Defective Zn2+ homeostasis in mouse and human platelets with α- and δ-storage pool diseases

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 6;9(1):8333. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44751-w.

Abstract

Zinc (Zn2+) can modulate platelet and coagulation activation pathways, including fibrin formation. Here, we studied the (patho)physiological consequences of abnormal platelet Zn2+ storage and release. To visualize Zn2+ storage in human and mouse platelets, the Zn2+ specific fluorescent dye FluoZin3 was used. In resting platelets, the dye transiently accumulated into distinct cytosolic puncta, which were lost upon platelet activation. Platelets isolated from Unc13d-/- mice, characterized by combined defects of α/δ granular release, showed a markedly impaired Zn2+ release upon activation. Platelets from Nbeal2-/- mice mimicking Gray platelet syndrome (GPS), characterized by primarily loss of the α-granule content, had strongly reduced Zn2+ levels, which was also confirmed in primary megakaryocytes. In human platelets isolated from patients with GPS, Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS) and Storage Pool Disease (SPD) altered Zn2+ homeostasis was detected. In turbidity and flow based assays, platelet-dependent fibrin formation was impaired in both Nbeal2-/- and Unc13d-/- mice, and the impairment could be partially restored by extracellular Zn2+. Altogether, we conclude that the release of ionic Zn2+ store from secretory granules upon platelet activation contributes to the procoagulant role of Zn2+ in platelet-dependent fibrin formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Blood Coagulation
  • Blood Platelets / cytology*
  • Blood Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibrin / chemistry
  • Gray Platelet Syndrome / genetics
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Hermanski-Pudlak Syndrome / genetics
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Platelet Activation
  • Platelet Storage Pool Deficiency / genetics*
  • Zinc / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NBEAL2 protein, human
  • Nbeal2 protein, mouse
  • UNC13D protein, human
  • Unc13d protein, mouse
  • Fibrin
  • Zinc