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Highlights
• Loss of DNAJC19's DnaJ domain disrupts cardiac mitochondrial structure, leading to abnormal cristae formation in iPSC-CMs.
• Impaired mitochondrial structures lead to an increased mitochondrial respiration, ROS and an elevated membrane potential.
• Mutant iPSC-CMs show sarcomere dysfunction and a trend to more arrhythmias, resembling DCMA-associated cardiomyopathy.
Background
Dilated cardiomyopathy with ataxia (DCMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder arising from truncating mutations in DNAJC19, which encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein. Clinical features include an early onset, often life-threatening, cardiomyopathy associated with other metabolic features. Here, we aim to understand the metabolic and pathophysiological mechanisms of mutant DNAJC19 for the development of cardiomyopathy.
Methods
We generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) of two affected siblings with DCMA and a gene-edited truncation variant (tv) of DNAJC19 which all lack the conserved DnaJ interaction domain. The mutant iPSC-CMs and their respective control cells were subjected to various analyses, including assessments of morphology, metabolic function, and physiological consequences such as Ca\(^{2+}\) kinetics, contractility, and arrhythmic potential. Validation of respiration analysis was done in a gene-edited HeLa cell line (DNAJC19tv\(_{HeLa}\)).
Results
Structural analyses revealed mitochondrial fragmentation and abnormal cristae formation associated with an overall reduced mitochondrial protein expression in mutant iPSC-CMs. Morphological alterations were associated with higher oxygen consumption rates (OCRs) in all three mutant iPSC-CMs, indicating higher electron transport chain activity to meet cellular ATP demands. Additionally, increased extracellular acidification rates suggested an increase in overall metabolic flux, while radioactive tracer uptake studies revealed decreased fatty acid uptake and utilization of glucose. Mutant iPSC-CMs also showed increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an elevated mitochondrial membrane potential. Increased mitochondrial respiration with pyruvate and malate as substrates was observed in mutant DNAJC19tv HeLa cells in addition to an upregulation of respiratory chain complexes, while cellular ATP-levels remain the same. Moreover, mitochondrial alterations were associated with increased beating frequencies, elevated diastolic Ca\(^{2+}\) concentrations, reduced sarcomere shortening and an increased beat-to-beat rate variability in mutant cell lines in response to β-adrenergic stimulation.
Conclusions
Loss of the DnaJ domain disturbs cardiac mitochondrial structure with abnormal cristae formation and leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that DNAJC19 plays an essential role in mitochondrial morphogenesis and biogenesis. Moreover, increased mitochondrial respiration, altered substrate utilization, increased ROS production and abnormal Ca\(^{2+}\) kinetics provide insights into the pathogenesis of DCMA-related cardiomyopathy.
Biological systems are in dynamic interaction. Many responses reside in the core concepts of biological systems interplay (competition and cooperation). In infection situation, the competition between a bacterial system and a host is shaped by many stressors at spatial and temporal determinants. Reactive chemical species are universal stressors against all biological systems since they potentially damage the basic requirements of these systems (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids). Either produced endogenously or exogenously, reactive chemical species affect the survival of pathogens including the gram-positive
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Therefore, bacteria developed strategies to overcome the toxicity of reactive species.
S. aureus is a widely found opportunistic pathogen. In its niche, S. aureus is in permanent contact with surrounding microbes and host factors. Deciphering the deterministic factors
in these interactions could facilitate pinpointing novel bacterial targets. Identifying
the aforementioned targets is crucial to develop new strategies not only to kill the pathogenic organisms but also to enhance the normal flora to minimize the pathogenicity and virulence of potential pathogens. Moreover, targeting S. aureus stress response can be used
to overcome bacterial resistance against host-derived factors. In this study, I identify a novel
S. aureus stress response factor against reactive electrophilic, oxygen, and hypochlorite species to better understand its resilience as a pathogen.
Although bacterial stress response is an active research field, gene function is a current bottleneck in characterizing the understudied bacterial strategies to mediate stress conditions. I aimed at understanding the function of a novel protein family integrated
in many defense systems of several biological systems.
In bacteria, fungi, and plants, old yellow enzymes (OYEs) are widely found. Since the first isolation of the yellow flavoprotein, OYEs are used as biocatalysts for decades to reduce activated C=C bonds in α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The promiscuity
of the enzymatic catalysis is advantageous for industrial applications.
However, the physiological function of OYEs, especially in bacteria, is still puzzling.
