1
|
Dobson DA, Fish RJ, de Vries PS, Morrison AC, Neerman-Arbez M, Wolberg AS. Regulation of fibrinogen synthesis. Thromb Res 2024; 242:109134. [PMID: 39216273 PMCID: PMC11381137 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.109134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The plasma protein fibrinogen is encoded by 3 structural genes (FGA, FGB, and FGG) that are transcribed to mRNA, spliced, and translated to 3 polypeptide chains (Aα, Bβ, and γ, respectively). These chains are targeted for secretion, decorated with post-translational modifications, and assembled into a hexameric "dimer of trimers" (AαBβγ)2. Fully assembled fibrinogen is secreted into the blood as a 340 kDa glycoprotein. Fibrinogen is one of the most prevalent coagulation proteins in blood, and its expression is induced by inflammatory cytokines, wherein circulating fibrinogen levels may increase up to 3-fold during acute inflammatory events. Abnormal levels of circulating fibrinogen are associated with bleeding and thrombotic disorders, as well as several inflammatory diseases. Notably, therapeutic strategies to modulate fibrinogen levels have shown promise in experimental models of disease. Herein, we review pathways mediating fibrinogen synthesis, from gene expression to secretion. Knowledge of these mechanisms may lead to the identification of biomarkers and new therapeutic targets to modulate fibrinogen in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dre'Von A Dobson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Richard J Fish
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul S de Vries
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alanna C Morrison
- Human Genetics Center, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Alisa S Wolberg
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and UNC Blood Research Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pihlajamäki A, Matus MF, Malola S, Häkkinen H. GraphBNC: Machine Learning-Aided Prediction of Interactions Between Metal Nanoclusters and Blood Proteins. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2407046. [PMID: 39318073 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202407046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Hybrid nanostructures between biomolecules and inorganic nanomaterials constitute a largely unexplored field of research, with the potential for novel applications in bioimaging, biosensing, and nanomedicine. Developing such applications relies critically on understanding the dynamical properties of the nano-bio interface. This work introduces and validates a strategy to predict atom-scale interactions between water-soluble gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and a set of blood proteins (albumin, apolipoprotein, immunoglobulin, and fibrinogen). Graph theory and neural networks are utilized to predict the strengths of interactions in AuNC-protein complexes on a coarse-grained level, which are then optimized in Monte Carlo-based structure search and refined to atomic-scale structures. The training data is based on extensive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of AuNC-protein complexes, and the validating MD simulations show the robustness of the predictions. This strategy can be generalized to any complexes of inorganic nanostructures and biomolecules provided that one generates enough data about the interactions, and the bioactive parts of the nanostructure can be coarse-grained rationally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antti Pihlajamäki
- Department of Physics, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - María Francisca Matus
- Department of Physics, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - Sami Malola
- Department of Physics, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| | - Hannu Häkkinen
- Department of Physics, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
- Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kadavá T, Hevler JF, Kalaidopoulou Nteak S, Yin VC, Strasser J, Preiner J, Heck AJ. Higher-order structure and proteoforms of co-occurring C4b-binding protein assemblies in human serum. EMBO J 2024; 43:3009-3026. [PMID: 38811852 PMCID: PMC11251186 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00128-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The complement is a conserved cascade that plays a central role in the innate immune system. To maintain a delicate equilibrium preventing excessive complement activation, complement inhibitors are essential. One of the major fluid-phase complement inhibitors is C4b-binding protein (C4BP). Human C4BP is a macromolecular glycoprotein composed of two distinct subunits, C4BPα and C4BPβ. These associate with vitamin K-dependent protein S (ProS) forming an ensemble of co-occurring higher-order structures. Here, we characterize these C4BP assemblies. We resolve and quantify isoforms of purified human serum C4BP using distinct single-particle detection techniques: charge detection mass spectrometry, and mass photometry accompanied by high-speed atomic force microscopy. Combining cross-linking mass spectrometry, glycoproteomics, and structural modeling, we report comprehensive glycoproteoform profiles and full-length structural models of the endogenous C4BP assemblies, expanding knowledge of this key complement inhibitor's structure and composition. Finally, we reveal that an increased C4BPα to C4BPβ ratio coincides with elevated C-reactive protein levels in patient plasma samples. This observation highlights C4BP isoform variation and affirms a distinct role of co-occurring C4BP assemblies upon acute phase inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Kadavá
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes F Hevler
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
| | - Sofia Kalaidopoulou Nteak
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
| | - Victor C Yin
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands
| | - Juergen Strasser
- University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | - Johannes Preiner
- University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4020, Linz, Austria
| | - Albert Jr Heck
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research and Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Utrecht, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands.
- Netherlands Proteomics Center, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yurina LV, Vasilyeva AD, Gavrilina ES, Ivanov VS, Obydennyi SI, Chabin IA, Indeykina MI, Kononikhin AS, Nikolaev EN, Rosenfeld MA. A role of methionines in the functioning of oxidatively modified fibrinogen. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2024; 1872:141013. [PMID: 38582358 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2024.141013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Posttranslational modifications in fibrinogen resulting from induced oxidation or oxidative stress in the organism can have deleterious influence on optimal functioning of fibrinogen, causing a disturbance in assembly and properties of fibrin. The protective mechanism supporting the ability of fibrinogen to function in ROS-generating environment remains completely unexplored. The effects of very low and moderately low HOCl/-OCl concentrations on fibrinogen oxidative modifications, the fibrin network structure as well as the kinetics of both fibrinogen-to-fibrin conversion and fibrin hydrolysis have been explored in the current study. As opposed to 25 Μm, HOCl/-OCl, 10 μM HOCl/-OCl did not affect the functional activity of fibrinogen. It is shown for the first time that a number of Met residues, AαMet476, AαMet517, AαMet584, BβMet367, γMet264, and γMet94, identified in 10 μM HOCl/-OCl fibrinogen by the HPLC-MS/MS method, operate as ROS scavengers, performing an important antioxidant function. In turn, this indicates that the fibrinogen structure is adapted to the detrimental action of ROS. The results obtained in our study provide evidence for a protective mechanism responsible for maintaining the structure and functioning of fibrinogen molecules in the bloodstream under conditions of mild and moderate oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L V Yurina
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia.
| | - A D Vasilyeva
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
| | - E S Gavrilina
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
| | - V S Ivanov
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
| | - S I Obydennyi
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology of Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Russia; Centre for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, Russia
| | - I A Chabin
- Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology of Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Russia; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Russia
| | - M I Indeykina
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia; Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - A S Kononikhin
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - E N Nikolaev
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.
| | - M A Rosenfeld
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Pellegrini A, Motta C, Bellan Menegussi E, Pierangelini A, Viglio S, Coppolino F, Beninati C, De Filippis V, Barbieri G, Pietrocola G. The serine-rich repeat glycoprotein Srr2 mediates Streptococcus agalactiae interaction with host fibronectin. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:221. [PMID: 38909237 PMCID: PMC11193222 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03374-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a commensal of healthy adults and an important pathogen in newborns, the elderly and immunocompromised individuals. GBS displays several virulence factors that promote colonisation and host infection, including the ST-17 strain-specific adhesin Srr2, previously characterised for its binding to fibrinogen. Another common target for bacterial adhesins and for host colonization is fibronectin, a multi-domain glycoprotein found ubiquitously in body fluids, in the extracellular matrix and on the surface of cells. RESULTS In this study, fibronectin was identified as a novel ligand for the Srr2 adhesin of GBS. A derivative of the ST-17 strain BM110 overexpressing the srr2 gene showed an increased ability to bind fibrinogen and fibronectin, compared to the isogenic wild-type strain. Conversely, the deletion of srr2 impaired bacterial adhesion to both ligands. ELISA assays and surface plasmon resonance studies using the recombinant binding region (BR) form of Srr2 confirmed a direct interaction with fibronectin with an estimated Kd of 92 nM. Srr2-BR variants defective in fibrinogen binding also exhibited no interaction with fibronectin, suggesting that Srr2 binds this ligand through the dock-lock-latch mechanism, previously described for fibrinogen binding. The fibronectin site responsible for recombinant Srr2-BR binding was identified and localised in the central cell-binding domain of the protein. Finally, in the presence of fibronectin, the ability of a Δsrr2 mutant to adhere to human cervico-vaginal epithelial cells was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain. CONCLUSION By combining genetic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate a new role for Srr2, namely interacting with fibronectin. We characterised the molecular mechanism of this interaction and demonstrated that it plays a role in promoting the adhesion of GBS to human cervico-vaginal epithelial cells, further substantiating the role of Srr2 as a factor responsible for the hypervirulence of GBS ST-17 strains. The discovery of the previously undescribed interaction between Srr2 and fibronectin establishes this adhesin as a key factor for GBS colonisation of host tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Motta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Pierangelini
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Simona Viglio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Concetta Beninati
- Department of Human Pathology and Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Barbieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
An C, Shao F, Long C, Zhang Y, Nie W, Zeng R, Dou Z, Zhao Y, Lin Y, Zhang S, Zhang L, Ren C, Zhang Y, Zhou G, Wang H, Liu J. Local delivery of stem cell spheroids with protein/polyphenol self-assembling armor to improve myocardial infarction treatment via immunoprotection and immunoregulation. Biomaterials 2024; 307:122526. [PMID: 38513434 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Stem cell therapies have shown great potential for treating myocardial infarction (MI) but are limited by low cell survival and compromised functionality due to the harsh microenvironment at the disease site. Here, we presented a Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroid-based strategy for MI treatment by introducing a protein/polyphenol self-assembling armor coating on the surface of cell spheroids, which showed significantly enhanced therapeutic efficacy by actively manipulating the hostile pathological MI microenvironment and enabling versatile functionality, including protecting the donor cells from host immune clearance, remodeling the ROS microenvironment and stimulating MSC's pro-healing paracrine secretion. The underlying mechanism was elucidated, wherein the armor protected to prolong MSCs residence at MI site, and triggered paracrine stimulation of MSCs towards immunoregulation and angiogenesis through inducing hypoxia to provoke glycolysis in stem cells. Furthermore, local delivery of coated MSC spheroids in MI rat significantly alleviated local inflammation and subsequent fibrosis via mediation macrophage polarization towards pro-healing M2 phenotype and improved cardiac function. In general, this study provided critical insight into the enhanced therapeutic efficacy of stem cell spheroids coated with a multifunctional armor. It potentially opens up a new avenue for designing immunomodulatory treatment for MI via stem cell therapy empowered by functional biomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuanfeng An
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen & Longgang District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518172, PR China; Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Fei Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Canling Long
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen & Longgang District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518172, PR China
| | - Yujie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Wen Nie
- Department of Prosthodontics, College and Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, PR China
| | - Rui Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Lin
- School of Dentistry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Shiying Zhang
- School of Dentistry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Eye Hospital, Dalian, 116024, PR China
| | - Changle Ren
- Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China; Department of Joint Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, 116044, PR China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China; School of Dentistry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Guangqian Zhou
- Department of Medical Cell Biology and Genetics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Anti-ageing and Regenerative Medicine and Guangdong Key Laboratory for Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Huanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Smart Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116023, PR China.
