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J W Fenton

Publications and source records attributed to J W Fenton.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Structure of the hirulog 3-thrombin complex and nature of the S' subsites of substrates and inhibitors.

The X-ray crystallographic structure of the human alpha-thrombin complex with hirulog 3 (a potent, noncleavable hirudin-based peptide of the "hirulog" class containing a beta-homoarginine at the scissile bond), which is isomorphous with that of the hirugen-thrombin crystal structure, was solved at 2.3-A resolution by starting with a model for thrombin derived from the hirugen-thrombin complex and was refined by restrained least squares methods (R = 0.132). Residues of hirulog 3 were well-defined in the electron density, which included most of the pentaglycine linker and the C-terminal helical turn that was disordered in a related structure of thrombin with hirulog 1. The interactions of D-Phe1'-Pro2'-beta-homoArg3' with the active site of thrombin were essentially identical to those of related structures of PPACK- (D-Phe-Pro-Arg chloromethyl ketone) and hirulog 1-thrombin, with the guanidinium function of the arginyl P1 residue forming a hydrogen-bonding ion pair with Asp189 of the S1 site. A noticeable shift in the CA atom of beta-homoArg3' due to the methylene insertion displaces the scissile bond from attack by Ser195, thus imparting proteolytic stability to the beta-homoArg hirulog derivative. Resolution of the pentaglycine spacer, linking N- and C-terminal functional domains into a single oligopeptide bivalent inhibitor, permitted delineation of corresponding S' subsites of thrombin. The position of Gly4' (P1') is stabilized by three hydrogen bonds with His57, Lys60F, and Ser195, while the conformational angles maintained in a strained, nonallowed configuration for non-glycyl amino acids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Modulation of thrombin-hirudin interaction by specific ion effects.

Kinetic studies of the inhibition of thrombin amidase activity by recombinant hirudin have been conducted as a function of salt concentration in the range 0.05 to 1 M, using NaCl, KCl, NaBr and KBr. At the same ionic strength, the value of KI for thrombin-hirudin interaction is found to be different with different salts. The slope d ln KI/d ln a+/-, where a+/- is the mean ion activity, is constant in the range 0.05 to 0.5 M, is sensitive to the particular salt present in solution and is equal to 1.07 +/- 0.09 (NaCl), 0.92 +/- 0.10 (KCl), 1.37 +/- 0.10 (NaBr) and 0.56 +/- 0.10 (KBr). These results indicate that specific ion effects are involved in the modulation of thrombin-hirudin interaction in the form of ion release, as recently found in the case of thrombin interaction with its natural substrate fibrinogen. The linkage hierarchy for ion release found in the case of thrombin-fibrinogen interaction also applies in the case of thrombin-hirudin interaction, with the number of released ions decreasing in the order NaBr greater than NaCl greater than KCl greater than KBr. It is proposed that the process of bridge-binding to the fibrinogen recognition site and the catalytic pocket of the enzyme, as seen in the case of fibrinogen and hirudin, is linked to ion release and controlled by modulation of the association rate constant.

Bromides↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin-specific inhibition by and slow cleavage of hirulog-1.

