Characterization of recombinant plasminogen activator production by primate endothelial cells transduced with retroviral vectors

Retroviral vector-mediated expression of plasminogen activators (PAs) from endothelial cells (ECs) has been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for intravascular thrombosis. To define the potential for gene transfer to increase fibrinolytic activity in a primate system, baboon ECs were transduced with retroviral vectors expressing wild-type and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored urokinase, as well as wild-type and serpin-resistant tissue PA (t-PA). Expression of either t-PA or urokinase was increased by one log over baseline levels. There was no specific effect of either t-PA or urokinase overexpression on endogenous t-PA, urokinase, or PA inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) expression. Recombinant urokinase could be anchored to the cell surface at a level eight-fold above that of receptor-bound urokinase. The majority of secreted urokinase accumulated in conditioned medium as a free proenzyme, whereas both wild-type and serpin-resistant t-PA accumulated almost exclusively in complexes with PAI-1. In most but not all of the assays, the urokinase vectors conferred PA activity above that of the t-PA vectors. These data show that PA synthesis and activity are specifically increased subsequent to retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer in primate ECs. However, definition of an optimal PA vector will require in vivo experimentation.     

人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂cDNA在牛血管内皮细胞中的表达

利用基因生组技术，将人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂cDNA与逆转录病毒载体LNSX重组后转染至病毒包装细胞．其分泌的重组逆转录病毒颗粒再用来感染NIH3T3细胞和牛血管内皮细胞，经G418筛选，二周后计数存活的阳性细胞克隆数，得到病毒滴度为4×10~8cfu／L。计算转染效率为6×10~8克隆/gDNA/10~6细胞。在含人纤维蛋白原和凝血酶的纤维蛋白板上点样并用标准品作对照，发现经逆转录病毒感染的重组内皮细胞和包装细胞．分泌的细胞培养液，在纤维蛋白板上显示有大小不一的溶圈。使用发包底物法也测得含人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活刘cDNA转基因内皮细胞培养液的分泌活性．正常的内皮细胞则由于分泌量少而在敏感度以下．使用特异性的免疫组织化学杂色并经图像分析证实，人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂基因在牛的血管内皮细胞中得到表达。说明人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂基因的cD-NA已正确转入牛的血管内皮细胞中，为将来进行基因治疗展示了良好的应用前景．     

人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂cDNA在牛血管内皮细胞中的表达

利用基因生组技术,将人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂cDNA与逆转录病毒载体LNSX重组后转染至病毒包装细胞.其分泌的重组逆转录病毒颗粒再用来感染NIH3T3细胞和牛血管内皮细胞,经G418筛选,二周后计数存活的阳性细胞克隆数,得到病毒滴度为4×10~8cfu/L。计算转染效率为6×10~8克隆/gDNA/10~6细胞。在含人纤维蛋白原和凝血酶的纤维蛋白板上点样并用标准品作对照,发现经逆转录病毒感染的重组内皮细胞和包装细胞.分泌的细胞培养液,在纤维蛋白板上显示有大小不一的溶圈。使用发包底物法也测得含人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活刘cDNA转基因内皮细胞培养液的分泌活性.正常的内皮细胞则由于分泌量少而在敏感度以下.使用特异性的免疫组织化学杂色并经图像分析证实,人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂基因在牛的血管内皮细胞中得到表达。说明人组织型纤维蛋白溶解酶原激活剂基因的cD-NA已正确转入牛的血管内皮细胞中,为将来进行基因治疗展示了良好的应用前景.     