| | - Jia Liu
- Central Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen & Longgang District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518172, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kell DB, Lip GYH, Pretorius E. Fibrinaloid Microclots and Atrial Fibrillation. Biomedicines 2024; 12:891. [PMID: 38672245 PMCID: PMC11048249 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a comorbidity of a variety of other chronic, inflammatory diseases for which fibrinaloid microclots are a known accompaniment (and in some cases, a cause, with a mechanistic basis). Clots are, of course, a well-known consequence of atrial fibrillation. We here ask the question whether the fibrinaloid microclots seen in plasma or serum may in fact also be a cause of (or contributor to) the development of AF. We consider known 'risk factors' for AF, and in particular, exogenous stimuli such as infection and air pollution by particulates, both of which are known to cause AF. The external accompaniments of both bacterial (lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acids) and viral (SARS-CoV-2 spike protein) infections are known to stimulate fibrinaloid microclots when added in vitro, and fibrinaloid microclots, as with other amyloid proteins, can be cytotoxic, both by inducing hypoxia/reperfusion and by other means. Strokes and thromboembolisms are also common consequences of AF. Consequently, taking a systems approach, we review the considerable evidence in detail, which leads us to suggest that it is likely that microclots may well have an aetiological role in the development of AF. This has significant mechanistic and therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas B. Kell
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Gregory Y. H. Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science at University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK;
- Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Etheresia Pretorius
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1 Matieland, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Martinez-Torres C, Grimbergen J, Koopman J, Koenderink GH. Interplay of fibrinogen α EC globular domains and factor XIIIa cross-linking dictates the extensibility and strain stiffening of fibrin networks. J Thromb Haemost 2024; 22:715-726. [PMID: 37940047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrinogen is a plasma protein forming the fibrin scaffold of blood clots. Its mechanical properties therefore affect the risk of bleeding as well as thrombosis. There has been much recent interest in the biophysical mechanisms controlling fibrin mechanics; however, the role of molecular heterogeneity of the circulating fibrinogen in determining clot mechanical function remains poorly characterized. OBJECTIVES By comparing 2 fibrinogen variants where the only difference is the Aα-chain length, with one variant having a globular domain at its C-terminus, this study aimed to reveal how the molecular structure impacts the structure and mechanics of fibrin networks. METHODS We characterized the mechanical response to large shear for networks formed from 2 recombinant fibrinogen variants: the most prevalent variant in circulation with a molecular weight of 340 kDa (recombinant human fibrinogen [rFib] 340) and a minor variant with a molecular weight of 420 kDa (rFib420). RESULTS We show that the elastic properties of the 2 variants are identical when fibrin is cross-linked with factor XIIIa but differ strongly in its absence. Uncross-linked rFib420 networks are softer and up to 3-fold more extensible than rFib340 networks. Electron microscopy imaging showed that the 2 variants formed networks with a comparable structure, except at 4 mg/mL, where rFib420 formed denser networks. CONCLUSION We propose that the αEC domains of rFib420 increase the extensibility of uncross-linked fibrin networks by promoting protofibril sliding, which is blocked by FXIIIa cross-linking. Our findings can help explain the functional role of different circulating fibrinogen variants in blood clot mechanics and tissue repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Martinez-Torres
- AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ahmad R, Warsi MS, Abidi M, Habib S, Siddiqui S, Khan H, Nabi F, Moinuddin. Structural perturbations induced by cumulative action of methylglyoxal and peroxynitrite on human fibrinogen: An in vitro and in silico approach. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2024; 307:123500. [PMID: 37989033 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.123500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Methylglyoxal (MGO); a reducing sugar and a dicarbonyl; attaches to the biomolecules (proteins, lipids, and DNA) leading to glycation and accumulation of oxidative stress in cells and tissues. Superoxide anion formed under such conditions entraps free nitric oxide radical (NO) to form peroxynitrite (PON). Nitro-oxidative stress due to PON is well established. Human fibrinogen plays a key role in haemostasis and is a highly vulnerable target for oxidation. Modifications of fibrinogen can potentially disrupt its structure and function. Earlier evidence suggested that glycation and nitro-oxidation lead to protein aggregation by making it resistant to lysis. This study aims to reveal the structural perturbations on fibrinogen in the presence of MGO and PON synergistically. The in vitro glyco-nitro-oxidation of human fibrinogen by MGO and PON leads to substantial structural alterations, as evident by biophysical and biochemical studies. In-silico results revealed the formation of stable complexes. UV-visible, intrinsic fluorescence, and circular dichroism investigations confirmed the synergistic effect of MGO and PON caused micro-structural modifications leading to secondary structural alterations. AGEs formation in MGO-modified fibrinogen reduced the free lysine and free arginine residues which were quantified by TNBS and phenanthrenequinone assays. Enhanced oxidative status was confirmed by estimating carbonyl content. ANS fluorophore validated exposure of hydrophobic patches in modified protein and thioflavin-T showed maximum binding with synergistically modified fibrinogen, indicated the formation of β-sheet. Confocal and electron microscope results corroborated the formation of aggregates. This study, therefore, evaluated the impact of MGO and PON on the structural integrity, oxidative status and aggregate formation of fibrinogen that can aggravate metabolic complications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rizwan Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mohd Sharib Warsi
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Minhal Abidi
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Safia Habib
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sana Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Hamda Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Faisal Nabi
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Moinuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yakovlev S, Tjandra N, Strickland DK, Medved L. Identification of Neural (N)-Cadherin as a Novel Endothelial Cell Receptor for Fibrin and Localization of the Complementary Binding Sites. Biochemistry 2024; 63:202-211. [PMID: 38156948 PMCID: PMC10848343 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Based on the high structural homology between vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin and neural (N)-cadherin, we hypothesized that fibrin, which is known to interact with VE-cadherin and promote angiogenesis through this interaction, may also interact with N-cadherin. To test this hypothesis, we prepared fibrin and its plasmin-produced and recombinant fragments covering practically all parts of the fibrin molecule. We also prepared the soluble extracellular portion of N-cadherin (sN-cadherin), which includes all five extracellular N-cadherin domains, and studied its interaction with fibrinogen, fibrin, and the aforementioned fibrin fragments using two independent methods, ELISA and SPR. The experiments confirmed our hypothesis, revealing that fibrin interacts with sN-cadherin with high affinity. Furthermore, the experiments localized the N-cadherin binding site within the fibrin βN-domains. Notably, the recombinant dimeric (β15-66)2 fragment, corresponding to these domains and mimicking their dimeric arrangement in fibrin, preserved the N-cadherin-binding properties of fibrin. To localize the fibrin binding site within N-cadherin, we performed ELISA and SPR experiments with (β15-66)2 and recombinant N-cadherin fragments representing its individual extracellular domains and combinations thereof. The results obtained indicate that the interaction of fibrin with N-cadherin occurs through the third and fifth extracellular domains of the latter. This is in contrast to our previous study, which revealed that fibrin interacts only with the third extracellular domain of VE-cadherin. In conclusion, our study identified N-cadherin as a novel receptor for fibrin and localized complementary binding sites within both fibrin and N-cadherin. The pathophysiological role of this interaction remains to be established.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergiy Yakovlev
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Nico Tjandra
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Dudley K. Strickland
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Departments of Surgery and Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Leonid Medved
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Iram S, Rahman S, Choi I, Kim J. Insight into the function of tetranectin in human diseases: A review and prospects for tetranectin-targeted disease treatment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23512. [PMID: 38187250 PMCID: PMC10770464 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Tetranectin (TN), a serum protein, is closely associated with different types of cancers. TN binds plasminogen and promotes the proteolytic activation of plasminogen into plasmin, which suggests that TN is involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix and cancer tissues during cancer development. TN is also associated with other diseases, such as developmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases, inflammation, and diabetes. Although the functional mechanism of TN in diseases is not fully elucidated, TN binds different proteins, such as structural protein, a growth factor, and a transcription regulator. Moreover, TN changes and regulates protein functions, indicating that TN-binding proteins mediate the association between TN and diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge of TN-associated diseases and TN functions with TN-binding proteins in different diseases. In addition, potential TN-targeted disease treatment by inhibiting the interaction between TN and its binding proteins is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sana Iram
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Safikur Rahman
- Department of Botany, Munshi Singh College, BR Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, 845401, India
| | - Inho Choi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoe Kim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Research Institute of Cell Culture, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hearn JI, Gardiner EE. Research and Clinical Approaches to Assess Platelet Function in Flowing Blood. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:1775-1783. [PMID: 37615110 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.317048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Platelet adhesion and activation is fundamental to the formation of a hemostatic response to limit loss of blood and instigate wound repair to seal a site of vascular injury. The process of platelet aggregate formation is supported by the coagulation system driving injury-proximal formation of thrombin, which converts fibrinogen to insoluble fibrin. This highly coordinated series of molecular and membranous events must be routinely achieved in flowing blood, at vascular fluid shear rates that place significant strain on molecular and cellular interactions. Platelets have long been recognized to be able to slow down and adhere to sites of vascular injury and then activate and recruit more platelets that forge and strengthen adhesive ties with the vascular wall under these conditions. It has been a major challenge for the Platelet Research Community to construct experimental conditions that allow precise definition of the molecular steps occurring under flow. This brief review will discuss work to date from our group, as well as others that has furthered our understanding of platelet function in flowing blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James I Hearn
- Division of Genome Science and Cancer, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Elizabeth E Gardiner
- Division of Genome Science and Cancer, John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vottero P, Tavernini S, Santin AD, Scheim DE, Tuszynski JA, Aminpour M. Computational Prediction of the Interaction of Ivermectin with Fibrinogen. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11449. [PMID: 37511206 PMCID: PMC10380762 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypercoagulability and formation of extensive and difficult-to-lyse microclots are a hallmark of both acute COVID-19 and long COVID. Fibrinogen, when converted to fibrin, is responsible for clot formation, but abnormal structural and mechanical clot properties can lead to pathologic thrombosis. Recent experimental evidence suggests that the spike protein (SP) from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may directly bind to the blood coagulation factor fibrinogen and induce structurally abnormal blood clots with heightened proinflammatory activity. Accordingly, in this study, we used molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations to explore the potential activity of the antiparasitic drug ivermectin (IVM) to prevent the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 SP to fibrinogen and reduce the occurrence of microclots. Our computational results indicate that IVM may bind with high affinity to multiple sites on the fibrinogen peptide, with binding more likely in the central, E region, and in the coiled-coil region, as opposed to the globular D region. Taken together, our in silico results suggest that IVM may interfere with SP-fibrinogen binding and, potentially, decrease the formation of fibrin clots resistant to degradation. Additional in vitro studies are warranted to validate whether IVM binding to fibrinogen is sufficiently stable to prevent interaction with the SP, and potentially reduce its thrombo-inflammatory effect in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Vottero
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada; (P.V.); (M.A.)
