scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Ion Channel ORF3a Enables TMEM16F-Dependent Phosphatidylserine Externalization to Augment Procoagulant Activity of the Tenase and Prothrombinase Complexes

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Jacob G Ludington ◽  
Shabbir A Ansari ◽  
Alec A Schmaier ◽  
Keiichi Enjyoji ◽  
Benjamin E Nilsson-Payant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Blood Coagulation ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Phospholipid Scramblase ◽  
Prothrombinase Activity

Abstract Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection is complicated by dysregulation of the blood coagulation system and high rates of thrombosis, but virus-intrinsic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are poorly understood. Increased intracellular calcium concentrations promote externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), the membrane anionic phospholipid required for assembly and activation of the tenase and prothrombinase complexes to drive blood coagulation. TMEM16F is a ubiquitous phospholipid scramblase that mediates externalization of PS in a calcium-dependent manner. As SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a encodes a presumed cation channel with the ability to transport calcium, we hypothesized that ORF3a expression by infected host cells perturbs the cellular calcium rheostat, driving TMEM16F-dependent externalization of PS and enhancing procoagulant activity. Using a doxycycline-inducible system, synchronized expression of ORF3a in A549 pulmonary epithelial cells resulted in a time-dependent augmentation of tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activity exceeding 9-fold by 48 hours (p < 0.0001), with no change in TF cell-surface expression. This enhancement was dependent upon PS as determined by inhibition with the PS-binding protein lactadherin. Over 2-fold enhancement of prothrombinase activity (p < 0.0001) was also observed by 48 hours. ORF3a increased intracellular calcium levels by 18-fold at 48 hours (p < 0.0001), as determined by the intracellular calcium indicator fluo-4. After 16 hours of ORF3a expression, more than 60% of cells had externalized PS (p < 0.001) without increased cell death, as quantified by flow cytometry following annexin V binding. Immunofluorescence microscopy staining for ORF3a, annexin V, and nuclei confirmed ORF3a expression within internal and cell surface membranes and increased PS externalization. PS externalization was insensitive to the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK, and there was no evidence of apoptotic activation as determined by caspase-3 cleavage. By contrast, ORF3a expression did not augment coagulation in cells deficient in the calcium-dependent phospholipid scramblase TMEM16F. Similarly, ORF3a-enhanced TF procoagulant activity (p < 0.01) and prothrombinase activity (p<0.05) was completely abrogated using TMEM16 inhibitors, including the uricosuric agent benzbromarone that has been registered for human use in over 20 countries. Live SARS-CoV-2 infection of A549-ACE2 cells increased cell surface factor Xa generation at MOI 0.1 (p < 0.01) but not MOI 0.01 or following heat inactivation of the virus, and RNA sequencing confirmed ORF3a induction without increased F3 expression. RNA sequencing of human SARS-CoV-2 infected lung autopsy and control tissue (n= 53) confirmed these findings in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining for ORF3a and KRT8/18 and CD31 in SARS-CoV-2 infected human lung autopsy specimens demonstrated ORF3a expression in pulmonary epithelium and endothelial cells, highlighting the potential pathologic relevance of this mechanism. Here we demonstrate that expression of the SARS-CoV-2 accessory protein ORF3a increases the intracellular calcium concentration and TMEM16F-dependent PS scrambling to augment procoagulant activity of the tenase and prothrombinase complexes. Our studies of human cells and tissues infected with SARS-CoV-2 support the pathologic relevance of this mechanism. We highlight the therapeutic potential to target the ORF3a-TMEM16F axis as with benzbromarone to mitigate dysregulation of coagulation and thrombosis during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Disclosures Schwartz: Miromatrix Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam Inc.: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Schulman: CSL Behring: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Increased Procoagulant Activity of Red Blood Cells from Patients with Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease and β-Thalassemia

