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Susan T Lord

Publications and source records attributed to Susan T Lord.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

A cluster of basic amino acid residues in the gamma370-381 sequence of fibrinogen comprises a binding site for platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta3 (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa).

Adhesive interactions of platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta3 with fibrinogen and fibrin are central events in hemostasis and thrombosis. However, the mechanisms by which alpha(IIb)beta3 binds these ligands remain incompletely understood. We have recently demonstrated that alpha(IIb)beta3 binds the gamma365-383 sequence in the gammaC-domain of fibrin(ogen). This sequence contains neither the AGDV nor the RGD recognition motifs, known to bind alpha(IIb)beta3, suggesting the different specificity of the integrin. Here, using peptide arrays, mutant fibrinogens, and recombinant mutant gammaC-domains, we have examined the mechanism whereby alpha(IIb)beta3 binds gamma365-383. The alpha(IIb)beta3-binding activity was localized within gamma370-381, with two short sequences, gamma370ATWKTR375 and gamma376WYSMKK381, being able to independently bind the integrin. Furthermore, recognition of alpha(IIb)beta3 by gamma370-381 depended on four basic residues, Lys373, Arg375, Lys380, and Lys381. Simultaneous replacement of these amino acids and deletion of the gamma408AGDV411 sequence in the recombinant gammaC-domain resulted in the loss of alpha(IIb)beta3-mediated platelet adhesion. Confirming the critical roles of the identified residues, abnormal fibrinogen Kaiserslautern, in which gammaLys380 is replaced by Asn, demonstrated delayed clot retraction and impaired alpha(IIb)beta3 binding. Also, a mutant recombinant fibrinogen modeled after the naturally occurring variant Osaka V (gammaArg375 --> Gly) showed delayed clot retraction and reduced binding to purified alpha(IIb)beta3. These results identify the gamma370-381 sequence of fibrin(ogen) as the binding site for alpha(IIb)beta3 involved in platelet adhesion and clot retraction and define the new recognition specificity of this integrin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Interactions of thrombin with fibrinogen adsorbed on methyl-, hydroxyl-, amine-, and carboxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers.

We have examined the initial phase of fibrin formation, thrombin-catalyzed fibrinopeptide cleavage, from adsorbed fibrinogen using surface plasmon resonance and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fibrinogen adsorption impaired thrombin-fibrinogen interactions compared to the interactions of thrombin with fibrinogen in solution. The properties of the underlying substrate significantly affected the extent and kinetics of fibrinopeptide cleavage, and the conversion of adsorbed fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrinogen adsorbed on negatively charged surfaces (carboxyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers) released a smaller amount of fibrinopeptides, at a reduced rate relative to those of hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and positively charged surfaces (methyl-, hydroxyl-, and amine-terminated self-assembled monolayers, respectively). Additionally, the conversion of adsorbed fibrinogen to fibrin was comparatively inefficient at the negatively charged surface. These data correlated well with trends previously reported for fibrin proliferation as a function of surface properties. We conclude that thrombin interactions with adsorbed fibrinogen determine the extent of subsequent fibrin proliferation on surfaces.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

The alphaC domains of fibrinogen affect the structure of the fibrin clot, its physical properties, and its susceptibility to fibrinolysis.

The functions of the alphaC domains of fibrinogen in clotting and fibrinolysis, which have long been enigmatic, were determined using recombinant fibrinogen truncated at Aalpha chain residue 251. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy revealed that the fibers of alpha251 clots were thinner and denser, with more branch points than fibers of control clots. Consistent with these results, the permeability of alpha251 clots was nearly half that of control clots. Together, these results suggest that in normal clot formation, the alphaC domains enhance lateral aggregation to produce thicker fibers. The viscoelastic properties of alpha251 fibrin clots differed markedly from control clots; alpha251 clots were much less stiff and showed more plastic deformation, indicating that interactions between the alphaC domains in normal clots play a major role in determining the clot's mechanical properties. Comparing factor XIIIa cross-linked alpha251 and control clots showed that gamma chain cross-linking had a significant effect on clot stiffness. Plasmin-catalyzed lysis of alpha251 clots, monitored with both macroscopic and microscopic methods, was faster than lysis of control clots. In conclusion, these studies provide the first definitive evidence that the alphaC domains play an important role in determining the structure and biophysical properties of clots and their susceptibility to fibrinolysis.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗
PubMed2005

In vitro expression demonstrates impaired secretion of the gammaAsn319, Asp320 deletion variant fibrinogen.

