[Fibronectin].

The amino-terminal domain of fibronectin has a fibrin binding site and a site for covalent cross-linking to fibrin. This fibrin binding domain was isolated from human recombinant fibronectin and labeled with In-111; the final molecular weight was 12 kD. It was applied to a pilot study of 62 patients; 30 who were thought to have deep vein thrombosis and 32 controls. All 30 patients had either impedance plethysmography, duplex ultrasound, contrast venography, or various combinations of the three. Eight disagreements in the 30 patients suspected of having deep vein thrombosis were registered between fibrin binding domain imaging and the other examinations. Three of the patients with negative scan results had clots that were 1 week old or older, and this may be a limitation of the technique. In three other patients who had negative scan results, but positive alternative studies, there was a history of previous episodes of deep vein thrombosis and this could be a cause of false-positive results in the other modalities. There was one documented false-negative scan in a fresh clot. Normal scans were obtained in the lower extremities of the control patients, except in two who demonstrated uptake at the sites of insulin injections. The initial results of this feasibility study are encouraging and warrant further investigation.

Fibronectins↗

PubMed1994

Potential role of recombinant secretory leucoprotease inhibitor in the prevention of neutrophil mediated matrix degradation.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil elastase is able to degrade connective tissue matrices and is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of destructive lung diseases. METHODS: The ability of recombinant secretory leucoprotease inhibitor (rSLPI) to inhibit neutrophil mediated degradation of fibronectin in vitro is demonstrated and its efficacy compared with native alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (n alpha 1-PI), recombinant alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (r alpha 1-PI), and the chemical elastase inhibitor ICI 200,355. RESULTS: When preincubated with neutrophils both rSLPI and r alpha 1-PI were effective inhibitors of fibronectin degradation although n alpha 1-PI and ICI 200,355 were less effective. Recombinant SLPI was the most effective inhibitor when the cells were allowed to adhere to fibronectin before the addition of the inhibitors. Preincubation of rSLPI (0.1 mumol/l) with the fibronectin plate resulted in almost total inhibition of fibronectin degradation (reduced to 3.3 (SE 0.9)% of control). Pretreating the fibronectin plate with 1 mumol/l rSLPI, r alpha 1-PI and ICI 200,355 followed by thorough washing before the addition of cells resulted in no inhibition of fibronectin degradation with r alpha 1-PI and the ICI inhibitor, but rSLPI retained its inhibitory effect. This effect could be reduced by adding rSLPI in high pH buffer or 2 mol/1 NaCl. CONCLUSIONS: It is postulated that rSLPI binds to fibronectin to form a protective layer which prevents its degradation by neutrophil elastase. It may prove to be the most useful therapeutic agent in the prevention of neutrophil mediated lung damage.

Fibronectins↗