Moreover, the relevance of the OYEs in infection conditions remained enigmatic.
Here, I show that there are two groups of OYEs (OYE flavin oxidoreductase, OfrA and OfrB) that are encoded in staphylococci and some firmicutes. OfrA (SAUSA300_0859) is more conserved than OfrB (SAUSA300_0322) in staphylococci and is a part of the staphylococcal core genome.
A reporter system was established to report for ofrA in S. aureus background.
The results showed that ofrA is induced under electrophilic, oxidative, and hypochlorite stress. OfrA protects S. aureus against quinone, methylglyoxal, hydrogen peroxide,
and hypochlorite stress. Additionally, the results provide evidence that OfrA supports
thiol-dependent redox homeostasis. At the host-pathogen interface, OfrA promotes S. aureus fitness in murine macrophage cell line. In whole human blood, OfrA is involved in S. aureus survival indicating a potential clinical relevance to bacteraemia.
In addition, ofrA mutation affects the production of the virulence factor staphyloxanthin via the upper mevalonate pathway. In summary, decoding OfrA function and its proposed mechanism of action in S. aureus shed the light on a conserved stress response within multiple organisms.
Old yellow enzymes (OYEs) are widely found in the bacterial, fungal, and plant kingdoms but absent in humans and have been used as biocatalysts for decades. However, OYEs’ physiological function in bacterial stress response and infection situations remained enigmatic. As a pathogen, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus adapts to numerous stress conditions during pathogenesis. Here, we show that in S. aureus genome, two paralogous genes (ofrA and ofrB) encode for two OYEs. We conducted a bioinformatic analysis and found that ofrA is conserved among all publicly available representative staphylococcal genomes and some Firmicutes. Expression of ofrA is induced by electrophilic, oxidative, and hypochlorite stress in S. aureus. Furthermore, ofrA contributes to S. aureus survival against reactive electrophilic, oxygen, and chlorine species (RES, ROS, and RCS) via thiol-dependent redox homeostasis. At the host–pathogen interface, S. aureusΔofrA has defective survival in macrophages and whole human blood and decreased staphyloxanthin production. Overall, our results shed the light onto a novel stress response strategy in the important human pathogen S. aureus.
Hormetic shifting of redox environment by pro-oxidative resveratrol protects cells against stress
(2016)
Resveratrol has gained tremendous interest owing to multiple reported health-beneficial effects. However, the underlying key mechanism of action of this natural product remained largely controversial. Here, we demonstrate that under physiologically relevant conditions major biological effects of resveratrol can be attributed to its generation of oxidation products such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). At low nontoxic concentrations (in general < 50 mu M), treatment with resveratrol increased viability in a set of representative cell models, whereas application of quenchers of ROS completely truncated these beneficial effects. Notably, resveratrol treatment led to mild, Nrf2-specific gene expression reprogramming. For example, in primary epidermal keratinocytes derived from human skin this coordinated process resulted in a 1.3-fold increase of endogenously generated glutathione (GSH) and subsequently in a quantitative reduction of the cellular redox environment by 2.61 mV mmol GSH per g protein. After induction of oxidative stress by using 0.78% (v/v) ethanol, endogenous generation of ROS was consequently reduced by 24% in resveratrol pre-treated cells. In contrast to the common perception that resveratrol acts mainly as a chemical antioxidant or as a target protein-specific ligand, we propose that the cellular response to resveratrol treatment is essentially based on oxidative triggering. In physiological microenvironments this molecular training can lead to hormetic shifting of cellular defense towards a more reductive state to improve physiological resilience to oxidative stress.
Introduction: During inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as Hydrogen peroxide accumulate at the inflammation site and by oxidizing lipids, they produce metabolites such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs). Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) are ligand gated ion channels that are expressed on nociceptors and their activation elicits pain. Hydrogen peroxide and 4-HNE are endogenous ligands for TRPA1 and their role in inflammatory pain conditions has been shown. OxPLs play a major pro-inflammatory role in many pathologies including atherosclerosis and multiple sclerosis. E06/T15 is a mouse IgM mAb that specifically binds oxidized phosphatidylcholine. D-4F is an apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide with a very high affinity for OxPLs and possess anti-inflammatory properties. E06 mAb and D-4F peptide protect against OxPLs-induced damage in atherosclerosis in vivo.
