Selectins in the HIT syndrome: pathophysiologic role and therapeutic modulation.

The pathophysiology of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is now known to be a complex process which involves platelets, vascular endothelium, and leukocytes. The activation products from these sites also contribute to the activation of coagulation and to the fibrinolytic deficit. While many of the markers of hemostatic activation processes have been found to be at increased levels during acute phases of the HIT syndromes, the circulating levels of soluble P-, E-, and L- selectins have not been reported. Since the pathophysiology of HIT involves the activation of platelets, endothelium, and leukocytes, it is expected that activation products related to these hemostatic systems, including soluble selectins, will also be increased in circulating blood. These alterations may provide an index of the pathophysiologic process. With the availability of highly sensitive ELISAs for soluble P-, E-, and L-selectins, it is now possible to measure these adhesion molecules in biological fluids. This study reports on the circulating levels of P-, E-, and L-selectins in HIT patients and their modulation after therapeutic intervention. With the availability of recombinant hirudin, it is now possible to provide alternate anticoagulants to HIT patients. However, the immunoactivation of platelets and other cells may require additional adjunct therapeutic approaches.

Antithrombin agents as anticoagulants and antithrombotics: implications in drug development.

The development of direct thrombin inhibitors goes back nearly four decades. Organic synthetic benzamidine derivatives were initially developed as direct antithrombin agents. Later, the structural analysis of fibrinogen, leading to the identification of thrombin cleavage sites, resulted in the recognition of specific peptide sequences where thrombin cleaved fibrinogen. These observations led to the development of synthetic peptide derivatives as inhibitors of thrombin. The leech salivary extract contained natural hirudin, the structural elucidation of which led to the development of a recombinant equivalent protein (r-hirudin). Understanding the biochemical actions of thrombin and the structure of various inhibitors prompted the development of hirulogs, a class of hybrid molecules with two sites of action. Currently, several of these thrombin inhibitors are being developed for various indications in both intravenous and subcutaneous protocols. The increased interest in thrombin inhibitors is also prompted by reports of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with heparin and the need to anticoagulate patients with alternate drugs. These agents produce a direct anticoagulant response by targeting thrombin. In addition, the amplification of the coagulation cascade by thrombin activation of factors V and VIII, stabilization of fibrin by activated factor XHI, and platelet activation is also inhibited by these thrombin inhibitors. Some of the synthetic thrombin inhibitors are also capable of inhibiting other enzymes in the coagulation cascade. Thrombin inhibitors therefore exert a complex effect on the coagulation network and should be carefully evaluated in clinical trials. These drugs can be used for prophylactic and therapeutic and surgical indications. However, the different thrombin inhibitors have shown distinct pharmacologic differences. There is now an interest in developing oral antithrombin inhibitors. Such issues as antagonism, laboratory monitoring, drug interactions, and long-term safety remain unresolved. Current research is focused on addressing these issues.

Thrombogenesis in myocardial infarction and related syndromes: the role of molecular markers in diagnosis and management.

Anticoagulant therapy has undergone some major developments in recent years. Conventional drugs that produce anticoagulant effects such as heparin and oral anticoagulants are no longer considered the only candidates for the anticoagulant/antithrombotic management of patients. Recombinant hirudin, glycoproteins IIb/IIIa targeting antibodies, synthetic peptides such as Hirulog and efegatran are being tested for their efficacy. These drugs produce their effects at different sites. To monitor their overall effects on the hemostatic system, molecular markers offer a practical and reliable approach. Markers of thrombin generation are useful for the monitoring of antithrombin drugs whereas, the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs can be assessed by monitoring the platelet release products. Furthermore, polytherapy using several anticoagulant and antithrombotic drugs in combination has been considered. In these situations, the use of molecular markers may also prove to be invaluable. The introduction of simple technology such as the test strip or particle agglutination methods may be available for the measurement of many of these markers in the near future. This will be useful for ready availability and reduced cost for individual marker testing. Furthermore, this type of technology can be used at bedside, off-site, and in doctor's offices. It is clear that the molecular marker profiling provides useful information on the nature of pathophysiology of a given thrombotic disorder. However, for practical use, a cost-effective and simpler assay-based approach will enhance their use, and these tests will be readily accepted at the laboratory and clinical levels.

Antithrombin agents: the new class of anticoagulant and antithrombotic drugs.

