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Biomedical subjects

R W Colman

Publications and source records attributed to R W Colman.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources

Response of the kallikrein-kinin and renin-angiotensin systems to saline infusion and upright posture.

The possibility that bradykinin, a potent vasodilator, might be a physiological antagonist of the renin-angiotensin system was investigated. 11 norman subjects, ranging in age from 21 to 33 yr were studied. Seven of the subjects were given a 10 meq sodium, 100 meq potassium, 2500 ml isocaloric diet. After metabolic balance was achieved, they were infused with either 1 liter of 5 per cent glucose over 2 h or 2 liters of 0.9 per cent saline over 4 h. During the infusions, plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (A II), prekallikrein, bradykinin, and aldosterone levels were frequently determined. Plasma prekallikrein and kallikrein inhibitor did not change during the infusion of either glucose or saline. In subjects receiving saline, plasma bradykinin fell from 3.9 plus or minus 1.5 (SEM) ng/ml at 0 min to 0.93 plus or minus 0.2 at 30 min and 0.95 plus or minus 0.3 at 120 min. These changes paralleled the decrease in PRA over the same period (7.9 plus or minus 1.3 ng/ml/h to 5.6 plus or minus 0.8 at 30 min and 3.5 plus or minus 0.7 at 120 min). Similarly, A II fell from 113 plus or minus 12 pg/ml to 62 plus or minus 10 and 48 plus or minus 5, respectively, at 30 and 120 min. In contrast, the control group infused with glucose showed no change in bradykinin, A II, or PRA. Another four subjects were given a constant 200 meq sodium/100 meq potassium isocaloric diet. After metabolic balance was achieved, they were kept supine and fasting overnight. At 9 a.m. they assumed an upright position and began walking a fixed distance (200 ft) at a normal rate (3-4 ft/s). Plasma prekallikrein and kallikrein inhibitor did not change during the posture study. The plasma bradykinin rose from a base line of 0.54 plus or minus 0.01 (SEM) ng/ml to 0.96 plus or minus 0.13 at 20 min. 0.77 plus or minus 0.18 at 60 min, and 0.96 plus or minus 0.07 at 120 min. These changes parallel the increase in PRA over the same period (1.65 plus or minus 3.3 ng/ml/h to 3.6 plus or minus 0.85 at 20 min, 5.3 plus or minus 0.9 at 60 min, and 5.35 plus or minus 0.55 at 120 min). Likewise, the A II rose from 32.5 plus or minus 1.82 pg/ml to 50.8 plus or minus 3.6 at 20 min, 54.3 plus or minus 3.2 at 60 min, and 61.3 plus or minus 5.9 at 120 min. Thus, in sodium-depleted individuals, saline infusion produces a rapid fall of plasma bradykinin at a rate similar to that observed for a II and PRA. Conversely, in sodium-loaded individuals, assumption of upright posture leads to a parallel rise in A II, TPRA, and bradykinin. These studies indicate that there is a close correlation of bradykinin levels with renin activity and angiotensin II, in both acute sodium loading and assumption of upright posture, suggesting that these two systems may be physiologically interrelated.

Adult↗

Williams trait. Human kininogen deficiency with diminished levels of plasminogen proactivator and prekallikrein associated with abnormalities of the Hageman factor-dependent pathways.

An asymptomatic woman (Ms. Williams) was found to have a severe abnormality in the surface-activated intrinsic coagulation, fibrinolytic, and kinin-generating pathways. Assays for known coagulation factors were nromal while Fletcher factor (pre-kallikrein) was 45%, insufficient to account for the observed markedly prolonged partial thromboplastin time. Plasminogen proactivator was present at 20% of normal levels and addition of highly purified plasminogen proactivator containing 10% plasminogen activator partially corrected the coagulation and fibrinolytic abnormalities but not the kinin-generating defect. This effect was due to its plasminogen activator content. In addition, Williams trait plasma failed to convert prekallilrein to lakkilrein or release kinin upon incubation with kaolin. Kininogen antigen was undetectable. When normal plasma was fractionated to identify the factor that corrects all the abnormalities in Williams trait plasma, the Williams factor was identified as a form of kininogen by its behavior on ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration, disc gel electrophoresis, and elution from an anti-low molecular weight kininogen immunoadsorbent. High molecular weight kininogen as well as a subfraction of low molecular weight kininogen, possessed this corrective activity while the bulk of low molecular weight kininogen functioned only as a kallikrein substrate. Kininogen therefore is a critical factor required for the functioning of Hageman factor-dependent coagulation and fibrinolysis and for the activation of prekallikrein.