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (03) ◽  
pp. 322-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Helley ◽  
Amiram Eldor ◽  
Robert Girot ◽  
Rolande Ducrocq ◽  
Marie-Claude Guillin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Homozygous Sickle Cell Disease

SummaryIt has recently been proved that, in vitro, red blood cells (RBCs) from patients with homozygous β-thalassemia behave as procoagulant cells. The procoagulant activity of β-thalassemia RBCs might be the result of an increased exposure of procoagulant phospholipids (i. e. phosphatidylserine) in the outer leaflet of the membrane. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared the catalytic properties of RBCs of patients with β-thalassemia and homozygous sickle cell disease (SS-RBCs) with that of controls. The catalytic parameters (Km, kcat) of prothrombin activation by factor Xa were determined both in the absence and in the presence of RBCs. The turn-over number (kcat) of the reaction was not modified by normal, SS- or (3-thalassemia RBCs. The Km was lower in the presence of normal RBCs (mean value: 9.1 µM) than in the absence of cells (26 µM). The Km measured in the presence of either SS-RBCs (mean value: 1.6 µM) or β-thalassemia RBCs (mean value: 1.5 pM) was significantly lower compared to normal RBCs (p <0.001). No significant difference was observed between SS-RBCs and p-thalassemia RBCs. Annexin V, a protein with high affinity and specificity for anionic phospholipids, inhibited the procoagulant activity of both SS-RBCs and (3-thalassemia RBCs, in a dose-dependent manner. More than 95% inhibition was achieved at nanomolar concentrations of annexin V. These results indicate that the procoagulant activity of both β-thalassemia RBCs and SS-RBCs may be fully ascribed to an abnormal exposure of phosphatidylserine at the outer surface of the red cells.

Endothelial Cell-Derived Microparticles in the Pathogenesis of Chemotherapy-Associated Hypercoagulability.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1457-1457
Author(s):  
Daniel Lechner ◽  
Marietta Kollars ◽  
Sabine Eichinger ◽  
Paul Alexander Kyrle ◽  
Ansgar Weltermann
Keyword(s):  
Thrombin Generation ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Thrombin Generation Assay ◽  
Apoptotic Effect ◽  
Mitochondrial Dehydrogenase Activity

Abstract Background: Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is a risk factor of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. The underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. We hypothesized an apoptotic effect of cisplatin on endothelial cells (EC) inducing a release of small membrane vesicles, so-called microparticles (MP) which are known to cause hemostasis activation. Objectives: To quantify the release of MP from EC following administration of cisplatin and to investigate MP-associated procoagulant mechanisms. Methods: Two EC lines (HUVEC, HMVEC-L) were exposed to cisplatin (1, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μM) for up to 120 h. Cell viability was assessed by quantification of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity, counts and procoagulant activity of MP were measured by flow cytometry and a thrombin generation assay, respectively. Tissue factor (TF) antigen levels were determined by ELISA. Results: EC viability decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner and was accompanied by an increasing release of MP into culture media (maximum: HUVEC + 544%; HMVEC-L + 1738%). In parallel, procoagulant activity of media increased by up to 150% (HUVEC) and 493% (HMVEC-L), respectively. The procoagulant activity was almost abolished by annexin V but was not suppressed by a monoclonal TF-antibody. TF antigen levels on MP were persistently low even at high cisplatin concentrations. Conclusion: At pharmacologically relevant concentrations, cisplatin induced a marked release of procoagulant MP from EC. Negatively charged phospholipids but not TF on MP were decisive for total thrombin generation. Further studies are warranted to investigate the cisplatin-induced release of EC-derived MP in vivo.

scholarly journals Annexin V perturbs or stabilises phospholipid membranes in a calcium-dependent manner

FEBS Letters ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 359 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 155-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emile L.J. Goossens ◽  
Chris P.M. Reutelingsperger ◽  
Frans H.M. Jongsma ◽  
Ruud Kraayenhof ◽  
Wim Th. Hermens
Keyword(s):  
Annexin V ◽  
Phospholipid Membranes ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Calcium Dependent

scholarly journals Two Distinct Notch1 Mutant Alleles Are Involved in the Induction of T-Cell Leukemia in c-myc Transgenic Mice

