Plasma Carboxypeptidase Research Articles

Both plasma basic carboxypeptidases, carboxypeptidase B2 and carboxypeptidase N, regulate vascular leakage activity in mice

BackgroundKallikrein is generated when the contact system is activated, subsequently cleaving high molecular weight kininogen to bradykinin (BK). BK binds to bradykinin receptor 2, causing vascular leakage. BK is inactivated by proteolysis by the plasma carboxypeptidase B2 and N (CPB2 and CPN). CPN is constitutively active but CPB2 is generated from its zymogen, proCPB2. ObjectivesDetermine the role of CPB2 and CPN in the regulation of vascular leakage. MethodsMice deficient in CPB2, CPN, or both (Cpb2−/−, Cpn−/−, and Cpb2−/−/Cpn−/−) were compared with wild‐type mice (WT) in a model of vascular leakage caused by skin irritation. In some experiments, mice were pretreated with antibodies that prevent activation of proCPB2. ResultsSkin irritation increased vascular leakage most in Cpb2−/−/Cpn−/−, less in Cpb2−/− and Cpn−/−, and least in WT mice. There was no difference in vascular leakage without the challenge. Antibodies inhibiting activation of proCPB2 by plasmin, but not by the thrombin/thrombomodulin complex, increased vascular leakage to the level seen in Cpb2−/− mice. There was no change in levels of markers of coagulation and fibrinolysis. ConclusionsBradykinin is inactivated by both CPB2 and CPN independently. Plasmin is the activator of proCPB2 in this model. Mice lacking both plasma carboxypeptidases have more vascular leak than those lacking either alone. Although BK levels were not determined, BK is the likely substrate for CPB2 and CPN in this model.

Plasma carboxypeptidase U (CPU, CPB2, TAFIa) generation during in vitro clot lysis and its interplay between coagulation and fibrinolysis.

Carboxypeptidase U (CPU, CPB2, TAFIa) is a basic carboxypeptidase that is able to attenuate fibrinolysis. The inactive precursor procarboxypeptidase U is converted to its active form by thrombin, the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex or plasmin. The aim of this study was to investigate and characterise the time course of CPU generation in healthy individuals. In plasma of 29 healthy volunteers, CPU generation was monitored during in vitro clot lysis. CPU activity was measured by means of an enzymatic assay that uses the specific substrate Bz-o-cyano-Phe-Arg. An algorithm was written to plot the CPU generation curve and calculate the parameters that define it. In all individuals, CPU generation was biphasic. Marked inter-individual differences were present and a reference range was determined. The endogenous CPU generation potential is the composite effect of multiple factors. With respect to the first CPU activity peak characteristics, we found correlations with baseline proCPU concentration, proCPU Thr325Ile polymorphism, time to clot initiation and the clot lysis time. The second CPU peak related with baseline proCPU levels and with the maximum turbidity of the clot lysis profile. In conclusion, our method offers a technique to determine the endogenous CPU generation potential of an individual. The parameters obtained by the method quantitatively describe the different mechanisms that influence CPU generation during the complex interplay between coagulation and fibrinolysis, which are in line with the threshold hypothesis.

Ambivalent roles of carboxypeptidase B in the lytic susceptibility of fibrin

BackgroundRemoval of C-terminal lysine residues that are continuously exposed in lysing fibrin is an established anti-fibrinolytic mechanism dependent on the plasma carboxypeptidase TAFIa, which also removes arginines that are exposed at the time of fibrinogen clotting by thrombin.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of alterations in fibrin structure mediated by constitutive carboxypeptidase activity on the function of fibrin as a template for tissue plasminogen activator-(tPA) induced plasminogen activation and its susceptibility to digestion by plasmin.Methods and resultsWe used the stable carboxypeptidase B (CPB), which shows the same substrate specificity as TAFIa. If 1.5 – 6 μM fibrinogen was clotted in the presence of 8 U/mL CPB, a denser fibrin network was formed with thinner fibers (the median fiber diameter decreased from 138 – 144 nm to 89 – 109 nm as established with scanning electron microscopy). If clotting was initiated in the presence of 5 – 10 μM arginine, a similar decrease in fiber diameter (82 -95 nm) was measured. The fine structure of arginine-treated fibrin enhanced plasminogen activation by tPA, but slowed down lysis monitored using fluorescent tPA and confocal laser microscopy. However, if lysis was initiated with plasmin in CPB-treated fibrin, the rate of dissolution increased to a degree corresponding to doubling of the plasmin concentration.ConclusionThe present data evidence that CPB activity generates fine-mesh fibrin which is more difficult to lyse by tPA, but conversely, CPB and plasmin together can stimulate fibrinolysis, possibly by enhancing plasmin diffusion.