Hirulog-1 [D-Phe-Pro-Arg-Pro-[Gly]4-desulphohirudin-(53-64) (HV1)] was designed to bind by its first four and last 12 residues to the alpha-thrombin catalytic site and anion-binding exosite for fibrin(ogen) recognition respectively, with a [Gly]4 bridge and an Arg-Pro bond at the scissional position. Human alpha-, gamma- and zeta-thrombins, as well as bovine trypsin, readily hydrolyse Spectrozyme-TH (D-hexahydrotyrosyl-Ala-Arg p-nitroanilide) at pH 7.4 and approx. 23 degrees C. Both alpha- and zeta-thrombins, which have high fibrinogen-clotting activities (greater than 3000 kunits/g), were inhibited with this substrate by hirulog-1 [Ki = 2.56 +/- 0.35 nM (n = 3) and 1.84 +/- 0.15 nM (n = 3) respectively] and slowly cleaved the inhibitor [k = 0.326 +/- 0.082 min-1 (n = 12) and 0.362 +/- 0.056 min-1 (n = 18) respectively], whereas gamma-thrombin, which has essentially no clotting activity (approx. 4 kunits/g), and trypsin were not inhibited with greater than 1000-fold molar excess of hirulog-1. Similar inhibition parameters were also obtained for hirulog-1 incubated with alpha-thrombin or zeta-thrombin at approx. 23 degrees C and by measuring thrombin activity with fibrinogen in the clotting assay at 37 degrees C. Cleavage of the Arg-3-Pro-4 bond in hirulog-1 by either alpha- or zeta-thrombin was shown by identical cleavage products of either thrombin on h.p.l.c. and by sequence analysis of the alpha-thrombin products. These data demonstrate that hirulog-1 is a specific inhibitor of thrombin forms with high fibrinogen-procoagulant activities and that its Arg-3-Pro-4 bond is slowly cleaved by these thrombin forms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of the amplification reactions of blood coagulation by site-specific inhibitors of alpha-thrombin.

Hirudin and hirulog-1 [D-Phe-Pro-Arg-Pro-[Gly]4-desulphohirudin-(54-65)] abrogate the enzyme activities of alpha-thrombin by binding the enzyme simultaneously at its catalytic centre and fibrin(ogen)-recognition exosite. In contrast, hirugen [hirudin-(54-65)] binds alpha-thrombin solely at the fibrin(ogen)-recognition exosite, and competitively inhibits fibrinopeptide A release. To investigate the extent to which the fibrin(ogen)-recognition exosite is involved when alpha-thrombin catalyses the amplification reactions of coagulation, we compared the abilities of hirudin, hirulog-1 and hirugen to inhibit simultaneously Factor X, Factor V and prothrombin activation. Whereas 0.1 microM-hirudin and 0.1 microM-hirulog-1 (i.e. less than 10% of the concentration of prothrombin in plasma) inhibited Factor X, Factor V and prothrombin activation, 10 microM was the minimum concentration of hirugen to achieve a similar anticoagulant action. Concentrations of hirudin and hirulog-1 equimolar to and 5 times greater than those of alpha-thrombin respectively abrogated Factor V activation by exogenous alpha-thrombin. In contrast, a 500-fold molar excess of hirugen could not. The inability of hirugen to inhibit the activation of the three clotting factors effectively suggests that the fibrin(ogen)-recognition exosite does not play a mandatory role when thrombin activates Factor V.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin stimulation of human endothelial cell phospholipase D activity. Regulation by phospholipase C, protein kinase C, and cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate.

The activation of membrane-bound phospholipase D (PLD) resulting in the generation of phosphatidic acid (PA) is increasingly recognized as an integral event in the initiation of a variety of cellular responses. We explored whether alpha-thrombin is a physiologic agonist for PLD activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC monolayers were labeled with [32Pi] and PLD activity determined by formation of the PLD metabolite [32P] phosphatidylethanol (PEt) in the presence of 5 g/L ethanol by thin-layer chromatography. alpha-Thrombin rapidly (1 minute) increased PA and PEt formation in a dose-dependent manner (10(-6) to 10(-10)) with maximal PLD stimulation achieved with 10 nmol/L alpha-thrombin producing a threefold to fourfold increase in PA and a sixfold to eightfold increase in PEt over controls at 15 minutes. Esterolytically active zeta-thrombin (10 nmol/L) and gamma-thrombin (1 mumol/L), but not inactive DIP-alpha-thrombin (1 mumol/L) also increased PLD activity. The role of Ca2+ flux in human endothelial cell PLD activation was investigated and PEt formation was significantly enhanced by Ca2+ ionophores A23187 and ionomycin (1 mumol/L, three-fold to fourfold increase in PEt). Alpha-Thrombin-stimulated PEt formation was abolished (greater than 90% inhibition) with chelation of intracellular calcium (Ca2+i) by pretreatment with BAPTA-AM (25 mumol/L, 30 minutes) but only mildly attenuated (30% inhibition) by removal of extracellular calcium (Ca2+E) with EGTA (5 mmol/L). The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine reduced alpha-thrombin-induced PEt formation in a dose-dependent manner (10 mumol/L, 78% inhibition) and PKC downregulation with chronic PMA treatment (18 hours) also resulted in marked inhibition of alpha-thrombin-induced PEt formation. Neither pertussis nor botulinum C bacterial toxins significantly altered alpha-thrombin-induced PLD responses. In contrast, similar pretreatment with cholera toxin (1 microgram/mL, 60 minutes) consistently augmented alpha-thrombin-stimulated PLD activity by 50% to 90%. Comparable results were observed with agents which increased cAMP such as forskolin, 8-bromo cAMP, or dibutyryl cAMP and cholera toxin augmentation was abolished by 2-dideoxyadenosine, a competitive inhibitor of adenylyl cyclase activity. These studies demonstrate that alpha-thrombin is a potent stimulus for human PLD-mediated PA formation and that cyclic adenosine nucleotides modulate agonist-induced cellular PLD activity. In this model of PLD activation, alpha-thrombin receptor occupancy leads to the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate catalyzed by phospholipase C producing the Ca2+ secretagogue IP3 and DAG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1992

A collaborative study to establish an international standard for alpha-thrombin.

Since 1975 an International Standard for Thrombin of low purity has been used. While this standard was stable and of value for calibrating thrombins of unknown potency the need for a pure alpha-thrombin standard arose both for accurate calibration and for precise measurement of thrombin inhibitors, notably hirudin. An international collaborative study was undertaken to establish the potency and stability of an ampouled pure alpha-thrombin preparation. A potency of 97.5 international units (95% confidence limits 86.5-98.5) was established for the new alpha-thrombin standard (89/588) using a clotting-assay procedure. Stability data at various elevated temperatures indicated that the standard could be transported and stored with no significant loss of potency. Ampoules of lyophilised alpha-thrombin (coded 89/588) have been recommended as an International Standard for alpha-thrombin with an assigned potency of 100 international units per ampoule by the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (Thrombin and its Inhibitors Sub-Committee) in Barcelona, Spain in July 1990 while the Expert Committee on Biological Standardisation and Control of the World Health Organisation will consider its status at its next meeting in Geneva in 1991.

Drug Stability↗
PubMed1992

Involvement of the "tethered-ligand" receptor in thrombin inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase.

Thrombin is thought to activate platelets through multiple signaling pathways. Recently a new thrombin receptor was identified (Vu et al., Cell 64:1057-1068, 1991) that recognizes alpha-thrombin's anion-binding exosite. Thrombin cleaves this receptor generating a new N-terminal ("tethered-ligand") that activates the receptor. We report here that this receptor is involved in alpha-thrombin inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase, a process thought mediated by thrombin's high-affinity pathway. In gel-filtered human platelets, iloprost-stimulated cAMP levels were lowered by alpha- and zeta-thrombin addition and, to a much lesser extent, by gamma-thrombin. The alpha- and zeta-thrombin mediated decreases in cAMP were prevented by the thrombin anion-binding exosite inhibitor, BMS 180742, implying that binding to thrombin's anion-binding exosite was required. The iloprost-stimulated increase in cAMP was also reversed (in a concentration-dependent fashion) by a peptide mimicking the new N-terminal of the "tethered-ligand" thrombin receptor (SFLLRNPNDKYEPF). In broken cell preparations, platelet adenylate cyclase activity was also inhibited by SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (but not by a similar peptide used as a control, FSLLRNPNDKYEPF). These results support the hypothesis that thrombin inhibition of platelet adenylate cyclase activity is mediated, at least in part, via the "tethered-ligand" receptor. Moreover, this data is consistent with the "tethered-ligand" receptor mediating the high affinity actions of alpha-thrombin.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1992

Linkage between proton binding and amidase activity in human gamma-thrombin.

The amidase activity of human gamma-thrombin has been studied in the pH range 6-10 as a function of NaCl concentration and temperature. As recently found for human alpha-thrombin [Di Cera, E., De Cristofaro, R., Albright, D.J., & Fenton, J.W., II (1991) Biochemistry 30, 7913-7924], the Michaelis-Menten constant, Km, shows a bell-shaped dependence over this pH range with a minimum around pH 7.9 in the presence of 0.1 M NaCl at 25 degrees C. The catalytic constant, kcat, has a bell-shaped pH dependence with a maximum around pH 8.6. A thermodynamic analysis of these parameters has enabled a characterization of the linkage between proton and substrate binding, its dependence on NaCl concentration, and the relevant entropic and enthalpic contributions to binding and catalytic events. Three groups seem to be responsible for the control of gamma-thrombin amidase activity as a function of pH. One of these groups has pK values that are significantly different from those found for alpha-thrombin, and all groups show slightly perturbed enthalpies of ionization. The dependence of gamma-thrombin amidase activity on NaCl concentration is different from that of alpha-thrombin. Increasing NaCl concentration always decreases the substrate affinity for the enzyme in the case of alpha-thrombin, regardless of pH. In the case of gamma-thrombin, such an effect is observed only in the pH range 7.5-9, and a reversed linkage is observed at pH less than 7 and greater than 9.5.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin and histamine rapidly stimulate the phosphorylation of the myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: evidence for distinct patterns of protein kinase activation.

Human alpha-thrombin and histamine each stimulates protein phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). We have identified the most prominent of these phosphoproteins by immunoprecipitation as the human homolog of the widely distributed myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS). Stimulation by 0.1-10 U/ml of alpha-thrombin produces a time-dependent, sustained (plateau 3-5 min) level of MARCKS phosphorylation. MARCKS phosphorylation requires thrombin catalytic activity but not receptor binding and is also seen in response to stimulation by a peptide, TR (42-55), that duplicates a portion of the thrombin receptor tethered ligand created by thrombin proteolytic activity. One micromolar histamine, like alpha-thrombin, produces sustained phosphorylation of MARCKS (plateau 3-5 min). In contrast, 100 microM histamine results in rapid but transient MARCKS phosphorylation (peak 1-3 min). HUVEC treated with 100 microM histamine for 5 min can be restimulated by alpha-thrombin but not fresh histamine, suggesting that the histamine receptor was desensitized. MARCKS phosphorylation can also be induced by several exogenous protein kinase C (PKC) activators and both alpha-thrombin- and histamine-induced MARCKS phosphorylation are inhibited by the PKC antagonist staurosporine. However, while prolonged PMA pretreatment ablates histamine-induced MARCKS phosphorylation, the ability of thrombin to induce MARCKS phosphorylation is retained. These findings provide evidence for agonist-specific pathways of protein kinase activation in response to thrombin and histamine in HUVEC.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

Catalytically competent human and bovine zeta-thrombin and chimeras generated from unfolded polypeptide chains.

