Increased proteolysis of antithrombin III Vicenza during disseminated intravascular coagulation in acute leukemia

Vitronectin, also known as serum-spreading factor or S-protein, mediates cell adhesion and inhibits formation of the membrane-lytic complex of complement and the rapid inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III in the presence of heparin. Vitronectin is normally present in plasma at a concentration of approximately 300 micrograms/mL. The investigators quantified plasma vitronectin with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and visualized reduced and nonreduced vitronectin by immunoblotting after separation of plasma or serum by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The concentration of plasma vitronectin was markedly reduced in some patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, especially in those with liver failure; it was near normal in patients with metastatic cancer and acute leukemia. Patients with vitronectin levels less than 40% normal invariably had low fibrinogen and antithrombin III and a prolonged prothrombin time. In both normal and patient plasmas there was heterogeneity in the ratio of the 75,000- and 65,000-mol wt polypeptides of reduced vitronectin: 18% had mostly the 75,000-mol wt polypeptide, 59% had roughly equal amounts of the two polypeptides, and 22% had mostly the 65,000-mol wt polypeptide. This polymorphism is inherited and appears to be due to two alleles that are present with approximately equal frequency. The blotting patterns of vitronectin in reduced and nonreduced plasmas were largely unaltered in plasma of patients with defibrination syndrome, fibrinolysis, liver failure, sepsis, metastatic cancer, and acute leukemia. There was no evidence of fragmentation of vitronectin or formation of the disulfide-bonded complex of vitronectin and thrombin-antithrombin III that is found when blood is clotted. Thus these results corroborate in vitro observations that the liver is the major source of plasma vitronectin, suggest that vitronectin may become depleted during disseminated intravascular coagulation, and define a genetic polymorphism of vitronectin.

Download Full-text

Plasma vitronectin polymorphism in normal subjects and patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v72.1.185.185 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

pp. 185-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MG Conlan ◽

BR Tomasini ◽

RL Schultz ◽

DF Mosher

Keyword(s):

Acute Leukemia ◽

Liver Failure ◽

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ◽

Antithrombin Iii ◽

Metastatic Cancer ◽

Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Sodium Dodecyl ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract Vitronectin, also known as serum-spreading factor or S-protein, mediates cell adhesion and inhibits formation of the membrane-lytic complex of complement and the rapid inactivation of thrombin by antithrombin III in the presence of heparin. Vitronectin is normally present in plasma at a concentration of approximately 300 micrograms/mL. The investigators quantified plasma vitronectin with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and visualized reduced and nonreduced vitronectin by immunoblotting after separation of plasma or serum by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The concentration of plasma vitronectin was markedly reduced in some patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, especially in those with liver failure; it was near normal in patients with metastatic cancer and acute leukemia. Patients with vitronectin levels less than 40% normal invariably had low fibrinogen and antithrombin III and a prolonged prothrombin time. In both normal and patient plasmas there was heterogeneity in the ratio of the 75,000- and 65,000-mol wt polypeptides of reduced vitronectin: 18% had mostly the 75,000-mol wt polypeptide, 59% had roughly equal amounts of the two polypeptides, and 22% had mostly the 65,000-mol wt polypeptide. This polymorphism is inherited and appears to be due to two alleles that are present with approximately equal frequency. The blotting patterns of vitronectin in reduced and nonreduced plasmas were largely unaltered in plasma of patients with defibrination syndrome, fibrinolysis, liver failure, sepsis, metastatic cancer, and acute leukemia. There was no evidence of fragmentation of vitronectin or formation of the disulfide-bonded complex of vitronectin and thrombin-antithrombin III that is found when blood is clotted. Thus these results corroborate in vitro observations that the liver is the major source of plasma vitronectin, suggest that vitronectin may become depleted during disseminated intravascular coagulation, and define a genetic polymorphism of vitronectin.

Download Full-text

Effect of Anabolic Steroids on Plasma Antithrombin III

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1651450 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 34 (01) ◽

pp. 106-114 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

I. D Walker ◽

J. F Davidson ◽

P Young ◽

J. A Conkie

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

Ischaemic Heart Disease ◽

Oral Contraceptives ◽

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ◽

Fibrinolytic Activity ◽

Antithrombin Iii ◽

Anabolic Steroids ◽

Intravascular Coagulation ◽

Clear Cut ◽

Α2 Macroglobulin

SummaryThe effect of seven different anabolic steroids (Ethyloestrenol, Methenolone acetate, Norethandrolone, Methylandrostenediol, Oxymetholone, Methandienone, and Stanozolol) on three α-globulin antiprotease inhibitors of thrombin and plasmin was studied in men with ischaemic heart disease. In distinct contrast to the oral contraceptives, five of the six 17-α-alkylated anabolic steroids studied produced increased plasma Antithrombin III levels and five produced decreased levels of plasma α2-macroglobulin. The effect on plasma α1antitrypsin levels was less clear-cut but three of the steroids examined produced significantly elevated levels. The increased plasma fibrinolytic activity which the 17-α-alkylated anabolic steroids induce is therefore unlikely to be secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Download Full-text