Project description:Individuals with factor XI (FXI) deficiency have a variable bleeding risk that cannot be predicted from plasma FXI antigen or activity. This limitation can result in under- or overtreatment of patients and risk of bleeding or thrombosis. Previously, plasma clot fibrinolysis assays showed sensitivity to bleeding tendency in a small cohort of patients with severe FXI deficiency. Here, we determined the ability of plasma clot formation, structure, and fibrinolysis assays to predict bleeding tendency in a larger, independent cohort of patients with severe and partial FXI deficiency. Patients were characterized as nonbleeders or bleeders based on bleeding after tonsillectomy and/or dental extraction before diagnosis of FXI deficiency. Blood was collected in the absence or presence of the contact pathway inhibitor corn trypsin inhibitor (CTI). Clotting was triggered in platelet-poor plasma with tissue factor, CaCl2, and phospholipids in the absence and presence of thrombomodulin or tissue plasminogen activator. Clot formation and fibrinolysis were assessed by turbidity and confocal microscopy. CTI-treated plasmas from bleeders showed significantly reduced clot formation and decreased resistance to fibrinolysis compared with plasmas from controls or nonbleeders. Differences were enhanced in the presence of CTI. A model that combines activated partial thromboplastin time with the rate of clot formation and area under the curve in fibrinolysis assays identifies most FXI-deficient bleeders. These results show assays with CTI-treated platelet-poor plasma reveal clotting and clot stability deficiencies that are highly associated with bleeding tendency. Turbidity-based fibrinolysis assays may have clinical utility for predicting bleeding risk in patients with severe or partial FXI deficiency.
Project description:Systemic hyperfibrinolysis is an integral part of trauma-induced coagulopathy associated with uncontrolled bleeding. Recent data suggest that plasma-first resuscitation attenuates hyperfibrinolysis; however, the availability, transport, storage, and administration of plasma in austere environments remain challenging and have limited its use. Freeze-dried plasma (FDP) is a potential alternative due to ease of storage, longer shelf life, and efficient reconstitution. FDP potentially enhances clot formation and resists breakdown better than normal saline (NS) and albumin and similar to liquid plasma.Healthy volunteers underwent citrated blood draw followed by 50% dilution with NS, albumin, pooled plasma (PP), or pooled freeze-dried plasma (pFDP). Citrated native and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)-challenge (75 ng/mL) thrombelastography were done. Proteins in PP, pFDP, and albumin were analyzed by mass spectroscopy.pFDP and PP had superior clot-formation rates (angle) and clot strength (maximum amplitude) compared with NS and albumin in t-PA-challenge thrombelastographies (angle: pFDP, 67.9 degrees; PP, 67.8 degrees; NS, 40.6 degrees; albumin, 35.8 degrees; maximum amplitude: pFDP, 62.4 mm; PP, 63.5 mm; NS, 44.8 mm; albumin, 41.1 mm). NS and albumin dilution increased susceptibility to t-PA-induced hyperfibrinolysis compared with pFDP and PP (NS, 62.4%; albumin, 62.6%; PP, 8.5%; pFDP, 6.7%). pFDP was similar to PP in the attenuation of t-PA-induced fibrinolysis. Most proteins (97%) were conserved during the freeze-dry process, with higher levels in 12% of pFDP proteins compared with PP.pFDP enhances clot formation and attenuates hyperfibrinolysis better than NS and albumin and is a potential alternative to plasma resuscitation in the treatment of hemorrhagic shock.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:Post-translational modifications of fibrinogen influence the occurrence and progression of thrombotic diseases. In this systematic review, we assessed the current literature on post-translational modifications of fibrinogen and their effects on fibrin formation and clot characteristics. Approach and Results: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science was performed to find studies reporting post-translational modifications of fibrinogen and the effects on clot formation and structure. Both in vitro studies and ex vivo studies using patient material were included. One hundred five articles were included, describing 11 different modifications of fibrinogen. For the best known and studied modifications, conclusions could be drawn about their effect on clot formation and structure. Oxidation, high levels of nitration, and glycosylation inhibit the rate of polymerization, resulting in dense clots with thinner fibers, while low levels of nitration increase the rate of polymerization. Glycation showed different results for polymerization, but fibrinolysis was found to be decreased, as a consequence of increased density and decreased permeability of clots. Acetylation also decreases the rate of polymerization but results in increased fiber diameters and susceptibility to fibrinolysis. Other modifications were studied less or contrasting results were found. Therefore, substantial gaps in the knowledge about the effect of post-translational modifications remain. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, post-translational modifications do affect clot formation and characteristics. More studies need to be performed to reveal the effects of all post-translational modifications and the effects on thrombotic diseases. Expanding the knowledge about modifications of fibrinogen can ultimately contribute to optimizing treatments for thrombotic diseases.