Adsorption↗

A primate model of hyperacute renal allograft rejection.

Hyperacute renal allograft rejection is initiated by primary immune injury to vascular endothelium and is propagated by secondary vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation and intravascular coagulation. Previous dissociation of these primary and secondary events, with graft survival in one human, suggested that the more usual graft failure was due to secondary injury. As a basis for further modification studies, this primate model most closely resembled its counterpart in man, as the onset and intensity of functional, morphologic and biochemical alterations were similar. Unmodified allografts failed within 5 minutes. The earliest and most abnormal finding was marked reduction in renal blood flow affecting all compartments. By 5 minutes, histologic changes of hyperacute rejection as well as antibody and faint C3 deposits were noted, but biopsies suggested that the initial flow reduction was more likely due to vasoconstriction, which was then followed by vascular obstruction. Glomeruli appeared most damaged, but at the highest antibody titer arterial injury was more prominent. Early red cell sequestration and stasis was marked, followed by progressive platelet clumping and neutrophil infiltration. While the decline in renal venous C3 levels was prompt, as in man, early intrarenal activation of the coagulation, fibrinolytic and kinin-forming systems could not be demonstrated, and fibrin formation was sparse by light and fluorescence microscopy. Qualitatively similar histologic and functional alterations were noted in autograft controls. While the initiating event was unclear and may have been accentuated by the arteriovenous shunts utilized, the final mechanism was probably marked vasoconstriction with renal ischemia. Intrarenal C3 consumption was an important finding and was not associated with tissue deposits of antibody or complement; it may provide a parallel with the progressive complement-mediated injury associated with acute myocardial ischemia noted by others. Endothelial injury was not seen in arteries, and all alterations were delayed in onset and progressed more slowly than in allografts. These findings may elucidate the mechanism of early malfunction of most autografts. Treatment of additional autografts with increasing doses of heparin progressively reversed these changes and even prevented the initial reduction in blood flow. Therefore, many alterations consistent with hyperacute rejection which are probably immediately responsible for graft failure can also be initiated by nonspecific, nonimmunologic events and, where injury is less intense, can be prevented pharmacologically. This model provides a means of dissecting the injurious events and subsequent evaluation of the effectiveness and interaction of various agents on the damaging secondary alterations which occur during hyperacute rejection.

Animals↗

Hyperacute renal allograft rejection in the primate. Intrarenal effects of heparin and associated net release of factor VIII activity and kallikrein activation.

