Confirmation of mendelian properties of heterodimeric fibrinogen molecules in a heterozygotic dysfibrinogenemia, "fibrinogen Amarillo," using gprphoresis to differentiate semifibrin molecules from fibrinogen and fibrin.

The fibrinogen molecule consists of two sets of Aalpha, Bbeta, and gamma chains assembled into a bilateral disulfide linked (Aalpha, Bbeta, gamma)2 structure. Cleavage of the two A-fibrinopeptides (FPA, Aalpha1-16) from normal Aalpha chains with arginine at position 16 (RFPA) by thrombin or the venom enzyme atroxin transforms fibrinogen into self-aggregating fibrin monomers (alpha, Bbeta, gamma)(2). Mutant Aalpha16R-->H fibrinopeptide (HFPA) cannot be cleaved from fibrinogen by atroxin.

Inhibitory action of amyloid precursor protein against human Hageman factor (factor XII).

Amyloid precursor protein forms that contain Kunitz protease inhibitor domains are released from activated platelets, T-lymphocytes, and leukocytes and inhibit trypsin, plasmin, and activated factor XI. We investigated the effects of amyloid precursor protein isoforms on activated Hageman factor (factor XII), activated factor X (Stuart factor), and thrombin. Recombinant amyloid precursor proteins with or without the Kunitz domain, 770 and 695 amino acids, respectively, were produced in insect cells by Baculovirus expression (BAC770 and BAC695).

Inhibition of expression of monocyte interleukin-1 by inhibitors of Hageman factor (factor XII).

In an earlier study, activated species of Hageman factor (factor XII) induced elaboration of interleukin-1 by human monocytes. These observations did not address whether Hageman factor participated in endotoxin-induced release of interleukin-1. To examine this question, the release of interleukin-1 by endotoxin-stimulated human mononuclear cells was measured in the presence of popcorn inhibitor, a specific inhibitor of Hageman factor.

Airway obstruction in hemophilia (factor VIII deficiency): a 28-year institutional review.

Life-threatening airway compromise is rarely reported as a major complication of coagulation disorders. However, before adequate factor-replacement therapy became available, this complication was often fatal. A retrospective review of all patients with classic hemophilia admitted to our institution from 1964 through 1992 was performed.

Gene transfer in vivo: sustained expression and regulation of genes introduced into the liver by receptor-targeted uptake.

Receptor-mediated gene transfer has been used to introduce genes into tissues of animals in vivo. The genes introduced by this approach have been transiently expressed at low levels in animal tissues. High levels of expression, for longer periods, have been attained by the induction of cell division (i.