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PubMed1990

Thrombin contracts isolated bovine retinal small arteries in vitro.

The effect of thrombin was tested in vitro on rings of bovine retinal small arteries (internal diameter approximately 200 microns). Cumulative addition of thrombin (0.001-10 units/ml) induced a variable concentration-dependent contraction of the retinal arteries. The contractions were slow in onset and reached a plateau after 5-8 minutes when thrombin was added cumulatively to the organ bath. Two vessels remained contracted greater than 1 hour after wash-out of thrombin. Maximum vessel contraction induced by thrombin was equal to 43% of the vessel Emax (1.36 N/m), with an effective concentration at the 50% level of 0.04 units/ml. Vessel contraction induced by 1 unit/ml of thrombin was, in contrast, transient, reaching a maximum within 2-4 minutes. Thereafter the vessel tension declined again almost back to baseline within the next 10-20 minutes. Contractions to thrombin could not be repeated nor could it be elicited with thrombin inactivated with heat or antithrombin-III. Treatment of vessels with 10(-6) M phenoxybenzamine had no effect on the thrombin-induced vessel response. These findings indicate that the contractile effect of thrombin depends on its catalytic activity. Indomethacin at a concentration of 10(-5) M did not affect the thrombin-induced vessel response. Methylene blue at a concentration of 3 X 10(-6) M potentiated the thrombin-induced response in the larger, greater than 200-microns diameter retinal arteries. The ensuing relaxation of the arteries, after maximal tone was reached, was slower than in the control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Alpha-2-macroglobulin is an important progressive inhibitor of thrombin in neonatal and infant plasma.

Antithrombin III (ATIII) is the main inhibitor of thrombin in adult plasma; alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and heparin cofactor II (HCII) are of lesser importance. The relative contributions of these inhibitors to the inactivation of thrombin may differ during the neonatal period and infancy, when plasma concentrations of alpha 2M are about twice as high as those of ATIII. We therefore compared the relative importance of these anti-proteases for the inhibition of 125I-thrombin in defibrinated pooled adult and neonatal plasma. Observations were also made in pooled plasma of 6 months old infants. 125I-thrombin-inhibitor complexes were quantitated after SDS-PAGE and autoradiography by scanning densitometry. Thrombin (2.5 NIH U/ml) was inhibited more slowly in neonatal than in adult plasma. However, both plasmas inhibited 88% of the added thrombin by 5 minutes. Alpha 2M inhibited consistently a larger fraction of thrombin in neonatal than in adult plasma. Consequently, the ratio of thrombin bound to ATIII over thrombin bound to alpha 2M was significantly lower in neonatal (less than 2.5) than in adult plasma (greater than 4.5; p less than 0.0001). In infant plasma, this ratio was less than 2.0. Upon addition of therapeutic amounts of heparin (0.4 U/ml), differences between the contributions of ATIII and alpha 2M to the inhibition of thrombin were no longer apparent, as over 90% of complexed thrombin was bound to ATIII in heparinized plasmas of all age groups. We conclude that alpha 2M is an important progressive inhibitor of thrombin in young infants. This finding may explain why healthy newborns rarely suffer from thrombosis, despite their low plasma ATIII levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Homologous desensitization of thrombin-induced phosphoinositide breakdown in hamster lung fibroblasts.

Activation of phosphoinositide breakdown is thought to be an important signaling pathway involved in the mitogenic effects of alpha-thrombin in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts. We have previously shown that the initial strong stimulation of inositol phosphate formation induced by thrombin in quiescent hamster cells (CCL39 line) is rapidly attenuated. We now report that this desensitization of phospholipase C to thrombin 1) is independent of protein kinase C activation, because thrombin-induced desensitization normally occurs in cells that have been depleted in protein kinase C by a prolonged treatment with a phorbol ester, and 2) is even independent of phosphoinositide hydrolysis because the desensitization still occurs, although at a lesser degree, at 4 degrees C, in the absence of any phospholipase C activity. Furthermore, phospholipase C desensitization to thrombin is homologous. It does not affect the response to thrombin-free serum or the direct activation by A1F-4 of the GTP-binding protein (G-protein) coupled to phospholipase C. We therefore conclude that the desensitization of phospholipase C to thrombin does not result from an impairment of the G-protein-phospholipase C complex, or from a depletion in phosphoinositides, but rather from a modification of thrombin receptors leading to their uncoupling from G-protein. This modification is slowly reversible because, upon thrombin removal, a prolonged incubation (approximately 2 h) restores responsiveness of the cells to thrombin. Although the desensitization seems to depend on thrombin receptor occupancy, it cannot be accounted for by an internalization of the occupied receptors, because it is not blocked at 4 degrees C. The exact mechanism underlying this homologous desensitization of thrombin receptors remains to be elucidated.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1987

Agents that elevate cAMP levels in platelets decrease thrombin binding.

The effect of high intracellular levels of cAMP on the ability of rabbit and human platelets to bind and respond to thrombin was examined. Control rabbit platelets differed from human platelets in two interesting respects: they showed thrombin-dependent up-regulation of thrombin binding, but also a 3- to 5-fold lower thrombin-binding capacity. Nevertheless, treatment with prostaglandin E1 + theophylline or with forskolin decreased thrombin binding to both rabbit and human platelets by 60 to 70%. This effect was associated with a marked increase in the level of cAMP and seemed to depend on a decrease in number rather than affinity of thrombin-binding sites. Changes in thrombin binding correlated closely with changes in thrombin-stimulated incorporation of 32Pi into phosphatidic acid and a 40-kDa protein. However, regardless of the amount of thrombin that bound to treated platelets, thrombin-stimulated phosphorylation of a 20-kDa protein and serotonin secretion were severely inhibited. Thus, increased levels of platelet cAMP are associated with a reduced ability to bind and respond to thrombin. However, thrombin binding to platelets correlates more closely with some responses than others, presumably because cAMP inhibits additional platelet reactions.

Alprostadil↗
PubMed1986

Specificity of the thrombin-induced release of tissue plasminogen activator from cultured human endothelial cells.

The addition of thrombin (9 nM) to primary cultures of human endothelial cells induces a 6- to 7-fold increase in the rate of release of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Several other serine proteases which specifically interact with endothelial cells were also analyzed for their effect on tPA release. Gamma-thrombin, an autocatalytic product of alpha-thrombin, promoted tPA release but was less effective than alpha-thrombin. A maximum increase of 5.5-fold was observed, although a concentration of gamma-thrombin 20 times greater than alpha-thrombin was required. The response to Factor Xa was similar to alpha-thrombin, although the stimulation was significantly reduced by the addition of hirudin or DAPA suggesting that prothrombin activation was occurring. The simultaneous addition of prothrombin with Factor Xa resulted in enhanced tPA release equal to that observed with an equimolar concentration of active alpha-thrombin. Thus, under these conditions, Factor Xa-cell surface mediated activation of prothrombin can lead to a secondary effect resulting from cell-thrombin interaction. Activated protein C, which has been implicated as a profibrinolytic agent, was also tested. No change in tPA release occurred after the addition of up to 325 nM activated protein C in the presence or absence of proteins. Factor IXa and plasmin were also ineffective. The effect of thrombin on the endothelial cell derived plasminogen activator specific inhibitor was also studied. Thrombin produced a small but variable release of the inhibitor with an increase of less than twice that of non-thrombin treated controls.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1986

Thrombin binding and response in platelets from patients with dyslipoproteinemias: increased stimulus-response coupling in type II hyperlipoproteinemia.

