scholarly journals Determination of functional levels of protein C, an antithrombotic protein, using thrombin-thrombomodulin complex

Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
PC Comp ◽  
RR Nixon ◽  
CT Esmon
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Recurrent Venous Thrombosis

Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein. Activated protein C is a potent anticoagulant and enhances blood clot lysis. We have developed a functional assay for protein C in human plasma. The measurement of protein C is accomplished by the addition of thrombomodulin, an endothelial-cell-associated cofactor for protein C activation, and thrombin in a 1:1 molar complex. The activated protein C formed in the plasma is immunoadsorbed with goat anti-human protein C IgG-agarose. The immunoadsorbed activated protein C retains the ability to hydrolyze chromogenic substrates, and after unbound plasma proteins are removed by washing, the bound activated protein C is quantitated by incubation with the substrate H-D-phe-pip-arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2238). Normal individuals have functional protein C levels of 3.9–5.9 micrograms/ml, with a mean value of 4.8 micrograms/ml. Individuals undergoing warfarin anticoagulation and patients with advanced liver diseases have decreased levels, as do certain patients with evidence of intravascular clotting. Functional protein C levels correlate well with immunologic levels of the protein in the patient groups studied. Heparin enhances the rate of activated protein C inhibition, as monitored by recovery of activated protein C by immunoadsorption. A patient with recurrent venous thrombosis and abnormal functional protein C activity, but normal levels of antigen, has been identified.

scholarly journals Determination of functional levels of protein C, an antithrombotic protein, using thrombin-thrombomodulin complex

Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
PC Comp ◽  
RR Nixon ◽  
CT Esmon
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Recurrent Venous Thrombosis

Abstract Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein. Activated protein C is a potent anticoagulant and enhances blood clot lysis. We have developed a functional assay for protein C in human plasma. The measurement of protein C is accomplished by the addition of thrombomodulin, an endothelial-cell-associated cofactor for protein C activation, and thrombin in a 1:1 molar complex. The activated protein C formed in the plasma is immunoadsorbed with goat anti-human protein C IgG-agarose. The immunoadsorbed activated protein C retains the ability to hydrolyze chromogenic substrates, and after unbound plasma proteins are removed by washing, the bound activated protein C is quantitated by incubation with the substrate H-D-phe-pip-arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2238). Normal individuals have functional protein C levels of 3.9–5.9 micrograms/ml, with a mean value of 4.8 micrograms/ml. Individuals undergoing warfarin anticoagulation and patients with advanced liver diseases have decreased levels, as do certain patients with evidence of intravascular clotting. Functional protein C levels correlate well with immunologic levels of the protein in the patient groups studied. Heparin enhances the rate of activated protein C inhibition, as monitored by recovery of activated protein C by immunoadsorption. A patient with recurrent venous thrombosis and abnormal functional protein C activity, but normal levels of antigen, has been identified.

scholarly journals The cofactor role of protein S in the acceleration of whole blood clot lysis by activated protein C in vitro

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1189-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
NJ de Fouw ◽  
F Haverkate ◽  
RM Bertina ◽  
J Koopman ◽  
A van Wijngaarden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Fibrin Degradation Products

Abstract The effect of purified human activated protein C (APC) and protein S on fibrinolysis was studied by using an in vitro blood clot lysis technique. Blood clots were formed from citrated blood (supplemented with 125I-fibrinogen) by adding thrombin and Ca2+-ions; lysis of the clots was achieved by adding tissue-type plasminogen activator. The release of labeled fibrin degradation products from the clots into the supernatant was followed in time. We clearly demonstrated that APC accelerates whole blood clot lysis in vitro. The effect of APC was completely quenched by antiprotein C IgG, pretreatment of APC with diisopropylfluorophosphate, and preincubation of the blood with antiprotein S IgG. This demonstrates that both the active site of APC and the presence of the cofactor, protein S, are essential for the expression of the profibrinolytic properties. At present, the substrate of APC involved in the regulation of fibrinolysis is not yet known. Analysis of the radiolabeled fibrin degradation products demonstrated that APC had no effect on the fibrin cross-linking capacity of factor XIII.

