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Zhang R, Luo S, Hao LK, Jiang YY, Gao Y, Zhang NN, Zhang XC, Song YM. Preparation and Properties of Thrombus-Targeted Urokinase/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs)-Chitosan (CS)-RGD Drug Delivery System. J Biomed Nanotechnol 2021; 17:1711-1725. [PMID: 34688316 DOI: 10.1166/jbn.2021.3113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In order to improve the therapeutic effect, prolong the action time and reduce the side effects of the first generation thrombolytic drug urokinase (UK), a novel UK/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)-chitosan (CS)-arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (Arg-Gly-Asp) (RGD) drug delivery system was synthesized by chemical bonding/non covalent bond modification/ultrasonic dispersion. The results showed that the diameter of the UK/MWCNTs-CS-RGD drug delivery system was about 30-40 nm, there was a layer of UK was attached to the surface of the tube wall, and the distribution was relatively uniform. The average encapsulation efficiency was 83.10%, and the average drug loading was 12.81%. Interestingly, it also had a certain sustained-release effect, and its release law was best fitted by first-order kinetic equation. Moreover, the accelerated and long-term stability test results show that it had good stability. Compared with free UK, UK/MWCNTs-CS-RGD had thrombolytic effect in vitro. In addition, MTT experiment showed that the prepared MWCNTs-CS-RGD nanomaterials had good biocompatibility. A rabbit model of carotid artery thrombosis was used to conduct targeted thrombolysis experiments in vivo. Compared with free UK, UK/MWCNTs-CS-RGD could be enriched in the thrombosis site to achieve thrombus targeting. UK/MWCNTs-CS-RGD drug delivery system was expected to become an effective thrombolytic drug for targeted therapy of thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Shang Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Lin-Kun Hao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Yun-Ying Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Ning-Ning Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Xue-Cheng Zhang
- College of Marines Life Science, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Min Song
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
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Sluka SHM, Stämpfli SF, Akhmedov A, Rodewald TK, Sanz-Moreno A, Horsch M, Grest P, Rothmeier AS, Rathkolb B, Schrewe A, Beckers J, Neff F, Wolf E, Camici GG, Fuchs H, Durner VG, de Angelis MH, Lüscher TF, Ruf W, Tanner FC. Murine tissue factor disulfide mutation causes a bleeding phenotype with sex specific organ pathology and lethality. Haematologica 2020; 105:2484-2495. [PMID: 33054088 PMCID: PMC7556672 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.218818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue factor is highly expressed in sub-endothelial tissue. The extracellular allosteric disulfide bond Cys186-Cys209 of human tissue factor shows high evolutionary conservation and in vitro evidence suggests that it significantly contributes to tissue factor procoagulant activity. To investigate the role of this allosteric disulfide bond in vivo, we generated a C213G mutant tissue factor mouse by replacing Cys213 of the corresponding disulfide Cys190-Cys213 in murine tissue factor. A bleeding phenotype was prominent in homozygous C213G tissue factor mice. Pre-natal lethality of 1/3rd of homozygous offspring was observed between E9.5 and E14.5 associated with placental hemorrhages. After birth, homozygous mice suffered from bleedings in different organs and reduced survival. Homozygous C213G tissue factor male mice showed higher incidence of lung bleedings and lower survival rates than females. In both sexes, C213G mutation evoked a reduced protein expression (about 10-fold) and severely reduced pro-coagulant activity (about 1000-fold). Protein glycosylation was impaired and cell membrane exposure decreased in macrophages in vivo. Single housing of homozygous C213G tissue factor males reduced the occurrence of severe bleeding and significantly improved survival, suggesting that inter-male aggressiveness might significantly account for the sex differences. These experiments show that the tissue factor allosteric disulfide bond is of crucial importance for normal in vivo expression, post-translational processing and activity of murine tissue factor. Although C213G tissue factor mice do not display the severe embryonic lethality of tissue factor knock-out mice, their postnatal bleeding phenotype emphasizes the importance of fully functional tissue factor for hemostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon F. Stämpfli
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- Cardiology Division, Heart Center, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Luzern, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Akhmedov
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Klein Rodewald
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Adrián Sanz-Moreno
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marion Horsch
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Paula Grest
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea S. Rothmeier
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Birgit Rathkolb
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Anja Schrewe
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Johannes Beckers
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Frauke Neff
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
| | - Giovanni G. Camici
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valerie Gailus Durner
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München and German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Experimental Genetics, School of Life Science Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Thomas F. Lüscher
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wolfram Ruf
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Felix C. Tanner
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