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 3831-3842 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Hoemann ◽  
N. Beaulieu ◽  
L. Girard ◽  
N. Rebai ◽  
P. Jolicoeur
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Tumor Formation ◽  
Type I ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
Calcium Dependent

ABSTRACT We have previously characterized a large panel of provirus insertion Notch1 mutant alleles and their products arising in thymomas of MMTVD/myc transgenic mice. Here, we show that these Notch1 mutations represent two clearly distinct classes. In the first class (type I), proviral integrations were clustered just upstream of sequences encoding the transmembrane domain. Type I Notch1 alleles produced two types of mutantNotch1 RNA, one of which encoded the entire Notch1 cytoplasmic domain [N(IC)] and the other of which encoded a soluble ectodomain [N(EC)Mut] which, in contrast to the processed wild-type ectodomain [N(EC)WT], did not reside at the cell surface and became secreted in a temperature-dependent manner. A second, novel class of mutant Notch1 allele (type II) encoded a Notch1 receptor with the C-terminal PEST motif deleted (ΔCT). The type II Notch1ΔCT protein was expressed as a normally processed receptor [N(EC)WT and N(IC)ΔCT] at the cell surface, and its ectodomain was found to be shed into the extracellular medium in a temperature- and calcium-dependent manner. These data suggest that both type I and type II mutations generate two structurally distinct Notch1 N(EC) and N(IC) proteins that may participate in tumor formation, in collaboration with the c-myc oncogene, through distinct mechanisms. Constitutive type I N(IC) and type II N(IC)ΔCT expression may enhance Notch1 intracellular signaling, while secreted or shed type I N(EC)Mut and type II N(EC) proteins may differentially interact in an autocrine or paracrine fashion with ligands of Notch1 and affect their signaling.

scholarly journals Coagulation Factor XII Plays an Important Role in Procoagulant Activity of Apoptotic Cells

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2457-2457
Author(s):  
Aizhen Yang ◽  
Yi Wu
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Coagulation Factor ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Contact System ◽  
Coagulation System ◽  
Factor Xii ◽  
Apoptotic Cells ◽  
Dependent Manner

Abstract Apoptosis can be induced in a variety of pathological disorders, including inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and chemotherapy. When cells undergo apoptosis, they express phosphatidylserine (PS) on cell membrane surface and thus become procoagulant. Although it has been known that the procoagulant activity of apoptotic cells are tightly associated with thrombotic disorders, such as atherothrombosis and Trousseau syndrome, the mechanisms by which apoptotic cells activate the coagulation system and enhance blood clotting are largely unknown. In this study we investigated which coagulation factor(s) is involved in this process. Using western blotting and chromogenic substrate assay, we found that incubation with apoptotic cells induced by Dexamethasone (DXMS), but not with viable cells, resulted in rapid cleavage and activation of FXII. Moreover, apoptotic cells-mediated FXII activation was significantly increased in the presence of prekallikrein (PK) and high molecular weight kininogen (HK), other two components of plasma contact system. However, incubation of apoptotic cells did not cause dramatic changes of other coagulation factors, suggesting a selective association of FXII activation with apoptotic cells. Activation of FXII by apoptotic cells was markedly inhibited by a specific anti-kallikrein antibody, indicating the activation of the contact system by apoprotic cells. Flow cytometric measurement showed that FXII bound to apoptotic cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was inhibited by annexin V and PS liposome. A surface plasmon resonance assay showed a direct binding of FXII to PS (KD=3.9E-9 M). When challenged by apoptotic cells, clotting time of plasma from FXII-knockout mice was significantly prolonged, which was reversed by replenishment with human FXII. Moreover, an inhibitory anti-FXII antibody completely prevented apoptotic cells-induced intrinsic tenase complex formation. Consistently, apoptotic cells significantly increased thrombin production in normal plasma, which were attenuated by PS blocker annexin V, an inhibitory anti-FXII antibody, and the deficiency of FXII, respectively. Addition of human FXII to XII-deficient plasma recovered thrombin generation. As evaluated by ELISA, the levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex in circulation were significantly increased when apoptotic cells were intravenously injected into wild-type mice, but not in FXII-knockout mice. In conclusion, FXII plays an important role in apoptotic cells-mediated procoagulant activity. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Effect of Factor Xa Inhibitors on the Platelet-derived Microparticles Procoagulant Activity In Vitro> and In Vivo in Rats

