ABSTRACT
Platelets are critical for normal hemostasis. Their deregulation can lead to bleeding or to arterial thrombosis, a primary cause of heart attack and ischemic stroke. Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 (SHIP1) is a 5-phosphatase capable of dephosphorylating the phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate second messenger into phosphatidylinositol 3,4-bisphosphate. SHIP1 plays a critical role in regulating the level of these 2 lipids in platelets. Using SHIP1-deficient mice, we found that its loss affects platelet aggregation in response to several agonists with minor effects on fibrinogen binding and beta(3) integrin tyrosine phosphorylation. Accordingly, SHIP1-null mice showed defects in arterial thrombus formation in response to a localized laser-induced injury. Moreover, these mice had a prolonged tail bleeding time. Upon stimulation, SHIP1-deficient platelets showed large membrane extensions, abnormalities in the open canalicular system, and a dramatic decrease in close cell-cell contacts. Interestingly, SHIP1 appeared to be required for platelet contractility, thrombus organization, and fibrin clot retraction. These data indicate that SHIP1 is an important element of the platelet signaling machinery to support normal hemostasis. To our knowledge, this is the first report unraveling an important function of SHIP1 in the activation of hematopoietic cells, in contrast to its well-documented role in the negative regulation of lymphocytes.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/physiology , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics , Sequence Deletion , Thrombosis/genetics , src Homology Domains/genetics , Animals , Bleeding Time , Disease Models, Animal , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Hemostasis/genetics , Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate 5-Phosphatases , Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/deficiency , Platelet Aggregation/genetics , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Platelet activation occurs in response to adhesion receptors for von Willebrand factor (GPIb-V-IX) and collagen (GPVI and alpha2beta1 integrin) acting upstream of phospholipase C (PLC) gamma2. However, PLCbeta transduces signals from Galphaq protein-coupled receptors for soluble agonists (P2y1, TxA2/TP, and thrombin/PAR). A Gi-dependent pathway amplifies most of these responses. METHODS AND RESULTS: To evaluate the role of adhesion receptors signaling in arterial thrombosis, PLCgamma2 knockout mice were studied in blood perfusion assays over fibrillar collagen and in a laser-induced mesenteric artery model of thrombosis. In vitro, PLCgamma2-deficient platelets formed a single layer incapable of generating a thrombus on collagen, whereas Galphaq-deficient platelets formed reduced size aggregates compared with wild-type cells. In the in vivo model, PLCgamma2-/- mice displayed defective thrombus formation in superficial lesions but productive thrombosis after a more severe laser injury. In contrast, resistance to thrombosis was observed in Galphaq-/- mice in both levels of injury. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that signaling through PLCgamma2 plays an important role in arterial thrombosis, but that its contribution depends on the severity of the vascular lesion.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/enzymology , Phospholipase C gamma/genetics , Phospholipase C gamma/metabolism , Thrombosis/metabolism , Thrombosis/pathology , Animals , Arterioles/metabolism , Arterioles/pathology , Collagen , Disease Models, Animal , GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11/genetics , GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11/metabolism , Lasers , Mesenteric Arteries/metabolism , Mesenteric Arteries/pathology , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Perfusion , Severity of Illness Index , Signal Transduction/physiology , Stress, Mechanical , Thrombosis/physiopathologyABSTRACT
The P2X1 receptor is a fast ATP-gated cation channel expressed in blood platelets, where its role has been difficult to assess due to its rapid desensitization and the lack of pharmacological tools. In this paper, we have used P2X1-/- and wild-type mouse platelets, treated with apyrase to prevent desensitization, to demonstrate the function of P2X1 in the response to thrombogenic stimuli. In vitro, the collagen-induced aggregation and secretion of P2X1-deficient platelets was decreased, as was adhesion and thrombus growth on a collagen-coated surface, particularly when the wall shear rate was elevated. In vivo, the functional role of P2X1 could be demonstrated using two models of platelet-dependent thrombotic occlusion of small arteries, in which blood flow is characterized by a high shear rate. The mortality of P2X1-/- mice in a model of systemic thromboembolism was reduced and the size of mural thrombi formed after a laser-induced vessel wall injury was decreased as compared with normal mice, whereas the time for complete thrombus removal was shortened. Overall, the P2X1 receptor appears to contribute to the formation of platelet thrombi, particularly in arteries in which shear forces are high.