Glycation amplifies lipoprotein(a)-induced alterations in the generation of fibrinolytic regulators from human vascular endothelial cells

Increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in plasma is an independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular diseases. The levels of glycated Lp(a) are elevated in diabetic patients. The present study demonstrated that glycation enhanced Lp(a)-induced production of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and further decreased the generation of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human coronary artery EC. The levels of PAI-1 mRNA and its antigen in the media of HUVEC were significantly increased following treatments with 5 μg/ml of glycated Lp(a) compared to equal amounts of native Lp(a). The secretion and de novo synthesis of t-PA, but not its mRNA level, in EC were reduced by glycated Lp(a) compared to native Lp(a). Treatment with aminoguanidine, an inhibitor for the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), during glycation normalized the generation of PAI-1 and t-PA induced by glycated Lp(a). Butylated hydroxytoluene, a potent antioxidant, inhibited native and glycated Lp(a)-induced changes in PAI-1 and t-PA generation in EC. The results indicate that glycation amplifies Lp(a)-induced changes in the generation of PAI-1 and t-PA from venous and arterial EC. This may attenuate fibrinolytic activity in blood circulation and potentially contributes to the increased incidence of cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients with hyperlipoprotein(a). EC-mediated oxidative modification and the formation of AGEs may be implicated in glycated Lp(a)-induced alterations in the generation of fibrinolytic regulators from vascular EC.     

Antithrombotic regulation in human endothelial cells by fibrinolytic factors

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) modulate the blood fibrinolytic system by secreting tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), and their inhibitor, type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). ECs also express t-PA receptors (t-PAR) and u-PA receptors (u-PAR) on their cell surfaces, assembling both enzymes to regulate the cellular fibrinolytic activity. In addition, ECs modulate these factors in response to several stimuli. Fibrin clots on ECs induce the up- and downregulation of t-PA and PAI-1 production, respectively, thus causing an effective lysis of the fibrin clot. Heat shock (43 degrees C) increases the expression of u-PA, t-PA, PAI-1, and u-PAR by which ECs become more fibrinolytic around the cells. Furthermore, because ECs possess t-PAR and u-PAR on their cell surfaces, the binding of t-PA and u-PA is a critical event, which affords ECs the localized and condensed fibrinolytic potential. Therefore, ECs play a central role in antithrombotic activity by regulating the levels of these fibrinolytic factors.     

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1: development of a radioimmunoassay and observations on its plasma concentration during venous occlusion and after platelet aggregation

To study the effect of plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI) on fibrinolysis it is essential to be able to specifically measure these proteins in plasma. To this end PAI-1 was purified from cortisol- stimulated HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells and antisera raised in rabbits. The immunologic relationship of the purified inhibitor to PAI-1 in plasma and platelet extracts was established by immunoblotting and regular and reverse fibrin zymography. Furthermore, the purified product could be immunoprecipitated with antibodies to human or bovine endothelial cell-derived PAI-1. A radioimmunoassay was developed that measures both free and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-bound PAI-1 in plasma and has an effective range of 8 to 250 ng/mL. PAI-1 antigen levels showed a twofold increase after 20 minutes of venous occlusion, partially due to hemoconcentration. Approximately one quarter of PAI-1 before and after venous occlusion is derived from platelets. After correction for hemoconcentration and the contribution of platelets to plasma PAI-1 levels, a still significant increase in PAI-1 levels was noted during venous occlusion, which suggests that the local vascular bed releases PAI-1. Concomitant with PAI-1, t-PA antigen levels increased eightfold and fibrinolytic activity 18-fold after 20 minutes of venous occlusion. PAI-1 and t-PA levels tend to augment with age: in a group of older healthy volunteers (mean age, 53 years) PAI-1 levels were twice and t-PA levels 1.7 times higher than those in a group with a mean age of 29 years. Determination of PAI-1 antigen levels before and after platelet aggregation demonstrated that 85% of PAI-1 in platelet-rich plasma is associated with platelets. The average amount of PAI-1 per platelet was 0.3 fg/platelet, ie, 4,000 molecules per platelet.     