2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 668-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Hérault ◽  
B. Perrin ◽  
C. Jongbloet ◽  
A. M. Pflieger ◽  
A. Bernat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factor Xa ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Factor Xa Inhibitors ◽  
Gel Chromatography ◽  
Factor Xa Inhibitor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Platelet Surface ◽  
Prothrombinase Activity

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of factor Xa inhibitors on the prothrombinase activity of platelet-derived microparticles in vitro and in vivo. The factor Xa inhibitors studied were DX9065A (a direct factor Xa inhibitor) and Sanorg34006 (an antithrombin (AT)-mediated factor Xa inhibitor). Microparticles formed from the platelet surface following activation were isolated by size exclusion gel chromatography. After purification, their presence was detected by their procoagulant activity and by flow cytometry. Our results show that factor Xa and/or factor Va were present at the surface of the platelet-derived microparticles. Prothrombinase formed on the microparticles was inhibited by factor Xa inhibitors at IC50 values of 0.45 ± 0.05 and 0.045 ± 0.005 µM for DX9065A and AT-Sanorg34006 respectively. In an experiment aimed at determining the kinetics of microparticles formation we demonstrated that thrombin traces were sufficient to induce the formation of a significant quantity of microparticles. Both factor Xa inhibitors delayed the formation of microparticles by delaying thrombin generation. The thrombogenic effect of the microparticles were studied in vivo in a modified arterio-venous shunt model in the rat. In this model, the increase in the thrombus weigh due to microparticles or phospholipids did not differ significantly (33% and 23% respectively). In these conditions, prothrombinase activity seemed to play a lesser role in the thrombogenic effect than phospholipids. Nevertheless, factor Xa inhibitors were efficient and inhibited thrombus formation in a dose-dependent manner.These results demonstrate that platelet-derived microparticles display a potent prothrombotic effect in vivo and show that factor Xa inhibitors are potent antithrombotic compounds when thrombosis was induced by microparticles.

Procoagulant Activity of Skeletal Muscle Myosin Is Not Caused By Contaminating Phosphatidylserine-Vesicles

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 20-21
Author(s):  
Shravan Morla ◽  
Hiroshi Deguchi ◽  
Rolf Brekken ◽  
John H. Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Annexin V ◽  
Procoagulant Activity ◽  
Phospholipid Vesicles ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Myosin ◽  
Gla Domain ◽  
Muscle Myosin ◽  
Prothrombinase Activity ◽  
Prothrombin Activation