Human and bovine alpha-thrombin cleaved at the B-chain by chymotrypsin generates catalytically competent zeta-thrombins, which are comprised of two noncovalently linked fragments: a 36-(human) or 49-(bovine) residue A-chain linked by a disulfide to B-chain residues B1-148 (zeta 1-thrombin) and B-chain residues B149-259 (zeta 2-thrombin). Human and bovine D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2-zeta- and PhMeSO2-zeta-thrombins were prepared by reaction of the active-site histidine (H-B43) and serine (S-B205) with PPACK and PMSF, respectively. Unfolding and dissociation of the noncovalently linked polypeptide chains of either human or bovine D-Phe-Pro-Arg-CH2-zeta- and PhMeSO2-zeta-thrombins in 4.5 M guanidine-HCl and refolding upon 30-fold dilution in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer pH 6.5, 750 mM NaCl, 0.1% PEG resulted in biphasic generation of catalytic activity. The slow phase was eliminated in the presence of the competitive inhibitor benzamidine-HCl. Unfolding and refolding mixtures of the appropriate inactive precursors generated the active chimeric thrombins bovine zeta 1-thrombin:human zeta 2-thrombin and human zeta 1-thrombin:bovine zeta 2-thrombin. Human zeta 1-thrombin and zeta 2-thrombin were isolated, and, upon recombining, the isolated fragments refolded to generate catalytically competent zeta-thrombin with an active-site content, specific activity toward Chromozym-TH, and a specificity constant (kcat/Km) for FPA release from fibrinogen that were all within 60% of those of native alpha-thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin-induced expression of endothelial P-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1: a mechanism for stabilizing neutrophil adhesion.

Thrombin-induced expression of endothelial adhesivity toward neutrophils (PMN) was studied using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were challenged with human alpha-thrombin for varying durations up to 120 min, after which the cells were fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde and 51Cr-labeled human PMN were added to determine PMN adhesion. Endothelial adhesivity increased within 15 min after alpha-thrombin exposure, and the response persisted up to 120 min. Expression of endothelial adhesion proteins, P-selectin (GMP-140, PADGEM, CD62), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1; CD54) on the endothelial surface was quantitated by increase in the specific binding of anti-P-selectin mAb G1 and anti-ICAM-1 mAb RR1/1 labeled with 125I. P-selectin expression was maximal at 5-15 min alpha-thrombin exposure and decayed to basal levels within 90 min. In contrast, ICAM-1 activity increased at 30 min and remained elevated for 120 min after alpha-thrombin challenge. The initial endothelial adhesivity was dependent on P-selectin expression since PMN adhesion occurring within the first 30 min after alpha-thrombin challenge was inhibited by mAb G1. The later prolonged PMN adhesion was ICAM-1 dependent since this response was inhibited by mAb RR1/1 and to the same degree by the anti-CD18 mAb IB4. Anti-ELAM-1 mAb BB11 had no effect on adhesion of PMN to the alpha-thrombin-challenged cells. The initial P-selectin expression and PMN adhesion responses were reproduced by the 14-amino peptide (SFLLRNPNDKYEPF) (thrombin-receptor activity peptide; TRP-14) which comprised the NH2 terminus created by thrombin's proteolytic action on its receptors. However, TRP-14-induced PMN adhesion was transient, and TRP-14 did not cause ICAM-1 expression. The ICAM-1-dependent PMN adhesion mediated by alpha-thrombin was protein synthesis independent since ICAM-1 expression and PMN adhesion were not inhibited by cycloheximide pretreatment of HUVEC. Moreover, Northern blot analysis indicated absence of ICAM-1 mRNA signal up to 180 min after alpha-thrombin challenge. In conclusion, thrombin-induced endothelial adhesivity involves early- and late-phase responses. The initial reversible PMN adhesion is mediated by rapid P-selectin expression via TRP-14 generation. Thrombin-induced PMN adhesion is stabilized by a protein synthesis-independent upregulation of the constitutive ICAM-1 activity which enables the interaction of ICAM-1 with the CD18 beta 2 integrin on PMN.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Highly purified human alpha-thrombin promotes morphological transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells.

