Site specific radioiodination of recombinant hirudin

The stabilization and release of hirudin from liposomes or lipid-assemblies coated with hydrophobically modified dextran

Hirudin is a 65-amino acid peptide and the most potent and specific known inhibitor of thrombin (K(i) = 0.2 pM). The short elimination half-life of hirudin from the body (1 hour) necessitates the use of a sustained and controlled delivery system. A proliposome method was used to entrap hirudin in liposomes coated with palmitoyl dextran-coated liposomes and lipid-assemblies. In vitro release studies of hirudin were performed using the lipid systems enclosed in dialysis membranes or deposited in the pores of a vascular graft. The activity of hirudin and released hirudin was measured using a thrombin chromogenic substrate assay. Entrapment efficiencies of hirudin in lipid-assemblies approached 100%, however, the release of hirudin from these systems was rapid with 90% released in 17 hours. Entrapment efficiencies of hirudin in coated-liposomes ranged from 5% to 55% and were dependent on several variables. Palmitoyl dextran- coated-liposomes showed a burst of 30% hirudin released in 5 hours with an additional 10% to 35% released over the next 600 hours. In all samples, 30-40% of the hirudin remained associated with the lipid-systems even after 600 hours. The released hirudin retained only 33% of its ability to inhibit thrombin when released from uncoated liposomes. However, hirudin retained 95% of its thrombin inhibitory activity when released from palmitoyl dextran-coated liposomes. Coated liposomes were found to stabilize hirudin and result in greater retention of hirudin's ability to inhibit thrombin's enzymatic activity, although the mechanism is not yet understood.

Reevaluating the effects of tyrosine iodination of recombinant hirudin on its thrombin inhibition kinetics

To reevaluate the effects of iodination of hirudin on its thrombin-inhibiting activity, we iodinated a recombinant hirudin analog, CX-397, by a chloramine-T method and isolated the eight kinds of iodinated derivatives by reverse-phase HPLC. Their structure were different combinations of non-, mono-, or di-iodinated residues at Tyr-3 and Tyr-64. Their ability to inhibit alpha-thrombin were determined and compared with each other. Iodination at Tyr-64 slightly increased the association rate constant (Kon) 1.26- to 1.79-fold; this may be explained by the increase in the negative charge at C-terminal region of CX-397 caused by the electrophilic ortho substitution of Tyr-64 with iodine. On the contrary, iodination at Tyr-3 caused dual effects on the interaction between CX-397 and alpha-thrombin; namely, mono-iodination at Tyr-3 caused a small decrease in Koff (1.29- to 1.63-fold) than non-iodinated ones, whilst di-iodination at Tyr-3 brought about 3.04- to 3.88-fold increase in Koff. Since the N-terminal region of hirudin has been reported to bind with thrombin by hydrophobic interaction, the destabilizing effect of di-iodination at Tyr-3 can be explained by the increase in its polar nature, whereas the opposite effect of mono-iodination can not. These results indicate that it is not appropriate to use a mixture of variably radioiodinated hirudins as a radiotracer. We also provide a simple method to obtain well characterized radioiodinated hirudins.

State of aggregation of recombinant hirudin in solution under physiological conditions

The state of aggregation of recombinant desulfatohirudin (r-HV1) in solution under physiological conditions (pH 7.5, 0.15 N NaCl) was investigated by sedimentation equilibrium. The weight-average molecular weight MW determined by sedimentation equilibrium was found to be 6914 +/- 76 Da compared to 6964 Da expected from the amino acid sequence. The MZ/MW ratio was found to be 1.03, which demonstrates that under the conditions studied hirudin exists in solution as a monomer. This result is in agreement with the relative molecular weight (M,) of recombinant hirudin variant 3 reported by Otto and Seckler [(1991), Eur. J. Biochem. 202, 67-73], who also used equilibrium ultracentrifugation, but not with the molecular weight estimated from gel permeation chromatography of natural hirudin (51,300 Da) [Konno et al. (1988), Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 267, 158-166]. Knowledge of the state of aggregation is essential for understanding the mechanism of interaction of thrombin and hirudin under physiological conditions.