Diurnal variation of tissue-type plasminogen activator and its rapid inhibitor (PAI-1)

Previous studies have shown that overall fibrinolytic activity in blood follows a diurnal rhythm with a peak in the morning and a trough in the evening. The purpose of this study was to determine which fibrinolytic factor(s) was responsible for this diurnal rhythm. Resting and postvenous occlusion tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, resting t-PA antigen, and resting plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity were measured in the morning and evening in 33 healthy men (mean age, 31 years) and in 15 patients (mean age, 57 years) with previous myocardial infarction or unstable angina. PAI-1 activity and t-PA antigen were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the morning compared with the evening in controls and patients. In contrast, resting t-PA activity was significantly lower in the morning (p less than 0.01) in both groups and was inversely correlated with PAI-1 activity (r = -0.57, p less than 0.0001). Postvenous occlusion t-PA activity and t-PA capacity were not significantly different between morning and evening in either group. Because t-PA antigen levels and PAI-1 activity were highest in the morning, the variation in t-PA activity was probably not due to decreased secretion of t-PA but instead to changes in the secretion of PAI-1. Our findings indicate that diurnal variations in PAI-1 activity may reduce fibrinolytic activity in the morning in healthy individuals and in patients with coronary artery disease.     

Interactions of tissue-type plasminogen activator with plasma inhibitors and their pharmacologic implications

To delineate interactions of infused tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) with inhibitors in plasma and their impact on fibrinolytic activity, serial plasma samples from patients with acute myocardial infarction and from normal rabbits given infusions of t-PA were assayed for t-PA antigen, activity of "fast acting" plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), and the presence and nature of t-PA-inhibitor complexes. In patients, endogenous t-PA circulated predominantly as a 100 kilodalton (kDa) complex with PAI-1, as verified by immunoprecipitation. During infusions, t-PA circulated not only as free t-PA (55 kDa) but also in complexes with PAI-1 (100 kDa), alpha 2-antiplasmin (110 kDa), and C1-esterase inhibitor (170 kDa). After termination of infusions, levels of free t-PA declined, while inhibitor complexes remained prominent. Free PAI-1 activity, assayed spectrophotometrically, was markedly elevated in the 24 hr interval after infusion of t-PA in 47% of patients with infarction. The specific activity of t-PA during infusions was 0.4 IU/ng or greater. However, during the 3 hr interval after infusions in patients, specific activity declined in association with prominence of t-PA complexes, predominantly with PAI-1. Infusions of t-PA in normal rabbits did not result in reactive increases in PAI-1 activity or in the t-PA-PAI-1 complex. After infusions, t-PA was associated predominantly with alpha 2-antiplasmin and C1-esterase inhibitor rather than PAI-1. t-PA inhibitor complexes were seen despite immediate acidification of whole blood, indicating that they were present in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

辛伐他汀对冠心病患者纤溶参数的影响

目的了解冠心病患者纤溶参数的变化,并观察辛伐他汀对冠心病患者纤溶参数的影响。方法测定87例正常对照者和108例冠心病患者血浆组织型纤溶酶原激活物(t-PA)活性和纤溶酶原激活物抑制物-(1PAI-1)活性,随后108例冠心病患者被随机分成常规治疗组和常规治疗+辛伐他汀40mg每日一次(辛伐他汀组)。治疗14d后复测t-PA活性和PAI-1活性。结果与正常对照组相比较,冠心病患者纤溶参数异常,t-PA活性下降,PAI-1活性上升(P<0.01)。常规治疗组治疗后纤溶参数无显著变化(P>0.05)。辛伐他汀组纤溶参数明显改善,表现为t-PA活性上升,PAI-1活性下降(P<0.01)。结论冠心病患者纤溶参数明显异常,辛伐他汀能改善冠心病患者纤溶参数。     

Increased tissue-type plasminogen activator: a facade in the fibrinolytic system in type 2 diabetes

