• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.317-322
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• 2021

Among the different cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), the activation of platelets is a necessary step. Based on this knowledge, therapeutic treatments for CVDs that target the disruption of platelet activation are proving to be worthwhile. One such substance, a bioactive 6,7-dihydroxy derived from coumarin, is 6,7-Dihydroxy-2H-1-benzopyran-2-one (esculetin). This compound has demonstrated several pharmacological effects on CVDS as well as various other disorders including diabetes, obesity, and renal failure. In various reports, esculetin and its effect has been explored in experimental mouse models, human platelet activation, esculetin-inhibited collagen, and washed human platelets exhibiting aggregation via arachidonic acid. Yet, esculetin affected aggregation with agonists like U46619 or thrombin in no way. This study investigated esculetin and how it affected human platelet aggregation activated through U46619. Ultimately, we confirmed that esculetin had an effect on the aggregation of human platelets when induced from U46619 and clarified the mechanism. Esculetin interacts with the downregulation of both phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases, important phosphoproteins that are involved in activating platelets and their signaling process. The effects of esculetin reduced TXA₂ production, phospholipase A₂ activation, and platelet secretion of intracellular granules (ATP/serotonin), ultimately causing inhibition of overall platelet aggregation. These results clearly define the effect of esculetin in inhibiting platelet activity and thrombus formation in humans.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.170-176
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• 2021

Thapsigargin (TG), a sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) inhibitor, has been widely used as an agonist for platelet aggregation for decades. In this study, we investigated the effect of TG on the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) for platelets and elucidated its mechanism. Platelet LDH release and platelet aggregation were increased by TG treatment; 1,000 nM of TG induced the complete lysis of platelets. Other agonists such as collagen (2.5 ㎍/mL), thrombin (0.1 U/mL), and ADP (10 mM) did not induce significant platelet LDH release despite platelet aggregation. Finally, we investigated the effects of pharmacological inhibitors on TG-induced platelet aggregation and LDH release. SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, and LY294002, a PI-3K inhibitor, inhibited TG-induced platelet LDH release but not platelet aggregation. Forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator, also inhibited LDH release without affecting platelet aggregation by TG. These results suggest that the TG-induced platelet aggregation was accompanied by LDH release but regulated by a different signaling pathway.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.270-276
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• 2021

Physiological agents trigger a signaling process called "inside-out signaling" and activated platelets promote adhesion, granule release, and conformational changes of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β₃). Activated αIIb/β₃ interacts with fibrinogen and initiates a second signaling step called "external signaling". These two signaling pathways can cause hemostasis or thrombosis, and thrombosis is a possible medical problem in arterial and venous vessels, and platelet-mediated thrombosis is a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therefore, modulating platelet activity is important for platelet-mediated thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. Esculetin is a coumarin-based physiologically active 6,7-dihydroxy derivative known to have pharmacological activity against obesity, diabetes, renal failure and CVD. Although some studies have confirmed the effects of esculetin in human platelet activation and experimental mouse models, it is not clear how esculetin has antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects. We confirmed the effect and mechanism of action of escultein on human platelets induced by collagen. As a result, esculetin decreased Ca²⁺ recruitment through upregulation of inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor. In addition, esculetin upregulates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent pathways and inhibits fibrinogen binding and thrombus contraction. Our results demonstrate the antiplatelet effect and antithrombotic effect of esculetin in human platelets. Therefore, we suggest that esculetin could be a potential phytochemical for the prevention of thrombus-mediated CVD.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2023

Discovery of new substance that can regulate platelet aggregation or suppress aggregation will aid in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Artesunate is a compound from plant roots of Artemisia or Scopolia, and its effects have shown to be promising in areas of anticancer and Alzheimer's disease. However, the role and mechanisms by which artesunate affects the aggregation of platelets, and the formation of a thrombus are currently not understood. This study examined the ways artesunate affects platelets activation and thrombus formation induced by collagen. As a result, cAMP and cGMP production were increased significantly by artesunate relative to the doses, as well as phosphorylated VASP and IP₃R, substrates to cAMP-dependent kinase and cGMP-dependent kinase, in a significant manner. The Ca²⁺ normally mobilized from the dense tubular system was inhibited due to IP₃R, phosphorylation from artesunate, and phosphorylated VASP aided in inhibiting platelet activity via αIIb/β₃ platelet membrane inactivation and inhibiting fibrinogen binding. Finally, artesunate inhibited thrombin-induced thrombus formation. Therefore, we suggest that artesunate has importance with cardiovascular diseases stemming from the abnormal platelets activation and thrombus formation by acting as an effective prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2024

