scholarly journals In Hemophilia Α Plasma Treated with Emicizumab, Factor IXa in Activated Prothrombin Complex Concentrates Is the Dominant Contributor to Enhanced Thrombin Generation

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 16-17
Author(s):  
Dougald Monroe ◽  
Mirella Ezban ◽  
Maureane Hoffman

Background. Recently a novel bifunctional antibody (emicizumab) that binds both factor IXa and factor X has been used to treat hemophilia A. Emicizumab has proven remarkably effective as a prophylactic treatment for hemophilia A; however there are patients that still experience bleeding. An approach to treating this bleeding in hemophilia A patients with inhibitors is to give an activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC; FEIBA) (disfavored in NHF MASAC #255). APCC contains a number of coaguation factors including prothrombin, factor X (FX), and factor IX (FIX). APCC also contains activated factor X (FXa) and factor IX (FIXa). Previous work has shown that when APCCs are added to hemophilia A plasma containing emicizumab there is a significant increase in thrombin generation [J Thromb Haemost 2018;16:1580-1591]. The goal of this work was to study thrombin generation in hemophilia A plasma with emicizumab and to examine the role of the zymogen and activated components of an APCC in the increased thrombin generation. Methods. In hemophilia A plasma, thrombin generation assays were done using 100 µM lipid and 420 µM Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC with or without emicizumab at 55 µg/mL which is the clinical steady state level. The reactions were initiated with low (1 pM) tissue factor (TF). The components of APCC were studied at concentrations that should mimic the levels seen in the plasma of a patient given a dose of 50 U/kg: prothrombin 1800 nM; FX 130 nM; FIX 90 nM; and FIXa 0.4 nM. Results. When initiated with low TF, hemophilia A plasma alone had essentially no thrombin generation. As expected, adding emicizumab enhanced thrombin generation. The addition of zymogen coagulation factors, prothrombin, FIX, and FX, separately or together gave a small increase in thrombin generation. However, addition of FIXa to emicizumab gave a large increase in peak thrombin. In hemophilia A plasma with emicizumab and FIXa, addition of prothrombin further increased thrombin generation and specifically increased the peak level of thrombin. Further addition of FX or FIX, separately or together, only minimally increased thrombin generation. Discussion. The strong contribution of factor IXa to the effects of APCCs on thrombin generation in hemophilia A plasma depends on the presence of emicizumab. In the absence of emicizumab, a study of the individual components of APCC showed that a combination of FXa and prothrombin at levels found in APCCs had the major effect on thrombin generation [Haemophilia. 2016;22:615-24]. That study found that FIXa did not increase thrombin generation. However, in the presence of emicizumab, despite the weak solution phase affinity of the bifunctional antibody for FIXa, small amounts of FIXa were the most significant contributor to thrombin generation. Disclosures Monroe: Novo Nordisk:Research Funding.Ezban:Novo Nordisk:Current Employment.Hoffman:Novo Nordisk:Research Funding.

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 17-17
Author(s):  
Dougald Monroe ◽  
Mirella Ezban ◽  
Maureane Hoffman