Platelets were obtained from patients with various hyperlipidemias [type II, type V, lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency] and hypolipidemias (abetalipoproteinemia, Tangier disease) to ascertain relationships among plasma lipids, platelet lipids, thrombin binding and thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, and to compare these data with those previously obtained on stimulus-response coupling in platelets following in vitro modification of membrane microviscosity. Washed platelets were studied for their ability to bind 125I-thrombin in the range of 10(-10) to 10(-6) mol/L (10 mU/mL to 100 U/mL) and to aggregate with thrombin at concentrations less than 10(-9) mol/L (100 mU/mL). The values for binding and aggregation in eight patients from six kindred with familial hypercholesterolemia, taken as a group, fell in the low normal range. If divided into two groups, patients with overt cardiovascular disease bound normal amounts of thrombin but were more responsive to it, whereas patients without overt cardiovascular disease bound lower amounts of thrombin but gave an aggregation response in the normal range. These results suggest that platelet hyperresponsiveness in familial hypercholesterolemia arises from an alteration in the coupling mechanism between thrombin binding and response such that platelets from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia are able to respond with lower receptor occupancy than is the case with normal platelets. Thrombin binding and aggregation were within normal ranges for platelets from abetalipoproteinemia patients (N = 4) and type V hyperlipoproteinemia (N = 2), although in the latter case the response appeared to be less at very low thrombin concentrations (less than 30 mU/mL). Thrombin binding was elevated in Tangier disease (N = 3) but with lower responsiveness at lower thrombin concentrations. Thrombin binding was also elevated in LCAT deficiency (N = 2), and one patient showed increased and another showed decreased aggregation responses. In general, increased plasma cholesterol levels resulted in increased stimulus-response coupling (type II), whereas increased triglyceride levels resulted in decreased coupling (type V, Tangier), and there was no apparent alteration in the coupling mechanism with overall reduction in plasma lipid levels as in abetalipoproteinemia.

Abetalipoproteinemia↗
PubMed1979

Correlation of in vivo and in vitro inhibition of thrombin by plasma inhibitors.

Rabbit antithrombin III and thrombin were purified to homogeneity to determine the in vivo relationship of these proteins in an autologous system. These proteins, radiolabeled with Na[125I], were injected into rabbits to determine the circulatory half-life. The mean half-life values were 125I-antithrombin III, 54.75 +/- 3.10 hr; 125I-thrombin, 7.25 +/- 1.49 hr; 125I-thrombin-antithrombin III, 7.25 +/- 1.09 hr; 125I[thrombin-antithrombin III], 11.13 +/- 0.88 hr; and Tos-Lys-CH2Cl-125I-thrombin, 27.75 +/- 3.18 hr. All the mean half-life values were statistically different from that of thrombin alone except for the two forms of thrombin-antithrombin III complex. Following injection of the radiolabeled proteins, plasma samples were obtained and gel-filtered to analyze the molecular weight distribution of the radiolabel. An identical elution position on gel filtration of 125I-antithrombin III with native antithrombin III was observed. The 125I-thrombin distributed into two peaks of radioactivity, with a molecular weight of 100,000 (79%) and a molecular weight greater than 200,000 (21%). The 100,000 dalton peak is consistent with a thrombin--antithrombin III complex, and the greater than 200,000 dalton peak is consistent with a thrombin-alpha 2-macroglobulin complex as confirmed by in vitro immunochemical studies. Thrombin inactivated with Tos-Lys-CH2Cl also showed two peaks of radioactivity on gel filtration, one peak which was excluded from the column and the other peak with an elution volume that was consistent with the position of native thrombin.

Antithrombin III↗
PubMed1984

Activation of cyclic nucleotide formation in murine neuroblastoma N1E-115 cells by modified human thrombins.

The activity of alpha-thrombin and chemically modified derivatives of this enzyme in stimulating cGMP formation in murine neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 cells is reported. The rank order potency of the compounds falls into three classes: 1) alpha-thrombin is the most potent and effective; 2) the catalytically active enzymes gamma-thrombin, trypsin, and nitro-alpha-thrombin are approximately 50-fold less potent than alpha-thrombin; and 3) active site blocked derivatives of alpha-thrombin are 100 to 1000-fold less potent than alpha-thrombin. Native alpha-thrombin consistently produces the most effective response, usually 1.5 to 3-fold greater than any of the other compounds tested. Preincubation of cells with quinacrine, an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, or with the lipoxygenase inhibitors 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid or nordihydroguaiaretic acid prior to thrombin challenge resulted in a concentration-dependent attenuation of the response. Indomethacin was without effect in modifying the response. These results suggest that thrombin stimulation of neuroblastoma cells involves the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolism by lipoxygenase. These results clearly demonstrate the activity of alpha-thrombin in stimulating a receptor-mediated response in cultured nerve cells. The results are discussed in relation to the interaction of endogenous alpha-thrombin with nerve cells following invasive trauma and to the possible presence of endogenous proteinases with a neurotransmitter-like function.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗
PubMed1982

Thrombin potentiation of factor VIII procoagulant activity: assessment by the two-stage assay.

