Kallikrein-like Activity Research Articles

The quality of autotransfused chest-drainage blood after cardiac surgery: a study of coagulation factors.

A wide range of experience, dating back as far as 1978, has been gained with both the hard-shell cardiotomy reservoir of the heart-lung machine and the Sorensen autotransfusion system as retransfusion systems. Three remains, however, a lack of knowledge regarding the quality of retransfused blood in systems of less complex construction which are already available on the market and involve the use of a pouch (Sentinel-Seal autotransfusion system and Pleur-evac collecting system). The present study entailed the investigation of blood from the chest drainages of twenty patients after cardiac surgery by using a simple retransfusion system (Sentinel-Seal autotransfusion system). In two postoperative groups of patients with low and high blood loss from chest drainage, we determined, in addition to free plasma hemoglobin, the following: factor XII, kallikrein-like activity, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, tissue-plasminogen and d-dimers. In the collective with a low blood loss, we found remarkable cell alterations as well as highly activated and advanced coagulation and an extraordinary fibrinolytic activity. If done at all, retransfusion by the Sentinel-Seal autotransfusion system should be restricted to the first four postoperative hours in cases of high blood loss.

The Kallikrein–Kinin and Renin–Angiotensin Systems in the Kidney of an African Lungfish,Protopterus annectens

Renin-like activity (RLA), angiotensin I converting enzyme-like (ACELA), and kallikrein-like activity (KLA), activities of the key enzymes of renin–angiotensin and kallikrein–kinin systems, were sought in the kidney of the African lungfishProtopterus annectensduring the aquatic phase. RLA, examined by RIA (using porcine angiotensinogen as substrate), was 0.38 ± 0.05 ng angiotensin I/mg protein/hr. ACELA and KLA were investigated in assays spectrophotometrically. ACELA, measured at 37 and at 20°, was, respectively, 1.55 ± 0.55 and 0.61 ± 0.23 nmol hippurate/min/mg protein. KLA was 7.34 ± 0.93 mU/mg protein in the crude kidney extract and 31.05 ± 7.50 mU/mg protein after electrophoretic purification. Renal kininogenase activity was inhibited by 100% byD-Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethyl ketone (10 μM), 98% by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (2 nM), and 91% by aprotinin (1000 kIU). The apparent molecular weight of the renal kininogenase on SDS–PAGE was 27,000 Da. Both the renal enzyme and the purified glandular kallikrein, used as a control, have the same mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Immunoreactivities toward angiotensin II and bradykinin were localized by double immunostaining in the same cells of the proximal tubules. Putative angiotensin II receptors were demonstrated immunohistochemically, in the supranuclear region of proximal tubular cells, using an antibody to the sequence between amino acids 225 and 237 of the mammalian AT1receptor.

Salt intake modulates the developmental expression of renal kallikrein and bradykinin B2 receptors.

The mechanisms involved in the postnatal induction of renal kallikrein gene transcription and enzymatic activity are unknown. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that salt (NaCl) intake regulates the ontogeny of renal kallikrein gene expression and enzymatic activity and urinary kallikrein excretion. Newborn rats were artificially fed via a gastric tube with a milk formula containing either normal (25 meq/l, same as in maternal milk) or high (145 meq/l) NaCl content from day 7 to 14 of postnatal life. High-salt feeding decreased renal kallikrein mRNA levels (P < 0.05) and kallikrein-like activity (P < 0.05) compared with rat pups on normal salt intake. However, urinary kallikrein excretion (Ukal) was not different on chronic high vs. normal salt intake. Furthermore, acute volume expansion (0.9% saline, 1% body wt iv) did not alter Ukal in either group of developing rats. In adult rats, 1% NaCl in the drinking water for 10 days decreased renal active kallikrein contents (P < 0.05) but did not alter kallikrein mRNA levels compared with pair-fed rats on normal salt diet. Acute volume expansion in adult rats decreased active Ukal in the high-salt group only (P < 0.05). High-salt feeding upregulated bradykinin B2 receptor mRNA in the developing rats (P < 0.05). We conclude that chronic salt loading suppresses the postnatal rise in renal kallikrein gene expression and enzymatic activity, indicating that sodium intake is an important factor in the maturation of renal kallikrein synthesis. The data also suggest that bradykinin B2 receptor gene expression in the developing kidney may be subject to reciprocal feedback regulation by endogenous kallikrein-kinin activity.

Human eosinophil-granule major basic protein and synthetic polycations induce airway hyperresponsiveness in vivo dependent on bradykinin generation.

In the current series of experiments we investigated the role of bradykinin in airway hyperresponsiveness induced by human eosinophil-granule major basic protein (MBP). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed after intratracheal instillation of MBP or poly-L-lysine in anesthetized, intubated rats, and levels of immunoreactive kinins and kallikrein-like activity were determined. Both MBP and poly-L-lysine induced a three- and eightfold increase in levels of kallikrein-like activity and i-kinins, respectively. To determine whether kinin production is required for the development of airway hyperresponsiveness induced by cationic proteins, dose-response curves to methacholine were constructed before and 1 h after intratracheal instillation of either MBP or poly-L-lysine (100 micrograms). MBP and poly-L-lysine induced an increase in airway responsiveness, which was inhibited by pretreatment with a selective BK-2 receptor antagonist, NPC 17713 (250 micrograms/ml). Our results demonstrate that MBP and poly-L-lysine activate kallikrein and stimulate the generation of i-kinins in vivo, an effect that may be related to the cationic charge of these proteins. Furthermore, the ability of these proteins to increase airway responsiveness appears to be dependent on the generation of i-kinins.

Kallikrein gene family expression in the rat ovary: localization to the granulosa cell.

The glandular or tissue kallikreins are a multigene family of serine proteases, of which 13 genes (rKLK1-13) have been identified in the rat and are expressed in a wide variety of tissues. Kallikrein-like enzyme activity has been detected during the periovulatory period in the gonadotropin-primed immature female rat ovary and suggested to play a role in the inflammatory-like response at ovulation. In this study, we examined whether this enzyme activity was due to local expression of a rat KLK gene family member. Ovarian RNA, prepared from gonadotropin-treated animals, was assessed for rKLK gene expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with universal rKLK primers derived from highly conserved regions in the rat KLK genes. Southern blot analysis of the RT-PCR products, using oligonucleotide probes specific for the individual genes, indicated that five rKLK gene family members, rKLK1 (encoding true kallikrein), rKLK3, rKLK7, rKLK8, and rKLK9, were expressed at varying levels in the ovaries of both untreated control and gonadotropin-treated immature female rats. The identities of these five rKLK messenger RNAs were further confirmed by DNA sequence analysis of the PCR products. In situ hybridization of gonadotropin-treated ovaries localized rKLK3 and rKLK7 gene expression to the luteinizing granulosa cells of periovulatory follicles. In an enriched population of nonluteinizing granulosa cells prepared from estrogen-primed animals, we also demonstrated rKLK3, rKLK7, rKLK9, and rKLK12 (but not rKLK1 or rKLK8) expression, whereas all six genes were expressed in the ovaries of these animals. In summary, we have reported the expression of six KLK gene family members in the rat ovary and localized this expression primarily to the granulosa cell. The potential roles of these enzymes in ovulation or other aspects of ovarian, particularly granulosa cell, function are yet to be elucidated.

Development of markers for human basophils and mast cells

Development of markers for human basophils and mast cells

Surface Modifying Additives for Improved Device–Blood Compatibility

Copolymers composed of polar and nonpolar blocks, when blended with a base polymer in low concentrations, migrate to the base polymer surface during and after fabrication. Migration of these surface modifying additives (SMAs) dramatically changes the outermost surface molecular layers that comprise the region that determines biocompatibility. The blood compatibility of cardiopulmonary bypass and hemodialysis components have been improved by using SMA blended polymers or SMA coated surfaces. The particular SMAs used were a series of triblock copolymers with a general formulation of polycaprolactone-polydimethylsiloxane-polycaprolactone. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), refractive increments (RI), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were used to characterize the molecular weight of SMA and the bulk concentration of SMA after blending. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) proved that the surface of blended polymers was highly saturated with SMA. Results of in vitro experiments with human blood demonstrated that SMA blended polymers delay contact activation (kallikrein-like activity), reduce coagulation activity (thrombin-antithrombin [TAT] generation), and do not adversely affect complement activation (terminal complement complex [TCC] generation) or mononuclear cells activation (IL-1 beta production). Ex vivo canine AV shunt studies showed improvement of platelet compatibility of SMA blended polymers. Reduction of cellular and protein system activation by using components fabricated with SMA blood contacting surfaces can potentially result in reduced morbidity associated with extracorporeal circulation.

Ontogeny of somatic angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme or kininase II (ACE-KII) plays a central role in the control of circulating and tissue levels of angiotensin II and kinins. Both peptides have been implicated in the regulation of renal function and growth during normal development. We tested the hypothesis that the developing rat kidney expresses ACE-KII mRNA transcripts and the active enzyme and evaluated whether the developmental expression of the ACE-KII gene is related to changes in circulating angiotensin II and tissue kallikrein. ACE-KII mRNA and enzymatic activity were low in the newborn kidney; peak expression occurred on days 15 and 20 of postnatal life (16-fold versus day 1). In extrarenal tissues, ACE-KII activity and mRNA levels were also low during the newborn period in the following order of abundance: lung > kidney > aorta > heart. The lung showed a higher age-related increase in active ACE-KII and mRNA abundance (15-fold) than heart and aorta (activity, 3- to 4-fold; mRNA, 6- to 10-fold). The developmental profile of ACE-KII correlated temporally with changes in circulating angiotensin II and tissue kallikrein. Plasma angiotensin II levels were 2.5-fold higher in newborn than adult rats, whereas renal and extrarenal kallikrein-like activity increased twofold to fivefold from birth to adulthood. These results demonstrate that the ACE-KII gene is developmentally regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Tissue kinin generation and degradation, reflected by kallikrein and ACE-KII activities, are coordinately regulated during development, whereas circulating angiotensin II and tissue ACE-KII change in a reciprocal manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tissue kallikrein activity and kinin release in human endothelial cells.

The kininogenase, tissue kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.8), has been identified in different blood vessels. The enzyme was mainly found in vascular smooth muscle cells. It is not known whether it is present and functionally active in vascular endothelial cells. The following study investigates the presence of tissue kallikrein in endothelial cells from human umbilical veins and pulmonary arteries. Tissue kallikrein was demonstrated in three ways: 1) by immunostaining in endothelial cells; 2) by measurement of tissue kallikrein activity using a colorimetric assay; 3) by the measurement of kinin release in intact and homogenised endothelial cells with a radioimmunoassay. Immunostaining demonstrated the presence of tissue kallikrein in endothelial cells from human umbilical veins and endothelial cells from human pulmonary arteries. Tissue kallikrein-like activity, measured by the degradation of D-Val-cyclohexyl-Ala-Arg-4-nitraniline, was 3.57 +/- 0.5 mU/10(6) endothelial cells from human umbilical veins and 7.52 +/- 0.84 mU/10(6) endothelial cells from human pulmonary arteries. Intracellular kinin concentrations were 424 +/- 83 pg/10(6) cells in endothelial cells from human umbilical veins and 576 +/- 146 pg/10(6) cells in endothelial cells from human pulmonary arteries, and they increased in a time-dependent manner after homogenisation. The increase was abolished by aprotinin (1000 kIU), an inhibitor of tissue kallikrein in both cell types. Addition of exogenous kallikrein (5 mU) to homogenised cells led to a five fold increase of kinin concentrations after five minutes, indicating a sufficient resource of cellular kininogen. Removal of extracellularly bound kininogen by washing with dextran sulphate (100 mg/l) resulted in an approximately 75% reduction of the cellular kinin release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biochemical evidence of a kallikrein-like activity in rat reproductive tissues.

We performed this study to examine the presence of a kallikrein-kinin system in rat fetal and maternal tissues. Uteri and placenta from Wistar pregnant and nonpregnant rats were perfused to eliminate blood, and fetal membranes were washed several times with saline. Amniotic fluids were obtained without blood contamination by amniocentesis from eight rats. The different samples were homogenized and centrifuged (2000g during 20 minutes), and the supernatant was incubated with dog kininogen and 0.1 mol/L Tris-HCl buffer (pH 8.5) in the presence of peptidase inhibitors. Kinins released were measured by radioimmunoassay. Kininogenase activity was found in rat uteri, placental vessels, amniotic fluids, and fetal membranes. The enzymes were present in active but mostly in inactive forms. The kallikrein-like enzymes found in the different preparations and rat urinary kallikrein used as control had similar molecular weights, immunologic characteristics, and inhibition profiles with protease inhibitors. We conclude that kallikrein-like enzymes are present in rat organs of reproduction. These data suggest that kinins released locally may act as paracrine hormones in the regulation of blood pressure during pregnancy.

Complete primary structure and biochemical properties of gilatoxin, a serine protease with kallikrein-like and angiotensin-degrading activities.

The activity and the complete primary structure of gilatoxin, a glycoprotein component from the venom of the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum horridum) has been elucidated. Gilatoxin, a serine protease, showed kallikrein-like activity, releasing bradykinin from kininogen; toxin-treated kininogen also produced lowered blood pressure in rats and contraction of isolated rat uterus smooth muscle. Gilatoxin catalyzed the hydrolysis of various arginine ester substrates for trypsin and thrombin and degraded both angiotensin I and II by cleavage of the dipeptide Asp-Arg from the NH2-terminal end. Fibrinogen was degraded but a fibrin clot was not produced, indicating that gilatoxin has specificities different from thrombin and snake venom thrombin-like proteases. The complete amino acid sequence of gilatoxin (245 residues) was deduced from NH2-terminal sequencing of overlapping peptide fragments cleaved from the reduced and alkylated toxin by enzymatic and chemical methods. The toxin is extensively glycosylated, containing approximately 8 mol of monosaccharide/mol of toxin, but appears to lack O-glycosylation sites. Amino acid sequence alignment of gilatoxin with batroxobin, crotalase, kallikrein, thrombin, trypsin, and several partial sequences of other Heloderma toxins reveals that there is considerable homology between these enzymes, particularly in the regions of the presumed catalytic site. Gilatoxin contains an additional 7 residues in the highly conserved catalytic region of serine proteases (including Asp-96, in the basic specificity pocket of thrombin) which may contribute to the unusual substrate specificity of the toxin.

The contact system in human malignant and benign ascites.

The plasma contact system was studied in ascites and plasma from patients with gastrointestinal cancer and patients with liver failure. Our study demonstrates the presence of factor XII, factor XI, and prekallikrein and their main inhibitors in ascites and plasma from both patient groups. Both factor XII-like and plasma kallikrein-like activities were detected in the malignant ascites. The kallikrein-like activity in malignant ascites was found in complex with alpha 2-macroglobulin. In plasma samples from the patients functional values of factor XII and prekallikrein were decreased compared to controls. In benign ascites the proenzyme levels were significantly lower than in malignant ascites. Functional inhibition values in ascites and plasma from patients were unexpectedly high. Our findings indicate that the plasma contact system is activated in the ascites from cancer patients. Activation of the contact system generates vasoactive mediators, which may play a role in the accumulation of malignant ascites.

Tissue Kallikrein and Tonin Levels in Submandibular Glands of STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats and the Effects of Insulin

The levels of tissue kallikrein, tonin, and other kallikrein-like proteinases were determined in extracts of rat submandibular glands 3 mo after the induction of diabetes with STZ (65 mg/kg i.v.). Total kallikrein-like proteinase activity was assayed catalytically with the fluorogenic substrate DVLR-AFC. Tissue kallikrein was assayed by using the same substrate in the presence of SBTI. Activity of other kallikrein-like proteinases was defined as the difference between the total kallikrein-like activity and that of tissue kallikrein. Tonin was assayed by using the substrate ZVKKR-AFC in the presence of aprotinin. Results were compared with age-matched controls and with diabetic rats that had received daily insulin injections for the last week of the test period. The results showed that all activities were significantly reduced in diabetic glands compared with controls. Insulin treatment restored concentrations of tissue kallikrein activity, whereas the activities of tonin and other kallikrein-like proteinases were unchanged. RIA supported these findings. The results indicate that in rat submandibular glands, insulin affects the synthesis of kallikrein-like proteinases in different ways and, allowing for the slowness of the processes involved, insulin may exert a direct influence on the regulation of tissue kallikrein synthesis but only have indirect effects on the synthesis of tonin and the closely related kallikrein-like proteinases.

A specific inhibitor of mammalian kallikrein, Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethyl ketone, inhibits the production of vasoactive substances from trout plasma by kallikrein and blocks endogenous kallikrein-like activity in trout gills

The cardiovascular effects of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) have not been completely characterized in lower vertebrates. In the present study, a specific, irreversible kallikrein inhibitor, Phe-Phe-Arg-chloromethyl ketone (PPACMK) was used to examine: 1. the role of the KKS in blood pressure regulation in vivo; 2. the nature of the pressor substance formed by the action of kallikrein on trout plasma in vivo and in vitro; and 3. the presence of kallikrein in trout gills and kidney. Dorsal aortic cannulated rainbow trout were used for in vivo blood pressure assays and two colorimetric serine-protease assays were used to examine tissue kallikrein activity. PPACMK alone had no effect on blood pressure in vivo. Pretreatment of porcine kallikrein with PPACMK inhibited the enzyme's pressor effect in trout by 80% and significantly attenuated the synthesis of vasopressor substance(s) from heat-treated trout plasma in vitro. Approximately 30% of gill serine protease activity was inhibited by pretreatment with PPACMK; no PPACMK-sensitive kallikrein activity was observed in the kidney. Salt water adaptation did not affect kallikrein-specific activity in the gill. These results show that the salmonid KKS does not appear to be involved in the regulation of systemic blood pressure. Further, the formation of pressor substances from trout plasma in vivo and in vitro is due to kallikrein activity and the peptides generated are similar. A kallikrein, similar to the mammalian enzyme, is found in trout gills, suggesting that the salmonid KKS may be a local mediator of gill function.

Aprotinin in cardiopulmonary bypass--effects on the Hageman factor (FXII)--Kallikrein system and blood loss.

Aprotinin has been used in our hospital in open heart surgery for almost 20 years and recently published studies have revealed a reduction in postoperative blood loss under this therapy. In the present study patients undergoing aorto-coronary bypass operations received either 20,000 KIU aprotinin/kg body weight (group 2) or 60,000 KIU aprotinin/kg body weight (group 3). Another group of patients without aprotinin served as a control (group 1) and postoperative bleeding was more pronounced in these patients compared with the other groups. In parallel, slight reductions in kallikrein-like activity were observed in patients treated with aprotinin. Furthermore, we have shown that the main inhibitor of the contact phase, C1-esterase-inhibitor, loses some of its activity against beta-FXIIa in the presence of heparin. Aprotinin was able to partly antagonize this phenomenon. All studies dealing with the effect of aprotinin in extracorporeal circulation demonstrate hyperfibrinolysis in untreated patients. Aprotinin is known to inhibit plasmin at low concentrations and thus reduced the postoperative bleeding tendency (group 2). In addition, plasma kallikrein is inhibited by high aprotinin concentrations and is responsible for a reduced activation of the contact phase system. This effect led to a further reduction in blood loss (group 3).

Effects of heparin on proteolytic activities in human plasma.

The influence of unfractionated heparin [average molecular weight (MW) 10,000-15,000 kD] and low-molecular-weight heparin (average MW 400-600 kD) on the plasma kallikrein-kinin and the fibrinolytic system was studied in vitro. Unfractionated heparin added to plasma gave an increase in kallikrein-like activity with a corresponding decrease of prekallikrein and functional kallikrein inhibition values. Plasmin-like activity was also increased, but minor changes in plasminogen and no change in antiplasmin values occurred. The changes were less pronounced with low molecular heparin compared with unfractionated heparin. The proteolytic changes were reversed by protamine sulfate but not influenced by the protease inhibitor aprotinin. Gel filtration yielded proteolytic activities able to split the plasma kallikrein substrate S-2305 and, to a minor degree, the plasmin substrate S-2251. The proteolytic activities were not due to complex formation with alpha 2-macroglobulin. We speculate that heparin binds to prekallikrein to form a heparin-prekallikrein complex which undergoes conformational changes and displays a kallikrein-like activity with the ability to split small synthetic substrates. Whether it is capable to split natural substrates remains unresolved.

Kallikrein-like activity in nonpregnant and pregnant rat uterus, fetal membranes, placenta and amniotic fluid.

SBTI-resistant kininogenase activity was found in nonpregnant and pregnant rat uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid and fetal membranes. After trypsin treatment the kininogenase activity increased 2-3 fold. Total kininogenase (active plus inactive) was completely blocked by kallikrein antibodies. The physiological role of these kallikrein-like enzymes is unknown. It is speculated that these enzymes play a local role, perhaps in the processing of polypeptide hormones of through the release of kinins in the regulation of uterine blood flow.

Haemodynamic effects of heparin during coronary bypass surgery

Heparin has been suggested as an activator of the plasma kallikrein-kinin system, with possible formation of bradykinin, a potent vasodilator. Haemodynamic effects and changes in the kallikrein-kinin system were studied after heparin- and saline-injections in ten patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. A moderate decrease in mean arterial pressure was found in all patients in the observation period, but significantly more at 2 and 3 min after heparin-injection compared with saline-injection. None of the other haemodynamic variables measured were significantly different when comparing heparin- to saline-injection. Heparin-injection resulted in significant changes in the kallikrein-kinin system, with a marked increase in spontaneous kallikrein-like activity as the most prominent feature, while no changes were found after saline-injection. Liberation of bradykinin would be expected to give a decrease in systemic vascular resistance with an increase in cardiac output. The results indicate that the plasma kallikrein-kinin system, though apparently activated after heparin-injection, does not contribute significantly to the decrease in arterial pressure in the patients studied.

Activation of human plasma prekallikrein by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase in vitro

Human plasma prekallikrein, precursor of the bradykinin-generating enzyme, was activated in a purified system under a near physiological condition (pH 7.8, ionic strength I = 0.14, 37°C) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase which is a tissue-destructive metalloproteinase. Compared with that, Pseudomonas aeruginosa alkaline proteinase poorly activated it with a rate as low as less than one-twentieth of that of elastate. The activation by elastase was blocked with a specific inhibitor of elastase, HONHCOCH(CH 2C 6H 5)CO-Ala-Gly-NH 2 (10 μM). Generation of kallikrein-like amidolytic activity was also observed in plasma deficient in Hageman factor by treatment with elastase, but was not in plasma deficient in prekallikrein. The kallikrein-like activity generated in Hageman factor deficient plasma as well as the generation process itself was indeed inhibited by antihuman prekallikrein goat antibody. These results suggest that the pathological activation of the kallikrein-kinin system might occur under certain clinical conditions in pseudomonal infections.

Purified Factor XII Has a Higher Specific Activity than the Parent Molecule in Plasma

The specific clot promoting activity of factor XII (F XII) in plasma samples from 50 healthy adults was between 30 and 48 U/mg, whereas the specific activity of purified F XII ranged from 55 to 66 U/mg. This difference was neither due to partial proteolytic activation during purification of F XII nor to the influence of plasma protease inhibitors. Purified F XII showed normal size and charge, as demonstrated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and isoelectric focusing, respectively. The increase of the specific F XII activity during the purification process mainly occurred after anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and after the final gel filtration step. Upon dextran sulfate activation, proteolytic cleavage of F XII and generation of kallikrein-like amidolytic activity was faster in F XII deficient plasma containing purified F XII than in F XII deficient plasma containing a corresponding amount of pooled normal plasma (NHP). The binding to kaolin was similar for both, purified F XII and plasma F XII. In conclusion, purification alters the properties of F XII in an unknown way, resulting in an increased specific clot promoting activity.