Soluble fibrin species in arterial thrombi.

The aim of this study was to characterize soluble fibrin(ogen) species in human, arterial, in-vivo-formed thrombi, using the immunoblotting technique. Specimens were collected via intra-arterial catheters in six patients scheduled for catheter-directed thrombolysis. Unreduced and reduced samples of the supernatants from the arterial thrombi-derived specimens were electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels and immunoblotted, using specific mono- and polyclonal anti-fibrin(ogen) antibodies.

The AGDV residues on the gamma chain carboxyl terminus of platelet-bound fibrinogen are needed for platelet aggregation.

It has been clear that only the carboxyl terminus of fibrinogen (Fg) gamma chain is required for the initial binding of Fg from solution to its GPIIbIIIa (glycoprotein IIb and IIIa) receptor on activated platelets, whereas the two RGD sites on the A alpha chain do not play any role. In this study, we examined the role of these three putative adhesive domains on Fg already bound to its receptors in mediating platelet aggregation. Activated platelets were first incubated with Fg to let the Fg bind, then with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to block the putative adhesive domains, and the platelet suspension was then sheared or stirred to induce aggregation.

A chimeric streptokinase with unexpected fibrinolytic selectivity.

Chimeric 59D8-SK was designed to confer fibrin-selectivity to streptokinase by fusion of the Fab fragment of anti-fibrin antibody 59D8 to the N-terminus of streptokinase (SK: Ile1-Lys414). It was expressed in a mouse hybridoma cell line and purified by affinity chromatography on a 59D8-antigen column. Chimeric 59D8-SK is a disulfide-linked heterodimer composed of an antibody light chain (Mr 27,000) and a N-glycosylated chimeric heavy chain (M(r) 90,000).

Design of heterotetrameric coiled coils: evidence for increased stabilization by Glu(-)-Lys(+) ion pair interactions.

Electrostatic interactions between charged amino acids often affect heterospecificity in coiled coils as evidenced by the interaction between the oncoproteins, fos and jun. Such interactions have been successfully exploited in the design of heteromeric coiled coils in a number of laboratories. It has been suggested that heterospecificity in these dimeric coiled-coil systems is driven not by specific electrostatic interactions in the heterodimers but rather by electrostatic repulsion acting to destabilize the homodimer state relative to the heterodimer state.

Thrombin receptor activation by thrombin and receptor-derived peptides in platelet and CHRF-288 cell membranes: receptor-stimulated GTPase and evaluation of agonists and partial agonists.

Thrombin receptor activation, by thrombin or SFLLR-containing peptides, stimulates GTPase activity in platelet and CHRF-288 membranes. Polyclonal antibodies to peptides derived from the thrombin receptor (anti-TR52-69 and anti-TR36-49), which block many of thrombin's actions on platelets and endothelial cells, also block thrombin activation of membrane GTPase (as does thrombin active site and anion-binding exosite inhibitors). Most of the receptor-activated GTPase, stimulated by both thrombin and SFLLRNP in platelet membranes, was inhibited by prior treatment with pertussis toxin or N-ethylmaleimide, suggesting that under these conditions much of the thrombin receptor-stimulated GTPase in platelet membranes is a member of the pertussis toxin-sensitive G alpha i family.

A monoclonal antibody against a peptide sequence of fibrinogen gamma chain acts as an inhibitor of factor XIII-mediated crosslinking of human fibrin.

Recurrent hemorrhage has been reported in humans as a result of acquired antibody inhibitors which interfere with the crosslinking of fibrin by factor XIII. One type of these inhibitors (Type III) prevents activated factor XIII from acting on fibrin. We have generated an antifibrin monoclonal antibody, called mAb 4A5, which binds to a peptide sequence at the carboxyl-terminus of human fibrinogen gamma-chains.

Characterization of a new four-chain coiled-coil: influence of chain length on stability.

Limited information is available on inherent stabilities of four-chain-coils. We have developed a model system to study this folding motif using synthetic peptides derived from sequences contained in the tetramerization domain of Lac repressor. These peptides are tetrameric as judged by both gel filtration and sedimentation equilibrium and the tetramers are fully helical as determined by CD.