Factor VIII (FVIII) procoagulant activity is the function of a plasma glycoprotein that is missing or inactive in patients with classic hemophilia. Numerous studies have shown that trace thrombin causes rapid enhancement followed by gradual inactivation of FVIII procoagulant activity. Recent evidence suggests that thrombin activation of the FVIII/von Willebrand factor (vWF) protein is required for inactivation to occur. All of these studies have used the one-stage partial thromboplastin time to assay FVIII activity. Other investigators have used the two-stage assay of FVIII activity and have been unable to demonstrate thrombin-induced enhancement of FVIII activity, although inactivation has consistently occurred. We performed experiments designed to help resolve this disagreement, using the two-stage assay specifically modified to detect thrombin potentiation of FVIII activity. The length of the first-stage incubation time was found to be critical in demonstrating the initial effect of thrombin on FVIII activity. Taking advantage of this finding we were able to show a 4.1 +/- 0.5-fold enhancement of FVIII activity upon incubating purified FVIII/vWF with 0.04 NIH unit thrombin per ml. The apparent enhancement of FVIII activity declined with increasing thrombin concentration. Incubation with 0.08, 0.16, and 0.32 NIH unit thrombin per ml resulted in only 3.2 +/- 0.5, 2.6 +/- 0.5 and 1.5 +/- 0.3-fold enhancement, respectively, of FVIII activity. As with results from the one-stage assay, activation was followed by slow inactivation of FVIII/vWF. Using the two-stage assay we also showed 100% inactivation and 100% inhibition of FVIII activity by plasmin and human anti-FVIII IgG, respectively. Plasmin inactivation of FVIII activity showed a dose-response effect. Thrombin was unable to activate plasmin-degraded FVIII/vWF. Our results show that thrombin potentiation of FVIII activity is easily demonstrable in the two-stage assay. These findings support the contention that activation of FVIII activity by thrombin is prerequisite for inactivation and underscore the importance of thrombin activation of FVIII/vWF in the intrinsic clotting system.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1984

[Thrombin-stimulated release of serotonin from blood platelets].

The mechanism of platelet activation by thrombin was investigated using suspensions of human platelets. The assumption that the thrombin-platelet reaction shows characteristics of an agonist-receptor interaction was corroborated by an analysis of the relation between thrombin concentration and yield of 14C-serotonin secretion. However, silent thrombin binding sites that decrease the free thrombin concentration interfere with this interaction. When the influence of these binding sites is eliminated by a decrease in platelet concentration or by saturation with DIP-thrombin the concentration-response relationship can be interpreted by the adsorption isotherm of Langmuir. The binding sites interfering with the thrombin receptor interaction are identical with the high affinity binding sites of platelets. For the yield of secretion the velocity of thrombin addition is important. The platelet reaction decreases by slowing the rate of thrombin addition. In comparison with the reaction occurring at 37 degrees C, in that occurring at 0 degree C only the rate but not the yield of receptor stimulation is diminished. The results are in accordance with the assumption that the yield of platelet activation is determined by the equilibrium binding of thrombin. It is suggested that at 37 degrees C the processes of thrombin binding to the receptor, of receptor modification and of cellular response are immediately coupled with one another and that the rate-limiting step is the binding of thrombin to the receptor.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The involvement of thrombin RGD in metastasis: characterization of a cryptic adhesive site.

