BackgroundLike other steroid hormones, vitamin D elicits both transcriptional events and rapid non genomic effects. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) localization and mechanisms of VDR-triggered non genomic responses are still controversial. Although anticoagulant effects of vitamin D have been reported and VDR signalling has been characterized in monocytes and vascular cells, nothing is known about VDR expression and functions in human platelets, anucleated fragments of megakaryocytes which are known targets of other steroids.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this study we characterized the expression and cellular localization of VDR in human platelets and in a megakaryocyte lineage. Human platelets and their TPA-differentiated precursors expressed a classical 50 kDa VDR protein, which increased with megakaryocytes maturation. By biochemical fractionation studies we demonstrated the presence of the receptor in the soluble and mitochondrial compartment of human platelets, and the observation was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy analysis. Similar localization was found in mature megakaryocytes, where besides its classical nuclear localization the receptor was evident as soluble and mitochondria resident protein.ConclusionsThe results reported here suggest that megakaryocytopoiesis and platelet activation, which are calcium-dependent events, might be modulated by a mitochondrial non genomic activity of VDR. These data open challenging future studies on VDR physiological role in platelets and more generally in mitochondria.

Aims: Early phagocytosis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient erythrocytes parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum were shown to protect G6PD-deficient populations from severe malaria. Here, we investigated the mechanism of a novel antimalarial series, namely 3-[substituted-benzyl]-menadiones, to understand whether these NADPH-consuming redox-cyclers, which induce oxidative stress, mimic the natural protection of G6PD deficiency. Results: We demonstrated that the key benzoylmenadione metabolite of the lead compound acts as an efficient redox-cycler in NADPH-dependent methaemoglobin reduction, leading to the continuous formation of reactive oxygen species, ferrylhaemoglobin, and subsequent haemichrome precipitation. Structure–activity relationships evidenced that both drug metabolites and haemoglobin catabolites contribute to potentiate drug effects and inhibit parasite development. Disruption of redox homeostasis by the lead benzylmenadione was specifically induced in Plasmodium falciparum parasitized erythrocytes and not in non-infected cells, and was visualized via changes in the glutathione redox potential of living parasite cytosols. Furthermore, the redox-cycler shows additive and synergistic effects in combination with compounds affecting the NADPH flux in vivo. Innovation: The lead benzylmenadione 1c is the first example of a novel redox-active agent that mimics the behavior of a falciparum parasite developing inside a G6PD-deficient red blood cell (RBC) giving rise to malaria protection, and it exerts specific additive effects that are inhibitory to parasite development, without harm for non-infected G6PD-sufficient or -deficient RBCs. Conclusion: This strategy offers an innovative perspective for the development of future antimalarial drugs for G6PD-sufficient and -deficient populations. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 22, 1337–1351.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), secreted by activated monocytes, degrades matrix proteins, disrupts basal lamina, and activates TNF-α from its precursors. In turn, TNF-α enhances synthesis of MMP-9 in monocytes. We show here that trophozoite-parasitized RBCs/hemozoin-fed adherent human monocytes displayed increased MMP-9 activity and protein/mRNA expression, produced TNF-α time-dependently, and showed higher matrix invasion ability. MMP-9 activation was specific for trophozoite/hemozoin-fed monocytes, was dependent on TNF-α production, and abrogated by anti-TNF-α Ab and by a specific inhibitor of MMP-9/MMP-13 activity. Hemozoin-induced enhancement of MMP-9 and TNF-α production would have a 2-fold effect: to start and feed a cyclic reinforcement loop in which hemozoin enhances production of TNF-α, which in turn induces both activation of MMP-9 and shedding of TNF-α into the extracellular compartment; and, second, to disrupt the basal lamina of endothelia. Excess production of TNF-α and disruption of the basal lamina with extravasation of blood cells into perivascular tissues are hallmarks of severe malaria. Pharmacological inhibition of MMP-9 may offer a new chance to control pathogenic mechanisms in malaria.