Resistance to Activated Protein C in Nine Thrombophilic Families: Interference in a Protein S Functional Assay

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (06) ◽  
pp. 1067-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
E M Faioni ◽  
F Franchi ◽  
D Asti ◽  
E Sacchi ◽  
F Bernardi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Abnormal Behavior ◽  
Gene Marker ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
First Degree Relatives

SummaryNine thrombophilic patients who had had previous diagnoses of functional protein S deficiency were reinvestigated. The functional protein S assays gave dose-response curves that were not parallel to those of the reference plasma. The same pattern was true for approximately half of the first-degree relatives of the propositi. When protein S was extracted from the plasma of the patients by immunoabsorption, it had a normal ratio of functional activity to immunologic concentration. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, informative in one family, showed no linkage between the protein S gene marker and the abnormal behavior of the protein S functional assay. All the propositi and 23/36 first-degree relatives were resistant to the prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time induced by activated protein C. Furthermore, there was striking concordance in all patients and relatives between the abnormal pattern of the protein S functional assay and resistance to activated protein C. We conclude that a plasma-based functional protein S assay is sensitive to activated protein C resistance and this may lead to spuriously low results in the assay. In agreement with the results of others, this study indicates that resistance to activated protein C is a frequent hemostatic defect in selected thrombophilic populations.

Regulation of Fibrinolysis in Plasma by TAFI and Protein C Is Dependent on the Concentration of Thrombomodulin

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (01) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joost Meijers ◽  
Bonno Bouma ◽  
Laurent Mosnier
Keyword(s):  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
The Body ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Microvascular Endothelial Cell ◽  
Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Fibrinolysis Inhibitor

SummaryThrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a carboxypeptidase B-like proenzyme, that after activation down regulates fibrinolysis. TAFI is activated by thrombin in the presence of the cofactor thrombomodulin (TM). By stimulation of TAFI activation TM down regulates fibrinolysis, however TM is also a cofactor in the activation of protein C. Activated protein C (APC) can up regulate fibrinolysis by limiting the activation of TAFI via the attenuation of thrombin production. We studied these counteracting fibrinolytic properties of TM in plasma by measuring the activation of TAFI during tissue factor induced coagulation. TAFI activation was stimulated at low concentrations of TM but decreased at higher concentrations of TM. Similarly, the clot lysis times increased at low concentrations of TM but decreased at higher concentrations of TM. The reduction of TAFI activation at high TM concentrations was found to be dependent on a functional protein C pathway. The concentration of TM is therefore an important factor in the regulation of TAFI activation and in the regulation of fibrinolysis. High concentrations of TM result in up regulation of fibrinolysis, whereas low concentrations of TM have a down regulatory effect on fibrinolysis. These results suggest that fibrinolysis might be differentially regulated by TM in different parts of the body depending on the local TM concentration in the vasculature. Abbreviations: TAFI, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor; TAFIa, activated TAFI; CPI, carboxypeptidase inhibitor from potato tubers; tPA, tissue-type plasminogen activator; TM, thrombo-modulin; TM4-6, Thrombomodulin fragment containing EGF domains 4 to 6; HMEC, human microvascular endothelial cell.

Whole blood clot lysis: In vitro modulation by activated protein C

1985 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 639-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fletcher B. Taylor ◽  
Marion S. Lockhart
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Clot Lysis

scholarly journals The cofactor role of protein S in the acceleration of whole blood clot lysis by activated protein C in vitro

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1189-1192
Author(s):  
NJ de Fouw ◽  
F Haverkate ◽  
RM Bertina ◽  
J Koopman ◽  
A van Wijngaarden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Blood Clot ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Tissue Type ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Fibrin Degradation Products

The effect of purified human activated protein C (APC) and protein S on fibrinolysis was studied by using an in vitro blood clot lysis technique. Blood clots were formed from citrated blood (supplemented with 125I-fibrinogen) by adding thrombin and Ca2+-ions; lysis of the clots was achieved by adding tissue-type plasminogen activator. The release of labeled fibrin degradation products from the clots into the supernatant was followed in time. We clearly demonstrated that APC accelerates whole blood clot lysis in vitro. The effect of APC was completely quenched by antiprotein C IgG, pretreatment of APC with diisopropylfluorophosphate, and preincubation of the blood with antiprotein S IgG. This demonstrates that both the active site of APC and the presence of the cofactor, protein S, are essential for the expression of the profibrinolytic properties. At present, the substrate of APC involved in the regulation of fibrinolysis is not yet known. Analysis of the radiolabeled fibrin degradation products demonstrated that APC had no effect on the fibrin cross-linking capacity of factor XIII.