Background.Recently a novel bifunctional antibody (emicizumab) that binds both factor IXa (FIXa) and factor X (FX) has been used to treat hemophilia A. Emicizumab has proven remarkably effective as a prophylactic treatment for hemophilia A; however there are patients that still experience bleeding. An approach to safely and effectively treating this bleeding in hemophilia A patients with inhibitors is recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa). When given at therapeutic levels, rFVIIa can enhance tissue factor (TF) dependent activation of FX as well as activating FX independently of TF. At therapeutic levels rFVIIa can also activate FIX. The goal of this study was to assess the role of the FIXa activated by rFVIIa when emicizumab is added to hemophilia A plasma. Methods. Thrombin generation assays were done in plasma using 100 µM lipid and 420 µM Z-Gly-Gly-Arg-AMC with or without emicizumab at 55 µg/mL which is the clinical steady state level. The reactions were initiated with low (1 pM) tissue factor (TF). rFVIIa was added at concentrations of 25-100 nM with 25 nM corresponding to the plasma levels achieved by a single clinical dose of 90 µg/mL. To study to the role of factor IX in the absence of factor VIII, it was necessary to create a double deficient plasma (factors VIII and IX deficient). This was done by taking antigen negative hemophilia B plasma and adding a neutralizing antibody to factor VIII (Haematologic Technologies, Essex Junction, VT, USA). Now varying concentrations of factor IX could be reconstituted into the plasma to give hemophilia A plasma. Results. As expected, in the double deficient plasma with low TF there was essentially no thrombin generation. Also as expected from previous studies, addition of rFVIIa to double deficient plasma gave a dose dependent increase in thrombin generation through activation of FX. Interestingly addition of plasma levels of FIX to the rFVIIa did not increase thrombin generation. Starting from double deficient plasma, as expected emicizumab did not increase thrombin generation since no factor IX was present. Also, in double deficient plasma with rFVIIa, emicizumab did not increase thrombin generation. But in double deficient plasma with FIX and rFVIIa, emicizumab significantly increased thrombin generation. The levels of thrombin generation increased in a dose dependent fashion with higher concentrations of rFVIIa giving higher levels of thrombin generation. Conclusion. Since addition of FIX to the double deficient plasma with rFVIIa did not increase thrombin generation, it suggests that rFVIIa activation of FX is the only source of the FXa needed for thrombin generation. So in the absence of factor VIII (or emicizumab) FIX activation does not contribute to thrombin generation. However, in the presence of emicizumab, while rFVIIa can still activate FX, FIXa formed by rFVIIa can complex with emicizumab to provide an additional source of FX activation. Thus rFVIIa activation of FIX explains the synergistic effect in thrombin generation observed when combining rFVIIa with emicizumab. The generation of FIXa at a site of injury is consistent with the safety profile observed in clinical use. Disclosures Monroe: Novo Nordisk:Research Funding.Ezban:Novo Nordisk:Current Employment.Hoffman:Novo Nordisk:Research Funding.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 1148-1154
Author(s):  
Koji Yada ◽  
Keiji Nogami

Emicizumab is a humanized anti-FIXa/FX (factor IXa/X) bispecific monoclonal antibody that mimics FVIIIa (activated factor VIII) cofactor function. The hemostatic efficacy of emicizumab has been confirmed in clinical studies of patients with hemophilia A, irrespective of the presence of FVIII inhibitors. Emicizumab differs in some properties from FVIIIa molecule. Emicizumab requires no activation by thrombin and is not inactivated by activated protein C, but emicizumab-mediated coagulation is regulatable and maintains hemostasis. A small amount of FIXa (activated factor IX) is required to initiate emicizumab-mediated hemostasis, whereas tissue factor/FVIIa (activated factor VII)-mediated FXa (activated factor X) and thrombin activation initiates FVIIIa-mediated hemostasis. Fibrin formation, followed by fibrinolysis, appears to be similar between emicizumab- and FVIIIa-mediated hemostasis. These results suggest possible future uses of emicizumab for treating hemorrhagic diseases other than hemophilia A and reveal previously unobservable behaviors of procoagulation and anticoagulation factors in conventional hemostasis. Here, we have reviewed novel insights and new developments regarding coagulation highlighted by emicizumab.


Blood ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1226-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
TB McNeely ◽  
MJ Griffith

Abstract The effects of heparin on the activation of blood coagulation factors IX and X in contact-activated plasma were determined in the present study. In the presence and absence of 0.5 U/mL heparin, the amounts of factor IX that were cleaved 30 minutes after the addition of calcium and phospholipid to plasma exposed to glass (ie, contact activated) were essentially identical. In the absence of heparin, however, the plasma clotting time was between three and four minutes, while in the presence of heparin, the clotting time was approximately 40 minutes. More factor IXa was inhibited by antithrombin III in the presence of heparin than in its absence, but factor IXa levels sufficient for factor X activation appeared to be present in the heparinized plasma. Neither an increase in factor Xa nor a decrease in factor X was detected, however, in heparinized plasma. We conclude that the step in the intrinsic pathway of coagulation that is inhibited in the presence of heparin is at the level of factor X activation.


