On the other hand, LPSs can have an inhibitory effect on adhesion of thrombin-stimulated platelets to collagen.

Endotoxins stimulate generation of superoxide radicals and lipid peroxidation in blood platelets.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) is an important structural constituent of the membrane of gram-negative bacteria with a wide range of biological effects. It can activate blood platelets. The purpose of present study was to determine the direct effect of endotoxins from Proteus mirabilis, differing significantly in their composition, on the generation of superoxide radicals and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in blood platelets. Superoxide radicals were measured by means of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome C. The TBARS determination (malonyldialdehyde) was used as a marker of endogenous arachidonate metabolism and thromboxane A2 synthesis. Results demonstrate that three endotoxins (LPS S1959, LPS R110, LPS R45) after 2 min of action, even at the lowest concentration (0.03 microg/10(8) platelets) stimulated the generation of TBARS and release of superoxide radicals. All LPS contain lipid A as a component but differ in their chemical composition in the polysaccharide part. It is suggested that the observed effects of LPS on blood platelets are attributable to their lipid A portion.

Stimulatory effects of endotoxin on the platelet secretory process.

The effects of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Proteus mirabilis (smooth and rough types), differing significantly in their composition on the release of compounds stored in specific platelet granules, were studied. There are two main types of secretory granules in blood platelets. Dense granules contain adenine nucleotides, and in alpha-granules different proteins are stored. The LPS were found to cause a dose-dependent release of proteins and adenine nucleotides. In the extracellular medium LDH activity was not present. The results presented in this study indicate that LPS from P. mirabilis act directly on blood platelets and induce the platelet secretory process. In comparison with thrombin, a strong platelet agonist, the action of the endotoxins tested was weak.

Isolation and rapid sequence characterization of two novel bovine beta-lactoglobulins I and J.

Two novel bovine beta-lactoglobulins I and J have been isolated from bovine milk and characterized by isoelectric focusing. Their primary structure was determined by a very rapid method consisting of a combination of Edman sequencing, mass analysis, and ladder sequencing by mass spectrometry. We found that both new beta-lactoglobulins are of the bovine beta-lactoglobulin B-variant type. beta-lactoglobulin I shows Gly instead of Glu at position 108, whereas beta-lactoglobulin J shows a Pro-to-Leu exchange at position 126.