Methods: To investigate the role of ROS and their metabolites in inflammatory pain, I utilized a combination of diverse and complex behavioral pain measurements and binding assays. I examined E06 mAb and D-4F as local treatment options for hypersensitivity evoked by endogenous and exogenous activators of TRPA1 and TRPV1 as well as in inflammatory and OxPL-induced pain models in vivo. 4-HNE, hydrogen peroxide as ROS source and mustard oil (AITC) were used to activate TRPA1, while capsaicin was used to activate TRPV1.
Results: Intraplantar injection of oxidized 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OxPAPC) into rats’ hind paw elicited thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity. Genetic and pharmacological evidence in vivo confirmed the role of TRPA1 in OxPLs-induced hypersensitivity. OxPLs formation increased in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced inflamed rats’ paw. E06 mAb and D-4F prevented OxPAPC–induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity (hyperalgesia) as well as CFA-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Also, all irritants induced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity as well as affective-emotional responses and spontaneous nocifensive behaviors. E06 mAb blocked prolonged mechanical hypersensitivity by all but hydrogen peroxide. In parallel, D-4F prevented mechanical hypersensitivity induced by all irritants as well as thermal hypersensitivity induced by capsaicin and 4-HNE. In addition, competitive binding assays showed that all TRPA1/V1 agonists induced prolonged formation of OxPLs in the paw tissue explaining the anti-nociceptive properties of E06 mAb and D-4F. Finally, the potential of gait analysis as a readout for non-provoked pain behavioral measurements were examined.
Conclusion and implications: OxPLs were characterized as novel targets in inflammatory pain. Treatment with the monoclonal antibody E06 or apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide D-4F are suggested as potential inflammatory pain medications. OxPLs’ role in neuropathic pain is yet to be investigated.
Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are among the most frequently applied nanomaterials in consumer products. Evidence exists regarding the cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs in mammalian cells; however, knowledge about the potential genotoxicity of ZnO NPs is rare, and results presented in the current literature are inconsistent. Objectives: The aim of this review is to summarize the existing data regarding the DNA damage that ZnO NPs induce, and focus on the possible molecular mechanisms underlying genotoxic events. Methods: Electronic literature databases were systematically searched for studies that report on the genotoxicity of ZnO NPs. Results: Several methods and different endpoints demonstrate the genotoxic potential of ZnO NPs. Most publications describe in vitro assessments of the oxidative DNA damage triggered by dissoluted Zn2+ ions. Most genotoxicological investigations of ZnO NPs address acute exposure situations. Conclusion: Existing evidence indicates that ZnO NPs possibly have the potential to damage DNA. However, there is a lack of long-term exposure experiments that clarify the intracellular bioaccumulation of ZnO NPs and the possible mechanisms of DNA repair and cell survival.
In vielen tierischen Zellen und in Hefe wurden Membrandomänen als Plattformen für die Etablierung von Signalkomplexen bereits gut beschrieben (Foster et al., 2003) und entsprechend ihrer Resistenz gegenüber nicht-ionischen Detergenzien charakterisiert (Shogomori et al., 2003). Die Behandlung von Membranen mit solchen Detergenzien kann zu Artefakten führen und die Anwesenheit eines Proteins in diesen so genannten „DRMs“ bedeutet noch nicht, dass es auch in nativen Membrandomänen lokalisiert ist. Allerdings muss man sich, mangels besserer Methoden zur Aufreinigung von Membrandomänen, heute noch der Methode der DRM-Aufreinigung durch Detergenzien bedienen, um eine erste Vorstellung von der Proteinzusammensetzung dieser bestimmten Membranbereiche zu erhalten.
Mittels Sterolreduktion der DRMs durch die Behandlung der isolierten Membranfraktionen mit MCD und anschließender HPLC-ESI-Massenspektrometrie, konnten 80 Proteine identifiziert werden, die somit als potentiell in Membrandomänen lokalisiert gelten können. Unter diesen befanden sich die beiden Arabidopsis-Remorine AtRem1.2 und AtRem1.3, die Ca2+-abhängige Proteinkinase CPK21 und die Proteinphosphatase 2C ABI1. Dieses Phosphatase-Kinase-Paar reguliert den membranständigen, im Mesophyll exprimierten, Anionenkanal SLAH3 in ABA-abhängiger Weise (Geiger et al., 2011). Mit Hilfe biochemischer, massenspektrometrischer und mikroskopischer Methoden konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Phosphatase ABI1 in Abwesenheit von ABA die Interaktion zwischen der Kinase CPK21 und dem Anionenkanal SLAH3 unterbindet. Dies geschieht indem SLAH3 und CPK21 aus den Membrandomänen in die umgebenden Membranbereiche verlagert werden und somit eine phosphorylierungsabhängige Aktivierung des Anionenkanals verhindert wird (Demir et al., 2013).