Oxidative stress caused by elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart causes various heart diseases. Oxidative stress is known as a factor that causes diseases in various organs as well as the heart. Diseases such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy caused by oxidative stress in the heart can be treated with medication or surgery. Recently, blood cells concentrate (BCC) is used in various treatment areas such as orthopedics, gynecology, and urology. BCC therapy is applied to treatment by concentrating platelets and white blood cells necessary for regeneration through simple centrifugation using autologous blood. As the platelets are activated, many growth factors are released from alpha granules of the platelets. Growth factors such as TGF-β1, PDGF, VEGF, and EGF derived from platelets are involved in various cell signaling pathway. Due to these growth factors, BCC can contribute to tissue regeneration and can treat various diseases. CD34+ cells contained in BCC may also play an important role in tissue regeneration. In this study, we investigated whether BCC has a regenerative effect on heart disease, and if so, what mechanism causes the effect. To observe this, cardiomyocyte cells were treated with H₂O₂ to induce oxidative stress. And the effect was confirmed in the presence or absence of BCC. As a result, in the presence of BCC, the oxidative stress of cardiomyocyte cells was reduced and cell damage was also reduced. These results suggest that BCC therapy can be a new treatment alternative for heart disease.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.2625-2629
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• 2014

Platelets are anuclear discoid-shaped blood cells with key roles in human body. To understand the mechanisms of their activation process, it is required to have analytical imaging techniques capable of acquiring platelet images under fully hydrated conditions. Herein, for the first time, we demonstrate the capability of synchrotron-based transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) to study platelets (resting and ADP activated) under hydrated and air-dried conditions. To confirm the biological imaging capability of TXM, fixed platelets were imaged and compared with whole mount electron microscopy (EM) images. TXM provided morphological information with sufficient spatial resolution with simple and quick sample preparation procedure. We also observed temporal changes during the platelet activation, which initially had a discoid shape (0 s), formed pseudopodia (30 s) and generated a network of fibrin (5 min). Our results clearly demonstrate the potential of TXM technique to study fully hydrated biological samples under in situ conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.610-617
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• 2004

For preparation $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ platelets having 20 $\mu$m in average diameter and 0.2∼0.3 $\mu$m in thickness, we have prepared aluminum hydroxides gel by using aluminum sulfate and sodium sulfate as starting materials. In this study, we investigated the effect of the amount of sodium phosphate on particle size, morphology and thickness of $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ platelets. When sodium phosphate was not added to aluminum hydroxides gel, most of $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ platelets had hexagonal shape but the thickness was over 1.0 $\mu$m, and this sample was not adequate for pearlescent pigment. On the other hand, introduction of sodium phosphate caused an increase of aspect ratio (particle diameter/thickness) with a decrease in $\alpha$-Al$_2$O$_3$ platelet thickness.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2016

Pre-analytical variables account for most laboratory errors and many factors affect the results from a patient. Type of tubes facilitated rapid separation and prevented hemolysis upon prolonged storage. However, there were some limitations associated with vacutainer conditions. To circumvent the problems, the comparability of complete blood cell count values was examined using various vacutainers. The results of the analysis showed a large coefficient variation of 0.24, 0.21 in the value of white blood cells and platelets, and significant correlation was observed between white blood cells, platelets, and the value of red blood cells (p<0.01). In each of the three tubes, compared to the value of platelets, white blood cells, the greatest coefficient variation was 0.27, 0.21. In correlation of the three companies, significant difference was observed in values of white blood cells, platelets, and platelet distribution width (p<0.01), however G and B, the value of platelets, and platelet distribution width were significantly lower (p<0.05). In conclusion, analysis of vacutainers showed that they were suitable for stability of these analytes under vacutainer conditions.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.199-204
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• 1987

ABA type block copolymers composed of r benzyle L-glutamate as the A component and poly(ethylene glycol) as the B components were obtained. Platelet adhesion on their sunfaces was investigated by a column elusion method to examine the effects of microdomain and secondary structure. The number of platelets adhered from whole blood and plasma rich platelet was smaller for the block copolymer systems than for the homopolymers. In the block copolymer system, the number of platelets adrered on their surfaces increased with increasing the content of PEG, that is, with decreasing of a-helix of block copolymers. A thick thrombus formation on the PBLG homopolymer was observed than block copolymer by scanning electron micrographs. The platelets adhesion increased with increasing the critical surface tension of the block copolymer.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.389-392
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• 1994

To purify transforming growth factor type beta(TGF-$\beta$) in canine platelets, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and semipreparative HPLC were carried out. The column of $2.0 {\times}120cm$ was used for gel filtration and one inch semipreparative column filled with SP-Toyopeal for HPLC. Electrophoresis and bioassay using African green monkey kidney cell were used for identification of TGF-$\beta$ Crude TGF-$\beta$ of 2.75mg was extracted from 5.2g of the platelets by the treatment of acid/ethanol. In gel filtration of crude TGF-$\beta$, 4 peaks were observed at the detection of spectrophotometer at 280nm. Electrophoresis and bioassay identified the 3rd peak TGF-$\beta$. Linear gradient elution from 0 to 3M NaCl in sornipreparative HPLC showed TGF-$\beta$ at 1.5M NaCl. Gel filtration was less expensive and useful method for the purification of TGF-$\beta$.