The platelet-endothelium interaction mediated by lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 reduces the intracellular concentration of nitric oxide in endothelial cells

Objectives To address the potential role of the endothelial lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in the thrombotic system, in this study we first examined whether platelet interaction with LOX-1 generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide (O2·−) and then investigated the relationship between the intracellular production of O2·− and the availability of nitric oxide (NO). Background Oxidative inactivation of NO is regarded as an important cause of its decreased biologic activity which may favor platelet-dependent arterial thrombosis. Methods Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells stably expressing bovine LOX-1 (BLOX-1-CHO) were incubated at different times with human platelets. The ROS, O2·−, and NO were measured in cells by flow cytometry. Results The incubation of BAECs and BLOX-1-CHO cells with human platelets induced a sharp and dose-dependent increase in intracellular concentration of ROS and O2·− (p from <0.01 to <0.001). The increase in intracellular concentration of O2·− was followed by a dose-dependent reduction in basal and bradykinin-induced intracellular NO concentration (p from <0.01 to <0.001). The increase in O2·− and the reduction of NO were inhibited by the presence of vitamin C and anti-LOX-1 monoclonal antibody (p < 0.001). Conclusions The results of this study show that one of the pathophysiologic consequences of platelet binding to LOX-1 may be the inactivation of NO through an increased cellular production of O2·−.