Unter den in Nanodomänen lokalisiert Proteinen, konnte auch die NADPH-Oxidase AtrbohD als schwach sterolabhängig identifiziert werden. Diese zeigte im Gegensatz zu der homologen Oxidase AtrbohF, nach transienter Koexpression in Arabidopsis-Epidermiszellen zwar eine Lokalisation in distinkten Membrandomänen, aber keine Kolokalisation mit dem zuvor etablierten Membrandomänenmarker AtRem1.3 (Demir et al., 2013). Dieses Ergebnis impliziert, dass es verschiedene Arten von Membrandomänen geben könnte und dass die beiden Oxidasen (zumindest zeitweise) in unterschiedlichen Membrankompartimenten lokalisiert und dadurch womöglich auch unterschiedlich reguliert sein können. Nach Koexpression der Oxidase AtrbohD mit den weiteren 12 der insgesamt 16 Arabidopsis-Remorinen, konnte eine Kolokalisation der Oxidase mit AtRem1.4 bestätigt werden. Das Remorin AtRem1.4 zeigt in weiteren Versuchen nicht nur eine deutliche Lokalisierung in anderen sterolreichen Membrandomänen als AtRem1.3, es zeigt auch eine eindeutige laterale Immobilität und kann somit als ein Marker für Membrandomänen etabliert werden. Somit bestätigt sich die Annahme, dass es auch in Pflanzen unterschiedliche Arten von Membrankompartimenten gibt.
Zu diesem Zeitpunkt war noch kein, die Funktion der Oxidase regulierender Interaktionspartner von AtrbohD bekannt, um die Frage des Zusammenhangs zwischen Lokalisation und Funktion der Oxidase beantworten zu können. Mit Hilfe verschiedener mikroskopischer Techniken (BiFC, SE-FRET, AB-FRET) zur Untersuchung von Protein-Protein-Interaktionen, konnte aus einer Auswahl von fünf Mesophyll-lokalisierten und Ca2+-unabhängigen Snrk2-Kinasen, zwei potentielle Interaktionspartner identifiziert werden. Genau wie mit der homologen Oxidase AtrbohF (Sirichandra et al., 2007), interagiert die ABA-abhängige Kinase OST1/Snrk2.6 auch mit AtrbohD. Bei dem zweiten potentiellen Interaktionspartner handelt es sich um Snrk2.7. Die Behandlung der transfizierten und in den Interaktionsmessungen eingesetzten Zellen mit der sterolreduzierenden Reagenz MCD resultierte in einem signifikanten Anstieg der zuvor gemessenen Interaktionseffizienzen (EFRET) aller fünf ausgewählten Snrk2-Kinasen mit AtrbohD.
Eine Interaktion zwischen zwei Proteinen muss nicht zwingend bedeuten, dass sie eine funktionelle Einheit in einem Signalweg darstellen. Aus diesem Grund wurde der Einfluss der identifizierten potentiellen Interaktionspartner auf die ROS-Produktionsaktivität der NADPH-Oxidase AtrbohD untersucht. Es zeigt sich, dass Snrk2.7 die ROS-Produktion durch die Oxidase auf ein vergleichbar hohes Niveau steigern kann, wie die zu diesem Zeitpunkt als Interaktionspartner der Oxidase AtrbohD identifizierte Ca2+-abhängige Kinase CPK5 (Dubiella et al., 2013). Die Kinase Snrk2.7 interagiert also nicht nur mit AtrbohD, sondern kann die Oxidase auch phosphorylieren (wahrscheinlich an einer der beiden für die Phosphorylierung von AtrbohD als essentiell beschriebenen Positionen S343 oder S347 (Nühse et al., 2007) und nicht an der untersuchten Position S39) und somit aktivieren. Dem hingegen zeigt OST1, trotz einer zuvor bestätigten Interaktion mit AtrbohD, nicht die Fähigkeit diese Oxidase auch aktivieren zu können. Die Snrk2.7-vermittelte Aktivität von AtrbohD ist ebenfalls deutlich durch eine Behandlung der transfizierten Zellen mit MCD induzierbar.