The hypodysfibrinogenemia Otsu is caused by the two-residue deletion, gammaAsn319 and gammaAsp320. Analysis of plasma or purified fibrinogen from the heterozygous propositus revealed that the amount of variant gamma-chain was lower than that of normal gamma-chain. In order to examine the basis for this difference, we transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells and established stable cell lines that expressed both chains, gammaDelta/gammaN, only the normal chain, gammaN, and only the variant chain, gammaDelta. We measured fibrinogen concentration of confluent cultures by ELISA. We found the ratios of the concentrations in the media to the concentrations in the cell lysates of gammaDelta, gammaDelta/gammaN, and gammaN-cells were 0.42, 0.60, and 1.00, respectively. We measured the concentrations of the gammaDelta and gammaN chains by densitometric analysis of samples following separation by SDS-PAGE and found the fraction of gammaDelta-chains in cell lysates was always greater than the fraction in the respective culture media. We examined the kinetics of fibrinogen synthesis, assembly and secretion in pulse-chase experiments, and found that the gammaDelta-chain was assembled into intact fibrinogen at a rate similar to assembly of the gammaN-chain into normal fibrinogen, but was secreted into the medium at a slightly slower rate than normal fibrinogen. Considered together, these experiments indicate secretion of the variant fibrinogen was slightly impaired. These results suggest that the reduced level of gammaDelta319,320 fibrinogen in the plasma of the Otsu patient arises from modestly impaired secretion of this variant fibrinogen.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

B beta Glu397 and B beta Asp398 but not B beta Asp432 are required for "B:b" interactions.

We synthesized three fibrinogen variants, BbetaE397A, BbetaD398A, and BbetaD432A, with substitutions at positions identified in crystallographic studies as critical for binding the "B" peptide, Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide (GHRPam), to the "b" polymerization site. We examined thrombin- and batroxobin-catalyzed polymerization by turbidity measurements and found that BbetaE397A and BbetaD398A were impaired while BbetaD432A was normal. Changes in polymerization as a function of calcium were similar for variant and normal fibrinogens. We determined crystal structures of fragment D from the variant BbetaD398A in the absence and presence of GHRPam. In the absence of peptide, the structure showed that the alanine substitution altered only specific local interactions, as alignment of the variant structure with the analogous normal structure resulted in an RMSD of 0.53 A over all atoms. The structure also showed reduced occupancy of the beta2 calcium-binding site that includes the side chain carbonyl of BbetaD398, suggesting that calcium was not bound at this site in our polymerization studies. In the presence of peptide, the structure showed that GHRPam was not bound in the "b" site and the conformational changes associated with peptide binding to normal fragment D did not occur. This structure also showed GHRPam bound in the "a" polymerization site, although in two different conformations. Calcium binding was associated with only one of these conformations, suggesting that calcium binding to the gamma2-site and an alternative peptide conformation were induced by crystal packing. We conclude that BbetaE397 and BbetaD398 are essential for the "B:b" interaction, while BbetaD432 is not.

Alanine↗
PubMed2004

Calcium-binding site beta 2, adjacent to the "b" polymerization site, modulates lateral aggregation of protofibrils during fibrin polymerization.