| | - Scott Tavernini
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada;
| | - Alessandro D. Santin
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA;
| | - David E. Scheim
- US Public Health Service, Commissioned Corps, Inactive Reserve, Blacksburg, VA 24060-6367, USA;
| | - Jack A. Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Maral Aminpour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada; (P.V.); (M.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Pinelo JEE, Manandhar P, Popovic G, Ray K, Tasdelen MF, Nguyen Q, Iavarone AT, Offenbacher AR, Hudson NE, Sen M. Systematic mapping of the conformational landscape and dynamism of soluble fibrinogen. J Thromb Haemost 2023; 21:1529-1543. [PMID: 36746319 PMCID: PMC10407912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibrinogen is a soluble, multisubunit, and multidomain dimeric protein, which, upon its proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, is converted to insoluble fibrin, initiating polymerization that substantially contributes to clot growth. Fibrinogen contains numerous, transiently accessible "cryptic" epitopes for hemostatic and immunologic proteins, suggesting that fibrinogen exhibits conformational flexibility, which may play functional roles in its temporal and spatial interactions. Hitherto, there have been limited integrative approaches characterizing the solution structure and internal flexibility of fibrinogen. METHODS Here, utilizing a multipronged, biophysical approach involving 2 solution-based techniques, temperature-dependent hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry and small angle X-ray scattering, corroborated by negative stain electron microscopy, we present a holistic, conformationally dynamic model of human fibrinogen in solution. RESULTS Our data reveal 4 major and distinct conformations of fibrinogen accommodated by a high degree of internal protein flexibility along its central scaffold. We propose that the fibrinogen structure in the solution consists of a complex, conformational landscape with multiple local minima. This is further supported by the location of numerous point mutations that are linked to dysfibrinogenemia and posttranslational modifications, residing near the identified fibrinogen flexions. CONCLUSION This work provides a molecular basis for the structural "dynamism" of fibrinogen that is expected to influence the broad swath of its functionally diverse macromolecular interactions and fine-tune the structural and mechanical properties of blood clots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose E E Pinelo
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pragya Manandhar
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Grega Popovic
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Katherine Ray
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mehmet F Tasdelen
- Department of Computer Science, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Quoc Nguyen
- Department of Mathematics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anthony T Iavarone
- QB3/Chemistry/Mass Spectrometry Facility, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Adam R Offenbacher
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nathan E Hudson
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mehmet Sen
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Liu Y, Zhang M, Jang H, Nussinov R. Higher-order interactions of Bcr-Abl can broaden chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) drug repertoire. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4504. [PMID: 36369657 PMCID: PMC9795542 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Bcr-Abl, a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, is associated with leukemias, especially chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Deletion of Abl's N-terminal region, to which myristoyl is linked, renders the Bcr-Abl fusion oncoprotein constitutively active. The substitution of Abl's N-terminal region by Bcr enables Bcr-Abl oligomerization. Oligomerization is critical: it promotes clustering on the membrane, which is essential for potent MAPK signaling and cell proliferation. Here we decipher the Bcr-Abl specific, step-by-step oligomerization process, identify a specific packing surface, determine exactly how the process is structured and identify its key elements. Bcr's coiled coil (CC) domain at the N-terminal controls Bcr-Abl oligomerization. Crystallography validated oligomerization via Bcr-Abl dimerization between two Bcr CC domains, with tetramerization via tight packing between two binary assemblies. However, the structural principles guiding Bcr CC domain oligomerization are unknown, hindering mechanistic understanding and drugs exploiting it. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we determine that the binary complex of the Bcr CC domain serves as a basic unit in the quaternary complex providing a specific surface for dimer-dimer packing and higher-order oligomerization. We discover that the small α1-helix is the key. In the binary assembly, the helix forms interchain aromatic dimeric packing, and in the quaternary assembly, it contributes to the specific dimer-dimer packing. Our mechanism is supported by the experimental literature. It offers the key elements controlling this process which can expand the drug discovery strategy, including by Bcr CC-derived peptides, and candidate residues for small covalent drugs, toward quenching oligomerization, supplementing competitive and allosteric tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yonglan Liu
- Cancer Innovation LaboratoryNational Cancer InstituteFrederickMarylandUSA
| | - Mingzhen Zhang
- Computational Structural Biology SectionFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMarylandUSA
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Computational Structural Biology SectionFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMarylandUSA
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology SectionFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer ResearchFrederickMarylandUSA,Department of Human Molecular Genetics and BiochemistrySackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Maung Ye SS, Kim S. A mechanistic model of cross-bridge migration in RBC aggregation and disaggregation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1049878. [PMID: 36561046 PMCID: PMC9763627 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1049878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Red blood cells (RBCs) clump together under low flow conditions in a process called RBC aggregation, which can alter RBC perfusion in a microvascular network. As elevated RBC aggregation is commonly associated with cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, a better understanding of aggregation is essential. Unlike RBC aggregation in polymer solutions which can be well explained by polymer depletion theory, plasma-mediated RBC aggregation has features that best match explanations with cross-bridging mechanisms. Previous studies have demonstrated the dominant role of fibrinogen (Fg) in promoting aggregate formation and recent cell-force spectroscopy (CFS) experiments on interacting RBC doublets in plasma have reported an inverse relationship between disaggregation force and the adhesive contact area between RBCs. This has led investigators to revisit the hypothesis of inter-RBC cross-bridging which involves cross-bridge migration under interfacial tension during the forced disaggregation of RBC aggregates. In this study, we developed the cross-bridge migration model (CBMM) in plasma that mechanistically represents the migrating cross-bridge hypothesis. Transport of mobile Fg cross-bridges (mFg) was calculated using a convection-diffusion transport equation with our novel introduction of convective cross-bridge drift that arises due to intercellular friction. By parametrically transforming the diffusivity of mFg in the CBMM, we were able to match experimental observations of both RBC doublet formation kinematics and RBC doublet disaggregation forces under optical tweezers tension. We found that non-specific cross-bridging promotes spontaneous growth of adhesion area between RBC doublets whereas specific cross-bridging tends to prevent adhesion area growth. Our CBMM was also able to correlate Fg concentration shifts from healthy population blood plasma to SLE (lupus) condition blood plasma with the observed increase in doublet disaggregation forces for the RBC doublets in SLE plasma.
Collapse
|
17
|
Sishi Z, Bahig J, Kalugin D, Shoker A, Zhu N, Abdelrasoul A. Influence of Clinical Hemodialysis Membrane Morphology and Chemistry on Protein Adsorption and Inflammatory Biomarkers Released: In-Situ Synchrotron Imaging, Clinical and Computational Studies. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bea.2022.100070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
|
18
|
Yakovlev S, Strickland DK, Medved L. Current View on the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Fibrin(ogen)-Dependent Inflammation. Thromb Haemost 2022; 122:1858-1868. [PMID: 35896433 PMCID: PMC10680782 DOI: 10.1055/a-1910-4538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have revealed the involvement of fibrinogen in the inflammatory response. To explain the molecular mechanisms underlying fibrinogen-dependent inflammation, two bridging mechanisms have been proposed in which fibrin(ogen) bridges leukocytes to endothelial cells. The first mechanism suggests that bridging occurs via the interaction of fibrinogen with the leukocyte receptor Mac-1 and the endothelial receptor ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), which promotes leukocyte transmigration and enhances inflammation. The second mechanism includes bridging of leukocytes to the endothelium by fibrin degradation product E1 fragment through its interaction with leukocyte receptor CD11c and endothelial VE-cadherin to promote leukocyte transmigration. The role of E1 in promoting inflammation is inhibited by the fibrin-derived β15-42 fragment, and this has been suggested to result from its ability to compete for the E1-VE-cadherin interaction and to trigger signaling pathways through the src kinase Fyn. Our recent study revealed that the β15-42 fragment is ineffective in inhibiting the E1- or fibrin-VE-cadherin interaction, leaving the proposed signaling mechanism as the only viable explanation for the inhibitory function of β15-42. We have discovered that fibrin interacts with the very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor, and this interaction triggers a signaling pathway that promotes leukocyte transmigration through inhibition of the src kinase Fyn. This pathway is inhibited by another pathway induced by the interaction of β15-42 with a putative endothelial receptor. In this review, we briefly describe the previously proposed molecular mechanisms underlying fibrin-dependent inflammation and their advantages/disadvantages and summarize our recent studies of the novel VLDL receptor-dependent pathway of leukocyte transmigration which plays an important role in fibrin-dependent inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergiy Yakovlev
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Dudley K. Strickland
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Leonid Medved
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Baimanov D, Wang J, Zhang J, Liu K, Cong Y, Shi X, Zhang X, Li Y, Li X, Qiao R, Zhao Y, Zhou Y, Wang L, Chen C. In situ analysis of nanoparticle soft corona and dynamic evolution. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5389. [PMID: 36104325 PMCID: PMC9474507 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33044-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
How soft corona, the protein corona’s outer layer, contributes to biological identity of nanomaterials is largely because capturing protein composition of the soft corona in situ remains challenging. We herein develop an in situ Fishing method that can monitor the dynamic formation of protein corona on ultra-small chiral Cu2S nanoparticles (NPs) allowing us to directly separate and identify the corona protein composition. Our method detects spatiotemporal processes in the evolution of hard and soft coronas on chiral NPs, revealing subtle differences in NP − protein interactions even within several minutes. This study highlights the importance of in situ and dynamic analysis of soft/hard corona, provides insights into the role of soft corona in mediating biological responses of NPs, and offers a universal strategy to characterize soft corona to guide the rational design of biomedical nanomaterials. Characterizing the soft protein corona on nanoparticles i.e. the outer layer of the corona, remains a longstanding challenge. Here, the authors develop an in situ method to monitor the dynamic processes of multilayered corona formation and evolution that offers a universal strategy to characterize the soft corona proteome.