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Filidou E, Valatas V, Drygiannakis I, Arvanitidis K, Vradelis S, Kouklakis G, Kolios G, Bamias G. Cytokine Receptor Profiling in Human Colonic Subepithelial Myofibroblasts: A Differential Effect of Th Polarization-Associated Cytokines in Intestinal Fibrosis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2018; 24:2224-2241. [PMID: 29860326 DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izy204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts (cSEMFs) are mesenchymal cells with a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of Crohn's disease (CD) fibrosis. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a complete expression mapping of cytokine receptors, implicated in inflammatory bowel diseases, in primary human cSEMFs and how pro-inflammatory cytokines regulate this expression. Furthermore, we show the effect of Th1-, Th2-, Th17- and Treg-related cytokines on a fibrosis-related phenotype of cSEMFs. METHODS Colonic subepithelial myofibroblasts were isolated from healthy individuals' colonic biopsies. Interleukin (IL)-1α- and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced mRNA and protein expression of cytokine receptors was assayed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence, respectively. Th-related cytokine effects on mRNA and protein profibrotic factor expression were analyzed by qRT-PCR and/or colorimetric assays and on the wound-healing capacity of cSEMFs by scratch test. RESULTS In cSEMFs, we observed basal cytokine receptor expression, which was modified by IL-1α and TNF-α. Th1-related cytokines upregulated tissue factor (TF), collagen, fibronectin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and downregulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), MMP-9, and wound healing rate. Th2-related cytokines upregulated collagen, TF, α-SMA, MMP-1, and wound healing rate and downregulated fibronectin and MMP-9. IL-17 and IL-23 upregulated fibronectin, and IL-22 downregulated TF. IL-17 and IL-22 decreased wound healing rate. Similar to TGF-β, IL-23 upregulated MMP-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1, collagen expression, and wound healing rates. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that cSEMFs have a central role in inflammation and fibrosis, as they express a great variety of Th-related cytokine receptors, making them responsive to pro-inflammatory cytokines, abundant in the inflamed mucosa of CD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Filidou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Vasilis Valatas
- Laboratory of Gastroenterology, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | | | | | - Stergios Vradelis
- 2nd Department of Internal Medicine of University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Georgios Kouklakis
- 1st Department of Internal Medicine of University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - George Kolios
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Giorgos Bamias
- GI Unit, 3rd Academic Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Greece
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D'Alessandro E, Posma J, Spronk H, ten Cate H. Tissue factor (:Factor VIIa) in the heart and vasculature: More than an envelope. Thromb Res 2018; 168:130-137. [DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Fonfara S, Hetzel U, Hahn S, Kipar A. Age- and gender-dependent myocardial transcription patterns of cytokines and extracellular matrix remodelling enzymes in cats with non-cardiac diseases. Exp Gerontol 2015; 72:117-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2015.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Xue Q, Dasgupta C, Chen M, Zhang L. Foetal hypoxia increases cardiac AT(2)R expression and subsequent vulnerability to adult ischaemic injury. Cardiovasc Res 2010; 89:300-8. [PMID: 20870653 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvq303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Hypoxia is a common stress to the foetus and results in increased cardiac vulnerability to adult ischaemic injury. This study tested the hypothesis that foetal hypoxia causes programming of increased AT(2) receptor (AT(2)R) expression in the heart, resulting in the heightened cardiac susceptibility to adult ischaemic injury. METHODS AND RESULTS Time-dated pregnant rats were divided between normoxic and hypoxic (10.5% O(2) from days 15 to 21 of gestation) groups. Hypoxia resulted in significantly increased AT(2)R in the heart of adult offspring. Multiple glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) were identified at the AT(2)R promoter, deletion of which increased the promoter activity. Consistently, ex vivo treatment of isolated foetal hearts with dexamethasone for 48 h decreased AT(2)R expression, which was inhibited by RU 486. Hypoxia decreased glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the hearts of foetal, 3-week-old and 3-month-old offspring, resulting in decreased GR binding to the GREs at the AT(2)R promoter. The inhibition of AT(2)R improved postischaemic recovery of left ventricular function and rescued the foetal hypoxia-induced cardiac ischaemic vulnerability in male adult animals. In contrast, the inhibition of AT(1) receptors decreased the postischaemic recovery. CONCLUSION The results demonstrate that in utero hypoxia causes programming of increased AT(2)R gene expression in the heart by downregulating GR, which contributes to the increased cardiac vulnerability to adult ischaemic injury caused by prenatal hypoxic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Xue
- Institute for Fetal Origin Diseases, First Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215000, China
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Zhao Y, Wang Q, Deng X, Zhao Y, Zhang TB. Significance of expression of metastasis-related factors uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2010; 18:791-797. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v18.i8.791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the significance of expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
METHODS: The expression of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 mRNAs and proteins in 124 GISTs specimens was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively.