To determine whether the increased concentration in blood of total tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), accompanying increased plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) seen with diabetes reflects increased free t-PA and hence activity or simply increased t-PA complexed with PAI-1, we measured each in 39 people with type 2 diabetes. The increased total t-PA occurred in the absence of an increase in t-PA activity detectable in venous blood samples despite the increase in the concentration of total t-PA protein. BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is known to be associated with increased concentrations in blood of total tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) [free t-PA plus t-PA complexed with plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1)] and PAI-1. This study was performed to determine whether the increased total t-PA is indicative of increased t-PA activity attributable to free t-PA or whether it is simply a manifestation of compensatory processes maintaining t-PA activity detectable in venous blood samples at normal or subnormal levels. METHODS: Total t-PA, free t-PA, and PAI-1 antigen and activity were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofunctional chromogenic substrate kinetic assays in peripheral venous blood samples obtained under fasting conditions from 39 people with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: The results indicate that both PAI-1 and total t-PA antigen concentrations were increased in association with diabetes but the concentration of free t-PA and hence the t-PA activity was not. Thus, the increased total t-PA is a facade potentially masking the impaired fibrinolytic system activity associated with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the increase in the concentration of total t-PA protein in blood of people with diabetes occurs in the absence of an increase in free t-PA. Hence t-PA activity detectable in peripheral venous blood samples does not increase and may even decline modestly.     

Fibrinolytic function and coronary risk

Plasminogen activation potential in the blood is controlled by an equilibrium between plasminogen activators, mainly tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and inhibitors, mainly plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1. In cardiovascular practice, imbalance of this fibrinolytic potential is encountered primarily in the insulin-resistance syndrome. This syndrome leads to increased plasma PAI-1 and t-PA antigen levels (reflecting inactive t-PA/PAI-1 complexes) with a consequent decrease in fibrinolytic activity. Increased plasma PAI-1 and t-PA antigen both are predictive of myocardial infarction. The prognostic value of PAI-1 disappears after adjustments for insulin resistance markers, whereas the prognostic value of t-PA antigen disappears after simultaneous adjustments for insulin resistance and inflammation markers, suggesting an additive role of inflammation in inducing plasma fibrinolytic markers. Recently the production of PAI-1 by adipose tissue, in particular by tissue from the omentum, has been shown. PAI-1 produced in this way could be an important contributor to the elevated plasma PAI-1 levels observed in insulin-resistant patients. These results support the notion that PAI-1 may be a link between obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease. Genetic control of PAI-1 expression has also been shown, involving a -675 4G/5G polymorphism, the 4G/4G genotype being associated with higher plasma PAI-1 levels; its proper influence on the development of myocardial infarction is still debated.     

Intra- and postoperative fibrinolysis in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery

The influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on fibrinolytic activity was assessed in 100 patients with valvular heart disease or atrial septal defects. Euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA), tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2-AP), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), and D-dimer were measured pre-, intra-, and postoperatively. There were significant increases in EFA and t-PA activity (p less than 0.002), and decreases in plasminogen and alpha 2-AP (p less than 0.0001) intraoperatively with respect to baseline values. t-PA activity decreased significantly after surgery (p less than 0.002), whereas PAI-1 activity showed a marked increase shortly after operation and on postoperative day 1 (p less than 0.0001). FDP and D-dimer levels were significantly increased both intra- and postoperatively, the latter showing higher values (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.0001, respectively). This study shows that there is an activation of the fibrinolytic system, as a result of the increased activation of plasminogen and decreased levels of plasmin inhibitors, during CPB surgery followed by a postoperative fibrinolytic shutdown.     

A lifelong bleeding disorder associated with a deficiency of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1

A 36-year-old patient was investigated for a lifelong history of epistaxis and delayed bleeding after minor surgeries. Deficiencies or abnormalities of the coagulation system, of platelet function, or of factor XIII and alpha-2-antiplasmin were excluded. Consistently, however, over a period of 7 years, a high basal euglobulin fibrinolytic activity was observed that was characterized by a high tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, normal t-PA antigen, and undetectable plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) antigen and activity. The high specific activity of t-PA (640,000 IU/mg) and the minimal amounts of t-PA/PAI-1 complexes detected by fibrin zymography suggest that in this patient all t-PA was active. This is in striking contrast to normal plasma, where the majority of t-PA is complexed to PAI-1. Thus, in this patient, a severe deficiency of PAI-1 is associated with a delayed type bleeding tendency. Our observation underscores the importance of plasma PAI-1 for the stabilization of the hemostatic plug.     