Syk protein-tyrosine kinase is regulated by tyrosine-phosphorylated Ig alpha/Ig beta immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif binding and autophosphorylation.

Syk is a cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine kinase containing two amino-terminal Src homology 2 domains that is activated following ligation of the B cell antigen receptor. Syk activation in B cells correlates with Syk tyrosine phosphorylation as well as with Syk SH2-mediated association with the tyrosine-phosphorylated Ig alpha and Ig beta B cell antigen receptor subunits. Tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide 20-mers representing Ig alpha and Ig beta immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs were synthesized and found to stimulate the specific activity of Syk by as much as 10-fold in vitro.

Overexpression of vascular permeability factor (VPF/VEGF) and its endothelial cell receptors in delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions.

Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) is a T cell-mediated form of immune response characterized by a predominantly perivascular, mononuclear cell infiltrate. The venules in DH reactions are hyperpermeable to plasma proteins, leading to extravasation of plasma fibrinogen and its extravascular clotting to form a fibrin gel that promotes induration and angiogenesis. The mechanisms responsible for microvascular hyperpermeability in DH are unknown.

A microtiter assay for factor XIII using fibrinogen and biotinylcadaverine as substrates.

Efforts to develop an improved assay for plasma and tissue transglutaminase have led us to a convenient, sensitive microtiter plate assay for coagulation factor XIII using human fibrinogen as an immobilized substrate. Factor XIII was activated in the presence of calcium, thrombin, and immobilized fibrinogen and then assayed by adding biotinylcadaverine. The reaction was terminated by adding EDTA and the level of incorporated biotin was measured with streptavidin-beta-galactosidase.

Role of histidine 373 in the catalytic activity of coagulation factor XIII.

Factor XIII catalysis proceeds via formation of thioester acyl enzyme intermediate involving an active site cysteine residue at position 314. The contribution of other residues to catalysis has not been established. Earlier studies of the pH dependence of factor XIII activity suggested the existence of a putative active site histidine.

Design and evaluation of a thrombin-activable plasminogen activator.

A new chimeric plasminogen activator with high fibrin affinity was designed to bind fibrin and to initiate clot destruction, following activation by thrombin. The chimeric activator, 59D8-scuPA-T, was made from the Fab fragment of an anti-fibrin antibody (59D8) and a C-terminal portion of a thrombin-activable low molecular weight single-chain urokinase plasminogen activator, scuPA-T, obtained by deletion of Phe-157 and Lys-158 from low molecular weight single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scuPA) by site-directed mutagenesis. The chimeric molecule had a molecular mass of 91,000, a value consistent with one 59D8 light chain (M(r) = 27,000) and one 59D8 heavy-chain Fd fragment fused to low molecular weight scuPA (M(r) = 64,000).

Characterization of a monoclonal antibody directed against the carboxyl-terminus of human factor XIII. An epitope exposed upon denaturation and conserved across species lines.

By deriving an anti-peptide monoclonal antibody, mAb 7A4, we characterized the relatively unstudied carboxyl-terminal end of the a-chain of human factor XIII, the plasma transglutaminase. MAb 7A4 was directed against the last eight amino acids (Gln-Ile-Gln-Arg-Arg-Pro-Ser-Met) and bound with a dissociation constant of 3.4 x 10(-8)M.

Synthetic peptide immunogens for the development of a cardiac myosin light chain-1 specific radioimmunoassay.

To determine if the presence of cardiac light chains in blood could be used to detect acute myocardial infarction, we developed a specific light chain immunoassay. A synthetic peptide sequence specific for human cardiac ventricular myosin light chain 1 (VLC1) was synthesized and designated P348. This peptide coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was used as an immunogen to obtain murine monoclonal antibodies specific for VLC1.

Characterization of adhesion of "resting" and stimulated platelets to fibrinogen and its fragments.