Adhesive interactions between cells and the subendothelial extracellular matrix take place at several stages during tumor progression and metastasis. We have previously demonstrated that thrombin possesses an active yet cryptic Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) site which can be exposed in the presence of low concentrations of plasmin and cell-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Thus, thrombin may act as a matrix-adhesive molecule via activation of the alpha v beta 3 integrin. We have now identified a 31 amino acid fragment as the minimal thrombin-generated cleavage product, which contains an active RGD site, following gel filtration analysis on FPLC Superdex 75 column. The role of membrane-associated heparan sulfate in thrombin conversion to an adhesive protein was demonstrated by using CHO cell mutants defective in various aspects of glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Incubation of both thrombin and a low concentration of plasmin on the surface of wild type CHO cells resulted in a typical digestion cleavage profile upon gel filtration. No cleavage products were observed when thrombin and a suboptimal plasmin concentration were incubated on monolayers of CHO cell mutants lacking heparan sulfate. Next, we examined the possible role of the thrombin RGD site during the progression of tumor development and metastasis. Toward this, we tested murine melanoma cells expressing low (B16-F1 cells) and high (B16-BL6 cells) lung colonization potentials in cell adhesion assays in vitro. Differential adherence capability of the cells was observed: while high attachment levels of B16-BL6 cells were obtained, the low metastatic B16-F1 cells did not adhere to thrombin RGD. Antibodies raised against the RGD site in thrombin specifically recognized thrombin digested with plasmin, but were unable to interact with native thrombin or prothrombin and inhibited potently B16-BL6 melanoma cell adhesion. Furthermore, the antibodies failed to recognize RGD in other adhesive plasma proteins such as vitronectin, fibrinogen, or fibronectin. Provided that the RGD-containing fragments of thrombin are widely distributed throughout the vascular system, they may have a significant role during tumor progression and dislodgement of metastatic cells. The development of RGD mimetics and/or specific antibodies might thus be applied to inhibit a critical step in metastatic spread.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Crystallographic structure of human gamma-thrombin.

In an effort to prepare crystals and determine the structure of alpha-thrombin complexed to a synthetic peptide inhibitor (MDL-28050) of the hirudin 54-65 COOH-terminal region, it was discovered that the crystals were not those of the complex but of gamma-thrombin. Gel electrophoresis studies revealed that autolytic degradation had occurred prior to crystallization. NH2-terminal sequence analysis of these autolytic fragments confirmed the gamma-thrombin product (cleavages at Arg75-Tyr76 and/or Arg77A-Asn78, and Lys149E-Gly150; chymotrypsinogen numbering) with a minor amount of another autolysis product, beta-thrombin (first two cleavages only). The final structure has an R-factor of 0.156 for 7.0-2.5-A data, and includes 186 water molecules. A comparison of gamma-thrombin with the thrombin structure in the alpha-thrombin-hirugen complex revealed that the two structures agreed well (r.m.s. delta = 0.39 A for main chain atoms). These structures possess uninhibited active sites where the disposition of the catalytic triad residues is nearly identical. The electron density in the vicinity of the gamma-thrombin cleavage regions is poor, and only becomes well-defined several residues prior to and after the actual cleavage sites. The extensive disorder evoked by beta-cleavage(s) in the Lys70-Glu80 loop region indicates that this part of the molecule is severely disrupted by autolysis and is the reason exosite functions are dramatically impaired in beta-and gamma-thrombin. Since autolysis did not lead to a major reorganization of the folded structure of alpha-thrombin, the likely structural features of the interaction of thrombin substrate with thrombin enzyme during beta-cleavage have been modeled by docking the exosite region of one molecule at the active site of another.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Thrombin stimulates expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effect of thrombin on the fibrinolytic potential of human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) in culture was studied. SMC of different origin responded to thrombin treatment with a dose and time dependent increase in tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) levels in both cell lysates and conditioned media with maximum effects achieved at 10-20 IU/ml thrombin. PAI-1 antigen levels also increased in the extracellular matrix of thrombin treated SMC. PAI-2 levels in cell lysates of such SMC were not affected by thrombin. The effect was restricted to active thrombin, since DFP-thrombin and thrombin treated with hirudin showed no increasing effect on t-PA and PAI-1 levels in SMC. Enzymatically active thrombin also caused a four-fold increase in specific PAI-1 mRNA and a three-fold increase in t-PA mRNA. Furthermore we demonstrated the presence of high and low affinity binding sites for thrombin on the surface of SMC with a KD = 4.3 x 10(-10)M and 9.0 x 10(4) sites per cell and a KD = 0.6 x 10(-8) M and 5.8 x 10(5) sites per cell respectively. Thrombin could come in contact with SMC in case of vascular injury or following gap formation between endothelial cells. Our data support the idea that besides its known proliferative effect for SMC, thrombin could also modulate their fibrinolytic system.