A new approach for local intravascular drug delivery. Iontophoretic balloon

BACKGROUND

Catheter-based systems are being developed to deliver drugs directly into the vessel wall. Pressure-mediated trauma and lack of homogeneous delivery are key limitations of these approaches.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied a new catheter-based delivery system that uses electrical current to force the drug into the vessel wall. The in vivo feasibility of this approach has been assessed by delivering 125I-hirudin into porcine carotid arteries. Vascular levels of hirudin after active iontophoresis (4 mA/cm2, 5 minutes) were 80-fold greater than those achieved by passive diffusion (without electricity). Tissue hirudin levels declined over time; by 1 hour after delivery, 80% of the drug had left the vessel wall, and by 3 hours later, the levels of hirudin within the wall were similar to those achieved by passive diffusion. Autoradiography revealed distribution of the drug throughout the entire circumference of the arterial wall within the intima, media, and adventitia. Iontophoresis-mediated vessel wall trauma was minimal (less than 10% endothelial denudation and medial smooth muscle cell damage). Balloon injury after local delivery changed neither kinetics nor distribution of the drug into the arterial wall.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) High local concentrations of hirudin in the arterial wall may be achieved with the iontophoretic balloon catheter. (2) The drug is distributed throughout the entire vessel wall without significant damage. (3) The retention of hirudin in the arterial wall is time dependent. (4) This technique might be useful to deliver therapeutic agents before or after percutaneous vascular interventions.

Characterization, stability and refolding of recombinant hirudin

A recombinant variant of hirudin, the blood-clotting inhibitor of the leech Hirudo medicinalis, has been characterized employing spectroscopic and hydrodynamic techniques. Conditions have been defined for efficient reconstitution of the native, disulfide-bonded inhibitor from completely unfolded, reduced polypeptide chains. The spectral properties of the native inhibitor are consistent with previous results on the solution structure of hirudin. Extremely low circular dichroism in the far ultraviolet ([theta]Mr,220 nm = -8 +/- 1 x 10(2) deg.cm2.dmol-1) indicates a very low content of regular secondary structure. Although both tyrosine residues of the recombinant inhibitor titrate around pH 10.6, typical for solvent-exposed tyrosines, fluorescence emission and near-ultraviolet circular dichroism suggest that at least one of the tyrosines is partially shielded from solvent quench, and immobilized in an asymmetric environment. Reversible thermal unfolding of hirudin around 65 degrees C is indicated by the disappearance of its dichroic absorption in the near ultraviolet and by a fourfold increase in ellipticity at 225 nm. The transition can be approximated by a two-state model with a transition enthalpy of delta Hvan't Hoff = 159 kJ/mol and a transition entropy of 464 J.mol-1.K-1. Reduced hirudin at room temperature is largely unfolded and inactive as an inhibitor of thrombin assayed with a low-molecular-mass substrate. Refolding and reoxidation are observed at alkaline pH in the presence of a mixture of glutathione and glutathione disulfide. Spectroscopy, thrombin inhibition, and reversed-phase HPLC indicate reconstitution yields close to 100% and that the reconstituted inhibitor is identical to the native starting material.

Osteocalcin: diagnostic methods and clinical applications

Osteocalcin is a small (Mr 5800), very interesting bone specific protein, synthesized by osteoblasts and measured in plasma as a biochemical indicator of bone formation. Many immunoassays for osteocalcin have been developed, including radio- and enzymoimmunoassays, with the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. These are used in many different clinical settings, including bone, kidney, and liver diseases. However, there is a wide range of published values for plasma osteocalcin concentrations in control and patient samples and this has hindered a more widespread adoption of osteocalcin measurement by clinicians. This review discusses how various immunoassays for osteocalcin may contribute to the wide variation of published values and suggests approaches for the development of standardized assays. For example, epitope specificity and immunoreactivity with multiple forms of osteocalcin and osteocalcin peptides in plasma are discussed. It also includes a recent update on interesting clinical applications of osteocalcin.