Collapse
|
20
|
Regan-Smith S, Fritzen R, Hierons SJ, Ajjan RA, Blindauer CA, Stewart AJ. Strategies for Therapeutic Amelioration of Aberrant Plasma Zn2+ Handling in Thrombotic Disease: Targeting Fatty Acid/Serum Albumin-Mediated Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810302. [PMID: 36142215 PMCID: PMC9499645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The initiation, maintenance and regulation of blood coagulation is inexorably linked to the actions of Zn2+ in blood plasma. Zn2+ interacts with a variety of haemostatic proteins in the bloodstream including fibrinogen, histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) and high molecular weight kininogen (HMWK) to regulate haemostasis. The availability of Zn2+ to bind such proteins is controlled by human serum albumin (HSA), which binds 70–85% of plasma Zn2+ under basal conditions. HSA also binds and transports non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). Upon NEFA binding, there is a change in the structure of HSA which leads to a reduction in its affinity for Zn2+. This enables other plasma proteins to better compete for binding of Zn2+. In diseases where elevated plasma NEFA concentrations are a feature, such as obesity and diabetes, there is a concurrent increase in hypercoagulability. Evidence indicates that NEFA-induced perturbation of Zn2+-binding by HSA may contribute to the thrombotic complications frequently observed in these pathophysiological conditions. This review highlights potential interventions, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical that may be employed to combat this dysregulation. Lifestyle and dietary changes have been shown to reduce plasma NEFA concentrations. Furthermore, drugs that influence NEFA levels such as statins and fibrates may be useful in this context. In severely obese patients, more invasive therapies such as bariatric surgery may be useful. Finally, other potential treatments such as chelation therapies, use of cholesteryl transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors, lipase inhibitors, fatty acid inhibitors and other treatments are highlighted, which with additional research and appropriate clinical trials, could prove useful in the treatment and management of thrombotic disease through amelioration of plasma Zn2+ dysregulation in high-risk individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Remi Fritzen
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK
| | | | - Ramzi A. Ajjan
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Alan J. Stewart
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TF, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)1334-463546
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Programmable DARPin-based receptors for the detection of thrombotic markers. Nat Chem Biol 2022; 18:1125-1134. [PMID: 35941237 PMCID: PMC9512699 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cellular therapies remain constrained by the limited availability of sensors for disease markers. Here we present an integrated target-to-receptor pipeline for constructing a customizable advanced modular bispecific extracellular receptor (AMBER) that combines our generalized extracellular molecule sensor (GEMS) system with a high-throughput platform for generating designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins). For proof of concept, we chose human fibrin degradation products (FDPs) as markers with high clinical relevance and screened a DARPin library for FDP binders. We built AMBERs equipped with 19 different DARPins selected from 160 hits, and found 4 of them to be functional as heterodimers with a known single-chain variable fragments binder. Tandem receptors consisting of combinations of the validated DARPins are also functional. We demonstrate applications of these AMBER receptors in vitro and in vivo by constructing designer cell lines that detect pathological concentrations of FDPs and respond with the production of a reporter and a therapeutic anti-thrombotic protein. ![]()
Merging the generalized extracellular molecule sensor (GEMS) system with screening designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) identifies an advanced modular bispecific extracellular receptor (AMBER) for detection of fibrinogen degradation products.
Collapse
|
22
|
Medved L, Weisel JW. The Story of the Fibrin(ogen) αC-Domains: Evolution of Our View on Their Structure and Interactions. Thromb Haemost 2022; 122:1265-1278. [PMID: 34902868 PMCID: PMC10658776 DOI: 10.1055/a-1719-5584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Although much has been established concerning the overall structure and function of fibrinogen, much less has been known about its two αC regions, each consisting of an αC-connector and an αC-domain, but new information has been accumulating. This review summarizes the state of our current knowledge of the structure and interactions of fibrinogen's αC regions. A series of studies with isolated αC regions and their fragments demonstrated that the αC-domain forms compact ordered structures consisting of N- and C-terminal subdomains including β sheets and suggested that the αC-connector has a poly(L-proline) type II structure. Functionally, the αC-domains interact intramolecularly with each other and with the central region of the molecule, first demonstrated by electron microscopy and then quantified by optical trap force spectroscopy. Upon conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin, the αC-domains switch from intra- to intermolecular interactions to form ordered αC polymers. The formation of αC polymers occurs mainly through the homophilic interaction between the N-terminal subdomains; interaction between the C-terminal subdomains and the αC-connectors also contributes to this process. Considerable evidence supports the idea that the αC-regions accelerate fibrin polymerization and affect the final structure of fibrin clots. The interactions between αC-regions are important for the mechanical properties of clots, increasing their stiffness and extensibility. Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin results in exposure of multiple binding sites in its αC regions, providing interaction of fibrin with different proteins and cell types during hemostasis and wound healing. This heretofore mysterious part of the fibrinogen molecule is finally giving up its secrets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Medved
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - John W. Weisel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Congenital (hypo-)dysfibrinogenemia and bleeding: A systematic literature review. Thromb Res 2022; 217:36-47. [PMID: 35853369 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Ranging from bleeding to thrombosis, the clinical features of congenital fibrinogen qualitative disorders, including dysfibrinogenemia and hypodysfibrinogenemia, are highly heterogeneous. Although the associations between some specific fibrinogen mutations and the thrombotic phenotypes have been well elucidated, the underlying mechanism between fibrinogen variants and bleeding events remains underestimated. After systematically reviewing the literature of (hypo-)dysfibrinogenemia patients with bleeding phenotypes, we identified several well-characterized bleeding-related fibrinogen variants in those patients. Several possible pathomechanisms are proposed to explain the genotype-phenotype associations: 1, mutations in the NH2-terminal portion of the Aα chain hamper fibrinogen fitting into the active site cleft of thrombin and drastically slow the conversion of fibrinogen into monomeric fibrin; 2, mutations adding new N-linked glycosylation sites introduce bulky and negatively charged carbohydrate side chains and undermine the alignment of fibrin monomers during polymerization; 3, mutations generating unpaired cysteine form extra disulfide bonds between the abnormal fibrinogen chains and produce highly branched and fragile fibrin networks; 4, truncation mutations in the fibrinogen αC regions impair the lateral fibril aggregation, as well as factor XIII crosslinking, endothelial cell and platelet binding. These established relationships between specific variants and the bleeding tendency will help manage (hypo-)dysfibrinogenemia patients to avoid adverse bleeding outcomes.
Collapse
|
24
|
Abstract
Intraoperative bleeding and postoperative bleeding are major surgical complications. Tissue sealants, hemostats, and adhesives provide the armamentarium for establishing hemostatic balance, including the tissue sealant fibrin. Fibrin sealants combine advantages including instantaneous effect, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, several challenges remain. This review summarizes current fibrin product generations and highlights new trends and potential strategies for future improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Beudert
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Gutmann
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tessa Lühmann
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.,Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Yakovlev S, Medved L. Dual functions of the fibrin βN-domains in the VLDL receptor-dependent pathway of transendothelial migration of leukocytes. Thromb Res 2022; 214:1-7. [PMID: 35421681 PMCID: PMC10680947 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Our previous studies revealed that fibrin interacts with the VLDL receptor (VLDLR) through a pair of its βN-domains and this interaction promotes transendothelial migration of leukocytes and, thereby, inflammation. In agreement, the NDSK-II fragment representing the central part of the fibrin molecule and containing these domains stimulates leukocyte transmigration. However, the recombinant (β15-66)2 fragment corresponding to a pair of the βN-domains inhibits NDSK-II-stimulated leukocyte transmigration. To explain this paradox, we hypothesized that fibrin βN-domains have dual function in fibrin-dependent inflammation, namely, their C-terminal regions containing the VLDLR-binding sites promote leukocyte transmigration while their N-terminal regions are responsible for inhibition of this process. To test this hypothesis and to further clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying fibrin-induced VLDLR-dependent pathway of leukocyte transmigration and its inhibition, we prepared the dimeric (β15-44)2 and (β40-66)2 fragments corresponding to the N- and C-terminal regions of the βN-domains and studied their effect on endothelial permeability and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. The results obtained revealed that (β40-66)2 bound to the VLDLR with high affinity and promoted endothelial permeability and leukocyte transmigration while (β15-44)2 did not interact with this receptor and had no effect on leukocyte transmigration, in agreement with our hypothesis. We also found that the first three N-terminal residues of the βN-domains play a critical role in the inhibitory properties of these domains. Further, the inhibitory properties of the βN-domains were expressed only upon their isolation from the fibrin molecule. The question of whether their inhibitory function may play a role in fibrin remains to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergiy Yakovlev
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Leonid Medved
- Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Designing a new alginate-fibrinogen biomaterial composite hydrogel for wound healing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7213. [PMID: 35508533 PMCID: PMC9068811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11282-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Wound healing is a complex process and rapid healing necessitates a proper micro-environment. Therefore, design and fabrication of an efficacious wound dressing is an impressive innovation in the field of wound healing. The fabricated wound dressing in this scenario was designed using a combination of the appropriate coagulating and anti-bacterial materials like fibrinogen (as coagulating agent), nisin (as anti-bacterial agent), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (as anti-bacterial agent), and alginate (as wound healing agent). Biophysical characterization showed that the interaction of fibrinogen and alginate was associated with minor changes in the secondary structure of the protein. Conformational studies showed that the protein was structurally stable at 42 °C, is the maximum temperature of the infected wound. The properties of the hydrogel such as swelling, mechanical resistance, nisin release, antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, gel porosity, and blood coagulation were assessed. The results showed a slow release for the nisin during 48 h. Antibacterial studies showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The hydrogel was also capable to absorb a considerable amount of water and provide oxygenation as well as incorporation of the drug into its structure due to its sufficient porosity. Scanning electron microscopy showed pore sizes of about 14–198 µm in the hydrogel. Cell viability studies indicated high biocompatibility of the hydrogel. Blood coagulation test also confirmed the effectiveness of the synthesized hydrogel in accelerating the process of blood clot formation. In vivo studies showed higher rates of wound healing, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition. According to the findings from in vitro as well as in vivo studies, the designed hydrogel can be considered as a novel attractive wound dressing after further prerequisite assessments.