Thrombin-cleaved Fragments of Osteopontin Are Overexpressed in Malignant Glial Tumors and Provide a Molecular Niche with Survival Advantage

Osteopontin (OPN), which is highly expressed in malignant glioblastoma (GBM), possesses inflammatory activity modulated by proteolytic cleavage by thrombin and plasma carboxypeptidase B2 (CPB2) at a highly conserved cleavage site. Full-length OPN (OPN-FL) was elevated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from all cancer patients compared with noncancer patients. However, thrombin-cleaved OPN (OPN-R) and thrombin/CPB2-double-cleaved OPN (OPN-L) levels were markedly increased in GBM and non-GBM gliomas compared with systemic cancer and noncancer patients. Cleaved OPN constituted ∼23 and ∼31% of the total OPN in the GBM and non-GBM CSF samples, respectively. OPN-R was also elevated in GBM tissues. Thrombin-antithrombin levels were highly correlated with cleaved OPN, but not OPN-FL, suggesting that the cleaved OPN fragments resulted from increased thrombin and CPB2 in this extracellular compartment. Levels of VEGF and CCL4 were increased in CSF of GBM and correlated with the levels of cleaved OPN. GBM cell lines were more adherent to OPN-R and OPN-L than OPN-FL. Adhesion to OPN altered gene expression, in particular genes involved with cellular processes, cell cycle regulation, death, and inflammation. OPN and its cleaved forms promoted motility of U-87 MG cells and conferred resistance to apoptosis. Although functional mutation of the RGD motif in OPN largely abolished these functions, OPN(RAA)-R regained significant cell binding and signaling function, suggesting that the SVVYGLR motif in OPN-R may substitute for the RGD motif if the latter becomes inaccessible. OPN cleavage contributes to GBM development by allowing more cells to bind in niches where they acquire anti-apoptotic properties.

Plasma carboxypeptidase B downregulates inflammatory responses in autoimmune arthritis.

The immune and coagulation systems are both implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Plasma carboxypeptidase B (CPB), which is activated by the thrombin/thrombomodulin complex, plays a procoagulant role during fibrin clot formation. However, an antiinflammatory role for CPB is suggested by the recent observation that CPB can cleave proinflammatory mediators, such as C5a, bradykinin, and osteopontin. Here, we show that CPB plays a central role in downregulating C5a-mediated inflammatory responses in autoimmune arthritis. CPB deficiency exacerbated inflammatory arthritis in a mouse model of RA, and cleavage of C5a by CPB suppressed the ability of C5a to recruit immune cells in vivo. In human patients with RA, genotyping of nonsynonymous SNPs in the CPB-encoding gene revealed that the allele encoding a CPB variant with longer half-life was associated with a lower risk of developing radiographically severe RA. Functionally, this CPB variant was more effective at abrogating the proinflammatory properties of C5a. Additionally, expression of both CPB and C5a in synovial fluid was higher in patients with RA than in those with osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that CPB plays a critical role in dampening local, C5a-mediated inflammation and represents a molecular link between inflammation and coagulation in autoimmune arthritis.

Extraction of Peptidase Substrates by the Isolated Perfused Rat Lung

Peptidases in the lung are well placed to have an important role in regulating levels of circulating endogenous and therapeutic peptides. They also present a first-pass metabolic barrier for peptides delivered to the lung for systemic absorption. The activities of five peptidases were surveyed in the pulmonary circulation of the asanguinous isolated perfused rat lung (IPRL) using synthetic substrates and selective inhibitors. Extraction ratios (ER) were calculated for the substrates of: aminopeptidase N (AMN), ER 0·37 ± 0·04; dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP), ER 0·69 ± 0·05; and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ER 0·40 ± 0·02. These activities were inhibited (> 95%) by the selective inhibitors bestatin, diprotin A, and captopril, respectively. Substrates for neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) and carboxypeptidase M (CPM) were minimally degraded with ER of 0·02 and 0·00, respectively. The low activity of NEP, a major membrane bound endopeptidase, indicates that the lungs may not contribute greatly to degradation of either systemic NEP substrates, or exopeptidase-resistant peptides absorbed from the peripheral lung. In contrast peptides susceptible to the exopeptidases AMN, DPP, and ACE, will be substantially degraded during passage through the lung. The absence of CPM activity in the pulmonary circulation of the asanguinous IPRL implies that basic carboxypeptidase activity in blood perfused lungs reported in the literature is more likely to be the result of plasma carboxypeptidase N activity.

Measurement of carboxypeptidase U (active thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) in plasma: Challenges overcome by a novel selective assay

This article introduces a novel assay for the measurement of carboxypeptidase U (CPU) in plasma using the selective CPU substrate Bz-o-cyano-Phe-Arg (N-benzoyl-ortho-cyano-phenylalanyl-arginine), thereby limiting the interference of plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN) as well as the intrinsic activity of procarboxypeptidase U (proCPU). A limit of detection of 0.05U/L (10pM) was reached. In addition, the current assay has the advantage of being easy to perform and shows excellent linearity and variability, rendering it a useful tool in the screening of samples for the presence of CPU in several patient populations and encouraging in-depth exploration of the pathophysiological role of the proCPU/CPU system.

Carboxypeptidase U (TAFIa): a new drug target for fibrinolytic therapy?

Procarboxypeptidase U (TAFI) is a recently discovered plasma procarboxypeptidase that upon activation by thrombin or thrombin-thrombomodulin turns into a potent antifibrinolytic enzyme. Its prominent bridging function between coagulation and fibrinolysis raised the interest of many research groups and of the pharmaceutical industry. The development of carboxypeptidase U (CPU) inhibitors as profibrinolytic agents is an attractive concept and possibilities for rational drug design will become more readily available in the near future as a result of the recently published crystal structure. Numerous studies have been performed and many of them show beneficial effects of CPU inhibitors for the improvement of endogenous fibrinolysis in different animal sepsis and thrombosis models. CPU inhibitors combined with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) seem to increase the efficiency of pharmacological thrombolysis allowing lower dosing of t-PA and subsequently fewer bleeding complications. This review will focus on recently obtained in vivo data and the benefits/risks of targeting CPU for the treatment of thrombotic disorders.

Cyclobutane-containing peptides: Evaluation as novel metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitors and modelling of their mode of action

Different types of cyclobutane-containing peptides (CBPs) were screened for the first time as ligands of metallocarboxypeptidases (MCPs). CBPs are conformationally constrained, low molecular-weight compounds which showed moderate yet selective inhibitory activity against mammalian MCPs. The most potent compound was a carboxypeptidase B inhibitor. Docked protein–ligand complexes indicated that CBPs may bind to the target proteases via electrostatic interactions and aromatic stacking to catalytically crucial residues and that the placement of functional groups seems to be assisted by the rigid CBP backbone. The easily obtainable CBPs may offer a valuable alternative in the design of novel inhibitors to disease-linked metallocarboxypeptidases like human plasma carboxypeptidase B.

Regulation of Chemerin Bioactivity by Plasma Carboxypeptidase N, Carboxypeptidase B (Activated Thrombin-activable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor), and Platelets

Chemerin is a potent chemoattractant for cells expressing the serpentine receptor CMKLR1 (chemokine-like receptor 1), such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells and tissue macrophages. The bioactivity of chemerin is post-translationally regulated; the attractant circulates in blood in a relatively inactive form (prochemerin) and is activated by carboxyl-terminal proteolytic cleavage. We discovered that plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN) and B (CPB or activated thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor, TAFIa) enhanced the bioactivity of 10-mer chemerin peptide NH2-YFPGQFAFSK-COOH by removing the carboxyl-terminal lysine (K). Sequential cleavages of either a prochemerin peptide (NH2-YFPGQFAFSKALPRS-COOH) or recombinant full-length prochemerin by plasmin and CPN/CPB substantially increased their chemotactic activities. Endogenous CPN present in circulating plasma enhanced the activity of plasmin-cleaved prochemerin. In addition, we discovered that platelets store chemerin protein and release it upon stimulation. Thus circulating CPN/CPB and platelets may potentially contribute to regulating the bioactivity of leukocyte chemoattractant chemerin, and further extend the molecular link between blood coagulation/fibrinolysis and CMKLR1-mediated immune responses.

Structure of Activated Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor, a Molecular Link between Coagulation and Fibrinolysis

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a metallocarboxypeptidase (MCP) that links blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. TAFI hampers fibrin-clot lysis and is a pharmacological target for the treatment of thrombotic conditions. TAFI is transformed through removal of its prodomain by thrombin-thrombomodulin into TAFIa, which is intrinsically unstable and has a short half-life in vivo. Here we show that purified bovine TAFI activated in the presence of a proteinaceous inhibitor renders a stable enzyme-inhibitor complex. Its crystal structure reveals that TAFIa conforms to the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold of MCPs and displays two unique flexible loops on the molecular surface, accounting for structural instability and susceptibility to proteolysis. In addition, point mutations reported to enhance protein stability in vivo are mainly located in the first loop and in another surface region, which is a potential heparin-binding site. The protein inhibitor contacts both the TAFIa active site and an exosite, thus contributing to high inhibitory efficiency.

Regulation of Chemerin Bioactivity by Plasma Carboxypeptidase N, Carboxypeptidase B (TAFIa) and Platelets.

Chemerin is a potent chemoattractant for cells that express the serpentine receptor CMKLR1 (chemokine-like receptor 1), such as plasmacytoid dendritic cells and tissue macrophages. Chemerin circulates in the blood in a relatively inactive form (prochemerin). Its chemotactic activity is unleashed following proteolytic cleavage of carboxyl-terminal amino acids by serine proteases including plasmin, factor XIIa and VIIa. Recruitment of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and macrophages by chemerin may play a role in local tissue immune and inflammatory responses. The shortest bioactive chemerin peptide NH2-YFPGQFAFS-COOH (9mer) is present in the carboxyl-terminal domain. In this work, we show that plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN) and B (CPB or activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa)) (30 nM) remove the C-terminal lysine (K) from YFPGQFAFSK (10mer) (200nM) and enhance the migration of CMKLR1-transfected cells by ∼16-fold. To investigate if sequential proteolysis by plasmin and carboxypeptidases can modulate the activity of chemerin peptides, we generated the carboxyl-terminal 15mer of prochemerin, NH2-YFPGQFAFSKALPRS-COOH. Plasmin cleavage (1 μM) generated a 10mer, which was further processed to 9mer by CPN or CPB (30 nM) cleavage. These sequential cleavages were paralleled by corresponding increases in chemotactic activity. At concentrations as high as 1 μM the 15 mer did not induce chemotaxis; after plasmin cleavage and conversion to 10mer, however, significant chemotactic activity was demonstrated. Treatment with CPN or CPB further enhanced this chemotactic activity. We observed a similar enhancement in bioactivity following sequential plasmin/CPN-or-CPB cleavage of full-length prochemerin. Endogenous plasma CPN supports the activation (∼2.5 fold increase in bioactivity) of plasmin-cleaved prochemerin (0.2 nM). This activation was blocked by incubating plasma with MGTA (DL-2-mercaptomethyl-3-guanidinoethylthiopropanoic acid), a specific CPN inhibitor. In addition, we show that platelets are a rich source of chemerin (20–30 ng of chemerin/5x108 platelets). Chemerin released from activated platelets triggers CMKLR1-transfectant chemotaxis, which was blocked by anti-chemerin antibodies. Thus, the circulating humoral factors reported here (platelets, serine proteases, and carboxypeptidases) may contribute to the regulation of chemerin bioactivity in vivo and therefore play a critical role in CMKLR1-mediated immune responses.

Discovery of Potent & Selective Inhibitors of Activated Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor for the Treatment of Thrombosis

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) has emerged as a key link between the coagulation and fibrinolysis cascades and represents a promising new target for the treatment of thrombosis. A novel series of imidazolepropionic acids has been designed that exhibit high potency against activated TAFI (TAFIa) and excellent selectivity over plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN). Structure activity relationships suggest that the imidazole moiety plays a key role in binding to the catalytic zinc of TAFIa, and this has been supported by crystallographic studies using porcine pancreatic carboxypeptidase B as a surrogate for TAFIa. The SAR program led to the identification of 21 (TAFIa Ki = 10 nM, selectivity TAFIa/CPN > 1000) as a candidate for clinical development. Compound 21 exhibited antithrombotic efficacy in a rabbit model of venous thrombosis, yet had no effect on surgical bleeding in the rabbit. In addition, 21 exhibited an excellent preclinical and clinical pharmacokinetic profile, characterized by paracellular absorption, low clearance, and a low volume of distribution, fully consistent with its physicochemical properties of low molecular weight (MW = 239) and high hydrophilicity (log D = -2.8). These data indicate 21 (UK-396,082) has potential as a novel TAFIa inhibitor for the treatment of thrombosis and other fibrin-dependent diseases in humans.

Activated Protein C Mutant with Minimal Anticoagulant Activity, Normal Cytoprotective Activity, and Preservation of Thrombin Activable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor-dependent Cytoprotective Functions

Activated protein C (APC) reduces mortality in severe sepsis patients and exhibits beneficial effects in multiple animal injury models. APC anticoagulant activity involves inactivation of factors Va and VIIIa, whereas APC cytoprotective activities involve the endothelial protein C receptor and protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1). The relative importance of the anticoagulant activity of APC versus the direct cytoprotective effects of APC on cells for the in vivo benefits is unclear. To distinguish cytoprotective from the anticoagulant activities of APC, a protease domain mutant, 5A-APC (RR229/230AA and KKK191-193AAA), was made and compared with recombinant wild-type (rwt)-APC. This mutant had minimal anticoagulant activity but normal cytoprotective activities that were dependent on endothelial protein C receptor and protease-activated receptor-1. Whereas anticoagulantly active rwt-APC inhibited secondary-extended thrombin generation and concomitant thrombin-dependent activation of thrombin activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in plasma, secondary-extended thrombin generation and the activation of TAFI were essentially unopposed by 5A-APC due to its low anticoagulant activity. Compared with rwt-APC, 5A-APC had minimal profibrinolytic activity and preserved TAFI-mediated anti-inflammatory carboxypeptidase activities toward bradykinin and presumably toward the anaphlatoxins, C3a and C5a, which are well known pathological mediators in sepsis. Thus, genetic engineering can selectively alter the multiple activities of APC and provide APC mutants that retain the beneficial cytoprotective effects of APC while diminishing bleeding risk due to reduction in APC's anticoagulant and APC-dependent profibrinolytic activities.

Comparative substrate specificity study of carboxypeptidase U (TAFIa) and carboxypeptidase N: Development of highly selective CPU substrates as useful tools for assay development

BackgroundMeasurement of procarboxypeptidase U (TAFI) in plasma by activity-based assays is complicated by the presence of plasma carboxypeptidase N (CPN). Accurate blank measurements, correcting for this interfering CPN activity, should therefore be performed. A selective CPU substrate will make proCPU determination much less time-consuming. MethodsWe searched for selective and sensitive CPU substrates by kinetic screening of different Bz-Xaa-Arg (Xaa=a naturally occurring amino acid) substrates using a novel kinetic assay. ResultsThe presence of an aromatic amino acid (Phe, Tyr, Trp) resulted in a fairly high selectivity for CPU which was most pronounced with Bz-Trp-Arg showing a 56-fold higher kcat/Km value for CPU compared to CPN. Next we performed chemical modifications on the structure of those aromatic amino acids. This approach resulted in a fully selective CPU substrate with a 2.5-fold increase in kcat value compared to the commonly used Hip-Arg (Bz-Gly-Arg). DiscussionWe demonstrated significant differences in substrate specificity between CPU and CPN that were previously not fully appreciated. The selective CPU substrate presented in this paper will allow straightforward determination of proCPU in plasma in the future.

EF6265, a Novel Plasma Carboxypeptidase B Inhibitor, Protects against Renal Dysfunction in Rat Thrombotic Glomerulonephritis through Enhancing Fibrinolysis

Background/Aim: Plasma carboxypeptidase B is a physiological fibrinolysis inhibitor. In the present study, the effects of EF6265, a novel specific plasma carboxypeptidase B inhibitor, on renal dysfunction in a rat thrombotic glomerulonephritis model were examined. Methods: The model was induced by injection of anti-glomerular basement membrane serum and lipopolysaccharide to rats. Renal microthrombosis was histologically evaluated by phosphotungstic acid-hematoxylin staining for fibrin thrombi. Renal dysfunction was evaluated on the basis of plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen as well as renal edemas and urine volume. Results: The glomerular microthrombi observed in a positive control group were significantly reduced after a short-term treatment (4 h) with EF6265 at a dose which enhanced fibrinolysis. The elevation of blood urea nitrogen and renal edema formation decreased, and the reduction of the urine volume improved after a long-term treatment (21 h) with EF6265. In addition, EF6265 had a protective activity against multiple organ dysfunction, because it reduced plasma lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase levels and mortality in this model. Conclusion: EF6265, which inhibits plasma carboxypeptidase B, showed a protective effect on thrombotic renal dysfunction in thrombotic glomerulonephritis through enhancing the fibrinolysis.

Deficiency in thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) protected mice from ferric chloride-induced vena cava thrombosis

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a plasma carboxypeptidase that renders a fibrin-containing thrombus less sensitive to lysis. Since the role of TAFI in thrombus formation is still controversial in mice, our present study was designed to evaluate mice deficient in TAFI (TAFI(-/-)) on FeCl(3)-induced vena cava and carotid artery thrombosis. Parallel studies were carried out in wild-type mice using a potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI), a selective inhibitor of activated TAFI (TAFIa). Significant reduction in thrombus formation was observed in TAFI(-/-) mice (n = 8, P < 0.05 compared to wild-type littermates) but not in heterozygous (TAFI(+/-)) mice in 3.5% FeCl(3)-induced vena cava thrombosis. A similar effect was observed following treatment with 5 mg/kg bolus plus 5 mg/kg/h PCI in the same venous thrombosis model in C57BL/6 mice (n = 8, P < 0.01 compared to vehicle). No compositional difference was observed for the venous thrombi in TAFI(-/-) and wild-type littermates with or without PCI treatment using histological assessment. In contrast, neither TAFI deficiency nor treatment with PCI showed antithrombotic efficacy in the 3.5% FeCl(3)-induced carotid artery thrombosis model. In a tail transection bleeding time model, both TAFI deficiency and PCI treatment increased bleeding time up to 4.5 and 3.5 times, respectively, over controls (P < 0.05, n = 8). Similar ex vivo fibrinolytic activities were demonstrated for both TAFI deficiency and PCI treatment as enhanced lysis of thrombin-induced plasma clots and lysis of whole blood clot in a thrombelastograph. These data provide direct evidence for the role of TAFIa in vena cava thrombosis without the addition of exogenous thrombolytic in mice. The strong ex vivo fibrinolytic activity of TAFI deficiency or TAFIa inhibition by PCI provides a biomarker of TAFIa inhibition that tracks in vivo antithrombotic efficacy.

The intrinsic enzymatic activity of plasma procarboxypeptidase U (TAFI) can interfere with plasma carboxypeptidase N assays

The intrinsic enzymatic activity of plasma procarboxypeptidase U (TAFI) can interfere with plasma carboxypeptidase N assays

Murine model of ferric chloride-induced vena cava thrombosis: evidence for effect of potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor.

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a plasma carboxypeptidase that renders a fibrin-containing thrombus less sensitive to lysis. In the present study, we describe the development of a murine model of vena cava thrombosis and its use to characterize the antithrombotic activity of potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI) of TAFIa (activated TAFI) in mice. Vena cava thrombosis was induced by various concentrations of FeCl(3) in C57BL/6 mice. A relatively mild stimulus (3.5% FeCl(3)) induced thrombosis that was consistent and sensitive to reference antithrombotic agents such as clopidogrel and heparin. Dose-response studies identified a PCI dose (5 mg kg(-1) bolus plus 5 mg kg(-1) h(-1), i.v.) that produced a maximum 45% decrease in vena cava thrombus mass as assessed by protein content (n = 8, P < 0.01 compared to vehicle) in the 3.5% FeCl(3)-induced model without exogenous tissue plasminogen activator administration. In contrast, PCI had no effect on 3.5% FeCl(3)-induced carotid artery thrombosis in mice. In a tail transection bleeding model, the 5 mg kg(-1) bolus plus 5 mg kg(-1) h(-1) dose of PCI increased tail-bleeding time up to 3.5 times control (n = 8, P < 0.05). The ex vivo activity of antithrombotic doses of PCI was also demonstrated by the enhanced lysis of whole blood clots formed in a thrombelastograph with the addition of a sub-threshold concentration of tPA. These studies provide evidence for a role of TAFIa in venous thrombosis in mice, and describe an optimized vena cava injury model appropriate for the evaluation of antithrombotic drugs and the characterization of novel therapeutic targets.

The formation and rapid clearance of a truncated albumin species in a critically ill patient

Introduction Hypoalbuminemia is known to occur in critically ill patients and is associated with increased mortality. We observed a potentially novel, partial explanation for the hypoalbuminemia noticed in a severely traumatized patient. Case report We report of a severely, multi-system traumatized patient in whom hypoalbuminemia was present (1–2 g/dl). The plasma albumin (HSA) was analyzed by liquid chromatography/positive electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A high percentage of a truncated albumin that lost its carboxy terminal amino acid leucine (HSA-L) associated with a 10-fold increase in plasma carboxypeptidase A (CPA) activity ( R 2 = 0.994) were found. We estimated the half life of this truncated albumin species to be < 80 h. Conclusions The increased CPA activity encountered following a traumatic event and subsequent rapid clearance of the resulting HSA-L from plasma might be a contributing factor to the hypoalbuminemia observed in the critically ill patients.