Structural analysis of recombinant fibrinogen fragment D revealed that the calcium-binding site (beta2-site) composed of residues BbetaAsp261, BbetaAsp398, BbetaGly263, and gammaGlu132 is modulated by the "B:b" interaction. To determine the beta2-site's role in polymerization, we engineered variant fibrinogen gammaE132A in which calcium binding to the beta2-site was disrupted by replacing glutamic acid at gamma132 with alanine. We compared polymerization of gammaE132A to normal fibrinogen as a function of calcium concentration. Polymerization of gammaE132A at concentrations of calcium <or=1 mM exhibited an uncharacteristic 2-3-fold increase in lateral aggregation and fiber thickness compared to normal fibrinogen, while polymerization of variant and normal were indistinguishable at 10 mM calcium. These results suggest that the beta2-site controls the extent of lateral aggregation. That is, when the calcium anchor (beta2-site) is eliminated before "B:b" interactions occur then lateral aggregation is enhanced. We solved structures of fragment D of gammaE132A fibrinogen (rfD-gammaE132A) with and without Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide (GHRPam) and found no change to the global structure. X-ray diffraction data showed GHRPam binding in the "a" and "b" polymerization sites and that calcium could still bind to the beta2-site of gammaE132A fibrinogen at 70 mM calcium. We found that the gamma2 calcium-binding site (in loop gamma294-301) did not have calcium bound in the structure of fragment D of gammaE132A fibrinogen with GHRPam bound (rfD-gammaE132A+GH). Analysis of structures rfD-gammaE132A+GH and rfD-BbetaD398A+GH indicated that differences in calcium occupation of the gamma2-site resulted from minor conformational changes provoked by crystal packing and GHRPam binding to the "a" site did not directly modulate calcium binding to this site.

Alanine↗
PubMed2004

Substitution of the gamma-chain Asn308 disturbs the D:D interface affecting fibrin polymerization, fibrinopeptide B release, and FXIIIa-catalyzed cross-linking.

Crystallographic structures indicate that gamma-chain residue Asn308 participates in D:D interactions and indeed substitutions of gammaAsn308 with lysine or isoleucine have been identified in dysfibrinogens with impaired polymerization. To probe the role of Asn308 in polymerization, we synthesized 3 variant fibrinogens: gammaAsn308 changed to lysine (gammaN308K), isoleucine (gammaN308I), and alanine (gammaN308A). We measured thrombin-catalyzed polymerization by turbidity, fibrinopeptide release by high-performance liquid chromatography, and factor XIIIa-catalyzed cross-linking by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the absence of added calcium, polymerization was clearly impaired with all 3 variants. In contrast, at 0.1 mM calcium, only polymerization of gammaN308K remained markedly abnormal. The release of thrombin-catalyzed fibrinopeptide B (FpB) was delayed in the absence of calcium, whereas at 1 mM calcium FpB release was delayed only with gammaN308K. Factor XIIIa-catalyzed gamma-gamma dimer formation was delayed with fibrinogen (in absence of thrombin), whereas with fibrin (in presence of thrombin) gamma-gamma dimer formation of only gammaN308K was delayed. These data corroborate the recognized link between FpB release and polymerization. They show fibrin cross-link formation likely depends on the structure of protofibrils. Together, our results show substitution of Asn308 with a hydrophobic residue altered neither polymer formation nor polymer structure at physiologic calcium concentrations, whereas substitution with lysine altered both.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2004

Secretion of recombinant human fibrinogen by the murine mammary gland.

Transgenic animals secreting individual chains and assembled fibrinogen were produced to evaluate the capacity of the mammary gland for maximizing assembly, glycosylation and secretion of recombinant human fibrinogen (rhfib). Transgenes were constructed from the 4.1 kbp murine Whey Acidic Protein promoter (mWAP) and the three cDNAs coding for the Aalpha, Bbeta and gamma fibrinogen chains. Transgenic mice secreted fully assembled fibrinogen into milk at concentrations between 10 and 200 microg/ml, with total secretion of subunits approaching 700 microg/ml in milk. Partially purified fibrinogen was shown to form a visible and stable clot after treatment with human thrombin and factor XIII. The level of assembled fibrinogen was proportional to the lowest amount of subunit produced where both the Bbeta and gamma chains were rate limiting. Both the Bbeta and gamma chains were glycosylated when co-expressed and the degree of saccharide maturation was dependent on expression level, with processing preferred for gamma chains over Bbeta chains. Also, the subunit complexes gamma2, Aalphagamma2 and the individual subunits Aalpha, Bbeta and gamma were found as secretion products. When the Bbeta was secreted individually, the glycosylation profile of the molecule was of a mature complex saccharide indicating recognition of the molecule by the glycosylation pathway without association with other fibrinogen chains. To date secretion of Bbeta chain has been not observed in any cell type, suggesting that the secretion pathway in mammary epithelia is less restrictive than that occurring in hepatocytes and other cells previously used to study fibrinogen assembly.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Investigation of residues in the fibrin(ogen) gamma chain involved in tissue plasminogen activator binding and plasminogen activation.

