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Heparin cofactor II in adults and infants with thrombosis and DIC.

Heparin cofactor II (HC II) was measured by a chromogenic activity assay in normal preterm infants (gestational age, 28-36 weeks; n = 17; 29% +/- 11.5 [mean +/- 1 SD], range 11-51), normal full-term infants (n = 18; 49% +/- 6.6 [mean +/- 1 SD], range 36-58), and normal adults (n = 38; 101% +/- 14 [mean +/- 1 SD], range 73-130). Normal children attained adult levels at approximately 5 to 7 months of age. The lower values in preterm and term infants most likely reflect immature liver function. Neither adults and children with a history of thrombosis with prior negative evaluation (n = 74), patients with documented protein C and protein S deficiency (n = 4), nor sick infants without evidence of consumptive coagulopathy (n = 15) had significantly lower levels of HC II activity. Infants with disseminated intravascular coagulation (n = 2) had strikingly lower levels of HC II activity.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation↗

A heparin cofactor II mutation (HCII Rimini) combined with factor V Leiden or type I protein C deficiency in two unrelated thrombophilic subjects.

305 patients with juvenile thromboembolic episodes were screened for the presence of heparin cofactor II deficiency. The heterozygous deletion of two bases was found in the exon 5 of the heparin cofactor II gene in two unrelated patients, very likely due to a founder effect. This molecular lesion, causing a frameshift and elongated translation, affects the core of the molecule and should cause the complete unfolding of the protein, which is in accordance with the observed type I deficiency. The corresponding region of antithrombin III gene is affected by a cluster of frameshift mutations suggesting that heparin cofactor II and antithrombin III could share similar mutational patterns. The heparin cofactor II gene alteration was associated with, in one patient, the factor V Leiden mutation and, in the other, type I protein C deficiency. The tracing of the single defects in several family members indicated that the mutations became clinically manifest only when present in the doubly heterozygous condition. This study provides two examples, based on molecular findings, of the interplay of risk factors which is potentially useful to define a role for heparin cofactor II deficiency in inherited thrombophilia.

Adult↗

Hereditary heparin cofactor II deficiency and the risk of development of thrombosis.

Heparin cofactor II (HC II) levels were measured by electro-immunoassay in healthy volunteers, and patients with liver disease, DIC, proteinuria or a history of venous thrombosis. Analysis of the data in 107 healthy volunteers revealed that plasma HC II increases with age (at least between 20 and 50 years). HC II was found to be decreased in most patients with liver disease (mean value: 43%) and only in some patients with DIC. Elevated levels were found in patients with proteinuria (mean value 145%). In 277 patients with a history of unexplained venous thrombosis three patients were identified with a HC II below the lower limit of the normal range (60%). Family studies demonstrated hereditary HC II deficiency in two cases. Among the 9 heterozygotes for HC II deficiency only one patient had a well documented history of unexplained thrombosis. Therefore the question was raised whether heterozygotes for HC II deficiency can also be found among healthy volunteers. When defining a group of individuals suspected of HC II deficiency as those who have a 90% probability that their plasma HC II is below the 95% tolerance limits of the normal distribution in the relevant age group, 2 suspected HC II deficiencies were identified among the healthy volunteers. In one case the hereditary nature of the defect could be established. It is concluded that hereditary HC II deficiency is as prevalent among healthy volunteers as in patients with thrombotic disease. Further it is unlikely that heterozygosity for HC II deficiency in itself is a risk factor for the development of venous thrombosis.

Adult↗

Effects of antithrombin and heparin cofactor II levels on anticoagulation with Intimatan.