Purified human alpha-thrombin stimulates phosphoinositide turnover as a necessary step in its stimulation of fibroblast cell proliferation. Since phosphoinositide turnover releases diacylglycerol, which activates protein kinase C, we postulated that long-term exposure to thrombin might promote cellular transformation in a manner similar to long-term exposure to phorbol esters, which also activate protein kinase C. The present studies show that chronic exposure of BALB/c 3T3 cells (subclone A31-1-13) to thrombin (5 micrograms/ml) led to a 4- to 20-fold increase in the frequency of morphological transformation over controls as determined by induced foci in monolayer cultures. The foci appeared to represent true transformants as cells from randomly selected foci grew in soft agar and had saturation densities 2- to 3-fold higher than control cells. Acute thrombin treatment for 24 h resulted in small but statistically significant (P less than 0.05) increases in morphological transformation with or without promotion by phorbol myristate acetate, indicating that thrombin can act as a weak initiator or complete carcinogen in this test system. Initiation of cells with low levels of 3-methylcholanthrene followed by promotion with thrombin caused a greater enhancement of morphological transformation (P less than 0.005). Thus, it appears that most of the stimulation of in vitro cell transformation by thrombin may be due to its promotional activity. These results raise the possibility that thrombin released locally following tissue injury or chronic irritation may play a role in cellular transformation and tumor development, especially in tissues sensitized by exposure to initiating carcinogens.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin receptor 14-amino acid peptide binds to endothelial cells and stimulates calcium transients.

We examined the binding characteristics of the recently described thrombin receptor amino-terminal peptide, SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (T. K. H. Vu, D. T. Hung, V. I. Wheaton, and S. R. Coughlin. Cell 64: 1057-1068, 1991), termed TRP-14, and its effect in activating intracellular calcium transients in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells. Binding of 125I-labeled TRP-14 was found to be saturable with a affinity constant of 2 microM and maximum binding of 41 pmol/mg of cell protein. The 125I-labeled TRP-14 also interacted with bovine pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and porcine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Binding of 125I-labeled diisopropylphosphoryl (DIP)-alpha-thrombin, which is catalytically inactive but binds to thrombin receptors, was not inhibited by TRP-14 or vice versa, indicating that TRP-14 did not compete for the alpha-thrombin binding site(s) on the endothelial cell surface. TRP-14 (> 1 microM) increased the concentration of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in endothelial cells with kinetics similar to the increase in [Ca2+]i triggered by alpha-thrombin. In contrast, DIP-alpha-thrombin did not increase [Ca2+]i and also did not prevent the rise in [Ca2+]i induced by the subsequent challenge with either TRP-14 or alpha-thrombin. Because the generation of TRP-14 by the proteolytically active forms of thrombin stimulated a rise in endothelial [Ca2+]i, TRP-14 may be the agonist responsible for the activation of the alpha-thrombin receptor in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Leeches to hirulogs and other thrombin-directed antithrombotics.