Two groups of specifically presensitized Macaca speciosa monkeys received renal allografts via anastomosis to an indwelling arteriovenous (A-V) shunt. One group was pretreated with heparin (2 mg/kg) intravenously and the other was also treated with constant heparin infusion (1 mg/kg/hr) directly into the renal artery. These studies were performed to evaluate the effects of heparin within the kidney on total and compartmental blood flow, complement (C3) levels, sequestration of formed elements, and activation of the coagulation, fibrinolytic, and kinin-forming systems during the initial 3 hours of hyperacute rejection. The results are compared with those previously reported in unmodified control allografts. Heparin prolonged blood clotting time to infinity, markedly prolonged total renal venous blood flow, and normalized compartmental distribution in both groups despite antibody deposition similar to that in controls. With heparin pretreatment only, initial morphologic injury was much reduced but then progressed rapidly. Marked initial cortical cyanosis with mottling appeared to change constantly and was associated with fluctuations in renal turgor, total blood flow, and sequestration of formed elements, all of which suggested repetitive local cortical arterial spasm and incremental destruction of the grafts. Activation of coagulation Factors II and XII was also revealed and marked net Factor VIII activity was observed in the venous effluent. The latter reflects either formation and release of this factor by the injured kidney, or provides in vivo documentation of the "hyperactivation" of Factor VIII by thrombin known to occur in vitro. The addition of intrarenal artery heparin infusion resulted in greater improvement in early total blood flow rates and more uniformly progressive cyanosis and loss of turgor, but the diffuse initial morphologic injury suggested more uniform perfusion of injured areas. Intrarenal consumption of C3 and sequestration of formed elements was similar to that in controls. Paradoxically, prompt activation and consumption of all coagulation factors, plasminogen, and prekallikrein were observed, but formed fibrin was sparse. The exess amount of Factor XIIa present during heparin blockade may have been diverted to production of plasminogen activator and kallikrein formation. The enormous numbers of neutrophils observed within vessels of grafts which showed the greatest kallikrein activation provide the probable in vivo demonstration of the chemotactic properties of kallikrein noted by others in vitro. Heparin-induced platelet aggregation may have played an important role in the failure of these grafts. These studies elucidate the intrarenal effects of heparin during hyperacute rejection and again suggest that vasoconstriction is the most important early determinant of graft failure, as blood flow appeared unrelated to the degree of vascular injury and apparent obstruction. Also, heparin may exer a beneficial effect on blood flow by other than its known action on coagulation.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the plasma kinin system in dengue hemorrhagic fever.

The role of the plasma kinin system in the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) ws explored by simultaneously measuring factor XLL (Hageman), prekallikrein, kallikrein inhibitors, bradykinin, and complement (C3) in the blood of Thai children with DHF and acute febrile illnesses other than dengue. Prekallikrein, factor XII, and C3 levels were significantly lower in DHF patients compared to fever control patients with the lowest mean levels found in dengue patients with shock. However, bradykinin concentrations were not elevated and mean activity levels of kallikrein inhibitors were not depressed in dengue patients. Two dengue patients first studies at least 2 days before onset of shock had falling C3 levels which were more closely related temporally to the onset of shock than were their rising levels of prekallikrein. The results fail to provide convincing evidence ofr activation of the plasma kinin system leading to free bradykinin or a significant role for bradykinin in the immunopathogenesis of DHF. By contrast, the results refocus attention on complement as a potentially important humoral mediator of the dengue shock syndrome.

Antigens, Viral↗

Bovine factor v: a calcium-containing metalloprotein.

Although coagulation factor Xa requires Ca2+ for binding to phospholipid, factor V, the other protein component in the prothrombinase enzyme complex, binds tightly to phospholipid in the absence of Ca2+. To explore the possibility that calcium might be present in the fact V molecule, the effect of several chelators, including oxalate, citrate, pyrophosphate, and EDTA, on factor V activity has been studied. A time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of factor V which reflects the respective association constants for calcium of each chelator is observed. The inhibition can be prevented by the prior addition of calcium and manganese but not magnesium. Reversal of the activity loss can be accomplished at high protein concentrations by the addition of calcium, the removal of the chelator by gel filtration, or an increase in temperature. Factor V contains 1 g atom of calcium per 300,000 daltons which is not removed by incubation with EDTA under nondenaturing conditions. Thus, the inhibition by EDTA is due to binding to calcium associated with factor V. In 8 M urea, EDTA can remove over 80% of the calcium, demonstrating the importance of the native structure in maintaining the calcium binding site. Prior binding of phospholipids to factor V prevents inhibition by EDTA. The results suggest that phospholipids complex at the calcium site on the factor V metallopretein.

Animals↗

Hemostatic defect due to acquired circulating inhibitors against lipid procoagulant and factor VIII.