Die NADPH-Oxidase AtrbohD wird also in Abhängigkeit ihrer Lokalisierung in spezifischen Membrandomänen reguliert. Wenn die zwei essentiellen Phosphorylierungsstellen durch eine Punktmutation ausgeschaltet werden und die Oxidase nicht mehr als Antwort auf Pathogene aktiviert werden kann, lokalisiert diese nicht mehr in den AtRem1.4-markierten Membrandomänen. Auch zeigt sich, dass die Aktivität der Oxidase, induziert durch eine Interaktion mit der nicht in Membrandomänen lokalisierten Snrk2-Kinase Snrk2.7, gesteigert werden kann, wenn durch MCD die sterolreichen Membrandomänen abgereichert werden. Eventuell dienen Membrandomänen, zumindest im pflanzlichen System, nicht nur der Etablierung von Signalkomplexen, sondern in einigen Fällen auch der Negativregulierung von bestimmten Proteinaktivitäten, wie zum Beispiel in diesem Fall, der Produktion von reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies (ROS).
Die Aktivierung der löslichen Guanylatzyklase (sGC) durch Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) ist ein zentraler Mechanismus im NO/sGC/cGMP-Signalweg. Beim Syndrom der chronischen Herzinsuffizienz ist die Signalübertragung durch NO jedoch gestört. Daher untersuchten wir die Effekte des NO-unabhängigen sGC-Aktivators Ataciguat-Natrium (vormals HMR1766) auf Hämodynamik und linksventrikuläres Remodeling in der Postinfarktphase bei Ratten, alleine und in Kombination mit dem ACE-Hemmer Ramipril. 10 Tage nach experimentellem Myokardinfarkt wurden die Tiere für 9 Wochen über eine Sonde entweder mit Placebo, Ataciguat (10 mg/kg, zweimal täglich), Ramipril (1 mg/kg/Tag) oder einer Kombination aus beidem gefüttert. Die Infarktgröße war in allen Gruppen vergleichbar. Die Monotherapie mit Ataciguat bzw. Ramipril verbesserte die linksventrikuläre Funktion und führte zu einem geringeren Anstieg des linksventrikulären Füllungsdruckes (LVEDP) und –volumens (LVEDV) im Vergleich zu Placebo. Die Kombinationstherapie war den Monotherapien überlegen. Weiterhin konnten sowohl die Ventrikelkontraktilität (LV dP/dtmax/IP), als auch -relaxationsfähigkeit (LV dP/dtmin) verbessert werden und die Lungenflüssigkeit sowie die rechtsventrikuläre Hypertrophie signifikant durch die Monotherapien, bzw. noch weiter durch die Kombination gesenkt werden. Die in der Placebo-Gruppe erhöhten Werte für Myozytenquerschnitt und interstitielle Fibrose waren in der Ramipril- und Ataciguat-Gruppe signifikant und in der Kombination noch weiter vermindert. Zusätzlich konnte auch der Superoxidanionenspiegel im kardialen Gewebe am besten durch die Kombinationstherapie gesenkt werden. Dabei zeigte sich eine Beeinflussung der NADPH-Oxidase-Untereinheit gp91phox und des mitochondrialen Enzyms UCP3. Eine Langzeitbehandlung mit Ataciguat verbesserte also die linksventrikuläre Dysfunktion und das kardiale Remodeling bei Ratten nach Myokardinfarkt in vergleichbarem Ausmaß wie die Therapie mit Ramipril. Die Kombination aus Ataciguat und ACE-Hemmer war jedoch wesentlich effektiver. Folglich stellt die sGC-Aktivierung einen vielversprechenden Therapieansatz zur Prävention von kardialem Remodeling und Herzinsuffizienz nach Herzinfarkt dar.