Leeches have been used for various medicinal purposes since before written history. Bloodletting and leeching declined with the advent of modern medicine. Nevertheless, the European medicinal leech has made a comeback in reattachment and plastic surgery. The antithrombotic substance of this leech is the small protein, hirudin, which has recently been cloned and advanced as an antithrombotic. From speculating how hirudin interacted with thrombin and before knowledge of the crystallographic structures of hirudin-thrombin complexes, the bridge-binding double-ligand concept was born and led to the highly specific thrombin inhibitors of the hirulog class. Like heparin, hirulogs and recombinant hirudins are not orally active but should fill needs where heparin and its derivatives have shortcomings. On the other hand, they most likely will be supplanted by small-molecule thrombin inhibitors when sufficiently specific and nontoxic ones are found. Other approaches to antithrombotic therapy include modulating cellular functions of thrombin. Because thrombin has central bioregulatory functions in thrombosis and hemostasis, as well as wound healing, it is an attractive target for antithrombotic intervention.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Thrombin enhancement of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines such as IL-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) activate vascular endothelium to express leukocyte adhesion molecules that promote polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) migration and to synthesize tissue factor, thus making the endothelium a procoagulant surface. alpha-Thrombin, generated during coagulation, also activates endothelial cells. Since all these processes are likely involved in inflammation, the effect of alpha-thrombin on PMNL interaction with cytokine activated endothelium was investigated. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Human umbilical vein endothelium was grown on polycarbonate filters to investigate the effects interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), TNF-alpha, and alpha-thrombin on PMNL transendothelial migration quantitated with 51Cr-labeled PMNL, and on endothelial monolayer permeability, quantitated with 125I-labeled albumin (HSA). To evaluate the expression of endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecules, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed on human umbilical vein endothelium monolayers. The effect of thrombin on PMNL accumulation and plasma exudation in inflammation was studied in a rabbit dermal model, using 51Cr-labeled blood leukocytes and [125I]HSA respectively. RESULTS: On resting human umbilical vein endothelium, alpha-thrombin induced a transient increase (2.5- to 4-fold) in monolayer permeability lasting 30 minutes. Slight but significant transendothelial migration of 51Cr-labeled PMNL was induced by alpha-thrombin (7.4 +/- 0.6% of cells added, unstimulated = 1.9 +/- 0.4%), although this response was less than that induced by f-norLeu-Leu-Phe (17%), IL-1 alpha (29%) or TNF-alpha (21%). alpha-Thrombin enhanced the initial rate of IL-1, TNF-alpha and f-norLeu-Leu-Phe induced PMNL transendothelial migration in an additive or supradditive manner (e.g., with IL-1 alpha+alpha-thrombin, migration was 58% greater than additive at 15 to 30 minutes, p < 0.001). Catalytically inactivated alpha-thrombin, D-phenylalanyl-L-propyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone and diisopropyl-fluorophosphate alpha-thrombin, did not enhance migration or permeability. In dermal inflammation in rabbits, alpha-thrombin (10 units/site) induced an increase in plasma protein exudation, with only a mild infiltration of PMNL. However, alpha-thrombin synergistically enhanced the PMNL infiltration induced by IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, but not that induced by zymosan activated plasma (C5a) or IL-8 (neutrophil-activating peptide-1). These measurements were confirmed histologically. Investigations into the mechanisms of the enhancement of PMNL migration indicated that individually vascular permeability changes, prostaglandins, platelet activating factor, and P-selectin expression did not account for the observation effects. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-thrombin may have a role in synergistically enhancing PMNL infiltration at sites of inflammation, in part via enzymatic action on the cytokine activated endothelium. The mechanisms involved in this effect are likely a complex interaction.

Blood↗
PubMed1991

Function of glycoprotein Ib alpha in platelet activation induced by alpha-thrombin.

We have obtained evidence that selective inhibition of high affinity thrombin-binding sites located in the amino-terminal domain of the membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib alpha results in impaired platelet activation, as shown by abrogation or reduction of the following responses induced in normal platelets by exposure to less than 1 nM alpha-thrombin: (i) increase in intracellular ionized calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), (ii) release of dense granule content, (iii) binding of fibrinogen, (iv) aggregation. An anti-GP Ib monoclonal antibody, LJ-Ib 10, which does not inhibit von Willebrand factor binding to platelets, obliterated the high affinity alpha-thrombin-binding sites on normal platelets. Isotherms of alpha-thrombin binding to normal platelets treated with saturating amounts of the antibody were virtually identical to those obtained with platelets from a patient with classical Bernard-Soulier syndrome. In parallel with decreased binding of the agonist, this antibody caused 50% inhibition of the maximal extent of platelet aggregation and 90% inhibition of ATP release induced by 0.3 nM alpha-thrombin. By inhibiting alpha-thrombin binding to GP Ib, the antibody prevented the activation of platelets exposed to low concentrations of the agonist, as demonstrated by abrogation of the increase in intraplatelet ionized calcium concentration induced in control platelets by 0.18 nM alpha-thrombin; under these conditions, fibrinogen binding was inhibited by 84%. Therefore, there is a correlation between occupancy of the high affinity sites for alpha-thrombin on GP Ib alpha and platelet activation, secretion, and aggregation, suggesting that GP Ib alpha is part of an alpha-thrombin receptor relevant for platelet function.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