Skeletal muscle myosin (SkM) can bind factor (F)Xa and FVa, thereby providing a surface that promotes thrombin generation by the prothrombinase complex (FXa:FVa:Ca++) that cleaves prothrombin. A recent BLOOD paper (Novakovic & Gilbert, 2020) asserted that this activity of SkM preparations is entirely due to contaminating phosphatidylserine (PS)-containing phospholipid vesicles in SkM preparations because annexin V and lactadherin neutralized the ability of SkM to enhance prothrombin activation. However, annexin V and lactadherin are certainly not monospecific for binding PS as they are globular proteins that can bind other lipids and many proteins. Without any PS measurements or use of any reagents specific for PS (e.g., monoclonal (mAb) anti-PS antibodies), that report, in a gross overinterpretation of its incomplete data, dismissed any direct role for myosin for SkM's procoagulant activity. When we previously observed that annexin V is inhibitory of SkM's support for prothrombinase activity, we sent a sample of SkM (Cytoskeletal Inc) to Avanti Polar Lipids for quantitation of the PS content based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. That analysis showed that only a small amount of PS was present in the SkM, approximately 0.90 µmol PS per 40. µmol SkM. This amount of PS present in SkM preparations is not enough to explain SkM's procoagulant activity. For example, standardized purified prothrombinase reaction mixture assays show that 10 nM SkM enables formation of 3 nmol thrombin/min while 0.22 nM PS (in 1.1 nM phosphatidylcholine (PC)(80%)/PS(20%) vesicles) enables formation of only 0.4 nmol thrombin/min (Figure 1A). We directly assessed the role of contaminating PS for SkM's prothrombinase support using the well characterized anti-PS mAb 11.31 (aka mAb PGN632). When the ability of mAb 11.31 to inhibit prothrombinase enhancement by SkM or, in controls, by PC/PS vesicles was determined, the data showed that, in controls, mAb 11.31 at 1.0 nM severely inhibited PC/PS vesicle's enhancement of prothrombinase by &gt; 90% (Figure 1B). The dose-response gave an inhibitory IC50 value of 0.2 nM which is near this mAb's reported Kd of 0.17-0.35 nM for PS, establishing the potent ability of this anti-PS mAb to neutralize PS procoagulant activity. However, there was no substantial inhibition of SkM's enhancement of prothrombinase by the anti-PS mAb 11.31 at up to 1 nM mAb 11.31 (Figure 1B). This indicates that contaminating, PS-containing vesicles are not a significant factor for SkM-dependent enhancement of prothrombin activation by the SkM preparation -- in direct contradiction of the assertion of Novakovic & Gilbert (BLOOD 2020). That recent report was correct that annexin V inhibits the ability of SkM to enhance prothrombinase as well as the ability of PC/PS vesicles to do so (Figure 1B). So it was the overinterpretation of the annexin V and lactadherin data as well as the failure to provide any direct measurement of PS that were problematic in that report. The observation that annexin V and lactadherin inhibit SkM's enhancement of prothrombinase merits further studies to understand what may be their mechanistic influences. Another informative test for an essential role for PS in SkM's enhancement of prothrombinase involves the use of FXa that lacks its gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) domain because this N-terminal domain of FXa is required for FXa binding to PS-containing phospholipid vesicles. Data in Figure 1A show that SkM, but not PS-containing PL vesicles, supports the prothrombinase activity of des-Gla Domain (DG)-FXa which lacks its Gla domain. Dose-response data show that, in prothrombinase assays, DG-FXa has only 1% activity in the presence of PC/PS vesicles but has 25-35% activity in presence of SkM (Figure 1A). These data indicate that SkM's procoagulant activity does not absolutely require the Gla domain of FXa whereas PS-containing vesicles do require the Gla domain of FXa for significant activity. These data prove that the recent assertion that PS vesicle contamination, not myosin, explains SkM's procoagulant activity represents an overinterpretation of annexin V and lactadherin data and is simply wrong. In conclusion, both new data here, i.e., PS content of SkM preparations and data for effects of anti-PS mAb 11.31 (Figure 1B) and previous data (Deguchi et al, Blood 2016 and J Biol Chem, 2019), affirm that the myosin protein is a key factor for SkM's ability to enhance prothrombin activation. Figure 1 Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Estradiol-stimulated nitric oxide release in human granulocytes is dependent on intracellular calcium transients: evidence of a cell surface estrogen receptor

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 3951-3958 ◽  
Author(s):  
George B. Stefano ◽  
Patrick Cadet ◽  
Christophe Breton ◽  
Yannick Goumon ◽  
Vincent Prevot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
No Release ◽  
Human Granulocytes ◽  
A Cell ◽  
17Β Estradiol

