LEONCINI , Giuliana

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The objective of this study was to determine whether AMPK is activated by 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and participates to the cytoskeleton control in human platelets. We found that 2-AG stimulates the AMPKalfa activation through a Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent pathway as the specific inhibition of the CaMKKbeta by STO-609 inhibits the AMPKalfa...

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The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) can be considered a true agonist as it is able to activate human platelets stimulating arachidonic acid release, thromboxane B2 formation and calcium intracellular elevation. Recently we have shown that 2-AG induces a rapid myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation/activation, early mediated by...

We demonstrated that in human platelets the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) decreased dose- and time-dependently cAMP intracellular levels. No effect on cAMP decrease induced by 2-AG was observed in the presence of the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 as well in platelets pretreated with the thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist,...

We have compared the effect of three legume lectins wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Phaseolus vulgaris agglutinin (PHA) and Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) on function of human platelets. We have found that WGA is more active than PHA in stimulating platelet activation/aggregation, while LCA has no effect. Studies on the mechanisms involved put in...

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Hyperhomocysteinaemia is considered a risk factor in arterial and venous thrombosis. The mechanism by which homocysteine supports athereothrombosis is still unknown and may be multifactorial. Earlier "in vitro" studies demonstrated that homocysteine induced arachidonic acid release and increased thromboxane B2 formation. In this work we found...

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The aim of this study was to examine the homocysteine effect on phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLC gamma 2) activation and to investigate the signaling pathway involved. We found that homocysteine stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of platelet PLC gamma 2. The tyrosine kinases p60src and p72syk appeared to be involved upstream....

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The endogenous cannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is described as a platelet agonist able to induce aggregation and to increase intracellular calcium. In the present report we have confirmed these data and demonstrated that the inhibitor of p38MAPK SB203580 and the inhibitor of cPLA2 metabolism ETYA affect both these parameters. Thus we...

The results of the present study show that human platelets take up l-arginine by two transport systems which are compatible with the systems y(+) and y(+) L. These Na+ independent transporters have been distinguished by treating platelets with N -ethylmaleimide that blocks selectively system y(+) . System y(+) , that accounts for 30-40% of the...

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In human platelets the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) stimulates some important pathways leading to thromboxane B2 formation, calcium intracellular elevation, ATP secretion and actin polymerisation. The aim of the present study was to examine the 2-AG effect on myosin light chain (MLC) phosphorylation and to investigate the...

In this study the effect of the endocannabinoid anandamide on platelet nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP pathway was investigated. Data report that anandamide in a dose- and time-dependent manner increased NO and cGMP levels and stimulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity. These parameters were significantly reduced by LY294002, selective...

Hyperhomocysteinaemia has been associated with increased risk of thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Homocysteine produces endothelial injury and stimulates platelet aggregation. Several molecular mechanisms related to these effects have been elucidated. The study aimed to deeply investigate the homocysteine effect on nitric oxide formation in...

L-Arginine uptake and Ca2+ changes in unstirred platelets activated by thrombin, collagen and Ca2+ ionophore A23187 were evaluated. Thrombin did not affect L-arginine uptake at short incubation times (2-15 min), but at prolonged times slowed down the amino acid transport. Collagen was ineffective, A23187 decreased the L-arginine uptake in a...