Antithrombin drugs represent a wide group of natural agents, recombinant agents equivalent to some of the naturally occurring proteins, and synthetic agents. This group of drugs is characterized by marked structural and functional heterogeneity. Several of these drugs are currently in various phases of development. Argatroban represents the first clinically approved antithrombin agent, which was made available in Japan several years ago. Two recombinant hirudin preparations, Revasc (Novartis) and Refludan (Aventis), are available for postsurgical DVT prophylaxis and alternate anticoagulant use in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. A synthetic antithrombin agent based on the combined structures of hirudin and antithrombin peptides, hirulog (Bivalirudin), is undergoing clinical trials in cardiovascular indications. Additional studies on the hirudins are being carried out to test their efficacy as surgical and interventional anticoagulants as replacements for heparin. However, the need for a proper antagonist is one of the limiting factors for the optimal development of hirudin in this indication. Several of the synthetic thrombin inhibitors are also being developed for oral use for the prophylaxis of DVT in surgical patients. Since the therapeutic index of thrombin inhibitors is narrower than that of heparin, this route may not be an optimal approach for the development of these agents. Despite several unresolved developmental issues, the thrombin inhibitors provide a useful alternative to heparin anticoagulation and may prove to be useful in validated clinical use.

Antithrombin agents as anticoagulants and antithrombotics. Implications in drug development.

Synthetic and recombinant thrombin inhibitors have undergone several clinical evaluations for thrombotic and cardiovascular indications. While the initial trials were focused in coronary indications, more recently, these agents are also developed for the prophylaxis and therapeutic management of thromboembolic disorders. Hirudin, PEG-hirudin and argatroban are in advanced clinical development. Recombinant hirudin has been approved in Europe as a substitute anticoagulant for the management of HIT patients. Several additional clinical trials are currently carried out to demonstrate the usefulness of these agents in thrombotic and cardiovascular indications. Despite these developments such issues as dosage optimization, laboratory monitoring, neutralization and drug interactions require additional studies for the optimal development of these drugs.

Synthetic and recombinant antithrombin drugs.

As the final enzyme in the activation of the coagulation system, the serine protease, thrombin, is believed to be an important target for the development of new anticoagulant/antithrombotic drugs. Direct thrombin inhibitors are either derived from natural sources, such as hirudin or are chemically synthesised, such as argatroban. The coupling of hirudin or parts of it with other entities leads to novel agents with different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG)-hirudin or the hirulogs. Due to the reversible or irreversible inactivation of the enzyme, thrombin inhibitors exert strong anticoagulant effects that can be measured in global clotting assays. Furthermore, these compounds inhibit thrombin-induced platelet reactions and influence other cellular, receptor-mediated actions of thrombin, e.g., on vascular cells. Directly acting thrombin inhibitors prevent blood clotting and are also capable of inhibiting clot-associated thrombin; however, they do not effectively block the further generation of the enzyme. Comprehensive experimental studies suggest that thrombin inhibitors may be effective drugs in a wide range of intravascular thrombus formation, also including the inhibition of vascular restenosis. Recent clinical trials revealed the effectiveness of direct thrombin inhibitors in various thrombotic and cardiovascular indications, but also a tendency to an increased risk of bleeding complications. At present, thrombin inhibitors are the most promising class of drugs for the initial therapy of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) or the heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia and thrombosis syndrome (HITTS). They are also useful for the management of venous thrombosis and for acute ischaemic syndromes as well as for invasive procedures. However, with regard to the long-term outcome, a superiority of thrombin inhibitors over heparin has not yet been demonstrated. Several important issues, such as monitoring, pharmacological antagonism and drug interactions will also play an important role in the development of these new drugs. Further clinical trials are required to confirm the effectiveness of direct thrombin inhibitors in the prophylaxis and treatment of various thromboembolic and cardiovascular disorders.

In vitro effects of a novel hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier on routine chemistry, therapeutic drug, coagulation, hematology, and blood bank assays.

Red blood cell (RBC) replacement solutions are being developed as alternatives to allogeneic RBC use in blood transfusions in the treatment of massive trauma, to achieve hemodynamic stability during elective surgery, and to increase oxygen-carrying capacity in anemia. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC)-201 (Biopure Corp.) is a purified, sterile, isosmotic glutaraldehyde-polymerized bovine hemoglobin. Because this product is acellular, blood components containing this substance appear hemolyzed. This study reports on the interferences produced by the presence of HBOC-201 in a variety of clinical assays. This product was added in vitro at concentrations up to 60 g/L (6.0 g/dL) to normal human serum, plasma, or whole blood before testing for serum chemistries, coagulation profiles, and hematology and blood bank assays. In addition, a set of normal human sera containing HBOC-201 was supplemented with various therapeutic drugs and assayed for these agents. The results of these studies demonstrate that the presence of HBOC-201 in blood components does not result in significant analytical interference that would be of concern with many clinical assays at HBOC-201 concentrations encountered during routine clinical use of this RBC replacement solution in patients.

Modulation of platelet function and vascular smooth muscle contractile actions by a novel, selective, highly potent 5-HT2 antagonist (SR46349).