An 85 year old woman was studied because of severe bleeding. Acquired inhibitors to factor VIII and to phospholipid procoagulants were demonstrated. Platelet factor 3 (Pf3) assay was prolonged with both kaolin and Russell's Viper Venom (Stypven-R). It was normal with patient's washed platelets and normal plasma, but abnormal when normal platelets were incubated with patient's plasma. The inhibitor also blocked the coagulant action of Bell and Alton thromboplastin, inosithin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl choline, but not that of tissue thromboplastin or cardiolipin. All other platelet functions were normal. The inhibitors were purified by Al (OH3) absorption, heating at 56degrees, precipitation by 50% ammonium sulfate, followed by dialysis and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. A partial separation of the two inhibitors was achieved. Cyclophosphamide treatment resulted in cessation of bleeding and dissappearance of the inhibitors. This seems to be the first instance of an acquired circulating inhibitor specifically directed against phospholipid procoagulants in a patient who also had an inhibitor to Factor VIII.

Aged↗

Human platelet collagenase.

The presence of proteolytic enzymes such as cathepsin and elastase in platelets and the important role of collagen in platelet aggregation suggested that collagenase might be present in platelets. Epinephrine, ADP, and collagen liberate collagenase from platelets in plasma as measured by the hydrolysis of [(14)C]glycine-labeled collagen fibrils. The collagenase activity appeared in an early phase of platelet aggregation and was not a part of the release reaction. However, only 50% of the total collagenase could be liberated by the aggregating agents used. Sucrose density gradient analysis of platelet homogenates using appropriate sub-cellular markers indicated that collagenase appeared in both the granule and membrane fractions. Gel-filtered platelets failed to show collagenase activity before exposure to aggregating agents but released more collagenolytic activity than was found in platelet-rich plasma. This observation was explained by the finding that collagenolytic activity was inhibited by normal human plasma. One of the inhibitors is alpha(1)-antitrypsin as demonstrated by decreased inhibition in plasma from a patient with homozygous alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. Platelet collagenase activity could also be demonstrated by its ability to decrease the viscosity of collagen solutions and to produce collagen fragments similar to those produced by other mammalian collagenases on disk gel electrophoresis. The observation that partially purified platelet collagenase could destroy the platelet-aggregating activity of collagen suggests that the enzyme might function in a negative feedback mechanism limiting thrombus formation.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Immunochemical studies of plasma kallikrein.

A monospecific antibody against human plasma kallikrein has been prepared in rabbits with kallikrein further purified to remove gamma globulins. The antisera produced contained antikallikrein and also anti-IgG, in spite of only 8% contamination of kallikrein preparation with IgG. The latter antibody was removed by adsorption of antisera with either Fletcher factor-deficient plasma or with purified IgG. Both kallikrein and prekallikrein (in plasma) cross-react with the antibody with no apparent difference between the precipitation arcs developed during immunoelectrophoresis and no significant difference in reactivity when quantified by radial immunodiffusion. Kallikrein antibody partially inhibits the esterolytic and fully inhibits the proteolytic activity of kallikrein. In addition, the antibody inhibits the activation of prekallikrein, as measured by esterase or kinin release. The magnitude of the inhibition is related to the molecular weight of the activator used. Thus, for the four activators tested, the greatest inhibition is observed with kaolin and factor XII(A), while large activator and the low molecular weight prekallikrein activators are less inhibited. With the kallikrein antibody, the incubation of kallikrein with either plasma or partially purified C1 esterase inactivator results in a new precipitin arc, as detected by immunoelectrophoresis. This finding provides physical evidence for the interaction of the enzyme and inhibitor. No new arc could be demonstrated between kallikrein and alpha(2)-macroglobulin, or alpha(1)-antitrypsin, although the concentration of free kallikrein antigen decreases after interaction with the former inhibitor. By radial immunodiffusion, plasma from healthy individuals contained 103+/-13 mug/ml prekallikrein antigen. Although in mild liver disease, functional and immunologic kallikrein are proportionally depressed, the levels of prekallikrein antigen in plasma samples from patients with severe liver disease remains 40% of normal, while the functional kallikrein activity was about 8%. These observations suggest that the livers of these patients have synthesized a proenzyme that cannot be converted to active kallikrein.

Animals↗