Inhibition of thiol isomerase activity diminishes endothelial activation of plasminogen, but not of protein C.

Introduction: Cell surface thiol isomerase enzymes, principally protein disulphide isomerase (PDI), have emerged as important regulators of platelet function and tissue factor activation via their action on allosteric disulphide bonds. Allosteric disulphides are present in other haemostasis-related proteins, and we have therefore investigated whether thiol isomerase inhibition has any influence on two endothelial activities relevant to haemostatic regulation, namely activation of protein C and activation of plasminogen, with subsequent fibrinolysis.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed using the human microvascular endothelial cell line HMEC-1.

An investigation of the protective effect of alpha+-thalassaemia against severe Plasmodium falciparum amongst children in Kumasi, Ghana.

Introduction: Several factors influence the severity of Plasmodium falciparum; here, we investigate the impact of alpha+-thalassaemia genotype on P. falciparum parasitemia and prevalence of severe anaemia amongst microcytic children from Kumasi, Ghana.

Methods: Seven hundred and thirty-two children (≤10 years) with P.

Cell surface thiol isomerases may explain the platelet-selective action of S-nitrosoglutathione.

S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) at low concentration inhibits platelet aggregation without causing vasodilation, suggesting platelet-selective nitric oxide delivery. The mechanism of this selectivity is unknown, but may involve cell surface thiol isomerases, in particular protein disulphide isomerase (csPDI) (EC 5.3.

S-nitrosothiols as selective antithrombotic agents - possible mechanisms.

S-nitrosothiols have a number of potential clinical applications, among which their use as antithrombotic agents has been emphasized. This is largely because of their well-documented platelet inhibitory effects, which show a degree of platelet selectivity, although the mechanism of this remains undefined. Recent progress in understanding how nitric oxide (NO)-related signalling is delivered into cells from stable S-nitrosothiol compounds has revealed a variety of pathways, in particular denitrosation by enzymes located at the cell surface, and transport of intact S-nitrosocysteine via the amino acid transporter system-L (L-AT).