In order to characterize tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) binding to gamma-chain residues in fibrinogen, we generated variant fibrinogens substituting alanine for gamma D316, gamma D318, gamma D320, and gamma K321. We measured thrombin-catalyzed polymerization and found normal polymerization with gamma K321A, no polymerization with gamma D316A, and, as reported by Lounes et al. in 2002, impaired polymerization with gamma D318A and gamma D320A. We measured t-PA binding in a solid-phase assay, and t-PA activity by the generation of plasmin. Comparing normal fibrin with fibrinogen, we found a seven-fold increase in binding and a two-fold increase in activity. Binding to all variant fibrinogens was the same as normal. In contrast, t-PA binding to all variant fibrins was weaker than binding to normal fibrin, 2.5-fold for gamma K321A, seven-fold for gamma D320A and 10-fold for gamma D316A and gamma D318A. Plasmin generation in the presence of variant fibrinogens was similar, although not identical, to normal, and plasmin generation in the presence of variant fibrins was impaired for the Asp to Ala variants. As the three variants with the weakest t-PA binding and least activity also showed impaired polymerization, our results support previous findings demonstrating the DD:E complex, found in the normal fibrin polymer, is necessary for the fibrin enhanced binding of t-PA and activation of plasminogen.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2003

Severe hypodysfibrinogenemia in compound heterozygotes of the fibrinogen AalphaIVS4 + 1G>T mutation and an AalphaGln328 truncation (fibrinogen Keokuk).

Two siblings with hypofibrinogenemia have lifelong trauma-related bleeding. Recently, the brother experienced recurrent thrombosis after cryoprecipitate infusions following surgery. The sister had 6 miscarriages. Plasma clots in each were resistant to compression and fibrinolysis and were soluble in 5 M urea. Examination by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed only the presence of crosslinked gamma-gamma fibrin chain dimers without high polymers of alpha n. Fibrin clots contained an abnormal 35-kDa constituent recognized by an antibody to the mature fibrinogen Aalpha-chain residues 241-476 but not by antibodies to Aalpha219-348 or Aalpha349-406. DNA analysis revealed a heterozygous CAA-->TAA mutation at the codon for amino acid 328 of the Aalpha gene in these siblings and 2 asymptomatic family members. The Gln328stop mutation (fibrinogen Keokuk) predicted a 46% truncation and the production of a 35-kDa Aalpha chain. Analysis of purified fibrinogen revealed expression of the abnormal Aalpha chain in 4 family members but found no normal fibrinogen in the 2 hypofibrinogenemic patients. This paradox was resolved when they and their asymptomatic mother were found to be heterozygous for a second Aalpha mutation, a GT-->TT splice site mutation in intron 4 (IVS4 + 1 G> T). However, compound heterozygosity for both mutations was required for the expression of severe hypodysfibrinogenemia and for clinical symptoms.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed2003

Sequence gamma 377-395(P2), but not gamma 190-202(P1), is the binding site for the alpha MI-domain of integrin alpha M beta 2 in the gamma C-domain of fibrinogen.

The interaction between the leukocyte integrin alpha(M)beta(2) (CD11b/CD18, Mac-1, CR3) and fibrinogen mediates the recruitment of phagocytes during the inflammatory response. Previous studies demonstrated that peptides P2 and P1, duplicating gamma 377-395 and gamma 190-202 sequences in the gamma C domain of fibrinogen, respectively, blocked the fibrinogen-binding function of alpha(M)beta(2), implicating these sequences as possible binding sites for alpha(M)beta(2). To determine the role of these sequences in integrin binding, recombinant wild-type and mutant gamma C domains were prepared, and their interactions with the alpha(M)I-domain, a ligand recognition domain within alpha(M)beta(2), were tested. Deletion of gamma 383-411 (P2-C) and gamma 377-411 produced gamma C mutants which were defective in binding to the alpha(M)I-domain. In contrast, alanine mutations of several residues in P1 did not affect alpha(M)I-domain binding, and simultaneous mutations in P1 and deletion of P2 did not decrease the binding function of gamma C further. Verifying the significance of P2, inserting P2-C and the entire P2 into the homologous position of the beta C-domain of fibrinogen imparted the higher alpha(M)I-domain binding ability to the chimeric proteins. To further define the molecular requirements for the P2-C activity, synthetic peptides derived from P2-C and a peptide array covering P2-C have been analyzed, and a minimal recognition motif was localized to gamma(390)NRLTIG(395). Confirming a critical role of this sequence, the cyclic peptide NRLTIG retained full activity inherent to P2-C, with Arg and Leu being important residues. Thus, these data demonstrate the essential role of the P2, but not P1, sequence for binding of gamma C by the alpha(M)I-domain and suggest that the adhesive function of P2 depends on the minimal recognition motif NRLTIG.