SR46349 is a novel, selective 5-HT2 receptor antagonist with the chemical structure {trans, 4-[(3Z)3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl) oxyimino-3(2-flurophenyl) propen-1-yl]phenol hemifumarate}. This agent has been found to exhibit antithrombotic actions in animal models of thrombosis. In order to investigate the effects of this agent on agonist induced vascular smooth muscle contraction, we utilized rabbit aortic ring and rat aortic strip preparations. Serotonin and platelet rich plasma (PRP) activated with arachidonic acid (AA) were used to determine the modulatory effect of SR46349. The IC50 for SR46349 was found to be: 1) rabbit aortic ring: 0.4 +/- 0.1 ng/ml for 5-HT and 0.25 +/- 0.05 ng/ml for PRP/AA. 2) rat aortic strip: 0.5 +/- 0.1 ng/ml for 5-HT and 0.3 +/- 0.1 ng/ml for PRP/AA. These results indicate that SR46349 is a highly potent inhibitor of aortic smooth muscle contraction. To further study the structure-activity relationship, we utilized the cis derivative of this agent, SR46615. This agent was found to be a relatively weaker inhibitor of the agonist induced aortic smooth muscle contraction. The studies reported here provide also comparative data on ketanserin, ritanserin and two new serotonin antagonists on the smooth muscle modulatory actions.

Pharmacological profiling of recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor found within the vascular system that is known to be released upon heparin administration. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor regulates the extrinsic pathway by inhibiting both factors VIIa and Xa. The role of TFPI in the prevention of thrombosis is currently being elucidated. These studies describe the pharmacological profile of recombinant variants of this inhibitor that have recently been made available for study. Recombinant TFPI (rTFPI) exhibits potent anticoagulant (PT) and antiprotease actions (anti-Xa). While carboxy truncated forms of the inhibitor were not observed to prolong the PT, potent anti-Xa effects were still noted. In a rabbit model of stasis-thrombosis, full-length rTFPI dose-dependently inhibited thrombus formation, producing a complete inhibition of thrombosis at a dose of 500 micrograms/kg. At doses that were antithrombotically effective, minor increases in blood loss were observed in a rabbit ear bleeding model. The effect of TFPI on the inhibition of platelet activation was assessed using a flow cytometric assay. Three hundred nmol/L of rTFPI were observed to block the activation of platelets by 4.5 pmol/L recombinant tissue factor. In addition to participating in the maintenance of hemostasis, rTFPI may prove to be an effective therapeutic modality for preventing thrombus formation.

Comparative pharmacology of site directed antithrombin agents. Implication in drug development.

Beside the direct inhibition of thrombin and its regulatory functions, many of the newer antithrombin agents produce several additional effects, unrelated to their anticoagulant actions. Synthetic peptide inhibitors are capable of producing fibrinolytic compromise by virtue of their actions on fibrinolytic enzymes such as t-PA, plasmin, urokinase and protein Ca. In addition, the low molecular weight arginine-containing peptides are also known to produce hemodynamic and hemostatic deficits. The designs of the ongoing clinical trials are largely empirical because of the non-availability of valid pharmacologic and toxicologic data on thrombin inhibitors. In contrast to heparin, none of the thrombin inhibitors produce endogenous release of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in the experimental and clinical settings. These observations suggest that beside the direct inhibition of thrombin, these agents also produce multiple additional effects that can significantly contribute to their pharmacologic and toxicologic profile.

Tissue factor antigen levels in various biological fluids.

Tissue factor (TF), a transmembrane surface protein, is known to initiate thrombogenesis through plasmatic and cellular activation processes. Besides complexing with factor VII, eventually leading to fibrin generation via the extrinsic pathway, TF can also activate factor IX, resulting in the intrinsic activation of coagulation. Other functions of TF are currently unknown, although various cells are believed to have TF receptors. Many of the post-surgical and post-interventional thrombotic events are due to the release of TF. Increased levels of TF are associated with several pathologic conditions such as cancer, sepsis and inflammation. Cellular necrosis also results in an increase of TF as the cells in the traumatized area lyse and release endogenous cell surface-bound TF. An ELISA method (American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT) has been developed to assay TF antigen levels in various biological fluids. This ELISA employs a murine monoclonal antibody raised against native human TF for antigen capture. In this study, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, pleural effusion and urine from patients were assayed for their TF content using this ELISA method. Normal individual serum and plasma were also assayed as controls against which the levels of TF in the patients' body fluids could be compared. The amount of TF antigen in normal human plasma and serum was 165 +/- 139 pg/ml and 165 +/- 110 pg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of TF antigen in other fluids were: cerebrospinal fluid 868 +/- 721 pg/ml, peritoneal fluid 124 +/- 247 pg/ml, pleural effusion 385 +/- 569 pg/ml, synovial fluid 97 +/- 23 pg/ml, seminal plasma 11,485 +/- 875 pg/ml and urine 86 +/- 57 pg/ml.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on the thrombogenic effects of recombinant tissue factor. In vivo versus ex vivo findings.