RESULTS: In gastrointestinal stromal tumors, the mRNA expression of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 is closely correlated with tumor stage (NIH classification), mucosal invasion and lymphatic metastasis. The mRNA expression levels of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 were up-regulated with increasing tumor stage, showing significant differences among low-, moderate- and high-risk GISTs. The positive rates of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 mRNA expression was not correlated with age, sex and histological type. Similar results were obtained for the expression of uPA, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TGF-β1 proteins in GISTs. The expression of uPA protein is positively correlated with that of TGF-β1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 (r = 0.356, 0.323 and 0.346, respectively).
CONCLUSION: The positive activation of TGF-β1 in GISTs possibly up-regulates uPA expression which in turn activates MMP-2 and MMP-9. The activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 may lead to the degradation of extracellular matrix degradation and promote tumor invasion and metastasis.
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Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is cardioprotective in mice by maintaining microvascular integrity and cardiac architecture. Blood 2009; 115:2038-47. [PMID: 20009036 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2009-09-244962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the involvement of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in fibrotic diseases is well documented, its role in cardiac fibrosis remains controversial. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of a PAI-1 deficiency (PAI-1(-/-)) on the spontaneous development of cardiac fibrosis. PAI-1(-/-) mice developed pervasive cardiac fibrosis spontaneously with aging, and these mice displayed progressively distorted cardiac architecture and markedly reduced cardiac function. To mechanistically elucidate the role of PAI-1 in cardiac fibrosis, 12-week-old mice were chosen to study the biologic events leading to fibrosis. Although fibrosis was not observed at this early age, PAI-1(-/-) hearts presented with enhanced inflammation, along with increased microvascular permeability and hemorrhage. A potent fibrogenic cytokine, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), was markedly enhanced in PAI-1(-/-) heart tissue. Furthermore, the expression levels of several relevant proteases associated with tissue remodeling were significantly enhanced in PAI-1(-/-) hearts. These results suggest that PAI-1 is cardioprotective, and functions in maintaining normal microvasculature integrity. Microvascular leakage in PAI-1(-/-) hearts may provoke inflammation, and predispose these mice to cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, a PAI-1 deficiency contributes to the development of cardiac fibrosis by increasing vascular permeability, exacerbating local inflammation, and increasing extracellular matrix remodeling, an environment conducive to accelerated fibrosis.
