Bradykinin (BK) fragments, des arg1-BK, des arg1,pro2-BK, des phe8,arg9-BK and des pro7,phe8,arg9-BK were synthesized and along with des arginine9-BK (daBK), tested for their ability to induce prostacyclin synthesis in homogeneous cultures of cells from the calf pulmonary artery. Of the fragments daBK was the only peptide, in addition to bradykinin (BK), to activate the synthesis of prostacyclin (PGI2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) in endothelial cells and PGI2 in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Half-maximal activation of PGI2 synthesis differed with the cell type. The other fragments tested did not directly affect PGI2 synthesis. These fragments also did not inhibit daBK or BK activation of PG synthesis. BK bound to endothelial cells with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 2.1 nM and a Bmax of 47.9 fmoles/10(6) cells. The Kd for the binding of BK to smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts was somewhat higher, 4.9 nM and 7.9 nM, respectively. None of the fragments tested, including daBK, altered the binding of BK. Des arg9[leu8]-BK, reported to be a competitive antagonist of the bradykinin B1 receptor, inhibited daBK induced PG of PAF synthesis in endothelial cells but had little effect of BK binding or BK induced PG synthesis. Finally, the BK antagonist [thi5,8, d-phe7]-BK blocked both BK binding and the ability of either BK or daBK to induce PG synthesis, thus substantiating that the binding of these kinins is a step in the activation of PG synthesis.

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Aplastic anaemia is a rare complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The mechanism is unclear but is thought to be related to an autoantibody to bone marrow precursors of haematopoiesis. We report a case of SLE related aplastic anaemia in which therapy with methylprednisolone and high dose cyclophosphamide followed by prednisolone and azathioprine resulted in complete clinical and haematological remission. Bone marrow cultures showed inhibition of erythropoiesis when incubated with acute and remission serum. Myeloid colony growth was not affected by either serum. The serum inhibitor we demonstrated was only active in vitro, and we postulate that the mechanism for marrow aplasia may have been an autoimmune cellular process.

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SummaryRecent reports have suggested a variation in the density and affinity of fibrinogen binding sites in platelets from patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) which may reflect platelet functional abnormalities in these subjects. We have investigated the binding of 125I-fibrinogen (125I-Fb) to gel-filtered platelets from a large relatively homogeneous group of patients with MPD compared to normal age matched controls. Twenty-two of the patients investigated had polycythaemia vera and four essential thrombocythaemia.The maximal density and affinity (Kd) of 125I-Fb binding was assessed by saturation analysis in gel-filtered platelets (GFP) stimulated with either 10 εM ADP or 150 mU thrombin. In addition the functional significance of the binding sites was studied by evaluating the response of GFP from the two experimental groups by assessing the effects of increasing concentrations of added fibrinogen on the response to 10 εM ADP using standard light transmission aggregometry.In both groups the density of fibrinogen binding sites expressed in response to thrombin stimulation was significantly higher (approximately 2-3 fold) than that found in response to ADP. However, fewer binding sites were detected in the MPD group as compared with the control group in response to both ADP and thrombin. The Kd for 125I-Fb was similar for both agonists in normal controls and was significantly lower than that found in the MPD subjects.Although the 125I-Fb binding study results indicate a significant reduction in both the number and affinity of fibrinogen binding sites in patients with myeloproliferative disorders, the clinical and functional significance of these findings remain uncertain.