Project description:BackgroundThrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is one of the most important physiological fibrinolysis inhibitors. Its inhibitory efficacy under physiological conditions remains uncertain.ObjectivesElucidate the role of soluble thrombomodulin (sTM)/TAFI axis in the regulation of fibrinlysis.MethodsSince thrombin is required to generate activated TAFI (TAFIa) that targets the C-terminal lysine of partially digested fibrin, a clot lysis assay is suitable for evaluating its function. Using tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced plasma clot lysis time (tPA-PCLT) together with TAFIa inhibitor and recombinant sTM (rsTM), we evaluated the specific function of TM/TAFI in the plasma milieu.ResultstPA-PCLT values were significantly shortened by the TAFIa inhibitor. rsTM supplementation prolonged tPA-PCLT, which was shortened by the TAFIa inhibitor to a time similar to that obtained without rsTM and with the TAFIa inhibitor. Plasma obtained from patients treated with rsTM showed prolonged tPA-PCLT, which was shortened by the TAFIa inhibitor but not further prolonged by rsTM. However, no significant correlation was observed between tPA-PCLT and parameters of TM/TAFI system in the plasma.ConclusionThe role of the TM/TAFI system in regulating fibrinolysis was successfully evaluated using TAFIa inhibitor and rsTM. Trace amounts of soluble TM in normal plasma appeared sufficient to activate TAFI and inhibit fibrinolysis. Further, a therapeutic dose of rsTM appeared sufficient to activate TAFI and regulate fibrinolysis in the plasma milieu.
Project description:Intravascular administration of plasminogen activators is a clinically important thrombolytic strategy to treat occlusive vascular conditions. A major issue with this strategy is the systemic off-target drug action, which affects hemostatic capabilities and causes substantial hemorrhagic risks. This issue can be potentially resolved by designing technologies that allow thrombus-targeted delivery and site-specific action of thrombolytic drugs. To this end, leveraging a liposomal platform, we have developed platelet microparticle (PMP)-inspired nanovesicles (PMINs), that can protect encapsulated thrombolytic drugs in circulation to prevent off-target uptake and action, anchor actively onto thrombus via PMP-relevant molecular mechanisms and allow drug release via thrombus-relevant enzymatic trigger. Specifically, the PMINs can anchor onto thrombus via heteromultivalent ligand-mediated binding to active platelet integrin GPIIb-IIIa and P-selectin, and release the thrombolytic payload due to vesicle destabilization triggered by clot-relevant enzyme phospholipase-A2. Here we report on the evaluation of clot-targeting efficacy, lipase-triggered drug release and resultant thrombolytic capability of the PMINs in vitro, and subsequently demonstrate that intravenous delivery of thrombolytic-loaded PMINs can render targeted fibrinolysis without affecting systemic hemostasis, in vivo, in a carotid artery thrombosis model in mice. Our studies establish significant promise of the PMIN technology for safe and site-targeted nanomedicine therapies in the vascular compartment.
Project description:BackgroundPatients with hemophilia have deficiencies in intrinsic coagulation factors and can develop inhibitors that limit the effectiveness of replacement coagulation factors. Marstacimab, a human monoclonal antibody, binds and inhibits the human tissue factor pathway inhibitor. Marstacimab is currently under development as a potential prophylactic treatment to prevent bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A and B.ObjectiveTo assess the effects of marstacimab alone or in combination with the bypassing agent recombinant factor FVIIa (rFVIIa) or activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) on thrombin generation and bleeding.MethodsMarstacimab and/or rFVIIa or aPCC were added to hemophilic A or B plasma or nonhemophilic plasma in vitro. Hemostatic activity was measured using the thrombin generation assay. In vivo effects were assessed using a mouse acute bleeding model. Male hemophilia A mice were dosed with marstacimab plus aPCC before tail clip; blood loss was quantified by measuring hemoglobin.ResultsMarstacimab plus rFVIIa or aPCC slightly increased peak thrombin levels compared with either agent alone. This increase was within the reported range for nonhemophilic plasma and did not exceed levels observed in nonhemophilic plasma treated with marstacimab alone. Hemophilia A mice that received 200 U/kg aPCC had significantly reduced bleeding (62%) compared with vehicle-treated mice (p < 0.05), and marstacimab plus aPCC reduced bleeding by 83.3% compared with vehicle (p= 0.0009).ConclusionsMarstacimab alone or with bypassing agents increased hemostasis in hemophilia plasma without generating excessive thrombin. The hemostatic activity of marstacimab plus aPCC was confirmed in hemophilia A mice.