Collapse
|
27
|
Engineered Molecular Therapeutics Targeting Fibrin and the Coagulation System: a Biophysical Perspective. Biophys Rev 2022; 14:427-461. [PMID: 35399372 PMCID: PMC8984085 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-022-00950-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The coagulation cascade represents a sophisticated and highly choreographed series of molecular events taking place in the blood with important clinical implications. One key player in coagulation is fibrinogen, a highly abundant soluble blood protein that is processed by thrombin proteases at wound sites, triggering self-assembly of an insoluble protein hydrogel known as a fibrin clot. By forming the key protein component of blood clots, fibrin acts as a structural biomaterial with biophysical properties well suited to its role inhibiting fluid flow and maintaining hemostasis. Based on its clinical importance, fibrin is being investigated as a potentially valuable molecular target in the development of coagulation therapies. In this topical review, we summarize our current understanding of the coagulation cascade from a molecular, structural and biophysical perspective. We highlight single-molecule studies on proteins involved in blood coagulation and report on the current state of the art in directed evolution and molecular engineering of fibrin-targeted proteins and polymers for modulating coagulation. This biophysical overview will help acclimatize newcomers to the field and catalyze interdisciplinary work in biomolecular engineering toward the development of new therapies targeting fibrin and the coagulation system.
Collapse
|
28
|
Pijning AE, Butera D, Hogg PJ. Not one, but many forms of thrombosis proteins. J Thromb Haemost 2022; 20:285-292. [PMID: 34674369 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The disulfide bond is a covalent bond formed between the sulfur atoms of two cysteine residues in proteins. Our understanding of the role of these ubiquitous bonds in protein function has changed dramatically over the past decade. Initially thought to be fully formed and inert in the native protein, we know now that both these assumptions are incorrect for many proteins. Here, we review recent evidence for production and function of multiple partially disulfide-bonded forms of plasma fibrinogen and platelet αIIbβ3 integrin. The disulfide bonds are not cleaved in these mature proteins but rather a significant fraction of the bonds never form during maturation of the protein. The resulting different covalent states influence the functioning of the protein. These findings change our concept of the native, functional protein.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aster E Pijning
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Diego Butera
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J Hogg
- The Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Computational Characterization of Mechanical, Hemodynamic, and Surface Interaction Conditions: Role of Protein Adsorption on the Regenerative Response of TEVGs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031130. [PMID: 35163056 PMCID: PMC8835378 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently available small diameter vascular grafts (<6 mm) present several long-term limitations, which has prevented their full clinical implementation. Computational modeling and simulation emerge as tools to study and optimize the rational design of small diameter tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVG). This study aims to model the correlation between mechanical-hemodynamic-biochemical variables on protein adsorption over TEVG and their regenerative potential. To understand mechanical-hemodynamic variables, two-way Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) computational models of novel TEVGs were developed in ANSYS Fluent 2019R3® and ANSYS Transient Structural® software. Experimental pulsatile pressure was included as an UDF into the models. TEVG mechanical properties were obtained from tensile strength tests, under the ISO7198:2016, for novel TEVGs. Subsequently, a kinetic model, linked to previously obtained velocity profiles, of the protein-surface interaction between albumin and fibrinogen, and the intima layer of the TEVGs, was implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3®. TEVG wall properties appear critical to understand flow and protein adsorption under hemodynamic stimuli. In addition, the kinetic model under flow conditions revealed that size and concentration are the main parameters to trigger protein adsorption on TEVGs. The computational models provide a robust platform to study multiparametrically the performance of TEVGs in terms of protein adsorption and their regenerative potential.
Collapse
|
30
|
Popovic G, Kirby NC, Dement TC, Peterson KM, Daub CE, Belcher HA, Guthold M, Offenbacher AR, Hudson NE. Development of Transient Recombinant Expression and Affinity Chromatography Systems for Human Fibrinogen. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031054. [PMID: 35162976 PMCID: PMC8835685 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrin forms the structural scaffold of blood clots and has great potential for biomaterial applications. Creating recombinant expression systems of fibrinogen, fibrin’s soluble precursor, would advance the ability to construct mutational libraries that would enable structure–function studies of fibrinogen and expand the utility of fibrin as a biomaterial. Despite these needs, recombinant fibrinogen expression systems, thus far, have relied on the time-consuming creation of stable cell lines. Here we present tests of a transient fibrinogen expression system that can rapidly generate yields of 8–12 mg/L using suspension HEK Expi293TM cells. We report results from two different plasmid systems encoding the fibrinogen cDNAs and two different transfection reagents. In addition, we describe a novel, affinity-based approach to purifying fibrinogen from complex media such as human plasma. We show that using a high-affinity peptide which mimics fibrin’s knob ‘A’ sequence enables the purification of 50–75% of fibrinogen present in plasma. Having robust expression and purification systems of fibrinogen will enable future studies of basic fibrin(ogen) biology, while paving the way for the ubiquitous use of fibrin as a biomaterial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grega Popovic
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (G.P.); (N.C.K.); (C.E.D.); (A.R.O.)
| | - Nicholas C. Kirby
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (G.P.); (N.C.K.); (C.E.D.); (A.R.O.)
| | - Taylor C. Dement
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (T.C.D.); (H.A.B.)
| | - Kristine M. Peterson
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Caroline E. Daub
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (G.P.); (N.C.K.); (C.E.D.); (A.R.O.)
| | - Heather A. Belcher
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (T.C.D.); (H.A.B.)
| | - Martin Guthold
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC 27109, USA;
| | - Adam R. Offenbacher
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (G.P.); (N.C.K.); (C.E.D.); (A.R.O.)
| | - Nathan E. Hudson
- Department of Physics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; (T.C.D.); (H.A.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-252-737-5349
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ceznerová E, Kaufmanová J, Sovová Ž, Štikarová J, Loužil J, Kotlín R, Suttnar J. Structural and Functional Characterization of Four Novel Fibrinogen Mutations in FGB Causing Congenital Fibrinogen Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020721. [PMID: 35054908 PMCID: PMC8775743 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital fibrinogen disorders are caused by mutations in genes coding for fibrinogen and may lead to various clinical phenotypes. Here, we present a functional and structural analysis of 4 novel variants located in the FGB gene coding for fibrinogen Bβ chain-heterozygous missense BβY416C and BβA68S, homozygous nonsense BβY345*, and heterozygous nonsense BβW403* mutations. The cases were identified by coagulation screening tests and further investigated by various methods. Fibrin polymerization had abnormal development with decreased maximal absorbance in all patients. Plasmin-induced fibrin degradation revealed different lytic phases of BβY416C and BβW403* than those of the control. Fibrinopeptide cleavage measured by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography of BβA68S showed impaired release of fibrinopeptide B. Morphological properties, studied through scanning electron microscopy, differed significantly in the fiber thickness of BβY416C, BβA68S, and BβW403*, and in the fiber density of BβY416C and BβW403*. Finally, homology modeling of BβA68S showed that mutation caused negligible alternations in the protein structure. In conclusion, all mutations altered the correct fibrinogen function or structure that led to congenital fibrinogen disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eliška Ceznerová
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Jiřina Kaufmanová
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Žofie Sovová
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
| | - Jana Štikarová
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
| | - Jan Loužil
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
| | - Roman Kotlín
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +420-221-977-612
| | - Jiří Suttnar
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, U Nemocnice 2094/1, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic; (E.C.); (Ž.S.); (J.Š.); (J.L.); (J.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wu S, Shan Z, Xie L, Su M, Zeng P, Huang P, Zeng L, Sheng X, Li Z, Zeng G, Chen Z, Chen Z. Mesopore Controls the Responses of Blood Clot-Immune Complex via Modulating Fibrin Network. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2103608. [PMID: 34821070 PMCID: PMC8787416 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Formation of blood clots, particularly the fibrin network and fibrin network-mediated early inflammatory responses, plays a critical role in determining the eventual tissue repair or regeneration following an injury. Owing to the potential role of fibrin network in mediating clot-immune responses, it is of great importance to determine whether clot-immune responses can be regulated via modulating the parameters of fibrin network. Since the diameter of D-terminal of a fibrinogen molecule is 9 nm, four different pore sizes (2, 8, 14, and 20 nm) are rationally selected to design mesoporous silica to control the fibrinogen adsorption and modulate the subsequent fibrin formation process. The fiber becomes thinner and the contact area with macrophages decreases when the pore diameters of mesoporous silica are greater than 9 nm. Importantly, these thinner fibers grown in pores with diameters larger than 9 nm inhibit the M1-polorazation of macrophages and reduce the productions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by macrophages. These thinner fibers reduce inflammation of macrophages through a potential signaling pathway of cell adhesion-cytoskeleton assembly-inflammatory responses. Thus, the successful regulation of the clot-immune responses via tuning of the mesoporous pore sizes indicates the feasibility of developing advanced clot-immune regulatory materials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wu
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Zhengjie Shan
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
- Department of MicrobiologyZhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Lv Xie
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Mengxi Su
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Peisheng Zeng
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Peina Huang
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Lingchan Zeng
- Clinical Research CenterDepartment of Medical Records ManagementGuanghua School of StomatologyHospital of StomatologySun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510055China
| | - Xinyue Sheng
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Zhipeng Li
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Gucheng Zeng
- Department of MicrobiologyZhongshan School of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510080China
| | - Zhuofan Chen
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| | - Zetao Chen
- Hospital of StomatologyGuanghua School of StomatologySun Yat‐sen University and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of StomatologyGuangzhou510055China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Baruah P, Paul D, Doshi J, Mitra S. Elevated Fibrinogen Level Reduces Therapeutic Efficiency of AD Drugs: Biophysical Insights into the Interaction of FDA-Approved Cholinesterase Inhibitors with Human Fibrinogen. J Phys Chem B 2021; 126:30-43. [PMID: 34964643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c07495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite being the second most abundant protein in blood plasma, reports on the interaction of drugs with fibrinogen (FIB) are relatively scarce. The effect of FIB on the therapeutic potency of four FDA-approved Alzheimer's disease drugs, namely, tacrine (TAC), donepezil (DON), eserine (ESE), and huperzine (HUP), was investigated through a combination of different in vitro and in silico experiments. The efficiency of the drugs in inhibiting the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was significantly reduced in the presence of FIB. This effect was even found to be more substantial than that for the most abundant plasma protein, human serum albumin (HSA). For example, the relative change in IC50 for TAC was found to be 65% in 10 μM FIB as opposed to 43% in the presence of 250 μM HSA. The relative trend of modulation in AChE activity showed consistency with the binding efficiency of the drugs and FIB. The sequestration of drugs in FIB, therefore reducing the availability of free drugs in solution, was identified to be the primary cause for the decrease in the AChE inhibition potency. This study aims to establish FIB as a vital component, while considering the therapeutic effectiveness of different newly developed AChE inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prayasee Baruah
- Department of Chemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| | - Debojit Paul
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Jitesh Doshi
- BioInsight Solutions (OPC) Pvt. Ltd, Navi Mumbai 410210, India
| | - Sivaprasad Mitra
- Department of Chemistry, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Extension of the Human Fibrinogen Database with Detailed Clinical Information—The αC-Connector Segment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010132. [PMID: 35008554 PMCID: PMC8745514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrinogen, an abundant plasma glycoprotein, is involved in the final stage of blood coagulation. Decreased fibrinogen levels, which may be caused by mutations, are manifested mainly in bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Clinically relevant mutations of fibrinogen are listed in the Human Fibrinogen Database. For the αC-connector (amino acids Aα240–410, nascent chain numbering), we have extended this database, with detailed descriptions of the clinical manifestations among members of reported families. This includes the specification of bleeding and thrombotic events and results of coagulation assays. Where available, the impact of a mutation on clotting and fibrinolysis is reported. The collected data show that the Human Fibrinogen Database reports considerably fewer missense and synonymous mutations than the general COSMIC and dbSNP databases. Homozygous nonsense or frameshift mutations in the αC-connector are responsible for most clinically relevant symptoms, while heterozygous mutations are often asymptomatic. Symptomatic subjects suffer from bleeding and, less frequently, from thrombotic events. Miscarriages within the first trimester and prolonged wound healing were reported in a few subjects. All mutations inducing thrombotic phenotypes are located at the identical positions within the consensus sequence of the tandem repeats.