We tested the hypothesis that estrogen acutely stimulates constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity in human granulocytes by acting on a cell surface estrogen receptor (ER). The release of nitric oxide was measured in real time with an amperometric probe. Exposure of granulocytes to 17β-estradiol stimulated NO release within seconds in a concentration-dependent manner. The NO release was also stimulated by 17β-estradiol conjugated to bovine serum albumin (E2-BSA), which suggests mediation by a cell surface receptor. Tamoxifen, an ER inhibitor, antagonized the action of both 17β-estradiol and E2-BSA, whereas ICI 182,780, an inhibitor of the nuclear ER, had no effect. Using dual emission microfluorometry in a calcium-free medium, the 17β-estradiol–stimulated release of NO from granulocytes was shown to be dependent on intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients in a tamoxifen-sensitive process. Exposure to BAPTA-AM (1,2bis-(-aminophenoxy)ethans-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxyymethyl) ester), a [Ca2+]i chelator, reduced [Ca2+]i in response to E2-BSA, and depleting [Ca2+]i stores abolished the effect of 17β-estradiol on NO release. Confocal photomicrographs using E2-BSA–FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) revealed cell membrane reactivity. Estrogen-stimulated NO release had an immunosuppressive effect, and it initiated granulocyte rounding and loss of adherence in a tamoxifen-sensitive manner. Finally, using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, human neutrophil granulocytes expressed ER but not ERβ, suggesting that ER may be the membrane receptor for 17β-estradiol. The study demonstrated that a physiological dose of estrogen down-regulates granulocyte activity by acutely stimulating NO release via the activation of a cell surface ER which is coupled to increases in [Ca2+]i.

Estradiol-stimulated nitric oxide release in human granulocytes is dependent on intracellular calcium transients: evidence of a cell surface estrogen receptor

Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 95 (12) ◽  
pp. 3951-3958 ◽  
Author(s):  
George B. Stefano ◽  
Patrick Cadet ◽  
Christophe Breton ◽  
Yannick Goumon ◽  
Vincent Prevot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Estrogen Receptor ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
No Release ◽  
Human Granulocytes ◽  
A Cell ◽  
17Β Estradiol

Abstract We tested the hypothesis that estrogen acutely stimulates constitutive nitric oxide synthase activity in human granulocytes by acting on a cell surface estrogen receptor (ER). The release of nitric oxide was measured in real time with an amperometric probe. Exposure of granulocytes to 17β-estradiol stimulated NO release within seconds in a concentration-dependent manner. The NO release was also stimulated by 17β-estradiol conjugated to bovine serum albumin (E2-BSA), which suggests mediation by a cell surface receptor. Tamoxifen, an ER inhibitor, antagonized the action of both 17β-estradiol and E2-BSA, whereas ICI 182,780, an inhibitor of the nuclear ER, had no effect. Using dual emission microfluorometry in a calcium-free medium, the 17β-estradiol–stimulated release of NO from granulocytes was shown to be dependent on intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients in a tamoxifen-sensitive process. Exposure to BAPTA-AM (1,2bis-(-aminophenoxy)ethans-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxyymethyl) ester), a [Ca2+]i chelator, reduced [Ca2+]i in response to E2-BSA, and depleting [Ca2+]i stores abolished the effect of 17β-estradiol on NO release. Confocal photomicrographs using E2-BSA–FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate) revealed cell membrane reactivity. Estrogen-stimulated NO release had an immunosuppressive effect, and it initiated granulocyte rounding and loss of adherence in a tamoxifen-sensitive manner. Finally, using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, human neutrophil granulocytes expressed ER but not ERβ, suggesting that ER may be the membrane receptor for 17β-estradiol. The study demonstrated that a physiological dose of estrogen down-regulates granulocyte activity by acutely stimulating NO release via the activation of a cell surface ER which is coupled to increases in [Ca2+]i.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document