Adhesion of resting and stimulated platelets to immobilized fibrinogen (Fg) was characterized using various forms of Fg, receptor peptide mimics, and antibodies to glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa and Fg. Resting platelets adhered to Fg, but to less than half the extent of the same platelets stimulated with epinephrine/ADP. The adhesion of resting and stimulated platelets to Fg was inhibited by a receptor peptide mimic (G13, a peptide corresponding to residues 300-312 of GPIIb), anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibodies, and a monoclonal antibody (4A5) against the carboxyl terminus of the gamma chain of Fg.

Selection of monoclonal antibodies that bind and inhibit tissue-type plasminogen activator.

Three monoclonal antibodies raised against tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were selected for their ability to inhibit solid-phase bound t-PA. Each monoclonal antibody blocked the release of p-nitroaniline from H-D-Ile-Pro-Arg-pNA (S-2288). The first antibody 1D2 was a gamma 2b, kappa with KD = 8 x 10(-9) M, the second antibody 2B9 was a gamma 1, kappa with KD = 2 x 10(-9) M, and the third antibody 5A9 was a gamma 1,kappa with KD = 4 x 10(-10) M.

Activated platelets form protected zones of adhesion on fibrinogen and fibronectin-coated surfaces.

Leukocytes form zones of close apposition when they adhere to ligand-coated surfaces. Because plasma proteins are excluded from these contact zones, we have termed them protected zones of adhesion. To determine whether platelets form similar protected zones of adhesion, gel-filtered platelets stimulated with thrombin or ADP were allowed to adhere to fibrinogen- or fibronectin-coated surfaces.

The B cell immune response to an idiotype-inducing peptide epitope can be inhibited by immunodominance of a neighboring epitope.

Three synthetic peptides, EEYEYE (peptide 1), EEYEYEEEYEYE (peptide 2), and YEEEEY (peptide 3), were tested for their ability to induce common Id that had been previously characterized for murine antibodies specific to random synthetic polymers of glutamic acid, alanine, and tyrosine ((Glu,Ala,Tyr)n) (cGAT Id). Protein conjugates of either peptide 2 or peptide 3, but not peptide 1, induced cGAT Id. This unique approach directly identified two peptides capable of inducing cGAT Id antibodies.

Early cross-linked fibrin in human plasma contains alpha-polymers with intact fibrinopeptide A.

alpha-polymer formation, as opposed to gamma-chain dimerization has been considered a relatively late event in factor XIII-induced fibrin stabilization. Recently it has been shown, however, that plasma from healthy individuals and from patients with fibrinaemia contains small amounts of soluble fibrin/fibrinogen oligomers interlinked through dimerized gamma-chains as well as cross-linked alpha-chains. The present work was carried out to see if these early alpha-chain polymers also arise during coagulation of plasma in vitro.

A beta-turn is present in the 392-411 segment of the human fibrinogen gamma-chain. Effects of structural changes in this segment on affinity to antibody 4A5.

The interaction between fibrinogen gamma-peptide 392-411, LTIGEGQQHHLGGAKQAGDV, and monoclonal antibody 4A5, an antibody with a high affinity for both for the peptide and native fibrinogen, is being studied as a model for peptide-antibody interaction. Two-dimensional NMR studies of the free peptide at pH 5.2 indicated the presence of a significant population, about 60%, of type II beta-turn, spanning residues Gln407-Asp410.

Immunoelectrophoretic and immunohistochemical characterizations of fibrinogen derivatives in atherosclerotic aortic intimas and vascular prosthesis pseudo-intimas.

Cadaveric aortic intimas with uncomplicated atherosclerosis were examined to determine the distribution and polypeptide chain composition of fibrinogen-related protein. Immunohistochemical staining showed deposits rich in fibrinopeptides A and B. The deposits were usually disseminated throughout intimas of moderate thickness < 0.

Platelet factor XIII increases the fibrinolytic resistance of platelet-rich clots by accelerating the crosslinking of alpha 2-antiplasmin to fibrin.

Platelet clots resist fibrinolysis by plasminogen activators. We hypothesized that platelet factor XIII may enhance the fibrinolytic resistance of platelet-rich clots by catalyzing the crosslinking of alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2AP) to fibrin. Analysis of plasma clot structure by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting revealed accelerated alpha 2AP-fibrin crosslinking in platelet-rich compared with platelet-depleted plasma clots.