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Key Points• MEKK3 regulates platelet activation through ERK1/2 and JNK2.• MEKK3 2/2 mice are protected from microthrombosis and myocardial infarct expansion post-MI.MAPKs play important roles in platelet activation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MAPKs are regulated in platelets remain largely unknown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot data showed that MEKK3, a key MAP3K family member, was expressed in human and mouse platelets. Then, megakaryocyte/platelet-specific MEKK3-deletion (MEKK3 2/2 ) mice were developed to elucidate the platelet-related function(s) of MEKK3. We found that agonist-induced aggregation and degranulation were reduced in MEKK3 2/2 platelets in vitro. MEKK3 deficiency significantly impaired integrin aIIbb3-mediated inside-out signaling but did not affect the outside-in signaling.At the molecular level, MEKK3 deficiency led to severely impaired activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase 2 but not p38 or ERK5. In vivo, MEKK3 2/2 mice showed delayed thrombus formation following FeCl 3 -induced carotid artery injury. Interestingly, the tail bleeding time was normal in MEKK3 2/2 mice. Moreover, MEKK3 2/2 mice had fewer microthrombi, reduced myocardial infarction (MI) size, and improved post-MI heart function in a mouse model of MI.These results suggest that MEKK3 plays important roles in platelet MAPK activation and may be used as a new effective target for antithrombosis and prevention of MI expansion.

Mutations of vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 33b (VPS33B) cause arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction, and cholestasis syndrome, and a lack of platelet α-granules in the affected patients. Conditional Vps33b knockout mice were developed to investigate the function(s) of Vps33b in platelet α-granule formation. We found that early embryonic deletion of Vps33b was lethal. PF4-Cre-driven megakaryocyte-targeted Vps33b gene deletion greatly diminished Vps33b expression in platelets, but had no effect on platelet α-granule formation and protein content. Tamoxifen-induced, haematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-specific Vps33b deletion completely depleted Vps33b in platelets, caused the absence of α-granules, and increased the number of vacuoles in platelets and megakaryocytes. VPS33B association with VIPAS39, α-tubulin, and SEC22B was identified by co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectra, and immunoblotting in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells. Also, pull-down experiments revealed that VIPAS39 bound to intact VPS33B; in contrast, α-tubulin and SEC22B separately interacted with the sec1-like domains of VPS33B. Vps33b deficiency in megakaryocytes disturbs the redistribution of Vipas39 and Sec22b to proplatelets, and interrupted the co-localization of Sec22b with Vwf-positive vesicles. The data presented in this study suggest that Vps33b is involved in α-granule formation possibly by facilitating the Vwf-positive vesicular trafficking to α-granule-related vacuoles in megakaryocytes. Copyright © 2016 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Objective To investigate the detailed roles and mechanisms of tumor-derived exosomes in progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer in vitro. Methods Exosomes were isolated by differential centrifugation method; the morphology, size and biological markers of exosomes were separately defined by transmission electron microscopy, nanoS90 and Western blotting; Trans-well chambers assay was used to assess the ability of migration and invasion of recipient cells uptaking the exosomes from HO8910PM cells. The downstream molecule was screened by mass spectrometry.CD44 was identified by western blotting and the function of CD44 was identified by trans-well chambers assay and CCK8 assay. Results Exosomes derived from HO8910PM cells could be transferred to HO8910 cells and promote cell migration and invasion in the recipient cells of ovarian cancer. And CD44 could be transferred to the HO8910 cells through exosomes from HO8910PM cells and influence the migration and invasion ability of HO8910 cells. Conclusion The more aggressive subpopulation can transfer a metastatic phenotype to the less one via secreting exosomes within a heterogeneous tumor. CD44 may be a potential therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer.