Hemostatic Properties of a Venomic Protein (Q8009) in Rodent Organ Injuries

Abstract

Previous in vitro work characterized the protease Q8009 from the venom of the Australian brown snake Pseudonaja textilis textilis with hemostatic properties and Factor Xa-like activity. In vivo studies indicate that Q8009 applied to surgical injury sites is superior to thrombin in blood loss reduction and time-to-hemostasis. The spleen, liver and kidney protocols involved excision of a predetermined portion of the organ and the application of 50 to 75 μL of collagen matrix and test solutions. Blood was collected for 12 one-minute intervals and blood loss measured by hematin determination. In the spleen excision model, Q8009 at 100, 250 and 1000 μg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.001) total volume of blood lost, relative to thrombin and reduced time-to-hemostasis between 25–50%, as compared to 7% by thrombin. In the liver excision model, Q8009 at 250 and 1000 μg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.001) total volume of blood lost, relative to thrombin and reduced time-to-hemostasis from 10.5 minutes by thrombin to 5.6 minutes with Q8009. In the kidney excision model, Q8009 at 250 μg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.05) total volume of blood lost, relative to thrombin and reduced time-to-hemostasis by 25% when compared to thrombin. Therefore, application of Q8009 to injured organs significantly reduced total blood loss and shortened the time-to-hemostasis, when compared to thrombin. This work was supported by QRxPharma.