Antigens↗
PubMed1993

Effect of heparin on thrombin inhibition in the microcirculation.

Disappearance of thrombin enzymatic activity was measured during recirculation through the microvasculature in a rat Langendorff heart preparation. This resulted in a 50% loss of thrombin from the recirculating solution. No increased loss of thrombin could be demonstrated if a mixture of antithrombin III and thrombin was recirculated, compared to thrombin alone. If, however, a heparin/thrombin mixture was recirculated, a 90% loss of thrombin could be demonstrated. Pretreating the microvasculature with large amounts of heparin resulted in recovery of antithrombin III in the recirculated heparin solution. At a subsequent recirculation with a heparin/thrombin mixture the loss of thrombin was decreased to the control level, as seen when recirculation with thrombin alone was performed. It is concluded that disappearance of thrombin enzymatic activity from a solution when recirculated through the microcirculation can be considerably increased if recirculated together with heparin, which probably reacts with endogenous antithrombin III on the vessel wall. The disappearance of thrombin in the absence of heparin was, however, unaffected by antithrombin III. The latter finding is compatible with the hypothesis that, in the microcirculation, antithrombin III/glycosaminoglycans play only a minor role for inhibition of thrombin coagulant activity and that thrombin binds mainly to thrombomodulin.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

In vivo anticoagulant properties of a novel nucleotide-based thrombin inhibitor and demonstration of regional anticoagulation in extracorporeal circuits.

Using a novel in vitro selection/amplification technique, we have recently identified a new class of thrombin inhibitors based on single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides. One oligonucleotide, GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG (thrombin, aptamer), showed potent anticoagulant activity in vitro. We have initiated pharmacologic studies in cynomolgus monkeys to study the thrombin aptamer's in vivo anticoagulant properties. Upon infusion of the thrombin aptamer, anticoagulation was rapidly achieved, with a plateau reached within 10 minutes. There was a linear dose-response relationship between thrombin aptamer infusion rate and prolongation of plasma prothrombin time. Ten minutes after the infusion was stopped, no prolongation of prothrombin time was observed, indicating that the thrombin aptamer has an extremely short in vivo half-life, estimated to be 108 +/- 14 seconds. In addition, inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation in platelet-rich plasma was observed ex vivo without an effect on collagen-induced aggregation, indicating that the inhibition was specific for thrombin and not due to a nonspecific inhibitory effect on platelets. To exploit the short in vivo half-life of the thrombin aptamer, its ability to achieve regional anticoagulation in an extracorporeal hemofiltration circuit in sheep was tested. Doubling of the prothrombin time in the circuit was observed, whereas the systemic prothrombin time was minimally prolonged. We conclude that the thrombin aptamer is a potent anticoagulant in vivo, and specifically inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation ex vivo. The rapid onset of action and short half-life in vivo suggest that the thrombin aptamer may be useful in anticoagulation with extracorporeal circuits and may have distinct advantages in certain acute clinical settings.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Thrombin perturbs neurite outgrowth and induces apoptotic cell death in enriched chick spinal motoneuron cultures through caspase activation.