脑血栓形成病人血浆及脑脊液t-PA及其PAI-1含量的观察

目的：研究动脉粥样硬化性脑血栓形成病人血浆及脑脊液组织型纤溶酶原激活物（t-PA)及其抑制物（PAI-1）含量的变化及其临床意义。方法：采用双抗体夹心固相酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测35例脑血栓形成病人血浆和其中31例病人脑脊液t-PA及PAI-1抗原含量，与35例正常对照组血浆和其中20例对照组脑脊液进行比较。结果；脑血栓形成组血浆t-PA含量高于对照组，PAI-1含量显著高于对照组；其脑脊液t-PA,PAI-1含量均显著高于对照组，脑脊液中t-PA,PAI-1的含量分别与血浆中t-PA,PAI-1的含量，分别与血浆中t-PA,PAI-1的含量呈正相关；脑血栓形成组病人神经功能缺损评分与血浆及脑脊液t-PA,PAI-1抗原含量呈正相关。结论：脑血栓形成病人纤溶活性明显下降，t-PA及PAI-1参与了脑血栓形成之病理过程；t-PA及PAI-1抗原含量是反映体内纤溶活性的两个重要指标；可用血浆或脑脊液t-PA,PAI-1的含量作为判断病情的参考指标之一。     

Effect of the angiotensin II receptor blocker candesartan on fibrinolysis in patients with mild hypertension

Aim:  Impaired fibrinolysis is frequently observed in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Aim of the study was to examine the short-term effect of angiotensin II receptor blockade on the fibrinolytic system.
Methods:  Seventy-four patients with mild hypertension were randomly assigned to a 7-day treatment period with either 16 mg candesartan cilexetil or placebo. Several variables of the fibrinolytic system such as plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen and activity, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and activity as well as circulating t-PA/PAI-1 complexes were determined.
Results:  At baseline, the body mass index but not blood pressure was positively associated with PAI-1 antigen (r = 0.314, p < 0.01) and PAI-1 activity (r = 0.425, p < 0.01) but negatively with t-PA activity (r = −0.187, p < 0.05). A 7-day treatment with 16 mg candesartan cilexetil resulted in a significant greater reduction of diastolic blood pressure (−10.3 ± 10.8 mmHg vs.−5.8 ± 8.5 mmHg, p = 0.03). However, there was no significant effect of candesartan on all parameters of the fibrinolytic system under investigation, i.e. circulating PAI-1 antigen, PAI-1 activity, t-PA antigen, t-PA activity and t-PA/PAI-1 complexes. Furthermore, candesartan did not affect the characteristic circadian pattern of the variables of the fibrinolytic system.
Conclusion:  We conclude that short-term blockade of the angiotensin II receptor subtype 1 with candesartan does not have an impact on fibrinolysis in patients with mild hypertension.     

Effects of beta2-glycoprotein I and monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies on extrinsic fibrinolysis

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are associated with an increased incidence of thrombosis, but the mechanisms responsible for thrombosis are unclear. The present study investigated the effect of both beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI) and aPLs on the activity of extrinsic fibrinolysis. The remaining tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) of the sample consisting of beta2-GPI, two-chain recombinant t-PA, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) -1 was measured by a chromogenic assay using synthetic substrate S-2251, Glu-plasminogen, and soluble fibrin monomer. Without PAI-1, beta2-GPI did not affect t-PA activity. When 14.3 ng/ml PAI-1 was added to 3.6 U/ml t-PA, the remaining t-PA activity was increased from 48.9% to 60.4% by the addition of beta2-GPI (190 microg/ml). The effect of beta2-GPI did not require phospholipids. The beta2-GPI seems to protect t-PA activity from the inhibition by PAI-1. When monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies (aCLs), EY1C8, and EY2C9, which were established from a patient with antiphospholipid syndrome, were further added to the mixture with a diluted phospholipid (Platelin) to investigate the influence of aPL, the remaining t-PA activity decreased to 50.1 and 80.7%. Monoclonal aCLs appeared to inhibit the effect of beta2-GPI, that is, these monoclonals inhibited the fibrinolytic activity by an elevation in PAI-1 activity. These results suggest the possibility that the impairment of fibrinolytic activity by aCLs is one of reasons for the increased incidence in thrombosis in patients with aCLs.     