Collapse
|
35
|
Maksudov F, Daraei A, Sesha A, Marx KA, Guthold M, Barsegov V. Strength, deformability and toughness of uncrosslinked fibrin fibers from theoretical reconstruction of stress-strain curves. Acta Biomater 2021; 136:327-342. [PMID: 34606991 PMCID: PMC8627496 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Structural mechanisms underlying the mechanical properties of fibrin fibers are elusive. We combined tensile testing of uncrosslinked fibrin polymers in vitro and in silico to explore their material properties. The experimental stress (σ) - strain (ε) curves for fibrin fibers are characterized by elastic deformations with a weaker elastic response for ε<160% due to unraveling of αC tethers and straightening of fibrin protofibrils, and a stronger response for ε>160% owing to unfolding of the coiled coils and γ nodules in fibrin monomers. Fiber rupture for strains ε>212% is due to dissociation of the knob-hole bonds and rupture of D:D interfaces. We developed the Fluctuating Bilinear Spring model to interpret the σ-ε profiles in terms of the free energy for protofibril alignment ΔG0 = 10.1-11.5 kBT, Young's moduli for protofibril alignment Yu = 1.9-3.2 MPa and stretching Ya = 5.7-9.7 MPa, strain scale ε˜≈ 12-40% for fiber rupture, and protofibril cooperativity m= 3.6-8. We applied the model to characterize the fiber strength σcr≈ 12-13 MPa, deformability εcr≈ 222%, and rupture toughness U≈ 9 MJ/m3, and to resolve thermodynamic state functions, 96.9 GJ/mol entropy change for protofibril alignment (at room temperature) and 113.6 GJ/mol enthalpy change for protofibril stretching, which add up to 210.5 GJ/mol free-energy change. Fiber elongation is associated with protofibril dehydration and sliding mechanism to create an ordered protofibril array. Fibrin fibers behave like a hydrogel; protofibril dehydration and water expulsion account for ∼94-98% of the total free-energy changes for fiber elongation and rupture. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Structural mechanisms underlying the mechanical properties of fibrin fibers, major components of blood clots and obstructive thrombi, are elusive. We performed tensile testing of uncrosslinked fibrin polymers in vitro and in silico to explore their material properties. Fluctuating Bilinear Spring theory was developed to interpret the stress-strain profiles in terms of the energy for protofibril alignment, elastic moduli for protofibril alignment and stretching, and strain scale for fiber rupture, and to probe the limits of fiber strength, extensibility and toughness. Fibrin fibers behave like a hydrogel. Fiber elongation is defined by the protofibril dehydration and sliding. Structural rearrangements in water matrix control fiber elasticity. These results contribute to fundamental understanding of blood clot breakage that underlies thrombotic embolization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farkhad Maksudov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Ali Daraei
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, United States
| | - Anuj Sesha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Kenneth A Marx
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States
| | - Martin Guthold
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, United States.
| | - Valeri Barsegov
- Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01854, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Simurda T, Asselta R, Zolkova J, Brunclikova M, Dobrotova M, Kolkova Z, Loderer D, Skornova I, Hudecek J, Lasabova Z, Stasko J, Kubisz P. Congenital Afibrinogenemia and Hypofibrinogenemia: Laboratory and Genetic Testing in Rare Bleeding Disorders with Life-Threatening Clinical Manifestations and Challenging Management. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:2140. [PMID: 34829490 PMCID: PMC8622093 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11112140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital fibrinogen disorders are rare pathologies of the hemostasis, comprising quantitative (afibrinogenemia, hypofibrinogenemia) and qualitative (dysfibrinogenemia and hypodysfibrinogenemia) disorders. The clinical phenotype is highly heterogeneous, being associated with bleeding, thrombosis, or absence of symptoms. Afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia are the consequence of mutations in the homozygous, heterozygous, or compound heterozygous state in one of three genes encoding the fibrinogen chains, which can affect the synthesis, assembly, intracellular processing, stability, or secretion of fibrinogen. In addition to standard coagulation tests depending on the formation of fibrin, diagnostics also includes global coagulation assays, which are effective in monitoring the management of replacement therapy. Genetic testing is a key point for confirming the clinical diagnosis. The identification of the precise genetic mutations of congenital fibrinogen disorders is of value to permit early testing of other at risk persons and better understand the correlation between clinical phenotype and genotype. Management of patients with afibrinogenemia is particularly challenging since there are no data from evidence-based medicine studies. Fibrinogen concentrate is used to treat bleeding, whereas for the treatment of thrombotic complications, administered low-molecular-weight heparin is most often. This review deals with updated information about afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia, contributing to the early diagnosis and effective treatment of these disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Simurda
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Rosanna Asselta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy;
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Jana Zolkova
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Monika Brunclikova
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Miroslava Dobrotova
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Zuzana Kolkova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (Z.K.); (D.L.)
| | - Dusan Loderer
- Biomedical Center Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (Z.K.); (D.L.)
| | - Ingrid Skornova
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Jan Hudecek
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Zora Lasabova
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genomics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia;
| | - Jan Stasko
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| | - Peter Kubisz
- National Center of Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Department of Hematology and Transfusiology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin and University Hospital in Martin, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; (J.Z.); (M.B.); (M.D.); (I.S.); (J.H.); (J.S.); (P.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Dubrovin EV, Klinov DV. Atomic Force Microscopy of Biopolymers on Graphite Surfaces. POLYMER SCIENCE SERIES A 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s0965545x2106002x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
38
|
McPherson HR, Duval C, Baker SR, Hindle MS, Cheah LT, Asquith NL, Domingues MM, Ridger VC, Connell SDA, Naseem KM, Philippou H, Ajjan RA, Ariëns RAS. Fibrinogen αC-subregions critically contribute blood clot fibre growth, mechanical stability, and resistance to fibrinolysis. eLife 2021; 10:e68761. [PMID: 34633287 PMCID: PMC8553339 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrinogen is essential for blood coagulation. The C-terminus of the fibrinogen α-chain (αC-region) is composed of an αC-domain and αC-connector. Two recombinant fibrinogen variants (α390 and α220) were produced to investigate the role of subregions in modulating clot stability and resistance to lysis. The α390 variant, truncated before the αC-domain, produced clots with a denser structure and thinner fibres. In contrast, the α220 variant, truncated at the start of the αC-connector, produced clots that were porous with short, stunted fibres and visible fibre ends. These clots were mechanically weak and susceptible to lysis. Our data demonstrate differential effects for the αC-subregions in fibrin polymerisation, clot mechanical strength, and fibrinolytic susceptibility. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the αC-subregions are key for promoting longitudinal fibre growth. Together, these findings highlight critical functions of the αC-subregions in relation to clot structure and stability, with future implications for development of novel therapeutics for thrombosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen R McPherson
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Cedric Duval
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Stephen R Baker
- Department of Physics, Wake Forest UniversityWinston SalemUnited States
| | - Matthew S Hindle
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Lih T Cheah
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Nathan L Asquith
- Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonUnited States
| | - Marco M Domingues
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular - João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Victoria C Ridger
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Simon DA Connell
- Molecular and Nanoscale Physics Group, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Khalid M Naseem
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Helen Philippou
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Ramzi A Ajjan
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| | - Robert AS Ariëns
- Discovery and Translational Science Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of LeedsLeedsUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cui G, Song Y, Liu K, Tan M. Interaction of Carbon Dots from Grilled Spanish Mackerel with Human Serum Albumin, γ-Globulin and Fibrinogen. Foods 2021; 10:2336. [PMID: 34681389 PMCID: PMC8535050 DOI: 10.3390/foods10102336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential biological effects of food-borne carbon dots (FCDs) generated during food heating procedures on human health has received great attention. The FCDs will be inevitably exposed to blood proteins along with our daily diet to produce unknown biological effects. In this study, the interaction between FCDs extracted from grilled Spanish mackerel and three main types of human plasma proteins including human serum albumin (HSA), human γ-globulin (HGG) and human fibrinogen (HF) was reported. It was found that the grilled Spanish mackerel FCDs could affect the morphology, size and surface electrical properties of the three proteins. The interaction between the FCDs and proteins had different effects on the secondary structure of the three proteins through a static mechanism. The tested HSA, HGG, and HF could adsorb FCDs to reach saturation state within 0.5 min after the adsorption happened. The binding affinity of the FCDs to the plasma proteins was sorted as follows: HF > HGG > HSA. The results of FCDs interacted with plasma proteins provided useful information in the assessment of the safety of FCDs in our daily diet.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoxin Cui
- Academy of Food Interdisciplinary Science, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (G.C.); (Y.S.); (K.L.)
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Yukun Song
- Academy of Food Interdisciplinary Science, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (G.C.); (Y.S.); (K.L.)
