P-selectin-targeting of the fibrin selective thrombolytic Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activator alpha1

During thrombosis, P-selectin is expressed on the surface of activated endothelial cells and platelets. We hypothesized that targeting a plasminogen activator (PA) to P-selectin would enhance local thrombolysis and reduce bleeding risk. Previously, a urokinase (uPA)/anti-P-selectin antibody (HuSZ51) fusion protein was shown to increase fibrinolysis in a hamster pulmonary embolism model. To explore the therapeutic potential of this targeting strategy, we fused the fibrin-selective Desmodus rotundus salivary PA alpha1 (dsPA alpha 1) to HuSZ51 and compared the fibrinolytic activity of P-selectin-targeted dsPA alpha 1 (HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1) to unmodified dsPA alpha 1 in vitro and in vivo. HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 and dsPA alpha 1 were expressed in CHO cells and purified to homogeneity by affinity chromatography. HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 bound to thrombin-activated human and dog platelets with comparable affinities to that of parental antibody SZ51. The fusion protein retained the catalytic activities of dsPA alpha 1 in chromogenic and clot lysis assays, indicating that dsPA alpha 1 is fully functional when fused to HuSZ51. Compared to dsPA alpha 1, HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 had similar thrombolytic efficacy in a rat pulmonary embolism model and anti-thrombotic potency in a dog model of femoral artery thrombosis. However, HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 was less effective in lysis of preexisting arterial thrombi in the dog model. The reduced arterial thrombolysis was not due to the pharmacokinetic properties of HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 because antigen level and amidolytic activity were higher in plasma from HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1-treated groups than corresponding dsPA alpha 1-treated groups. These data indicate that the thrombolytic efficacy of HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 varied dependent on the physical composition of thrombi. The lack of stimulation by fibrin in arterial thrombi may contribute to the attenuated thrombolytic efficacy of HuSZ51-dsPA alpha 1 in the dog model.