A Novel Functional Assay of Protein C in Human Plasma and fts Comparison with Amidolytic and Anticoagulant Assays

1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (01) ◽  
pp. 046-049 ◽  
Author(s):  
H A Guglielmone ◽  
M A Vides
Keyword(s):  
Oral Anticoagulant ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Protein S ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Test Sample ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Fast Method ◽  
Factor Va ◽  
Protein C Activity

SummaryA simple and fast method for the quantitative determination of protein C activity in plasma is here described. The first step consists in the conversion of protein C in the test sample into activated protein C by means of an activator isolated from Southern Copperhead venom. Subsequently, the degradation of factor Va, in presence of protein C-deficient plasma, is measured by the prolongation of the prothrombin time which is proportional to the amount of protein C in the sample. The dose-response curve showed a linear relationship from 6 to 150% protein C activity and the inter- and intra-assay reproducibility was 3.5% and 5.6% respectively. In normal subjects, a mean of protein C level of 98 ± 15% of normal pooled plasma was found. Comparison with the anticoagulant assay in samples of patients with oral anticoagulant, liver cirrhosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and severe preeclampsia revealed an excellent correlation (r = 0.94, p <0.001). Also, a similar correlation (r = 0.93, p <0.001) existed between amidolytic assay and the method here proposed for all the samples studied without including the oral anticoagulant group. These results allowed us to infer that this method evaluates the ability of protein C to interact with protein S, phospholipids, calcium ions and factor Va.

scholarly journals Specificity of activated human protein C

1985 ◽  
Vol 230 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
S R Stone ◽  
J Hofsteenge
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Rate Constant ◽  
Amino Acid Residue ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Order Rate Constant ◽  
Human Protein ◽  
Functional Protein ◽  
Hydrophobic Residues ◽  
Apolar Residue

Peptide p-nitroanilide substrates and peptidylchloromethane inhibitors were used to examine the specificity of activated human Protein C. Substrates with arginine in the P1 position had the highest activity. The best substrates and inhibitors, as judged by the second-order rate constant for their interaction with the enzyme, had an apolar residue in the P2 position. In contrast with thrombin [Kettner & Shaw (1981) Methods Enzymol. 80, 826-842], activated Protein C was able to accommodate large hydrophobic residues such as phenylalanine and leucine in the P2 position. In the P3 position, the enzyme preferred an apolar D-amino acid residue. The results of the present study have also indicated a suitable substrate and inhibitor to be used in the assay of functional protein C and of thrombomodulin.

scholarly journals A Factor V Genetic Component Differing From Factor V R506Q Contributes to the Activated Protein C Resistance Phenotype

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 1552-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Bernardi ◽  
E.M. Faioni ◽  
E. Castoldi ◽  
B. Lunghi ◽  
G. Castaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Protein C ◽  
Activated Protein C ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Factor V ◽  
Resistance Phenotype ◽  
Apc Resistance ◽  
Genetic Components ◽  
Factor V Gene ◽  
V Gene

AbstractFactor V gene polymorphisms were investigated to detect components that may contribute to the activated protein C (APC) resistance phenotype in patients with venous thromboembolism. A specific factor V gene haplotype (HR2) was defined by six polymorphisms and its frequency was found to be similar in normal subjects coming from Italy (0.08), India (0.1), and Somalia (0.08), indicating that it was originated by ancestral mutational events. The relationship between the distribution of normalized APC ratios obtained with the functional assay and haplotype frequency was analyzed in patients heterozygous for factor V R506Q (factor V Leiden). The HR2 haplotype was significantly more frequent in patients with ratios below the 15th percentile than in those with higher ratios or in normal controls. Moreover, the study of 10 patients with APC resistance in the absence of the factor V R506Q mutation showed a 50-fold higher frequency of HR2 homozygotes. The HR2 haplotype was associated with significantly lower APC ratios both in patients with venous thromboembolism and in age- and sex-matched controls. However, the two groups showed similar HR2 haplotype frequencies. Plasma mixing experiments showed that an artificially created double heterozygote for the factor V R506Q mutation and the HR2 haplotype had an APC ratio lower than that expected for a simple R506Q heterozygote. Time-course experiments evaluating the decay of factor V in plasma showed the normal stability of the molecule encoded by the factor V gene marked by the HR2 haplotype, which ruled out the presence of a pseudo-homozygous APC resistance mechanism. Our results provide new insights into the presence of factor V genetic components other than the factor V R506Q that are able to contribute to the APC resistance phenotype in patients with venous thromboembolism.

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