1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (02) ◽  
pp. 224-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
V J J Bom ◽  
J H Reinalda-Poot ◽  
R Cupers ◽  
R M Bertina

SummaryWe studied activation of human coagulation factors IX and X by factor VIIa in the presence of calcium ions, phospholipid (phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine, 50/50, mol/mol) and purified tissue factor apoprotein. Activation of factor IX and factor X was found to occur without a measurable lag-phase and hence initial rates of factor IXa and factor Xa formation could be determined. Like previously observed for the activation of factor X, the activation of factor IX was saturable with respect to factor VIIa, tissue factor apoprotein and phospholipid. The results suggested that in the presence of a Ca2+ ions the same ternary complex of factor VIIa-tissue factor apoprolein-phospholipid is responsible for the activation of factor IX and factor X. Roth the apparent Km of 22 nM-factor IX and the apparent Kcat of 28 min−1 were about 3-fold lower than the coiicsponding parameters of factor X activation by this complex. Hence, the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) of factor IX and factor X activation was about equal. However, the two substrates inhibited the activation of each other by competition for the same catalytic sites. The apparent Kinh of factor IX for inhibition of extrinsic factor X activation is 30 nM. The apparent Kinh of factor X for inhibition of extrinsic factor IX activation is 116 nM. From these kinetic data it was calculated that at plasma concentration of factors IX and X, the rate of extrinsic factor IX activation would be half the rate of factor X activation. These relative rates of extrinsic factor IX and factor X activation in combination with previously reported kinetic data on the activation of factor X by factor IXa in the presence of factor VIIIa provide support for the concept that at low levels of tissue factor, factor IXa formation might play an important role in the extiinsic pathway of coagulation in vivo.


Blood ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 1794-1801 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hoffman ◽  
DM Monroe ◽  
JA Oliver ◽  
HR Roberts

Tissue factor is the major initiator of coagulation. Both factor IX and factor X are activated by the complex of factor VIIa and tissue factor (VIIa/TF). The goal of this study was to determine the specific roles of factors IXa and Xa in initiating coagulation. We used a model system of in vitro coagulation initiated by VIIa/TF and that included unactivated platelets and plasma concentrations of factors II, V, VIII, IX, and X, tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and antithrombin III. In some cases, factor IX and/or factor X were activated by tissue factor- bearing monocytes, but in some experiments, picomolar concentrations of preactivated factor IX or factor X were used to initiate the reactions. Timed samples were assayed for both platelet activation and thrombin activity. Factor Xa was 10 times more potent than factor IXa in initiating platelet activation, but factor IXa was much more effective in promoting thrombin generation than was factor Xa. In the presence of VIIa/TF, factor X was required for both platelet activation and thrombin generation, while factor IX was only required for thrombin generation. We conclude that VIIa/TF-activated factors IXa and Xa have distinct physiologic roles. The main role of factor Xa that is initially activated by VIIa/TF is to activate platelets by generating an initial, small amount of thrombin in the vicinity of platelets. Factor IXa, on the other hand, enhances thrombin generation by providing factor Xa on the platelet surface, leading to prothrombinase formation. Only tiny amounts of factors IX and X need to be activated by VIIa/TF to perform these distinct functions. Our experiments show that initiation of coagulation is highly dependent on activation of small amounts of factors IXa and Xa in proximity to platelet surfaces and that these factors play distinct roles in subsequent events, leading to an explosion of thrombin generation. Furthermore, the specific roles of factors IXa and Xa generated by VIIa/TF are not necessarily reflected by the kinetics of factor IXa and Xa generation.


Blood ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1226-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
TB McNeely ◽  
MJ Griffith

The effects of heparin on the activation of blood coagulation factors IX and X in contact-activated plasma were determined in the present study. In the presence and absence of 0.5 U/mL heparin, the amounts of factor IX that were cleaved 30 minutes after the addition of calcium and phospholipid to plasma exposed to glass (ie, contact activated) were essentially identical. In the absence of heparin, however, the plasma clotting time was between three and four minutes, while in the presence of heparin, the clotting time was approximately 40 minutes. More factor IXa was inhibited by antithrombin III in the presence of heparin than in its absence, but factor IXa levels sufficient for factor X activation appeared to be present in the heparinized plasma. Neither an increase in factor Xa nor a decrease in factor X was detected, however, in heparinized plasma. We conclude that the step in the intrinsic pathway of coagulation that is inhibited in the presence of heparin is at the level of factor X activation.


Blood ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 1028-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
MB Hultin

Abstract The precise quantitation of activated factors in human factor IX concentrates has been accomplished with the use of recently developed, specific assays for factors IXa, Xa, and thrombin. The assay for factor IXa, which measures the initial rate of 3H-factor-X activation, was shown to be specific for factor IXa in the concentrates. Activated factor IX concentrates contained 1.0–2.3 microgram/ml of factor IXa; whereas the assays of unactivated concentrates were negative (less than 0.2 microgram/ml). The assays of factor Xa and thrombin, which measure the initial rate of p-nitroaniline release from S-2222 and S-2238, respectively, showed similar small amounts of factor Xa (4–34 ng/ml) and thrombin (12–76 ng/ml) in the activated and unactivated concentrates. The nonactivated partial thromboplastin time of the concentrates correlated significantly with the factor IXa content, but not with factor Xa or thrombin. Antithrombin III antigen in 3 of 4 concentrates was several-fold higher than antithrombin III activity, suggesting the presence of antithrombin III complexed with activated factors. These results support the hypothesis that the degree of activation of factor IX concentrates is related primarily to the concentration of factor IXa, which may be responsible for the thrombogenicity of these concentrates in some clinical settings.