An exposure of blood to tissue factor (TF) activates the coagulation system by the extrinsic pathway and may cause clot formation. Recombinant TF (r-TF) has been produced and subsequently reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. The aim of these studies was to elucidate the in vitro procoagulant effects and the in vivo thrombogenicity of r-TF using a rabbit jugular vein stasis thrombosis model. The in vitro studies exhibited a clear concentration-dependent decrease in the clotting time when rabbit brain thromboplastin was replaced by r-TF in the prothrombin time assay. The in vivo studies revealed a dose-dependent thrombogenicity between 1.6 ng/kg and 50 ng/kg. Electron microscope scanning of the surface of representative clots revealed fibrin-rich structures of heterogeneous density. In comparison, thrombi obtained when FEIBA was utilized as the thrombogenic agent were more homogeneous. The injection of r-TF caused a slight transient drop in blood pressure with little or no effects on the pulse rate, complete blood count (CBC) profile, clotting and amidolytic assays when compared to sham control animals. In contrast, the whole blood clotting parameters (activated clotting time and thrombelastograph) were prolonged dose-dependently after r-TF injection. The antithrombotic activity of heparin was assessed in this model and compared to the antithrombotic activity when FEIBA is used as the thrombogenic agent. The apparent ED50 of heparin was found to be 4 times higher in the r-TF system. In control studies, no thrombogenic effects were observed by the phospholipid vesicles alone nor by r-TF not embedded in phospholipid vesicles. These data demonstrate that lipidated r-TF is a potent thrombogenic challenge that activates the hemostatic system by the extrinsic pathway.

Comparative studies on the anticoagulant and protease generation inhibitory actions of newly developed site-directed thrombin inhibitory drugs. Efegatran, argatroban, hirulog, and hirudin.

Site-directed thrombin inhibitors are being currently assessed clinically for their antithrombotic efficacy. Although these agents are claimed to be specific and direct thrombin inhibitors, their mechanism of inhibition varies. The objective of these studies was to compare four such agents in in vitro systems and to assess their relative anticoagulant efficacy. The four agents utilized in these studies were argatroban, Efegatran, hirulog, and hirudin. While hirulog and hirudin are specific irreversible inhibitors of thrombin, argatroban and Efegatran are reversible. All four agents were found to have a concentration-dependent anticoagulant effect when supplemented into normal human plasma, as assessed in the global clotting tests (PT, APTT, and Heptest). The most potent anticoagulant on a molar basis was hirudin in all three tests. The other three agents had similar anticoagulant actions. All four agents were also capable of inhibiting the generation of thrombin and factor Xa as determined by an amidolytic method after intrinsic or extrinsic activation of fibrinogen-deficient human plasma. Except for hirulog, all agents inhibited the extrinsic generation of thrombin, with hirudin being the most potent agent. The intrinsic generation of thrombin was blocked by the reversible thrombin inhibitors (argatroban and Efegatran) but not by the irreversible inhibitors (hirulog and hirudin). While all agents were capable of inhibiting the intrinsic generation of factor Xa at very low concentrations, only Efegatran was capable of blocking the extrinsic generation of the same factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antithrombin III affinity dependence on the anticoagulant, antiprotease, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor actions of heparins.

To investigate AT-III affinity dependence on heparin's actions, heparin (UH) was fractionated on an AT-III-Sepharose column into a high (HAH) and a low affinity (LAH) fraction. Molecular profiling revealed a molecular weight of 11.8 kDa for (UH), 12.6 kDa for HAH, and 10.6 kDa for LAH. The USP anticoagulant potencies were found to be: UH = 160 U/mg, HAH = 198 U/mg, and LAH = 42 U/mg. The anticoagulant effects of each of these fractions were proportionate to the USP potencies. However, protease generation inhibitory activities did not follow the same order. All fractions were also tested for their interactions with tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). No significant differences were noted on the anti-Xa effects of TFPI with these fractions. Administration of each fraction to primates resulted in equivalent release of TFPI. In a model of jugular vein clamping induced venous occlusion, all agents produced a dose-dependent antithrombotic action. HAH produced a 60 to 70% stronger antithrombotic effect than LAH or UH. Simultaneous administration of TFPI markedly augmented the antithrombotic actions of both UFH and LAH. The effect of TFPI on the antithrombotic activity of HAH was weaker than that on LAH. These observations suggest that AT-III affinity is not the sole determinant of the antithrombotic actions of heparin. The endogenous release of TFPI may contribute to the antithrombotic actions of heparin and related glycosaminoglycans. Furthermore, TFPI is capable of AT-III independent amplification of the antithrombotic actions of both UH and LAH, suggesting a crucial role of this polyvalent inhibitor in the control of thrombogenesis.