冠心病患者血清甘油三酯水平与纤溶激活系统的关系

为研究冠心病患者血清甘油三酯水平与纤溶激活系统的关系,比较分析冠心病患者、高甘油三酯血症患者及正常对照者的血清甘油三酯水平、组织型纤溶酶原激活物及其抑制剂活性。纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂1、组织型纤溶酶原激活物活性测定采用发色低物法,血清甘油三酯浓度测定采用酶法。结果表明,高甘油三酯血症患者及冠心病患者纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂1活性较正常人升高,组织型纤溶酶原激活物活性较正常人下降。冠心病患者及高甘油三酯血症患者均有不同程度的纤溶活性下降,以急性心肌梗死、不稳定型心绞痛伴高甘油三酯组改变尤为明显。血清甘油三酯水平与血浆组织型纤溶酶原激活物活性呈负相关,与纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂1活性呈正相关。结果提示,甘油三酯通过影响纤溶功能参与冠心病的形成与发展。     

Hemodynamic forces modulate the effects of cytokines on fibrinolytic activity of endothelial cells

We investigated the effects of hemodynamic force on fibrinolytic activity of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated by cytokines, using a modified cone-plate viscometer in which well- controlled and -defined shear forces were generated. Treatment of the cells with interleukin (IL)-beta or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) under static conditions had no effect on tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) secretion, while release of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) increased. When cells were exposed to increasing shear stress up to 24 dynes/cm2, levels of t-PA and t-PA/PAI-1 complex significantly increased relative to shear stress, while total PAI-1 and active PAI-1 secretion decreased gradually. In the presence of IL-1beta or TNFalpha, the increase in production of t-PA and the t-PA/PAI-1 complex was further augmented. Dot blot hybridization analysis of cultured cells in similar experimental conditions using t-PA and PAI-1 cDNA probes revealed no t-PA mRNA in 3 microg total RNA from static endothelial cells under resting or cytokine-stimulated conditions, but abundant t-PA mRNA was detected in cells subjected to a shear force of 18 dynes/cm2, and the increase was further augmented by addition of cytokines. In contrast, PAI-1 mRNA was detected in resting and cytokine- stimulated, nonsheared endothelial cells, but levels decreased after exposure to shear stress, even in the presence of cytokines. These results indicate a role for hemodynamic forces in regulating fibrinolytic activity with or without cytokine stimulation.     

The putative mechanism of thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome: impairment of the protein C and the fibrinolytic systems by monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies

The mechanism of thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome is not clear. To investigate it, we examined the effect of monoclonal anticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies and beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2-GPI), which is required for formation of the aCL epitopes, on activated protein C (APC) and on fibrinolytic activity. First, APC activities were measured in the presence and absence of beta2-GPI or gamma M immunoglobulin (IgM) monoclonal aCLs (EY1C8 and EY2C9), or both, established from peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from a patient with aCL. beta2-GPI exhibited a procoagulant activity by inhibiting APC activity as well as an anticoagulant activity by inhibiting thrombin generation. Any further inhibition of APC activity was caused by monoclonal aCL, and then only in the presence of beta2-GPI. The remaining tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) of the sample consisting of beta2-GPI, two-chain recombinant t-PA, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 was measured by a chromogenic assay using the synthetic substrate S-2251, Glu-plasminogen, and soluble fibrin monomer. beta2-GPI protected t-PA activity from inhibition by PAI-1. However, monoclonal aCLs (EY1C8 and EY2C9) inhibited the effect of beta2-GPI on fibrinolytic activity; that is, monoclonal aCLs inhibited fibrinolytic activity by elevating PAI-1 activity. Thrombosis in patients with aCL can be explained in part by both the inhibition of APC anticoagulant activity and the impairment of fibrinolytic activity by aCL.