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Kangjing Liu
- Academy of Food Interdisciplinary Science, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (G.C.); (Y.S.); (K.L.)
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| | - Mingqian Tan
- Academy of Food Interdisciplinary Science, School of Food Science and Technology, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China; (G.C.); (Y.S.); (K.L.)
- National Engineering Research Center of Seafood, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Seafood Deep Processing, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, China
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Najarzadeh Z, Nielsen J, Farzadfard A, Sereikaite V, Strømgaard K, Meyer RL, Otzen DE. Human Fibrinogen Inhibits Amyloid Assembly of Most Phenol-Soluble Modulins from Staphylococcus aureus. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:21960-21970. [PMID: 34497891 PMCID: PMC8412925 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c02333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Functional amyloids are highly organized protein/peptide structures that inter alia promote biofilm formation in different bacteria. One such example is provided by a family of 20-45 residue-long peptides called phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) from Staphylococcus aureus. External components such as eukaryotic host proteins, which alter self-assembly of bacterial amyloids, can affect the biofilm matrix. Here, we studied the effect of the highly prevalent human plasma protein fibrinogen (Fg) on fibrillation of PSMs. Fg inhibits or suppresses fibrillation of most PSMs tested (PSMα1, PSMβ1, and PSMβ2) except for PSMα3, whose already rapid aggregation is accelerated even further by Fg but leads to amorphous β-rich aggregates rather than fibrils. Fg also induces PSMβ2 to form amorphous aggregates and diverts PSMα1 into off-pathway oligomers which consist of both Fg and PSMα1 and cannot seed fibrillation. Peptide arrays showed that Fg bound to the N-terminus of PSMα1, while it bound to the entire length of PSMα3 (except the C terminus) and to the C-termini of PSMβ1 and PSMβ2. The latter peptides are all positively charged, while Fg is negatively charged at physiological pH. The positive charges complement Fg's net negative charge of -7.6 at pH 7.4. Fg's ability to inhibit PSM fibrillation reveals a potential host-defense mechanism to prevent bacterial biofilm growth and infections in the human body.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Najarzadeh
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Janni Nielsen
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Azad Farzadfard
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Vita Sereikaite
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian Strømgaard
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University
of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Rikke Louise Meyer
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Daniel Erik Otzen
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Centre (iNANO), Aarhus University, Gustav Wieds Vej 14, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Kusova AM, Sitnitsky AE, Zuev YF. The Role of pH and Ionic Strength in the Attraction-Repulsion Balance of Fibrinogen Interactions. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:10394-10401. [PMID: 34403253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c01803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fibrinogen (Fg) self-assembly is sensitive to the physicochemical properties of an environment like pH and ionic strength. These parameters tune the direction and strength of noncovalent physical driving forces determining protein intermolecular interactions. The attraction-repulsion balance in intermolecular interactions of the multidomain protein Fg at pH values 3.5, 7.4, and 9.5 and varying ionic strengths of the water medium has been analyzed by the complex diffusive approach, proposed by us previously. The concentration dependence of protein collective diffusion was analyzed within the phenomenological approach, based on the frictional formalism of nonequilibrium thermodynamics proposed by H. Vink. The analysis of protein diffusion data has shown the fundamental difference in the physical nature and direction of interaction forces between protein molecules at different conditions. The paired interaction potential of protein molecules was characterized in terms of second virial coefficients and Hamaker constants within the Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory and the "porous" colloid particle model. Our results indicated the maximum Hamaker constant and dominance of the van der Waals attraction between Fg molecules at pH 7.4. The increase in pH up to 9.5 results in the zero values of the second virial coefficient and Hamaker constant, corresponding to the full reciprocal compensation for electrostatic repulsion and van der Waals attraction. In the acidic medium (pH 3.5), the strong electrostatic repulsion substantially exceeds the van der Waals attraction. A high ionic strength is characterized by a significant decrease of all intermolecular interactions, which is expressed in almost zero values of virial coefficients and the Hamaker constant. Thus, it is experimentally shown that the physiological conditions of the Fg environment (pH 7.4 and slight ionic strength) provide a high probability for peak physical attraction between fibrinogen molecules, which is used in nature to facilitate blood clotting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra M Kusova
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevsky Str., 2/31, Kazan 420111, Russian Federation
| | - Aleksandr E Sitnitsky
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevsky Str., 2/31, Kazan 420111, Russian Federation
| | - Yuriy F Zuev
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Lobachevsky Str., 2/31, Kazan 420111, Russian Federation
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Tracking oxidation-induced alterations in fibrin clot formation by NMR-based methods. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15691. [PMID: 34344919 PMCID: PMC8333047 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94401-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma fibrinogen is an important coagulation factor and susceptible to post-translational modification by oxidants. We have reported impairment of fibrin polymerization after exposure to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and increased methionine oxidation of fibrinogen in severely injured trauma patients. Molecular dynamics suggests that methionine oxidation poses a mechanistic link between oxidative stress and coagulation through protofibril lateral aggregation by disruption of AαC domain structures. However, experimental evidence explaining how HOCl oxidation impairs fibrinogen structure and function has not been demonstrated. We utilized polymerization studies and two dimensional-nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (2D-NMR) to investigate the hypothesis that HOCl oxidation alters fibrinogen conformation and T2 relaxation time of water protons in the fibrin gels. We have demonstrated that both HOCl oxidation of purified fibrinogen and addition of HOCl-oxidized fibrinogen to plasma fibrinogen solution disrupted lateral aggregation of protofibrils similarly to competitive inhibition of fibrin polymerization using a recombinant AαC fragment (AαC 419–502). DOSY NMR measurement of fibrinogen protons demonstrated that the diffusion coefficient of fibrinogen increased by 17.4%, suggesting the oxidized fibrinogen was more compact and fast motion in the prefibrillar state. 2D-NMR analysis reflected that water protons existed as bulk water (T2) and intermediate water (T2i) in the control plasma fibrin. Bulk water T2 relaxation time was increased twofold and correlated positively with the level of HOCl oxidation. However, T2 relaxation of the oxidized plasma fibrin gels was dominated by intermediate water. Oxidation induced thinner fibers, in which less water is released into the bulk and water fraction in the hydration shell was increased. We have confirmed that T2 relaxation is affected by the self-assembly of fibers and stiffness of the plasma fibrin gel. We propose that water protons can serve as an NMR signature to probe oxidative rearrangement of the fibrin clot.
Collapse
|
43
|
Rosenfeld MA, Wasserman LA, Vasilyeva AD, Podoplelova NA, Panteleev MA, Yurina LV. Hypochlorite-induced oxidation of fibrinogen: Effects on its thermal denaturation and fibrin structure. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129970. [PMID: 34339807 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human fibrinogen, which plays a key role in plasma haemostasis, is a highly vulnerable target for oxidants. Fibrinogen undergoes posttranslational modifications that can potentially disrupt protein structure and function. METHODS For the first time, by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic and elastic light scattering and confocal laser scanning microscopy, the consequences of HOCl/-OCl-induced oxidation of fibrinogen on its thermal denaturation, molecular size distribution and fibrin clot network have been explored. RESULTS Within a wide range of HOCl/-OCl concentrations (50-300 μM), the molecular size distribution remained unimodal; however, the average size of the hydrated molecules decreased. HOCl/-OCl-induced oxidation of fibrinogen resulted in the diminished thermal stability of regions D and E. As evidenced by elastic light scattering and confocal laser scanning microscopy, HOCl/-OCl caused the formation of abnormal fibrin with a decreased diameter of individual fibres. CONCLUSIONS The current results along with data from previous studies enable one to conclude that the effect of HOCl/-OCl-mediated oxidation on the thermal stability of region D is influenced directly by oxidative damage to the D region structure. Since the E region is not subjected to oxidative modification, its structural damage is likely to be mediated by the oxidation of other protein structures, in particular α-helical coiled-coils. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The experimental findings acquired in the current study could help to elucidate the consequences of oxidative stress in vivo on damage to the structure of fibrinogen/fibrin under the action of different ROS species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Rosenfeld
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Lyubov A Wasserman
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra D Vasilyeva
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda A Podoplelova
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Federal Research and Clinical Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Panteleev
- Center for Theoretical Problems of Physicochemical Pharmacology, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Federal Research and Clinical Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, 117198 Moscow, Russia
| | - Lyubov V Yurina
- N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Li Y, Liu SS, Guo ZY, Yi H, Li C, Chen LM, Gao HM, Yan LH, Zhang WW, Feng XX, Zhao JY, Liu XQ, Wang ZM. Discovery of potential pharmacodynamic ingredients of Dang-Gui-Si-Ni decoction based on absorbed ingredients and molecular docking. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 275:114045. [PMID: 33831463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Dang-Gui-Si-Ni (DGSN) decoction as a classic prescription has been widely used for thousands of years in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Especially in recent years, the potential efficacy of TCM for the treatment of Raynaud's syndrome has attracted great attention as there are still no specific remedies for this disease. However, the active constituents and underlying mechanisms responsible for the therapeutic benefits are not well understood, which makes it difficult to ensure quality control or to design research and drug development strategies. To identify the potential pharmacodynamic ingredients (PPIs) of TCM will help to achieve suitable process control procedures for industrial production and large-scale manufacturing. AIM OF THE STUDY In the present study, we propose a multi-dimensional qualitative analysis method combining water-decoction spectra, in-vitro intestinal absorption spectra, in-vivo plasma spectra, and molecular docking of components to quickly identify the PPIs for the DGSN decoction of TCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS Water-based decoctions of DGSN were prepared in accordance with the clinical use registered in ancient books. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS) coupled with computerized modelling activity screening was used to quickly identify the PPIs of the DGSN decoction. Bioactive compounds absorbed in vitro were identified using the everted intestinal sac model from rats and compounds absorbed in vivo were confirmed in portal vein blood samples obtained following oral administration in rats. Molecular docking validation experiments were adopted to predict the binding activity to coagulation factors I, II, VII, X, and IX. The active components were further confirmed by pharmacodynamics analysis. The anticoagulant activity of the DGSN decoction was verified using rat models. RESULTS Thirty-one compounds were identified in the DGSN decoction. According to the in vivo experiments, 22 compounds that could be absorbed in vivo were detected by the everted intestinal sac model in rats. This model greatly reduces the scope of PPIs and is easy to perform. Ten compounds were detected in the portal vein blood in rats. The compounds detected in plasma provide stronger evidence supporting the PPIs. Molecular docking in vitro experiments indicated that 7 compounds exhibited better binding activity with coagulation factors I, II, VII, X, and IX. The animal experiments confirmed that the DGSN decoction could improve the microcirculation, providing indirect proof of anticoagulant activity suggested by the molecular docking studies. Finally, based on the multi-dimensional methods, 9 potential compounds present in the DGSN decoction were identified as PPIs (i.e., ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, liquiritin, liquiritin apioside, cinnamaldehyde and glycyrrhizic acid). CONCLUSION Overall, this study combined the water-decoction spectra, intestinal absorption spectra in vitro, plasma spectra in vivo, and molecular docking studies to establish a multi-dimensional qualitative analysis method of the DGSN decoction. Meanwhile, 9 compounds in DGSN decoction were identified as PPIs using this method, and are proposed for application as quality standards for complex TCM prescriptions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China
| | - Shan-Shan Liu
- Beijing Center for Physical and Chemical Analysis, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China; College of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Henan, 450000, China
| | - Hong Yi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Chun Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Liang-Mian Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Hui-Min Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Li-Hua Yan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Wen-Wen Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xia-Xia Feng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Zhao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xiao-Qian Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Zhi-Min Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Quality Control Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Fibrin(ogen) as a Therapeutic Target: Opportunities and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136916. [PMID: 34203139 PMCID: PMC8268464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrinogen is one of the key molecular players in haemostasis. Thrombin-mediated release of fibrinopeptides from fibrinogen converts this soluble protein into a network of fibrin fibres that form a building block for blood clots. Thrombin-activated factor XIII further crosslinks the fibrin fibres and incorporates antifibrinolytic proteins into the network, thus stabilising the clot. The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin also exposes binding sites for fibrinolytic proteins to limit clot formation and avoid unwanted extension of the fibrin fibres. Altered clot structure and/or incorporation of antifibrinolytic proteins into fibrin networks disturbs the delicate equilibrium between clot formation and lysis, resulting in either unstable clots (predisposing to bleeding events) or persistent clots that are resistant to lysis (increasing risk of thrombosis). In this review, we discuss the factors responsible for alterations in fibrin(ogen) that can modulate clot stability, in turn predisposing to abnormal haemostasis. We also explore the mechanistic pathways that may allow the use of fibrinogen as a potential therapeutic target to treat vascular thrombosis or bleeding disorders. Better understanding of fibrinogen function will help to devise future effective and safe therapies to modulate thrombosis and bleeding risk, while maintaining the fine balance between clot formation and lysis.