1995 ◽  
Vol 310 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
S S Ahmad ◽  
R Rawala ◽  
W F Cheung ◽  
D W Stafford ◽  
P N Walsh

To study the structural requirements for factor IXa binding to platelets, we have carried out equilibrium binding studies with human factor IXa after replacing the second epidermal growth factor (EGF) domain by the corresponding polypeptide region of factor X. The chimeric protein, factor IX(Xegf2), and the wild-type, factor IXwt, produced in embryonic kidney cells 293 were radiolabelled with 125I and activated with factor XIa. Direct binding studies with thrombin-activated platelets showed normal stoichiometry and affinity of binding of factor IXawt in the presence of factor VIIIa (2 units/ml) and factor X (1.5 microM). However, under similar experimental conditions, factor IXa(Xegf2) was bound to a smaller number of sites (396 sites/platelet) with decreased affinity, i.e. a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.4 nM, compared with normal factor IXa, factor IXaN (558 sites/platelet; Kd 0.67 nM), or factor IXawt (590 sites/platelet; Kd 0.61 nM). The concentrations of factor IXaN and factor IXawt required for half-maximal rates of factor-X activation were 0.63 nM and 0.7 nM, indicating a close correspondence of the Kd, app. for binding of factor IXawt to the factor-X activating complex on activated platelets to the Kd obtained in equilibrium binding studies. In contrast, kinetic parameters for factor-X activation by factor IXa(Xegf2) showed a decreased affinity (Kd 1.5 nM), in agreement with results of binding studies. These studies with factor IX(Xegf2) suggest that the EGF-2 domain may be important for specific high-affinity factor IXa binding to platelets in the presence of factor VIIIa and factor X.


Blood ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 1732-1732
Author(s):  
Rinku Majumder ◽  
Dougald M. Monroe ◽  
Daud Cole ◽  
Barry R. Lentz

Abstract A number of clinical studies have demonstrated correlation between elevated levels of factor IX and the risk of coronary heart disease. Studies by different groups have shown that blocking procoagulant activity of factor IXa could reduce the risk of thrombosis. We propose to study the regulation of factor IXa by phosphatidylserine (PS) which further could open up possibilities to design drugs that might inhibit the up regulation of the procoagulant protein factor IXa. The activated form of factor IX, IXa, forms the Xase complex together with factor VIIIa and Ca2+ on an activated platelet membrane surface. We hypothesize that PS regulates factor IXa by binding to specific sites on factor IXa and thereby enhancing its catalytic activity. We used a soluble form of phosphatidylserine, 1,2-dicaproyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (C6PS) as a tool in order to address the role of PS in regulating factor IXa. Intrinsic fluorescence measurements demonstrate that C6PS binds tightly (Kd ~1.3 μM) to and induces changes in conformation of factor IXa. We also monitored the amidolytic activity of 300 nM factor IXa in the presence of C6PS using synthetic substrate Leu-PHG-Arg-pNA. There is a reduction in the amidolytic activity of factor IXa with increasing addition of C6PS and the hyperbolic fit gives an apparent Kd of 130 μM. Recent results show that calcium is required for both amidolytic and proteolytic activity of factor IXa in the presence of C6PS. Our data shows that amidolytic activity of factor IXa in the presence of 600 mM C6PS is saturated at a concentration of calcium near 3 mM. We have also demonstrated that both C6PS and calcium enhance proteolytic activation of factor X by factor IXa. The data shows that as the concentration of Ca2+ increases, the proteolytic activation of factor X by factor IXa increases as well. Enhancement of factor X activation appears to saturate at a calcium concentration of 3 mM. Based on these results, we conclude, 1) C6PS induces a conformational change in factor IXa, 2) C6PS regulates the amidolytic and proteolytic activity of factor IXa, 3) Ca2+ is needed for PS mediated regulation of factor IXa.


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