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Biomedical subjects

Tilman M Hackeng

Publications and source records attributed to Tilman M Hackeng.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Optical and magnetic resonance imaging of cell death and platelet activation using annexin a5-functionalized quantum dots.

A quantum-dot-based nanoparticle is presented, allowing visualization of cell death and activated platelets with fluorescence imaging and MRI. The particle exhibits intense fluorescence and a large MR relaxivity (r1) of 3000-4500 mM-1 s-1 per nanoparticle due to a newly designed construct increasing the gadolinium-DTPA load. The nanoparticle is suitable for both anatomic and subcellular imaging of structures in the vessel wall and is a promising bimodal contrast agent for future in vivo imaging studies.

Annexin A5↗

Nucleophilic catalysis of hydrazone formation and transimination: implications for dynamic covalent chemistry.

Aniline accelerates hydrazone formation and transimination through nucleophilic catalysis. To demonstrate the method, unprotected peptides are reacted and then scrambled using a hydrazone reaction under conditions relevant for biological applications. The strong enhancement in the rate of hydrazone equilibration broadens the scope of this stable imine in the field of dynamic covalent chemistry.

Aniline Compounds↗

cNGR: a novel homing sequence for CD13/APN targeted molecular imaging of murine cardiac angiogenesis in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Previously, the peptide sequence cNGR has been shown to home specifically to CD13/APN (aminopeptidase N) on tumor endothelium. Here, we investigated the feasibility of selective imaging of cardiac angiogenesis using the cNGR-CD13/APN system. METHODS AND RESULTS: CD13/APN induction and cNGR homing were studied in the murine myocardial infarction (MI) model. By real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 7 days after MI, CD13/APN expression was 10- to 20-fold higher in the angiogenic infarct border zone and the MI area than in non-MI areas. In vivo fluorescence microscopy confirmed specific homing of fluorophore-tagged cNGR to the border zone and MI territory at 4 and 7 days after MI with a local advantage of 2.3, but not at 1 or 14 days after MI. Tissue residence half-life was 9.1+/-0.3 hours, whereas the half-life in plasma was 15.4+/-3.4 minutes. Pulse chase experiments confirmed reversible binding of cNGR in the infarct area. Fluorescent labeled cNGR conjugates or antibodies were injected in vivo, and their distribution was studied ex vivo by 2-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). cNGR co-localized exclusively with CD13/APN and the endothelial marker CD31 on vessels. CONCLUSIONS: In cardiac angiogenesis endothelial CD13/APN is upregulated. It can be targeted specifically with cNGR conjugates. In the heart cNGR binds its endothelial target only in angiogenic areas.

Animals↗

Protein S stimulates inhibition of the tissue factor pathway by tissue factor pathway inhibitor.

Tissue factor (TF) plays an important role in hemostasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and cancer. In this article we uncover a mechanism in which protein S, which is well known as the cofactor of activated protein C, specifically inhibits TF activity by promoting the interaction between full-length TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and factor Xa (FXa). The stimulatory effect of protein S on FXa inhibition by TFPI is caused by a 10-fold reduction of the K(i) of the FXa/TFPI complex, which decreased from 4.4 nM in the absence of protein S to 0.5 nM in the presence of protein S. This decrease in K(i) not only results in an acceleration of the feedback inhibition of the TF-mediated coagulation pathway, but it also brings the TFPI concentration necessary for effective FXa inhibition well within range of the concentration of TFPI in plasma. This mechanism changes the concept of regulation of TF-induced thrombin formation in plasma and demonstrates that protein S and TFPI act in concert in the inhibition of TF activity. Our data suggest that protein S deficiency not only increases the risk of thrombosis by impairing the protein C system but also by reducing the ability of TFPI to down-regulate the extrinsic coagulation pathway.

Factor VIIa↗

Protein S multimers are generated in vitro and affect protein S structure-function analyses.

Purified human protein S preparations contain small amounts of multimeric protein S. Protein S multimers are absent in plasma, suggesting that multimerization results from purification. Protein S multimers effectively inhibit phospholipid-dependent reactions at low phospholipid concentrations, and may therefore interfere during functional analysis of protein S. We have demonstrated that anion-exchange chromatography, as well as high ionic strength or low pH elution conditions used in immunoaffinity purification of protein S, induce protein S multimer formation. When protein S multimers were removed from protein S preparations by size-exclusion chromatography, multimers spontaneously reappeared in the protein S monomer fraction. In model systems, high phospholipid concentrations (>50 micromol/L) completely abrogate the inhibitory effect of protein S multimers on prothrombinase complex activity. In addition, C4BP does not bind to protein S multimers. Thus, at low phospholipid concentrations, addition of C4BP to purified protein S will not affect the inhibitory activity of protein S multimers. In conclusion, to avoid misinterpretations during protein S structure-function analysis due to multimers present in purified protein S preparations, we recommend studying the anticoagulant activities of protein S either in plasma, where protein S is in its unmodified natural form, or at high phospholipid concentrations in model systems with purified proteins.

Complement C4b-Binding Protein↗

In vivo clearance of human protein S in a mouse model: influence of C4b-binding protein and the Heerlen polymorphism.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of the Heerlen polymorphism and C4b-binding protein (C4BP) on protein S catabolism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Radiolabeled protein S was efficiently bound and intracellularly degraded by THP-1 macrophages, and both processes were strongly reduced in the presence of the protein S-carrier protein C4BP. To test whether C4BP displays a similar protective effect in vivo, survival experiments were performed in mice. In the absence of C4BP, radiolabeled human protein S disappeared in a biphasic manner (mean residence time [MRT] 2 hours). However, the presence of C4BP resulted in a 4-fold prolonged survival of protein S (MRT 8 hours; P<0.0001). We also applied this experimental model to recombinant protein S-Heerlen, a naturally occurring variant that contains a Ser460Pro substitution. These clearance experiments revealed a strongly decreased survival of recombinant protein S-S460P (MRT 0.6 hours; P=0.021), which could be compensated partially by C4BP (MRT 1.4 hours; P=0.012 compared with protein S-S460P). CONCLUSIONS: Protein S-S460P has a reduced survival in vivo, which may explain the low levels of free protein S in individuals carrying this polymorphism. Furthermore, C4BP prevents premature clearance of protein S and uses this ability to compensate the increased clearance of protein S-S460P.

Animals↗

Effect of oral contraceptives on the anticoagulant activity of protein S in plasma.

We determined anticoagulant parameters that depend on protein S function in plasma, i.e. the APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S (expressed as pSR) and APC resistance determined with thrombin generation-based tests (expressed as APCsr) as well as plasma levels of total and free protein S and prothrombin in men, women not using oral contraceptives (OC), and in women using second or third generation OC. Thrombin generation in the APC resistance assays was initiated either with factor Xa (Xa-APCsr) or tissue factor (TF-APCsr). The APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S was highest in men (pSR=1.69) and gradually decreased from women not using OC (pSR=1.49) via women using second generation (pSR=1.35) to women using third generation OC (pSR=1.27). The pSR correlated inversely with nAPCsr determined with the tissue factor-based APC resistance test (TF-APCsr) but not with nAPCsr determined with the factor Xa-based assay (Xa-APCsr). Multiple linear regression analysis in which sex, OC use, and protein S and prothrombin levels were included as independent variables and the pSR, TF-APCsr or Xa-APCsr as dependent variables indicated that plasma protein S levels poorly predict the pSR and the TF-APCsr, but are the main determinant of the Xa-APCsr. This indicates that OC use alters the expression of protein S activity. This phenomenon can be caused by differences in modulation of the activity of protein S by other plasma proteins that change during OC use or by OC-induced changes in the protein S molecule that impair its anticoagulant activity. Functional impairment of protein S as a result of hormonal influence may, at least in part, contribute to the thrombotic risk of OC users.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗

Design and synthesis of a bimodal target-specific contrast agent for angiogenesis.

[structure: see text] A bimodal target-specific contrast agent based on a cyclic peptide containing the target-specific NGR sequence, gadolinium(III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd(III)DTPA), and Oregon Green 488 (OG488) suitable for both MR imaging and optical imaging of angiogenesis is developed. The synthetic strategy for this target-specific contrast agent exploits the use of highly efficient, chemoselective reactions, such as native chemical ligation, and gives a straightforward approach for double labeling of peptides in general.

Carboxylic Acids↗

Heterophilic interactions of platelet factor 4 and RANTES promote monocyte arrest on endothelium.

The chemokines platelet factor 4 (PF4) and RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) are secreted by activated platelets and influence multiple cell types and biologic processes. For instance, PF4 inhibits progenitor cell proliferation and angiogenesis, while platelet-derived RANTES is involved in vascular recruitment of monocytes. However, little is known about functional interactions of PF4 and RANTES. Here we show that the presence of PF4 enhanced the arrest of RANTES-stimulated monocytes and monocytic cells on activated endothelial cells under flow conditions, while binding of PF4 to the monocyte surface was increased by RANTES. Both RANTES-triggered arrest and PF4 binding involved monocytic chondroitin sulfate. Ligand blots and surface plasmon resonance revealed a robust heterophilic interaction of PF4 with RANTES but not with RANTES variants defective in higher order oligomerization. The tetrameric mutant E26A bound to the monocyte surface without increasing PF4 binding, and monocyte arrest induced by E26A-RANTES was not enhanced by PF4. Stimulation of monocytes with supernatants of activated platelets triggered arrest involving RANTES and PF4, as shown by inhibition studies. Our results suggest that heterophilic interactions with PF4 require structural motifs important in RANTES oligomerization and amplify RANTES-triggered effects on monocyte adhesion. This may have implications for the modulation of inflammatory recruitment by platelet-derived chemokines.

Cell Adhesion↗

Inhibition of thrombin generation by protein S at low procoagulant stimuli: implications for maintenance of the hemostatic balance.

The activated protein C (APC)-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S on tissue factor-induced thrombin generation was quantified in plasma. In absence of APC, protein S significantly decreased the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) in a concentration-dependent manner. The APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S in plasma was not affected by phospholipid concentrations but strongly depended on tissue factor concentrations: protein S inhibited the ETP from 6% at 140 pM tissue factor to 74% at 1.4 pM tissue factor. Plasma with both 60% protein S and 140% prothrombin showed an ETP of 240% compared to normal plasma, suggesting an APC-independent protective role of protein S in the development of thrombosis as a result of protein S deficiency and the prothrombin-G20210A mutation. At high tissue-factor concentrations, protein S hardly expressed APC-independent anticoagulant activity but exerted potent APC-cofactor activity when thrombomodulin or APC were added to plasma. Neutralization of protein S under these conditions resulted in a 20-fold reduction of the anticoagulant activity of APC. The present study shows that protein S effectively regulates coagulation at 2 levels: at low procoagulant stimuli, protein S maintains the hemostatic balance by directly inhibiting thrombin formation, and at high procoagulant stimuli, protein S restores the hemostatic balance via its APC-cofactor activity.

Adult↗

The Ser460Pro mutation in recombinant protein S Heerlen does not affect its APC-cofactor and APC-independent anticoagulant activities.

Protein S is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that functions as an APC-cofactor, but also exhibits anticoagulant activity in the absence of APC. The Heerlen polymorphism of protein S is characterized by a Ser460Pro substitution and lacks glycosylation at Asn458. It is associated with decreased protein S levels due to selective deficiency of free protein S Heerlen. To understand the lack of thrombotic complications associated with the protein S Heerlen mutation, we compared recombinant protein S Heerlen, wild type (wt) protein S and plasma-derived protein S. wt-Protein S and protein S Heerlen each bound 1:1 to C4BP with dissociation constants of 0.27 and 0.33 nM, respectively. Both wt-protein S and protein S Heerlen, either free or in complex with C4BP, were equally active as prothrombinase inhibitors in the absence of APC. All three protein S preparations stimulated APC-catalyzed inactivation of normal FVa, FVa Leiden and FVIIIa to the same extent. If extrapolated to plasma, it is not likely that the decreased free protein S levels in carriers of the protein S Heerlen mutation are compensated by an increased anticoagulant activity of protein S Heerlen-C4BP complexes. It is possible that an unrecognized plasma factor selectively enhances the anticoagulant activity of protein S Heerlen. If not, the reduction of free protein S levels in heterozygous protein S Heerlen-carriers combined with (low) normal total protein S levels apparently minimally affects the total anticoagulant activity of protein S (APC-cofactor and APC-independent activity) and hence is not associated with increased risk of venous thrombosis.

Anticoagulants↗

The APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S in plasma is decreased by elevated prothrombin levels due to the prothrombin G20210A mutation.

Protein S exhibits anticoagulant activity independent of activated protein C (APC). An automated factor Xa-based one-stage clotting assay was developed that enables quantification of the APC-independent activity of protein S in plasma from the ratio of clotting times (protein S ratio [pSR]) determined in the absence and presence of neutralizing antibodies against protein S. The pSR was 1.62 +/- 0.16 (mean +/- SD) in a healthy population (n = 60), independent of plasma levels of factors V, VIII, IX, and X; protein C; and antithrombin, and not affected by the presence of factor V Leiden. The pSR strongly correlates with the plasma level of protein S and is modulated by the plasma prothrombin concentration. In a group of 16 heterozygous protein S-deficient patients, the observed mean pSR (1.31 +/- 0.09) was significantly lower than the mean pSR of the healthy population, as was the pSR of plasma from carriers of the prothrombin G20210A mutation (1.47 +/- 0.21; n = 46). We propose that the decreased APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S in plasma with elevated prothrombin levels may contribute to the thrombotic risk associated with the prothrombin G20210A mutation.

Antibodies↗

Basic mechanisms of hemostasis.

Hemostasis governs two essential processes of human life in that it maintains the fluidity of blood under physiological conditions and prevents excessive blood loss after injury. Hemostasis is regulated by components of the vessel wall and blood cells and by humoral coagulation factors. Under normal conditions, these components are involved in an active equilibrium through activation, propagation, and termination of the hemostatic pathways. This equilibrium is disturbed upon vascular injury, leading to a procoagulant response when needed. Unfortunately, pathological disturbances can occur as a result of inherited or acquired coagulation factor deficiencies that may lead to bleeding or thrombotic disorders.

Anticoagulants↗