The present study was aimed at revealing the early signalling events during the interaction of the diazotrophic soil bacterium Azospirillum brasilense with its host plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, taking advantage of the micro array technique, a comprehensive overview of Arabidopsis genes has been undertaken which are affected upon association with A. brasilense The characterization of the early responses of Arabidopsis plants upon inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense strain Sp7 clearly indicated parallels with the initial events in plant pathogen interaction. For instance, not only bacterial preprations (lysates) form Azospirillum elicited an apoplastic alkalinization of the culture medium, but also the live bacteria, which were even more effective. Besides, in a luminol based assay, the bacterial lysates triggered production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the Arabidopsis leaf discs. Interestingly, the elongation factor receptor mutants (efr) were completely insensitive to Azospirillum, suggesting elongation factor Tu (EF-TU) recognition as elicitor by Arabidopsis. This hypothesis was further validated with a bioinformatic approach. The N terminus initial 26 amino acids from Azospirillum EF-TU gene (elf26) showed more similarity to the elf26 sequences of bacteria like Agrobacterium tumefaciens which elicit responses in the plants through EF-TU rather than Pseudomonas syringae where the potent elicitor is flagellin 22. Universal transcriptome profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings upon inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense over a time course of six, twenty four and ninty six hours revealed very little genetic responses in the early time points. However, a bulk of genes was differentially regulated in 96 hours post inoculation (96hpi). The nature of these genes indicated that the bacterial treatment, among others, greatly affect the processes like cell wall modification, hormone metabolism, stress and secondary metabolism. Additionally expression levels of a numer of transcription factors (TFs) related to basic helix loop helix (BHLH) and MYB domain containing TF families were altered with Azospirillum inoculation. Particularly the BHLH TFs were among the most highly regulated genes. The array results from Azospirillum treated plants were further compared with the already available data emnating from treatment with flagellin 22 (flg22), oligogalacturonides (OGs) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Noteworthy, very different set of genes were affected upon inoculation with Azospirillum in relation to other treatments. Secondly a cluster of proteins involved in the biosynthesis of aliphatic glucosinolates (GSL) were uniquely induced upon Sp7 exposure. Genes operating in flavonoid biosynthesis also showed a distinct regulation trend in the comparative analysis. Taken together, the study in question provides insights into the early signalling events in the context of Azospirillum-Arabidopsis association and the bacterial signals recognized by the plants. The array data, at the same time, elucidates the genetic factors of Arabidopsis triggered upon association with Azospirillum brasilense.
In physiological conditions platelets have a major role in maintaining haemostasis. Platelets prevent bleeding from wounds by distinguishing normal endothelial cells in vasculature from areas with lesions to which they adhere. Interaction of platelet agonists and their receptors is controlled by intracellular signaling molecules that regulate the activation state of platelets. Very important intracellular signaling molecules are cyclic nucleotides (cGMP and cAMP), both involved in inhibition of platelet activation. Formation of cGMP and cAMP in platelets is stimulated by endothelial-derived NO and prostacyclin (PGI2), which then mediate inhibition of platelets by activating protein kinase G (PKG) and protein kinase A (PKA). Recently, it has been suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent new modulators of cell signaling within different cell types. The work summarized here describes the involvement of platelet ROS production in platelet activation, the relation of NO/cGMP/PKG I pathway to ROS and to mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinase) signaling, and the involvement of cyclic nucleotides in megakaryocyte and platelet development. Platelets activated with different agonists produce intracellular but not extracellular ROS by activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. In addition, ROS produced in platelets significantly affects αIIbβ3 integrin activation but not alpha/dense granule secretion and platelet shape change. Thrombin induced integrin αIIbβ3 activation is significantly decreased after pretreatment of platelets with NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors and superoxide scavengers. These inhibitors also reduce platelet aggregation and thrombus formation on collagen under high shear and achieve their effects independently of the NO/cGMP pathway. ADP secreted from platelet dense granules with subsequent activation of P2Y12 receptors as well as thromboxane A2 release are found to be important upstream mediators of p38 MAP kinase activation by thrombin. However, p38 MAP kinase activation does not significantly contribute to calcium mobilization, P-selectin expression, αIIbβ3 integrin activation and aggregation of human platelets in response to thrombin. Finally, PKG activation does not stimulate, but rather inhibit, p38 and ERK MAP kinases in human platelets. Further study revealed that cyclic nucleotides not only inhibit platelet activation, but are also involved, albeit differentially, in megakaryocyte and platelet development. cAMP is engaged in haematopoietic stem cell differentiation to megakaryocytes, and cGMP has no impact on this process. While PKA is already present in stem cells, expression of proteins involved in cGMP signaling (soluble guanylyl cyclase, sGC; PKG) increases with maturation of megakaryocytes. In the final step of megakaryocyte maturation that includes release of platelets, cGMP and cAMP have mild but opposing effects: cGMP increases platelet production while cAMP decreases it indicating a finely regulated process that could depend on stimulus coming from adjacent endothelial cells of sinusoids in bone marrow. The results of this thesis contribute to a better understanding of platelet regulation and of the possible molecular mechanisms involved in megakaryocyte maturation in bone marrow vascular microenvironment.