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Wang X, McLennan SV, Allen TJ, Tsoutsman T, Semsarian C, Twigg SM. Adverse effects of high glucose and free fatty acid on cardiomyocytes are mediated by connective tissue growth factor. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2009; 297:C1490-500. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00049.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis. Also known as CCN2, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is implicated in the fibrosis; however, whether it contributes to cardiomyocytes changes and adverse effects of high glucose and lipids on these cells remains unknown. Hearts from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats had elevated CTGF and changes of pathological myocardial hypertrophy, fibrosis, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes were then treated with recombinant human (rh)CTGF, high glucose, or the saturated free fatty acid palmitate. Each reagent induced cell hypertrophy, as indicated by the ratio of total protein to cell number, cell size, and gene expression of cardiac hypertrophy marker genes atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and α-skeletal actin. Each treatment also caused apoptosis measured by increased caspase3/7 activity, apoptotic cells by transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and lower viable cell number. Further studies showed CTGF mRNA was rapidly induced by high glucose and palmitate in H9c2 cells and in mouse neonatal cardiomyocyte primary cultures. small interfering RNA against CTGF blocked the high glucose and palmitate induction of hypertrophy and apoptosis. In addition, these CTGF effects were through the tyrosine kinase A (TrkA) receptor with tyrosine kinase activity, which has previously been implicated in CTGF signaling: TrkA was phosphorylated by CTGF, and a specific TrkA blocker abrogated CTGF-induced effects on hypertrophy and apoptosis. For the first time in any system, fatty acid is newly identified as a regulator of CTGF, and this work implicates autocrine CTGF as a mediator of adverse effects of high glucose and fatty acids in cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Wang
- Endocrinology Research Laboratories and the
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney
| | - Susan V. McLennan
- Endocrinology Research Laboratories and the
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
| | - Terri J. Allen
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Research Institute, Melbourne; and
| | - Tatiana Tsoutsman
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute and
| | - Christopher Semsarian
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney
- Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology, Centenary Institute and
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stephen M. Twigg
- Endocrinology Research Laboratories and the
- Discipline of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
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Sathler PC, Craik CS, Takeuchi T, Zingali RB, Castro HC. Engineering ecotin for identifying proteins with a trypsin fold. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2009; 160:2355-65. [PMID: 19728173 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-009-8711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/05/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Ecotin is a bidentate, fold-specific inhibitor of mammalian serine-proteases produced by Escherichia coli. This molecule may be engineered to increase and/or change its affinity and specificity providing significant biotechnological potential. Since ecotin binds tightly to serine proteases of the trypsin fold, it may help to identify the role of these enzymes in different biological processes. In this work, we tested ecotin variants as an affinity purification reagent for identifying enzymes in samples of tumor progression and mammary gland involution. Initially, we used a commercial source of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) that remained fully active after elution from an affinity column of the ecotin variant (M84R, M85R). We then successfully identified u-PA from more complex mixtures including lysates from a prostate cancer cell line and involuting mouse mammary glands. Interestingly, a membrane-type serine protease 1 was isolated from the Triton X-100-solubilized PC-3 cell lysates, and surprisingly, haptoglobin, a serine-protease homolog protein, was also identified in mammary gland lysates and in blood. Haptoglobin does not prevent ecotin inhibition of u-PA, but it may act as a carrier within blood when ecotin is used in vivo. Finally, this affinity purification matrix was also able to identify a thrombin-like enzyme from snake venom using an ecotin variant directed against thrombin. Overall, the ecotin variants acted as robust tools for the isolation and characterization of proteins with a trypsin fold. Thus, they may assist in the understanding of the role of these serine proteases and homologous proteins in different biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Plínio C Sathler
- LaBioMol, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, 24001-970, Brazil
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Genetic elimination of prothrombin in adult mice is not compatible with survival and results in spontaneous hemorrhagic events in both heart and brain. Blood 2008; 113:696-704. [PMID: 18927430 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-07-169003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice carrying a conditional prothrombin knockout allele (fII(lox)) were established to develop an experimental setting for exploring the importance of thrombin in the maintenance of vascular integrity, the inflammatory response, and disease processes in adult animals. In the absence of Cre-mediated recombination, homozygous fII(lox/lox) mice or compound heterozygous mice carrying one fII(lox) allele and one constitutive-null allele were viable. Young adults exhibited neither spontaneous bleeding events nor diminished reproductive success. However, the induction of Cre recombinase in fII(lox) mice using the poly I:C-inducible Mx1-Cre system resulted in the rapid and near-complete recombination of the fII(lox) allele within the liver, the loss of circulating prothrombin, and profound derangements in coagulation function. Consistent with the notion that thrombin regulates coagulation and inflammatory pathways, an additional early consequence of reducing prothrombin was impaired antimicrobial function in mice challenged with Staphylococcus aureus peritonitis. However, life expectancy in unchallenged adults genetically depleted of prothrombin was very short ( approximately 5-7 days). The loss of viability was associated with the development of severe hemorrhagic events within multiple tissues, particularly in the heart and brain. Unlike the constitutive loss of either clotting or platelet function alone, the conditional loss of prothrombin is uniformly not compatible with maintenance of hemostasis or long-term survival.
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Davis DR, Erlich JH. CARDIAC TISSUE FACTOR: ROLES IN PHYSIOLOGY AND FIBROSIS. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 35:342-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.2007.04872.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mackman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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