Alanine↗
PubMed2003

Recombinant BbetaArg14His fibrinogen implies participation of N-terminus of Bbeta chain in desA fibrin polymerization.

We synthesized BbetaArg14His fibrinogen with histidine substituted for arginine at the Bbeta thrombin-cleavage site. This substitution led to a 300-fold decrease in the rate of thrombin-catalyzed fibrinopeptide B (FpB, Bbeta 1-14) release, whereas the rate of FpA release was normal with either thrombin or the FpA-specific enzyme, batroxobin. Both thrombin- and batroxobincatalyzed polymerization of BbetaArg14His fibrinogen were significantly impaired, with a longer lag time, slower rate of lateral aggregation, and decreased final turbidity. Moreover, desA monomer polymerization was similarly impaired, demonstrating that the histidine substitution itself, and not the lack of FpB cleavage, caused the abnormal polymerization of BbetaArg14His fibrin. Scanning electron microscopy showed BbetaArg14His fibrin fibers were thinner than normal (BbetaArg14His, approximately 70 nm; normal, approximately 100 nm; P <.0001), as expected from the decreased final turbidity. We conclude that the N-terminus of the Bbeta chain is involved in the lateral aggregation of normal desAprotofibrils and that the Arg-->His substitution disrupts these interactions in BbetaArg14His fibrinogen.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2003

Effects of hyperfibrinogenemia on vasculature of C57BL/6 mice with and without atherogenic diet.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated fibrinogen is correlated with severe atherosclerosis, as defined by the occurrence of ischemic events, but the mechanistic basis for this correlation remains unknown. To study this relationship, we examined spontaneous and diet-induced atherosclerosis in transgenic mice with hyperfibrinogenemia (elevated fibrinogen). METHODS AND RESULTS: Normal and transgenic mice were fed either an atherogenic diet or simple breeder chow. We measured plasma fibrinogen levels and identified an age-dependent and diet-dependent increase in fibrinogen. After 8 to 12 months, aortic sections were prepared and stained, and lipid-containing lesions were counted, measured, and assessed for maturity. Lipid-filled deposits appeared spontaneously in a small number of mice on breeder chow; typical fatty streak-type lesions appeared in almost all of the diet-fed animals. Morphometric analysis showed that neither the number nor the size of lesions was influenced by either fibrinogen level or genotype. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that neither fibrinogen concentration nor genotype had a statistically significant effect on the initiation, initial growth, or early progression of atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

2.8 A crystal structures of recombinant fibrinogen fragment D with and without two peptide ligands: GHRP binding to the "b" site disrupts its nearby calcium-binding site.

We report two crystal structures, each at a resolution of 2.8 A, of recombinant human fibrinogen fragment D (rfD) in the absence and presence of peptide ligands. The bound ligands, Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-amide and Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide, mimic the interactions of the thrombin exposed polymerization sites, "A" and "B", respectively. This report is the first to describe the structure of fragment D in the presence of both peptide ligands. The structures reveal that recombinant fibrinogen is nearly identical to the plasma protein but with minor changes, like the addition of a proximal fucose to the carbohydrate linked to residue betaGln364, and slightly different relative positions of the beta- and gamma-modules. Of major interest in our structures is that a previously identified calcium site in plasma fibrinogen is absent when Gly-His-Arg-Pro-amide is bound. The peptide-dependent loss of this calcium site may have significant biological implications that are further discussed. These structures provide a foundation for the detailed structural analysis of variant recombinant fibrinogens that were used to identify critical functional residues within fragment D.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Analysis of fibrinogen gamma-chain truncations shows the C-terminus, particularly gammaIle387, is essential for assembly and secretion of this multichain protein.