Increasing evidence indicates several roles for thrombin-like serine proteases and their cognate inhibitors (serpins) in normal development and/or pathology of the nervous system. In addition to its prominent role in thrombosis and/or hemostasis, thrombin inhibits neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma and primary neuronal cells in vitro, prevents stellation of glial cells, and induces cell death in glial and neuronal cell cultures. Thrombin is known to act via a cell surface protease-activated receptor (PAR-1), and recent evidence suggests that rodent neurons express PAR-1. Previously, we have shown that the thrombin inhibitor, protease nexin-1, significantly prevents neuronal cell death both in vitro and in vivo. Here we have examined the effects of human alpha-thrombin and the presence and/or activation of PAR-1 on the survival and differentiation of highly enriched cultures of embryonic chick spinal motoneurons. We show that thrombin significantly decreased the mean neurite length, prevented neurite branching, and induced motoneuron death by an apoptosis-like mechanism in a dose-dependent manner. These effects were prevented by cotreatment with hirudin, a specific thrombin inhibitor. Treatment of the cultures with a synthetic thrombin receptor-activating peptide (SFLLRNP) mimicked the deleterious effects of thrombin on motoneurons. Furthermore, cotreatment of the cultures with inhibitors of caspase activities completely prevented the death of motoneurons induced by either thrombin or SFLLRNP. These findings indicate that (1) embryonic avian spinal motoneurons express functional PAR-1 and (2) activation of this receptor induces neuronal cell degeneration and death via stimulation of caspases. Together with previous reports, our results suggest that thrombin, its receptor(s), and endogenous thrombin inhibitors may be important regulators of neuronal cell fate during development, after injury, and in pathology of the nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Partial characterization of an autoantibody recognizing the secondary binding site(s) of thrombin in a patient with recurrent spontaneous arterial thrombosis.

A patient with an 18 year history of recurrent arterial thrombosis and no evidence of atherosclerosis or embolism of cardiac origin presented with a prolonged thrombin clotting time when performed with human thrombin. The bovine thrombin clotting time was only slightly prolonged. During 30 months of follow-up, the thrombin time fluctuated, but remained prolonged. The patient has been treated with an oral anticoagulant for the past 8 years, with no thrombotic recurrence. The inhibitor activity was due to the presence of polyclonal IgGs which bound to thrombin-Sepharose. The influence of IgGs purified from the patient's serum was compared to the influence of normal IgGs in several systems exploring the catalytic activity of thrombin and the binding of the enzyme to macromolecular substrates through secondary binding site(s). We found that the IgGs did not impair the catalytic activity toward small synthetic substrates, but inhibited the binding of thrombin to fibrinogen, thrombomodulin and heparin cofactor II. Such proteins are known to require a secondary binding site of thrombin to interact with the enzyme. The anti-thrombin antibody might have resulted from an abnormal generation of thrombin. This would be the consequence of the process favouring thrombosis. Alternatively, the autoantibody might have favoured thrombosis primarily, by impairing natural antithrombotic mechanisms triggered by thrombin.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Prothrombin Tokushima: characterization of dysfunctional thrombin derived from a variant of human prothrombin.

A mutant prothrombin, designated prothrombin Tokushima, was purified from plasma of a proband with 12% of normal plasma clotting activity and 42% of normal prothrombin antigen. The purified preparation gave a single band with the same mobility as that of "prothrombin" by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The factor Xa-catalyzed proteolysis of prothrombin Tokushima examined by SDS-PAGE was found to be identical to that of "prothrombin." Subsequently thrombin Tokushima was prepared by CM-Sepharose CL-6B column chromatography after prothrombin activation by factor Xa. The molecular weight of thrombin Tokushima estimated by SDS-PAGE was identical to that of "thrombin." Thrombin Tokushima exhibited less than 22% of normal clotting activity, and the value of kcat/Km (mumol/L-1 second-1) was less than one tenth of that of "thrombin" when Boc-Val-Pro-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide was used as a substrate. However, active site titration using p-nitrophenyl-p'-guanidinobenzoate failed to detect any difference between the two. Thrombin Tokushima was 2.5% as effective as "thrombin" in inducing platelet aggregation. Interaction of thrombin Tokushima with antithrombin III was much slower than "thrombin" when followed by SDS-PAGE. Based on the residual thrombin activity, it was 33% as effective as "thrombin" in forming a complex with antithrombin III. These results indicate that the molecular defect resides in the thrombin portion of prothrombin Tokushima and that the binding sites for various substrates appear to be greatly impaired.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