2 results
2097: Aging-associated increases in platelet granzyme A regulate pro-inflammatory gene synthesis by monocytes
- Matthew Thomas Rondina, Robert A. Campbell, Anish Bhatnagar, Zechariah Franks, Jesse W. Rowley, Bhanu Kanth Manne, Mark A. Supiano, Alistair N. Ward
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 1 / Issue S1 / September 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2018, p. 56
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Platelets govern signal-dependent inflammatory responses by leukocytes. Although dysregulated inflammation is common in older adults, platelet-leukocyte signaling events and downstream inflammatory gene synthesis in aging is not known. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Highly-purified platelets and monocytes were isolated from healthy older (age>60, n=27) and younger (age<45, n=36) adults and incubated together in autologous and nonautologous conditions. Inflammatory gene synthesis by monocytes, basally and in the presence of activated platelets, was examined. Next-generation RNA-sequencing allowed for unbiased profiling of the platelet transcriptome in older and younger adults. Differentially expressed candidates in aged platelets were validated and recombinant granzyme A (in the presence and absence of TLR4 and Caspase-1 inhibition) identified putative ligands controlling inflammatory gene synthesis. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In unstimulated or activated conditions, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) synthesis by monocytes alone did not differ between older and younger adults. However, in the presence of autologous activated platelets, monocytes from older adults synthesized significantly greater MCP-1 (867.150 vs. 216.36 ng/mL, p<0.0001) and IL-8 (41.5 vs. 9.2 ng/mL, p<0.0001) than younger adults. Nonautologous, or switch experiments, demonstrated that aged platelets were sufficient for upregulating MCP-1 and IL-8 synthesis by monocytes. Surprisingly, classic platelet proteins known to signal to monocytes and induce MCP-1 synthesis (p-selectin, RANTES, and PF4) were not increased in platelets from older adults. Using RNA-seq followed by validation via RT-PCR and immunoblot, we identified candidate platelet molecules increased in aging that mediate platelet-monocyte signaling and pro-inflammatory gene synthesis. We confirmed that granzyme A (GrmA), a serine protease not previously identified in platelets, is present in human platelets at the mRNA and protein level. GrmA is secreted by activated platelets in signal-dependent fashion. Moreover, GrmA in platelets is significantly increased in aging (~9-fold vs. younger adults). Blocking GrmA inhibited MCP-1 and IL-8 synthesis in older adults. Finally, we uncovered that platelet GrmA signaling to monocytes is regulated through TLR4 and Caspase-1. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Human aging is associated with reprogramming of the platelet transcriptome. A previously unrecognized protein in platelets, GrmA, is increased in aging and causes increased MCP-1 and IL-8 gene synthesis by target monocytes in a TLR4 and Caspase-1 dependent mechanism. Increased platelet GrmA in aging may contribute to injurious inflammatory responses common in older adults.
2098: Endogenous reverse transcriptase (LINE-1) in human platelets regulates cell morphology and protein synthetic events
- Hansjorg Schwertz, Jesse W. Rowley, Larry W. Kraiss, John V. Moran, Robert A. Campbell, Guy A. Zimmerman, Andrew S. Weyrich, Matthew Thomas Rondina, Gerald G. Schumann, Ulrike Thorack
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 1 / Issue S1 / September 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2018, pp. 56-57
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- Article
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- You have access Access
- Open access
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Endogenous RT (eRT) is necessary for the function of retrotransposons, elements that replicate via an RNA intermediate. One source of eRT activity is long interspersed elements (LINE). LINEs, of which there are several subgroups (L1, L2, L3), are retrotransposons that regulate cellular growth and gene expression. Given their diverse and important roles, we hypothesized that L1 elements regulate functional responses in megakaryocytes and platelets; a concept not yet examined in the field. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: To study eRT in human platelets we used RT activity assays, PCR, and Western blot approaches. Furthermore, we used an RT-inhibitor to dissect the function of eRT, analyzed RT-dependent protein synthetic capacity, and immunoprecipitated RNA-DNA hybrids. RNA-DNA hybrids were also detected by means of ICC and automated analysis using CellProfiler software. RNA-DNA hybrids were validated by PCR and eRT regulated synthesis of target proteins was analyzed using autoradiography and Western blot techniques. Platelets from patients with HIV+ were examined in parallel. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We identified that highly purified, isolated platelets from healthy subjects possess eRT activity. eRT activity was blocked with the non-nucleoside RT inhibitor nevirapine at concentrations within the therapeutic drug range. L1 elements are bicistronic, containing 2 open reading frames (ORFs), ORF1 and ORF2. Thus, we next identified that human platelets express full-length L1 mRNA containing ORF1 and ORF2. In human platelets, eRT activity was localized to L1 protein containing ribonucleo particles. Platelet eRT reverse transcribed exogenous RNAs, a process inhibited by nevirapine, acting in trans using the 3′-UTR of exogenous mRNAs as a template. To dissect the function of eRT in platelets, we next examined cytoskeletal and protein synthetic events in the presence or absence of nevirapine. Inhibition of eRT in isolated platelets led to characteristically beaded platelets in appearance, strongly resembling bone marrow proplatelets. Parallel increases in platelet reactivity were also observed. As these changes occurred over hours, not minutes, we hypothesized that inhibition of eRT would affect platelet protein synthetic events. Consistent with this, RT inhibition resulted in upregulation of global platelet protein synthesis. We validated upregulation of the synthesis of specific proteins (mitofilin, p-selectin, and L26—a component of the 60S ribosomal subunit essential for mRNA translation). RNA-DNA hybrids, noncanonical nucleic acid structures that regulate gene expression, are enriched in regions where L1 is abundant. RNA-DNA hybrids were present in platelets and expression confirmed via differential digestion of RNAs (eg, with RNase A and RNAse I). Next-generation sequencing of pulled down (eg, immunoprecipitated) platelet RNA-DNA hybrids identified numerous differentially expressed transcripts and we focused on MAP1LC3B (LC3B), a primary regulator of autophagy. Hybrid sequencing results for LC3B were validated using qPCR and we confirmed that LC3B RNA binds to L1-encoded RNA binding protein. Platelets treated with nevirapine had increased total LC3B protein expression. As RT inhibition is an important mechanism to control HIV infection, we examined platelet morphology, activation, and LC3B expression in platelets from HIV+ subjects treated with nevirapine. HIV+ patients treated with RT inhibitors had higher numbers of platelets that were beaded in appearance at baseline, increased platelet reactivity, and differential LC3B expression compared with healthy controls. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Taken together, these results demonstrate that platelets possess eRT activity that regulates platelet morphology, platelet hyperreactivity, and protein synthetic events. We postulate that eRT activity in platelets may be a new post-transcriptional regulatory checkpoint. Moreover, our findings have implications in HIV+ patients treated with RT inhibitors, where off-target effects may contribute to platelet activation and an increased risk of thrombosis.