Project description:BackgroundIn a large proportion of patients with a mild to moderate bleeding tendency no diagnosis can be established (bleeding of unknown cause, BUC).ObjectivesTo investigate possible dysfunctions in thrombin generation and plasma clot formation and lysis in patients with BUC from the Vienna Bleeding Biobank (VIBB).Patients and methodsThrombin generation and plasma clot properties of 382 BUC patients were compared to those of 100 healthy controls and 16 patients with factor VIII (FVIII) activity ≤50%.ResultsThrombin generation was significantly impaired in BUC patients compared to healthy controls, exhibiting a prolonged lag time and time to peak and decreased maximum thrombin generation, velocity index, and area under the curve (AUC). The assessment of clot formation and lysis in BUC patients revealed a lower clot formation rate (Vmax), resulting in a longer TTP, increased absorbance (ΔAbs), and a shorter clot lysis time (CLT) than in healthy controls. Comparing patients with FVIII activity ≤ 50% to those with BUC, parameters of thrombin generation and clot formation and lysis were either stronger or comparably impaired. Bleeding severity did not correlate with parameters of thrombin generation, clot formation, or clot lysis.ConclusionPatients with BUC have an impaired hemostatic capacity reflected by a lower thrombin-generation potential, a lower clot formation rate, increased clot turbidity, and shorter clot lysis time, which might contribute to their increased bleeding tendency. Assays monitoring these parameters can alert physicians of hemostatic impairment and should be considered in situations where traditional hemostatic lab tests fail to reveal the clinical bleeding tendency.
Project description:BackgroundAnticoagulants prevent the formation of potentially fatal blood clots. Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant that inhibits factor (F)Xa, thereby impeding the conversion of prothrombin into thrombin and the formation of blood clots. Blood clots are held together by fibrin networks that must be broken down (fibrinolysis) to restore blood flow. Fibrinolysis is initiated when tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) converts plasminogen to plasmin, which binds to and degrades a fibrin fiber. The effects of apixaban on clot structure and lysis have been incompletely studied.ObjectivesWe aimed to study apixaban effects on clot structure, kinetics, and fibrinolysis using thrombin (low or high concentration) or tissue factor (TF) to activate clot formation.MethodsWe used a combination of confocal and scanning electron microscopy and turbidity to analyze the structure, formation kinetics, and susceptibility to lysis when plasma was activated with low concentrations of thrombin, high concentrations of thrombin, or TF in the presence or absence of apixaban.ResultsWe found that the clotting activator and apixaban differentially modulated clot structure and lytic potential. Low thrombin clots with apixaban lysed quickly due to a loose network and FXa cleavage product's cofactor with tPA; high thrombin clots lysed faster due to FXa cleavage product's cofactor with tPA; TF generated loose clots with restricted lysis due to their activation of thrombin activatable fibrinolytic inhibitor.ConclusionOur study elucidates the role of apixaban in fibrinolytic pathways with different clotting activators and can be used for the development of therapeutic strategies using apixaban as a cofactor in fibrinolytic pathways.
Project description:Uncontrolled bleeding associated with trauma and surgery is the leading cause of preventable death. Batroxobin, a snake venom-derived thrombin-like serine protease, has been shown to clot fibrinogen by cleaving fibrinopeptide A in a manner distinctly different from thrombin, even in the presence of heparin. The biochemical properties of batroxobin and its effect on coagulation have been well characterized in vitro. However, the efficacy of batroxobin on hemostatic clot formation in vivo is not well studied due to the lack of reliable in vivo hemostasis models. Here, we studied the efficacy of batroxobin and slounase, a batroxobin containing activated factor X, on hemostatic clot composition and bleeding using intravital microcopy laser ablation hemostasis models in micro and macro vessels and liver puncture hemostasis models in normal and heparin-induced hypocoagulant mice. We found that prophylactic treatment in wild-type mice with batroxobin, slounase and activated factor X significantly enhanced platelet-rich fibrin clot formation following vascular injury. In heparin-treated mice, batroxobin treatment resulted in detectable fibrin formation and a modest increase in hemostatic clot size, while activated factor X had no effect. In contrast, slounase treatment significantly enhanced both platelet recruitment and fibrin formation, forming a stable clot and shortening bleeding time and blood loss in wild-type and heparin-treated hypocoagulant mice. Our data demonstrate that, while batroxobin enhances fibrin formation, slounase was able to enhance hemostasis in normal mice and restore hemostasis in hypocoagulant conditions via the enhancement of fibrin formation and platelet activation, indicating that slounase is more effective in controlling hemorrhage.