Publications by authors named "RATNOFF O"

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.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We present the clinical, hematologic, and radiographic findings in two brothers with Sneddon's syndrome (stroke and livedo reticularis) and antiphospholipid antibodies. Patient 1 had anticardiolipin antibody and patient 2 had lupus anticoagulant, which we detected only upon repeated blood testing. One should test for both anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant and repeat the screenings before determining a Sneddon's syndrome patient's antiphospholipid antibody status.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Modification of arginyl residues of Hageman factor by phenylglyoxal hydrate inhibits activation of this clotting factor in a plasma-free system, that is, in the absence of the other constituents of the contact activation system. Activation is also inhibited by alteration of the other two basic amino acid residues present, lysine and histidine. Chemical modification of histidine and arginine residues does not inhibit the amidolytic activity of activated Hageman factor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Gene transfer systems targeting the asialoglycoprotein receptor have been developed to introduce functional genes into cells in culture and livers of intact animals. A synthetic neoglycoprotein carrier was constructed and complexed to a chimeric gene containing the cDNA for human factor IX ligated to the promoter-regulatory region of the gene for phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from the rat. The complex was used to transfect human hepatoma cells that express the asialoglycoprotein receptor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Inhibitors of factor VIII occur in < or = 20% of severely affected patients with classic hemophilia, but are unusual in nonhemophilic individuals, and have not been reported in very young children. We treated a child with a "high-responding" inhibitor.

Patient And Methods: Our patient was an 18-month-old boy who had experienced several episodes of life-threatening hemorrhage.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The principal mode for treating disorders of hemostasis is correction of the patient's functional defect by transfusions of appropriate fractions of normal plasma or transfusions of platelets. Two major complications of such therapy are the transmission of infectious diseases, particularly hepatitis and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and the development of antibodies against clotting factors that are deficient in the patient's plasma. Measures that reduce the occurrence of infection include careful selection of donors, fractionation of plasma with the help of monoclonal antibodies, and treatment of plasma or its fractions with heat or with virus-inactivating organic solvents.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Several syndromes characterized by striking eosinophilia may be complicated by thrombosis. The experiments described indicate that, paradoxically, eosinophils and certain of their constituents inhibit the activation of Hageman factor (HF, factor XII). In earlier studies, suspensions of mixed types of granulocytes, other nucleated peripheral blood cells, and platelets inhibited activation of Hageman factor by ellagic acid, glass, and sulfatides.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The results reported here indicate that activated species of Hageman factor (HF, factor XII), a protein that mediates blood clotting, fibrinolysis, and activation of the complement cascade, induce elaboration of interleukin 1 (IL-1) by human monocytes. Augmentation of IL-1 production in mononuclear cell cultures was observed when HF was present along with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but was not observed with HF alone. Furthermore, antiserum to HF abrogated the enhancement of IL-1 in cultures containing HF and LPS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

How intravascular helminth parasites evade host hemostatic defense mechanisms and survive within the circulating blood has not been adequately explained. Previous reports have described an inhibitor of the intrinsic clotting pathway in extracts of adult Schistosoma mansoni. Using a purified preparation of Hageman factor, we examined the ability of schistosome extracts and secretory products to inhibit the activation of human Hageman factor (factor XII) in an amidolytic assay.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Anabolic steroids are known to increase the plasma concentrations of certain plasma proteins. In four patients given treatment with danazol, an attenuated androgen, the concentrations of heparin cofactor II, Hageman factor (factor XII), protein C, and both free and total protein S increased significantly when tested 39 to 103 days after the start of therapy. The titers of these proteins in samples obtained 21 days to 5 years after therapy was discontinued were similar to those before treatment, except for total protein S, the titer of which remained elevated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aprotinin (Trasylol; Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany), a protease inhibitor resembling or identical with Kunitz' pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, is said to have anticoagulant properties, but these are not clearly defined. The present study provides evidence that one action of aprotinin is inhibition of the activation of Hageman factor (factor XII).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The supernatant fluid (conditioned medium) of cultured human vascular endothelial cells inhibits activation of Hageman factor (factor XII), whether by ellagic acid, bovine brain sulfatides, or bismuth subgallate; inhibition appears to be a property of one or more proteins in the culture supernates. This phenomenon may contribute to maintaining the fluidity of circulating blood by inhibiting surface activation of the intrinsic pathway of coagulation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The initial step in the formation of thrombin via the intrinsic pathway is the activation of Hageman factor (factor XII). Some, but not all, studies have shown that this activation may be brought about by collagen. We examined the effect of three types of soluble human placental collagen on Hageman factor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The structure of coagulation factor XII (Hageman factor), inferred from its DNA sequence, includes two epidermal growth factor (EGF)-homologous domains in its amino-terminal region. This suggests that factor XII may exhibit EGF-like activities. Reciprocal antigenic cross-reactivity between factor XII and EGF was shown by exposing purified human factor XII or mouse EGF to anti-mouse EGF or anti-human factor XII.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In human filariasis, large numbers of blood-borne microfilariae circulate unimpeded through the blood stream. How intravascular filarial parasites avoid precipitating thrombosis has not been studied in detail. We hypothesized that extracts of Brugia malayi microfilariae would contain factors that inhibit activation of hemostatic mechanisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To estimate relative risk of mortality and median life expectancy for patients with classic hemophilia by a life-table analysis, taking into account deaths that may have occurred in infancy or childhood before the onset of symptoms.

Design: Retrospective chart review of clinical series.

Setting: Referral-based university medical center.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) immunotherapy can cause hypotension, respiratory distress, interstitial edema, and thrombocytopenia, similar to endotoxic shock. We have observed that IL-2 has no direct effect on coagulation factors in vitro, but it has been observed to alter the coagulant properties of vascular endothelium. Accordingly, we investigated the possibility that IL-2 infusions initiate plasma fibrinolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF