Structural and functional study of von Willebrad factor and its role in haemoatasis

Haemostasis is an absolutely essential body defense system for normal life that impedes the disturbance of blood flow and the loss of blood and provides the repair of injured vasculature and tissue. Thrombus generation occurs when a vessel is damaged or inflamed. The complex process of thrombus generation is mediated by platelets, endothelial cells and coagulation factors. At the same time, the fibrinolysis system and physiological inhibitors are activated to inhibit the mechanism of clot generation. These two opposing phenomena contribute to a self-control mechanism of clot growth and thus, the process of thrombus creation is brief. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a big multimeric glycoprotein responsible for stopping bleeding in case of vascular damage. vWF contains several functional domains that are arranged in the order D', D3, A1, A2, A3, D4, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2 and CK. The A1 domain contains a binding site for the platelet receptor GPIbα. GPIbα is essential for platelet adhesion to exposed tissues, where a discontinuity in the vascular endothelium is directing platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. The A2 domain contains a cleavage site specific for ADAMTS13 metalloprotease. This proteolysis is the predominant physiological for normal feedback of vWF and prevention of blood coagulation. The A1 domain binds to platelet receptor GPIbα inhibiting the cleavage of A2, while A2 prevents the formation of the A1-GPIbα complex. Recent data suggested an interaction between A1 and A2 domains, which inhibits the binding to the receptor GPIbα and platelet thrombus growth underscoring the antithrombotic potential. The study of the A1-A2 interaction could help to clarify the mechanism of complex formation and its role in haemostasis reactions. The human genes encoding A1 and A2 domains were cloned and expressed to a bacterial system and the recombinant A1 and A2 proteins were overexpressed and purified in the absence of post-translational modifications occurring in vivo. The secondary structure of each protein and their mixture were analyzed by Circular Dichroism (CD) and the analysis indicated conformational changes. The binding of the two proteins was investigated indirectly by home made ELISA using an antibody against the A2 domain and the thermodynamic characteristics of the complex were studied by Isothermal Calorimetry (ITC). The interaction of A1 and A2 domains was also studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy obtaining spectra at the wavelength of maximum absorption of tryptophan. Molecular Dynamic Simulations were used to search for models of the A1-A2 complex and three probable model structures were identified. The critical residues of A2 domain participating to A1-A2 interaction were also located. Some of these residues at the first model were Glu1549 and Glu1554, at the second model was Glu1640 and at the third model were Glu1511, Glu1519, Glu1522 και Asp1663. By Site-Directed Mutagenesis A2 mutant proteins were generated for each model, where the residues Glu1549, Glu1640 and Glu1511 were converted to alanines. The three A2 mutant proteins were expressed, purified and their binding to the wild type A1 domain was studied by Fluorescence Spectroscopy. This study of the A1-A2 complex characteristics may provide evidence for the establishment of the A2 domain as the lead compound for the design of new and potent antithrombotic factors against the vWF-GPIbα axis

RAF/MEK/extracellular signal-related kinase pathway suppresses dendritic cell migration and traps dendritic cells in Langerhans cell histiocytosis lesions

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasia characterized by granulomatous lesions containing pathological CD207+ dendritic cells (DCs) with constitutively activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway signaling. Approximately 60% of LCH patients harbor somatic BRAFV600E mutations localizing to CD207+ DCs within lesions. However, the mechanisms driving BRAFV600E+ LCH cell accumulation in lesions remain unknown. Here we show that sustained extracellular signal-related kinase activity induced by BRAFV600E inhibits C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7)-mediated DC migration, trapping DCs in tissue lesions. Additionally, BRAFV600E increases expression of BCL2-like protein 1 (BCL2L1) in DCs, resulting in resistance to apoptosis. Pharmacological MAPK inhibition restores migration and apoptosis potential in a mouse LCH model, as well as in primary human LCH cells. We also demonstrate that MEK inhibitor-loaded nanoparticles have the capacity to concentrate drug delivery to phagocytic cells, significantly reducing off-target toxicity. Collectively, our results indicate that MAPK tightly suppresses DC migration and augments DC survival, rendering DCs in LCH lesions trapped and resistant to cell death

BRAF V600E-induced senescence drives Langerhans cell histiocytosis pathophysiology

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a potentially fatal condition characterized by granulomatous lesions with characteristic clonal mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) harboring activating somatic mutations in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway genes, most notably BRAFV600E. We recently discovered that the BRAFV600E mutation can also affect multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) in multisystem LCH disease. How the BRAFV600E mutation in HPCs leads to LCH is not known. Here we show that enforced expression of the BRAFV600E mutation in early mouse and human multipotent HPCs induced a senescence program that led to HPC growth arrest, apoptosis resistance and a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). SASP, in turn, promoted HPC skewing toward the MNP lineage, leading to the accumulation of senescent MNPs in tissue and the formation of LCH lesions. Accordingly, elimination of senescent cells using INK-ATTAC transgenic mice, as well as pharmacologic blockade of SASP, improved LCH disease in mice. These results identify senescent cells as a new target for the treatment of LCH