© F e r r a t a S t o r t i F o u n d a t i o ndifferent genetic and clinical status provided new insights into the pathogenic role of circulating MP and possible interventions to control their amount in thalassemia. MethodsUnless otherwise stated, all materials were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA. Additional information about the methods are provided in the Online Supplementary Data. Treatment of red blood cellsVenous blood was drawn from 12 healthy individuals, eight non-splenectomized TI patients and six splenectomized TI patients. All subjects provided written, informed consent before entering the study. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee and conducted in accordance with Good Clinical Practice guidelines and the Declaration of Helsinki.Clinical analyses were performed by routine laboratory tests at the Policlinico Hospital (Milan, Italy). Blood anti-coagulated with heparin was stored in citrate-phosphate-dextrose with adenine (CPDA-1) prior to its use. RBC were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS: 137mM NaCl, 2.7mM KCl, 8.1mM K 2 HPO 4 , 1.5mM KH 2 PO 4 , pH 7.4) containing glucose 5 mM to obtain packed RBC.To stimulate HMC formation, RBC from healthy donors were suspended at a hematocrit of 30% and incubated with different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mM) of phenylhydrazine at 37 °C for 4 h. To test the antioxidant effect in MP release we incubated 200 μM of 2-mercaptoethanol in the presence of 1 mM phenylhydrazine. When necessary, RBC were pretreated with Syk kinase inhibitors (10 μM Syk inhibitors II and 10 μM Syk inhibitors IV, Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany), for 1 h at 37 °C in the dark. Each reaction was terminated by three washes with PBS-glucose. For all protocols described, untreated controls were processed identically except that the stimulant/inducer was omitted from the incubation. Red blood cell membrane preparationStandard hypotonic membranes were prepared, as previously described, 20 and stored frozen at -80°C until use. Membrane protein content was quantified using the DC Protein assay (Biorad, Hercules, CA, USA). Analysis of microparticlesThe MP in plasma were analyzed by flow cytometry using a modification of a previously described method:22 25 μL of plasma diluted 1:1 with PBS-glucose 5mM were analyzed using anti-CD41 (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) and anti-glycophorin-A (Dako, Denmark), both diluted 1:10. Assay of hemichromesHMC were quantified by measuring heme absorbance (Abs) using the following equation:HMC= -133xAbs577 -114xAbs630 + 233xAbs560, and expressed as nMoles/mL of solubilized membranes. 23 Microparticle isolationTo induce MP release in vitro, RBC from each volunteer and phenylhydrazine-treated RBC in PBS (30% hematocrit) were incubated as previously described. 24 Electrophoresis and immunoblottingMembrane and MP proteins were solubilized in Laemmli buffer 25 under reducing [2% (w/v) dithiothreitol] or non-reducing conditions at a volume ratio of 1:1. Sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electropho...

G6PD catalyzes the first, pace-making reaction of pentosephosphate cycle (PPC) which produces NADPH. NADPH maintains glutathione and thiol groups of proteins and enzymes in the reduced state which is essential for protection against oxidative stress. Individuals affected by G6PD deficiency are unable to regenerate reduced glutathione (GSH) and are undefended against oxidative stress. G6PD deficiency accelerates normal senescence and enhances the precocious removal of chronologically young, yet biologically old cells. The term hemolytic anemia is misleading because RBCs do not lyse but are removed by phagocytosis. Acute hemolysis by fava bean ingestion in G6PD deficient individuals (favism) is described being the best-studied natural model of oxidant damage. It bears strong analogies to hemolysis by oxidant drugs or chemicals. Membrane alterations observed in vivo during favism are superimposable to changes in senescent RBCs. In summary, RBC membranes isolated from favic patients contained elevated amounts of complexes between IgG and the complement fragment C3b/C3c and were prone to vesiculation. Anti-band 3 IgG reacted to aggregated band 3-complement complexes. In favism extensive clustering of band 3 and membrane deposition of hemichromes were also observed. Severely damaged RBCs isolated from early crises had extensive membrane cross-bonding and very low GSH levels and were phagocytosed 10-fold more intensely compared to normal RBCs.