Heparin is the current mainstay drug for anticoagulation during cardiac surgery, but it requires normal levels of antithrombin (AT) for optimal anticoagulation. Heparin anticoagulation may be less effective in cardiac surgical patients because of decreased AT levels due to the prolonged heparin therapy. Therefore, other anticoagulants that would work well in AT deficient patients may be more desirable. One such agent currently being evaluated is Intimatan, which catalyzes heparin cofactor II (HCII) dependent inhibition of thrombin. In the current in vitro study we examined the effects of Intimatan (20 microg/ml), heparin (0.25 U/ml), or both drugs in combination on thrombin generation in plasma with decreasing levels of AT, HCII or both cofactors, using a novel method based on the continuous measurement of thrombin generation. For the study, we collected blood samples from healthy volunteers, isolated platelet poor plasma by centrifugation and mixed it with AT, HCII, or AT-HCII deficient plasma samples to achieve different levels of AT, HCII and AT-HCII. Thrombin generation was inhibited equally well with heparin or Intimatan when the level of their respective cofactors was within the normal range. With decreasing levels of AT or HCII, heparin and Intimatan became less effective in thrombin inhibition, respectively. With the absence of both cofactors, neither agent alone or in combination had any effect on thrombin generation. We conclude that Intimatan may be an effective adjunct to heparin therapy under low AT conditions.

Anticoagulants↗

Molecular cloning and expression of rabbit heparin cofactor II: a plasma thrombin inhibitor highly conserved between species.

Heparin cofactor II (HCII), a circulating plasma protein that inhibits thrombin, is a member of the serine proteinase (serpin) family of proteins. The extent to which HCII structure is conserved across species lines was investigated, by obtaining cDNA clones encoding rabbit HCII. Overlapping clones corresponding to rabbit HCII were obtained by the combined use of hybridization screening of a rabbit liver cDNA library, and by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The consensus sequence obtained spans 2178 nucleotides, and is comprised of a 5' untranslated region of 77 nucleotides, an open reading frame of 1440 nucleotides, and a 3' untranslated region of 661 nucleotides that concludes with a poly A tract. The open reading frame is subdivided into a secretory signal sequence of 19 amino acids, and a mature protein of 461 amino acids. Within the region comprising the mature protein, 87% of the amino acid residues are identical to those seen in human HCII. Expression of an appropriately modified form of the rabbit HCII clone in an in vitro reticulocyte expression system yielded two major polypeptides, of 60 and 56 kD respectively, both of which were able to form SDS-stable complexes with human alpha-thrombin, in a reaction accelerated by dermatan sulphate. The remarkable degree of homology observed between rabbit HCII and its human counterpart, indicating a high degree of conservation of structure through evolution, suggests an important function of HCII in hemostasis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effect of oversulphated chondroitin and dermatan sulphate upon thrombin and factor Xa inactivation by antithrombin III or heparin cofactor II.

The kinetics of inhibition of human thrombin and Factor Xa by antithrombin III or heparin cofactor II were examined under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of the concentration of naturally occurring oversulphated chondroitin and dermatan sulphates. The sulphated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) studied were chondroitin sulphate D (CSD) (GlcA-2-SO4-GalNAc-6-SO4), chondroitin sulphate K (CSK) (GlcA-3-SO4-GalNAc-4-SO4), chondroitin sulphate H (CSH) (IdA-GalNAc-4,6-diSO4) and polysulphated dermatan sulphate (DPS) (IdA-2-SO4 or -3-SO4-GalNAc-4,6-diSO4). The data for the antithrombin III inhibition of thrombin showed a low degree of maximal potentiation of this interaction (congruent to 10-fold), which would appear to be characteristic of GAGs devoid of the high-affinity antithrombin III binding site. In contrast there was a greater potentiation of the inhibition of thrombin by heparin cofactor II with DPS showing an activity comparable to heparin in this interaction at a concentration two orders of magnitude lower than dermatan sulphate. DPS potentiated antithrombin III-Factor Xa interaction by 1200-fold, similar to that shown by high-affinity heparin of 6 kDa. The antithrombin III-Factor Xa interaction was potentiated by all other GAGs studied to a degree similar to that of heparin pentasaccharide with high affinity for antithrombin III. The findings suggest more stringent structural requirements for GAG stimulation of antithrombin-thrombin interaction than for antithrombin-Factor Xa or heparin cofactor-thrombin interaction, which may also be of significance in physiological control of haemostasis.