To examine the role of the fibrinogen gamma chain in the assembly and secretion of this multichain protein, we synthesized a series of fibrinogen variants with truncated gamma chains, terminating between residues gamma379 and the C-terminus, gamma411. The variant fibrinogens were synthesized from altered gamma-chain complementary DNAs in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. Immunoassays of the culture media demonstrated that only those variants with gamma chain longer than 386 residues were secreted and that the concentration of fibrinogen decreased with the length of the gamma chain, from 1.4 microg/mL for normal fibrinogen to 0.39 microg/mL for gamma 387 fibrinogen. Immunoassays of cell lysates showed that all variant gamma chains were synthesized, although the levels varied significantly. For variants longer than 386 residues, levels decreased with length but remained near normal. In contrast, expression of the 4 variants with 386 residues or less was about 20-fold reduced. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that the gamma-chain messenger RNA level was independent from chain length. Western blot analyses showed that lysates expressing variants with 387 residues or more contained species comparable to the known intermediates in fibrinogen assembly, including half-molecules. For shorter variants, these intermediates were not evident. We conclude that residues near the C-terminus of the gamma chain are essential for fibrinogen assembly, and more specifically, that gamma387 is critical. We propose that the loss of residue gamma387 destabilized the structure of gamma chain, preventing assembly of alphagamma and betagamma dimers, essential intermediates in the assembly of normal fibrinogen.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Analysis of engineered fibrinogen variants suggests that an additional site mediates platelet aggregation and that "B-b" interactions have a role in protofibril formation.

The C-terminal domain of the fibrinogen gamma-chain includes multiple functional sites that have been defined in high-resolution structures and biochemical assays. Calcium binds to this domain through the side chains of gammaD318 and gammaD320 and the backbone carbonyls of gammaF322 and gammaG324. We have examined variant fibrinogens with alanine at position gamma318 and/or gamma320 and found that calcium binding, fibrin polymerization, and fibrinogen-mediated platelet aggregation, but not FXIIIa-catalyzed cross-linking, were abnormal. When measured by turbidity, thrombin-catalyzed polymerization was severely reduced, and batroxobin-catalyzed polymerization was completely obliterated. Moreover, thrombin-catalyzed polymerization was abolished by the peptide GHRP, which binds to the polymerization site in the beta-chain but does not inhibit polymerization of normal fibrinogen. ADP-induced platelet aggregation was also severely impaired. In contrast, as measured by SDS-PAGE, FXIIIa introduced cross-links between gamma-chains for all three variants, as expected if the gamma-chain C-terminal sites were normal. In addition, binding of the monoclonal antibody 4A5, which recognizes the C-terminal residues, was not different from normal. These data suggest two specific conclusions: (1) a site in the gamma-module other than the C-terminus is critical for platelet aggregation and (2) "B-b" interactions have a role in protofibril formation.

Alanine↗
PubMed2002

Reduced platelet adhesion in flowing blood to fibrinogen by alterations in segment gamma316-322, part of the fibrin-specific region.

The interaction of platelets with fibrinogen is a key event in the maintenance of a haemostatic response. It has been shown that the 12-carboxy-terminal residues of the gamma-chain of fibrinogen mediate platelet adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen. These studies, however, did not exclude the possibility that other domains of fibrinogen are involved in interactions with platelets. To obtain more insight into the involvement of other domains of fibrinogen in platelet adhesion, we studied platelet adhesion in flowing blood to patient dysfibrinogen Vlissingen/Frankfurt IV (V/FIV), to several variant recombinant fibrinogens with abnormalities in the gamma-chain segments gamma318-320 and gamma408-411. Perfusion studies at physiological shear rates showed that platelet adhesion was absent to gammaDelta408-411, slightly reduced to the heterozygous patient dysfibrinogen V/FIV and strongly reduced to the homozygous recombinant fibrinogens: gammaDelta319-320, gamma318Asp-->Ala and gamma320Asp-->Ala. Furthermore, antibodies raised against the sequences gamma308-322 and gamma316-333 inhibited platelet adhesion under shear conditions. These experiments indicated that the overlapping segment gamma316-322 contains amino acids that could be involved in platelet adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen under flow conditions. In soluble fibrinogen, this sequence is buried inside the fibrinogen molecule and becomes exposed after polymerization. In addition, we have shown that this fibrin-specific sequence also becomes exposed when fibrinogen is immobilized on a surface.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