Functional Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases in Platelets A
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FUNCTIONAL PROTEIN TYROSINE PHOSPHATASES IN PLATELETS ________________________ A Dissertation Submitted to The Temple University Graduate Board ________________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ________________________ by Vaishali Vijay Inamdar December 2017 Dissertation Examining Committee: Dr. Satya P Kunapuli, Physiology Dr. Rosario Scalia, Physiology Dr. Laurie Kilpatrick, Physiology Dr. Xiongwen Chen, Physiology Dr. Ulhas Naik, Professor, Thomas Jefferson University ABSTRACT FUNCTIONAL PHOSPHATASES IN PLATELETS Platelets are small anucleate cells in blood that are derived from megakaryocytes and their primary function is to prevent bleeding. Upon vascular injury, the sub-endothelial collagen gets exposed to which platelets bind and aggregate eventually forming a platelet plug. There are several receptors on platelet surface that can be divided into two broad categories; the immune-receptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) and the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The role of several protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) downstream of ITAM and GPCRs has been extensively studied. However, the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) have been under-investigated in platelets. PTPs are important for dephosphorylating and activating or inactivating the protein. Proteomics studies show presence of 10 receptor like and 10 cytoplasmic phosphatases in platelets. To date, only five non-transmembrane PTPs (NTPTPs), PTP-1B, Shp1, Shp2, LMW-PTP, MEG2-PTP and a one receptor- like PTP (RPTP), CD148, have been identified in platelets. Therefore, there is a need to explore the role of other PTPs in platelet activation. The main objective of this thesis was to determine the role of two PTPs – CD45 and PTPN7 in platelets. We first studied the role of CD45 in platelets. CD45 is a receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase present on the surface of all hematopoietic cells except for erythrocytes and platelets. Proteomics studies, however, have demonstrated the presence of a CD45 c- terminal catalytic peptide in platelets. Therefore, we investigated the functional role of ii this truncated isoform of CD45 in platelets, which contains the c-terminal catalytic domain but lacks the extracellular region. We used an antibody specific to the c-terminus of CD45 to confirm the presence of a truncated CD45 isoform in platelets. We also examined ex vivo and in vivo platelet function using CD45 KO mice. Aggregation and secretion mediated by the glycoprotein VI (GPVI) receptor was impaired in CD45 KO platelets. Consequently, CD45 KO mice had impaired hemostasis indicated by increased tail bleeding times. Also, using a model of pulmonary embolism we showed that CD45 KO mice had defective in vivo thrombus formation. Next, we investigated whether or not the truncated isoform of CD45 had a role in GPVI signaling. The full-length isoform of CD45 is known to regulate Src family kinase (SFK) activation in lymphocytes. We find a similar role for the truncated isoform of CD45 in platelets. SFK activation was impaired downstream of the GPVI receptor in the CD45 KO murine platelets. Consequently, Syk, and PLC2 activations were also impaired in CD45 KO murine platelets. Thus, we concluded that the truncated CD45 isoform regulates GPVI-mediated signaling and platelet functional responses by regulating SFK activation. Next, we investigated the role of another phosphatase PTPN7 in platelets. Thromboxane is a short-lived lipid mediator and acts as a local mediator to recruit more platelets to site of vascular injury and dysregulation of thromboxane generation can lead to several clinical complications like stroke, myocardial infarction etc. Extracellular signal- regulated protein kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) plays an important role in promoting thromboxane generation in platelets. However, currently we have a poor understanding of how ERK is regulated in platelets. In lymphocytes ERK phosphorylation is regulated by a non- iii transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN7. Thus, we hypothesized that PTPN7 is present in platelets and it negatively regulates ERK activation and consequently thromboxane generation. We tested this hypothesis using a PTPN7 knockout mouse model. Using PTPN7 specific antibody for western blot analysis we demonstrated that PTPN7 is present in human as well as murine platelets. PTPN7 KO murine platelets show increased platelet functional responses such as aggregation, dense granule secretion and thromboxane generation upon stimulation with both GPCR and GPVI agonists. In presence of COX inhibitor indomethacin, the PTPN7 KO murine platelets aggregate and secrete to the same extent as the WT. This suggests that elevated thromboxane A2 levels are responsible for potentiation of platelet functional responses. ERK phosphorylation is also potentiated in PTPN7 KO and the activity of signaling molecules upstream of ERK such as MEK and PKC which are upstream of is unaffected. This shows that specificity of the PTPN7 towards ERK in platelets. Lastly, using the pulmonary embolism model we demonstrate a role for PTPN7 in thrombosis. Thus, we concluded that the PTPN7 regulates ERK activation and thromboxane generation in platelets. In conclusion, we demonstrated that truncated CD45 is a positive regulator of GPVI- mediated SFK activation and platelet functional responses and PTPN7 negatively regulates ERK phosphorylation and thromboxane generation in platelets. iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my nephew Samved. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to first of thank my mentor, Dr. Kunapuli, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of his lab and engage in platelet research for the last five years. Dr. Kunapuli is an excellent mentor and his teachings are invaluable. He has taught me how to systematically approach a problem, think critically and work efficiently and therefore has been a catalyst for my scientific career. I would like to acknowledge my committee members: Dr. Rosario Scalia, Dr. Laurie Kilpatrick, and Dr. Xiongwen Chen. I greatly appreciate all of their support, comments, and feedback during committee meetings. I would like to thank Dr. Laurie Kilpatrick for the guidance she provided while writing my outside research proposal for Ph.D. candidacy exam. I thank Dr. Ulhas Naik for his valuable inputs about my projects during Gordon research conference. I would like to thank Carol Dangelmaier for teaching me all the techniques in the lab and also helping me systematically troubleshoot. She has played a pivotal role in my understanding of techniques. I thank John Kostyak for helping me with all my projects and giving valuable advice and pep talks. All the current and former members of Dr. Kunapuli’s laboratory have been very supportive. I was fortunate to share my journey in Kunapuli lab with Rachit Badolia and Akruti Patel, they have truly made the Ph.D. journey more enjoyable. I would like to thank my seniors Dheeraj Bhavanasi and Bhanukanth Manne for their help with vi understanding the field. I would also like to thank Priyanka and Andrew for the initial support. I would like to thank Anushka Dixit who has been with me through thick and thin. My parents Vijay and Smita, sister Pallavi and brother in law Sumeet, have been extremely supportive, incessantly encouraging and constantly inspiring me to give my best. I can’t thank them enough; I am here because of them. I would also like to mention my 6-month-old nephew Samved, who is my lucky charm. Last but not the least, I would be indebted forever to all the mice that I have sacrificed during my projects, if it was not for them I would have never been able to conduct my research and write this thesis. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... x CHAPTER 1 ..................................................................................................................... 1 1 INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Platelet Physiology ........................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Introduction to platelets. ................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 Platelet Genesis .............................................................................................. 1 1.1.3 Platelet Anatomy ............................................................................................ 2 1.1.4 Platelet function in Hemostasis ...................................................................... 5 1.1.5 Other functions of platelets. ........................................................................... 9 1.2 Platelet Receptors........................................................................................... 11 1.3 Protein Tyrosine Kinases and Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ................. 18 1.4 Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ..................................................................... 18 1.4.1 Classification of PTPs .................................................................................