Antithrombin III↗

Heparin cofactor II deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: To review of the state of the art relating to congenital heparin cofactor II deficiency as a potential risk factor for thrombosis, as reflected by the medical literature and the consensus opinion of recognized experts in the field, and to make recommendations for the use of laboratory assays for assessing this thrombotic risk in individual patients. DATA SOURCES: Review of the medical literature, primarily from the last 10 years. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: After an initial assessment of the literature, including review of clinical study design and laboratory methods, a draft manuscript was prepared and circulated to participants in the College of American Pathologists Conference XXXVI: Diagnostic Issues in Thrombophilia. Recommendations were accepted if a consensus of experts attending the conference was reached. The results of the discussion were used to revise the manuscript into its final form. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus was reached that there is insufficient evidence to recommend testing for heparin cofactor II deficiency in patients with thromboembolic disease.

Animals↗

The heparin binding properties of heparin cofactor II suggest an antithrombin-like activation mechanism.

The serpin heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a glycosaminoglycan-activated inhibitor of thrombin that circulates at a high concentration in the blood. The antithrombotic effect of heparin, however, is due primarily to the specific interaction of a fraction of heparin chains with the related serpin antithrombin (AT). What currently prevents selective therapeutic activation of HCII is the lack of knowledge of the determinants of glycosaminoglycan binding specificity. In this report we investigate the heparin binding properties of HCII and conclude that binding is nonspecific with a minimal heparin length of 13 monosaccharide units required and affinity critically dependent on ionic strength. Rapid kinetics of heparin binding indicate an induced fit mechanism that involves a conformational change in HCII. Thus, HCII binds to heparin in a manner analogous to the interaction of AT with low affinity heparin. A fully allosteric 2000-fold heparin activation of thrombin inhibition by HCII is demonstrated for heparin chains up to 26 monosaccharide units in length. We conclude that the heparin-binding mechanism of HCII is closely analogous to that of AT and that the induced fit mechanism suggests the potential design or discovery of specific HCII agonists.

Antithrombins↗

[Right ventricular thrombosis due to familial heparin cofactor II deficiency].

This case report was with regard to familial heparin cofactor II (HC II) deficiency. The patient was a 14-years-old female, having complaints of chest pain, fever and swelling of right lower extremity. Echocardiography and DSA showed a pediculated mass at the right ventricular outflow tract which highly suggested a ventricular myxoma. At surgery, a large pediculated thrombus was removed from the RV conus septum aun pulmonary valve. The mass was identified as thrombus by histological examination. Two months later, the RV thrombi recurred with additional pulmonary embolus to the left lung. HC II was discovered by hemo-coagulation tests. Her HC II antigen value was 48%, and 32% on repeat study. Her brother's HC II antigen value was 53%. At reoperation, small thrombi less than phi 10 mm, were removed from the RV outflow tract and pulmonary valve. Fresh frozen plasma was given and intravenous urokinase therapy was taken. She is doing well with therapy of oral warfarin, aspirin and ticlopidine for anticoagulation.

Adolescent↗

The protease specificity of heparin cofactor II. Inhibition of thrombin generated during coagulation.

125I-labeled heparin cofactor II (HCII) was mixed with plasma and coagulation was initiated by addition of CaCl2, phospholipids, and kaolin or tissue factor. In the presence of 67 micrograms/ml of dermatan sulfate, radioactivity was detected in a band which corresponded to the thrombin-HCII complex (Mr = 96,000) upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No other complexes were observed. The thrombin-HCII complex was undetectable when 5 units/ml of heparin was present or when prothrombin-deficient plasma was used. In experiments with purified proteases, HCII did not significantly inhibit coagulation factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, XIIa, kallikrein, activated protein C, plasmin, urokinase, tissue plasminogen activator, leukocyte elastase, the gamma-subunit of nerve growth factor, and the epidermal growth factor-binding protein. HCII inhibited leukocyte cathepsin G slowly, with a rate constant of 8 X 10(4) M-1 min-1 in the presence of dermatan sulfate. These results indicate that the protease specificity of HCII is more restricted than that of other plasma protease inhibitors and suggest that the anticoagulant effect of dermatan sulfate is due solely to inhibition of thrombin by HCII.

Cathepsin G↗

Reformable intramolecular cross-linking of the N-terminal domain of heparin cofactor II: effects on enzyme inhibition.