Collapse
|
46
|
Maksudov F, Jones LK, Barsegov V. Statistical Learning from Single-Molecule Experiments: Support Vector Machines and Expectation-Maximization Approaches to Understanding Protein Unfolding Data. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:5794-5808. [PMID: 34075752 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Single-molecule force spectroscopy has become a powerful tool for the exploration of dynamic processes that involve proteins; yet, meaningful interpretation of the experimental data remains challenging. Owing to low signal-to-noise ratio, experimental force-extension spectra contain force signals due to nonspecific interactions, tip or substrate detachment, and protein desorption. Unravelling of complex protein structures results in the unfolding transitions of different types. Here, we test the performance of Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Expectation Maximization (EM) approaches in statistical learning from dynamic force experiments. When the output from molecular modeling in silico (or other studies) is used as a training set, SVM and EM can be applied to understand the unfolding force data. The maximal margin or maximum likelihood classifier can be used to separate experimental test observations into the unfolding transitions of different types, and EM optimization can then be utilized to resolve the statistics of unfolding forces: weights, average forces, and standard deviations. We designed an EM-based approach, which can be directly applied to the experimental data without data classification and division into training and test observations. This approach performs well even when the sample size is small and when the unfolding transitions are characterized by overlapping force ranges.
Collapse
|
47
|
King RJ, Schuett K, Tiede C, Jankowski V, John V, Trehan A, Simmons K, Ponnambalam S, Storey RF, Fishwick CWG, McPherson MJ, Tomlinson DC, Ajjan RA. Fibrinogen interaction with complement C3: a potential therapeutic target to reduce thrombosis risk. Haematologica 2021; 106:1616-1623. [PMID: 32354869 PMCID: PMC8168514 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.239558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement C3 binds fibrinogen and compromises fibrin clot lysis, thereby enhancing the risk of thrombosis. We investigated the role of the fibrinogen-C3 interaction as a novel therapeutic target to reduce thrombosis risk by analyzing: (i) consistency in the fibrinolytic properties of C3; (ii) binding sites between fibrinogen and C3; and (iii) modulation of fibrin clot lysis by manipulating fibrinogen-C3 interactions. Purified fibrinogen and C3 from the same individuals (n=24) were used to assess inter-individual variability in the anti-fibrinolytic effects of C3. Microarray screening and molecular modeling evaluated C3 and fibrinogen interaction sites. Novel synthetic conformational proteins, termed affimers, were used to modulate the C3-fibrinogen interaction and fibrinolysis. C3 purified from patients with type 1 diabetes showed enhanced prolongation of fibrinolysis compared with healthy control protein (195±105 and 522±166 s, respectively; P=0.04), with consistent effects but a wider range (5-51% and 5-18% lysis prolongation, respectively). Peptide microarray screening identified two potential C3-fibrinogen interaction sites within the fibrinogen β chain (residues 424-433 and 435-445). One fibrinogen-binding affimer that was isolated displayed sequence identity with C3 in an exposed area of the protein. This affimer abolished C3- induced prolongation of fibrinolysis (728±25.1 s to 632±23.7 s; P=0.005) and showed binding to fibrinogen in the same region that is involved in C3-fibrinogen interactions. Moreover, it shortened plasma clot lysis of patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease or controls by 7-11%. C3 binds fibrinogen -chain and disruption of the fibrinogen-C3 interaction using affimer proteins enhances fibrinolysis, which represents a potential novel tool to reduce thrombosis in high-risk individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhodri J King
- Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Katharina Schuett
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Germany
| | - Christian Tiede
- Bioscreening Technology Group,School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Vera Jankowski
- Institute for Molecular and Cardiovascular Research, Aachen University, Germany
| | - Vicky John
- Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Abhi Trehan
- Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael J McPherson
- Bioscreening Technology Group, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Darren C Tomlinson
- Bioscreening Technology Group, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Leeds, UK
| | - Ramzi A Ajjan
- Leeds Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Leeds, UK
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Cao M, Cai R, Zhao L, Guo M, Wang L, Wang Y, Zhang L, Wang X, Yao H, Xie C, Cong Y, Guan Y, Tao X, Wang Y, Xu S, Liu Y, Zhao Y, Chen C. Molybdenum derived from nanomaterials incorporates into molybdenum enzymes and affects their activities in vivo. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 16:708-716. [PMID: 33603238 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00856-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Many nanoscale biomaterials fail to reach the clinical trial stage due to a poor understanding of the fundamental principles of their in vivo behaviour. Here we describe the transport, transformation and bioavailability of MoS2 nanomaterials through a combination of in vivo experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. We show that after intravenous injection molybdenum is significantly enriched in liver sinusoid and splenic red pulp. This biodistribution is mediated by protein coronas that spontaneously form in the blood, principally with apolipoprotein E. The biotransformation of MoS2 leads to incorporation of molybdenum into molybdenum enzymes, which increases their specific activities in the liver, affecting its metabolism. Our findings reveal that nanomaterials undergo a protein corona-bridged transport-transformation-bioavailability chain in vivo, and suggest that nanomaterials consisting of essential trace elements may be converted into active biological molecules that organisms can exploit. Our results also indicate that the long-term biotransformation of nanomaterials may have an impact on liver metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingjing Cao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengyu Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yucai Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haodong Yao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyu Xie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yalin Cong
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Guan
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiayu Tao
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yaling Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoxin Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
- The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuliang Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangdong, China
| | - Chunying Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety and CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, China.
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- The GBA National Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Yesudasan S, Averett RD. Fracture mechanics analysis of fibrin fibers using mesoscale and continuum level methods. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2021; 23. [PMID: 33981824 PMCID: PMC8112576 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2021.100524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational models for simulating and predicting fibrin fiber fracture are important tools for studying bulk mechanical properties and mechanobiological response of fibrin networks in physiological conditions. In this work, we employed a new strategy to model the mechanical response of a single fibrin fiber using a collection of bundled protofibrils and modeled the time-dependent properties using discrete particle simulations. Using a systematic characterization of the parameters, this model can be used to mimic the elastic behavior of fibrin fibers accurately and also to simulate fibrin fiber fracture. In addition, a continuum model was modified and used to obtain the individual fibrin fiber fracture toughness properties. Using this model and the experimentally available fibrin mechanical properties, we predicted the range of fracture toughness (1 to k P a m ) values of a typical fibrin fiber of diameter 100 nm and its critical flaw size to rupture (~4 nm), both of which are not currently available in the literature. The models can be collectively used as a foundation for simulating the mechanical behavior of fibrin clots. Moreover, the tunable discrete mesoscopic model that was employed can be extended to simulate and estimate the mechanical properties of other biological or synthetic fibers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumith Yesudasan
- Department of Engineering Technology, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA
| | - Rodney D Averett
- School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Molecular Dynamic Simulations Suggest That Metabolite-Induced Post-Translational Modifications Alter the Behavior of the Fibrinogen Coiled-Coil Domain. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11050307. [PMID: 34065002 PMCID: PMC8150326 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11050307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrinogen is an abundant blood plasma protein that, inter alia, participates in blood coagulation. It polymerizes to form a fibrin clot that is among the major components of the thrombus. Fibrinogen reactions with various reactive metabolites may induce post-translational modifications (PTMs) into the protein structure that affect the architecture and properties of fibrin clots. We reviewed the previous literature to find the positions of PTMs of fibrinogen. For 7 out of 307 reported PTMs, we used molecular dynamics simulations to characterize their effect on the behavior of the fibrinogen coiled-coil domain. Interactions of the γ-coil with adjacent chains give rise to π-helices in Aα and Bβ chains of even unmodified fibrinogen. The examined PTMs suppress fluctuations of the γ-coil, which may affect the fibrinolysis and stiffness of the fibrin fibers. Citrullination of AαR104 and oxidations of γP70 and γP76 to glutamic semialdehyde unfold the α-helical structure of Aα and Bβ chains. Oxidation of γM78 to methionine sulfoxide induces the formation of an α-helix in the γ-coil region. Our findings suggest that certain PTMs alter the protein secondary structure. Thus, the altered protein structure may indicate the presence of PTMs in the molecule and consequently of certain metabolites within the system.
Collapse
|