The crystal structure of a heparin cofactor II (HCII)-thrombin Michaelis complex has revealed extensive contacts encompassing the N-terminal domain of HCII and exosite I of the proteinase. In contrast, the location of the N-terminal extension in the uncomplexed inhibitor was unclear. Using a disulfide cross-linking strategy, we demonstrate that at least three different sites (positions 52, 54 and 68) within the N terminus may be tethered in a reformable manner to position 195 in the loop region between helix D and strand s2A of the HCII molecule, suggesting that the N-terminal domain may interact with the inhibitor scaffold in a permissive manner. Cross-linking of the N terminus to the HCII body does not strongly affect the inhibition of alpha-chymotrypsin, indicating that the reactive site loop sequences of the engineered inhibitor variants, required for interaction with one of the HCII target enzymes, are normally accessible. In contrast, intramolecular tethering of the N-terminal extension results in a drastic decrease of alpha-thrombin inhibitory activity, both in the presence and in the absence of glycosaminoglycans. Treatment with dithiothreitol and iodoacetamide restores activity towards alpha-thrombin, suggesting that release of the N terminus of HCII is an important component of the multistep interaction between the inhibitor and alpha-thrombin.

Animals↗

Structural evidence for leucine at the reactive site of heparin cofactor II.

The reaction products formed during the enzymatic inactivation of heparin cofactor II (HCII) by a proteinase isolated from Echis carinatus were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDodSO4)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. By NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, limited proteolysis of HCII was observed, which resulted in a decrease in the apparent molecular weight of the protein from approximately 68 000 to approximately 53 000. By reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, at least 20 peptides were observed. Primary structure analysis of these peptides indicated that significant proteolysis had occurred in the NH2-terminal region of the protein. HCII inactivation, however, coincided with the appearance of a peptide from the COOH-terminal region of the protein. The peptide differed from the previously identified reactive site peptide [Griffith, M. J., Noyes, C. M., & Church, F. C. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 2218-2225] by only one residue: a leucyl residue at the NH2-terminal of the peptide. We conclude that leucine, as opposed to the expected arginine, is at the reactive site of HCII.

Antithrombins↗

Identification of heparin cofactor II as the principal plasma cofactor for the antithrombin activity of pentosan polysulphate (SP54).

In antithrombin III depleted plasma only a slight reduction was observed in thrombin inhibitory activity due to potentiation by dermatan sulphate or by pentosan polysulphate (SP54). On gel filtration of normal plasma the peak of pentosan polysulphate dependent activity eluted with a higher apparent molecular weight than that observed with low concentrations of heparin. During purification of heparin cofactor II (1) good coincidence was observed between yields of its activity and the pentosan polysulphate dependent inhibitory activity and cochromatography of the two activities was observed also. Maximal second order rate constant of 2.5 X 10(8) M-1 min-1 (with apparent Kd of 1.8 microM) was found for the potentiation of the thrombin/heparin cofactor II interaction by pentosan polysulphate. A polysaccharide of high charge density may therefore potentiate heparin cofactor II activity and this may be of importance in vivo.

Antithrombins↗

Deletion mutagenesis of heparin cofactor II: defining the minimum size of a thrombin inhibiting serpin.

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a 66 kDa plasma glycoprotein that belongs to the serpin superfamily of protease inhibitors. Its natural target is thrombin. HCII inhibits thrombin in both a progressive reaction, and in an accelerated reaction catalyzed by a glycosaminoglycan, dermatan sulphate (DS). Both modes of inhibition result in the formation of a stable, denaturation-resistant complex. Using a cDNA clone encoding rabbit HCII recently isolated and characterized in our laboratory, we have employed deletion mutagenesis to identify amino-terminal regions of the molecular which are essential to the progressive reaction. PCR was employed to produce four deletion constructs: delta 58, delta 81, delta 106, and delta 169, all in an in vitro transcription vector plasmid background. Transcription of the full-length construct, and of the four deletion constructs, followed by in vitro translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysate, was used to produce the corresponding HCII-related polypeptides. The delta 106 and delta 169 mutants failed to react with thrombin, even in the presence of DS. In contrast, the delta 58 and delta 82 mutants retained the ability to form complexes with thrombin, although the rate of complex formation was decreased for the latter mutant compared to the full-length recombinant HCII; no acceleration of complex formation in the presence of 20 micrograms/ml DS was noted for either truncated recombinant HCII. Alignment of the rabbit HCII primary structure with secondary structural elements found in alpha 1 antitrypsin and other serpins showed that the non-functional delta 106 mutant lacks helix A, while the functional delta 82 mutant contains this element. Our results suggest that helix A is an essential part of a functional serpin, and define the limits of the amino-terminal region of HCII which is not essential for thrombin inhibition.

Animals↗

Comparison of the molecular mass dependency of heparin stimulation of heparin cofactor II:thrombin interaction to antithrombin III:thrombin interaction.

The influence of increasing concentrations of heparin of different molecular mass (Mr) has been compared in potentiation of the rate of heparin cofactor II:thrombin interaction and of antithrombin III:thrombin interaction. Unfractionated and fractionated heparin showed a concentration dependent ascending and descending limb of stimulation of the rate for both inhibitors. Unfractionated heparin and fractions of 16.5 KDa or less showed a peak acceleration of the rate of interaction of thrombin with both inhibitors at 0.3 X 10(-6) M heparin although the observed maximum rate at this peak decreased with fall in Mr. For both inhibitors two high Mr fractions showed peak stimulation at a lower heparin concentration (0.3 X 10(-7) M) and approximately two-fold greater increase in rate than that observed with unfractionated heparin. Potentiation of heparin cofactor II inhibitory activity differed from that of antithrombin III in that it was reversed by lower ionic strength and was not reversed by a heparin pentasaccharide with high affinity for antithrombin III. It is proposed that differences in the profiles of stimulation by high Mr fractions to those of lower Mr are related to higher binding affinities for the inhibitor permitting maximal binding of heparin before the descending part of the slope due to saturation of thrombin (according to the template hypothesis).

Antithrombin III↗

Biosynthesis of functionally active heparin cofactor II by a human hepatoma-derived cell line.

Human plasma heparin cofactor II (HCII) inhibits thrombin by rapidly forming a stable, equimolar complex in the presence of heparin or dermatan sulfate. Cultured human hepatoma-derived cells (PLC/PRF-5) secreted (approximately equal to 200 ng/ml in 3 days) a protein of MW - 72 kD that was immunoisolated and immunoblotted with anti-HCII, co-migrated on SDS-PAGE with human plasma HCII, and formed covalent complexes with thrombin (MW - 101 kD) in the presence but not absence of heparin or dermatan sulfate; these complexes co-migrated with those obtained by incubating thrombin with human plasma under the same conditions. HCII was not detectable (less than 0.13 ng/ml) in post-culture medium from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells or human foreskin fibroblasts.

Antibody Specificity↗

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for heparin cofactor II (HCII). Application to the measurement of HCII in clinical materials.

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a thrombin inhibitor in human plasma, the activity of which is enhanced by heparin and dermatan sulfate. To measure the plasma antigen concentration of HCII, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed, and this is based on the use of polyclonal anti-HCII IgG, both as the antigen-capturing antibody and as the labelled antibody. The intra- and inter-assay reproducibilities have been calculated to be less than 6%. HCII antigen concentrations evaluated with this ELISA technique in clinical plasma samples correlated well with those determined by electroimmunodiffusion and with HCII activities evaluated using a functional assay (r = 0.909 and r = 0.930, P less than 0.0001). Since the correlation between HCII deficiency and thrombosis is still a controversial issue, the ELISA technique described in this report could be a useful tool for the large-scale studies needed to determine the prevalence of HCII deficiency in healthy individuals and in patients with a history of thrombosis.

Adult↗

[Heparin cofactor II and thrombophilic conditions].

Heparin co-factor II is in addition to antithrombin III another heparin dependent thrombin inhibitor. This glycoprotein blocks thrombin action not only in haemostasis but also in its other effects. Congenital deficiency of heparin co-factor II was found equally frequently among asymptomatic subjects and patients with thrombotic complications. Although its deficiency probably is not a serious risk factor of thromboembolic disease, it can promote its development in a significant way. The authors describe the case of a child with thrombotic complications and a congenital deficiency of heparin co-factor II.

Child, Preschool↗