ABSTRACT
Kininogens are the major mammalian plasma cysteine proteinase inhibitors; a kininogen-like protein was also found in the snake Bothrops jararaca plasma. This communication describes a kininogen-like protein in plasma of Caiman crocodilus vacare. Caiman crude plasma, unlike snake plasma, contains a detectable cysteine proteinase inhibitor. The inhibitor was purified by DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange chromatography and chromatography on carboxy-methylated-papain-Sepharose. The estimated molecular weight of Caiman cysteine proteinase inhibitor is 70,000. Caiman plasma also hydrolyzes plasma kallikrein synthetic substrates and inhibits trypsin. Reptilian kininogen may lack the site for interaction with plasma prokallikrein, and the sequence of the released kinin may be distinct from bradykinin. The poor effectiveness of bradykinin on reptile smooth muscle shows that the reptile kinin receptors may be adapted to a specific kinin.
Subject(s)
Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/blood , Kininogens/blood , Snakes/blood , Animals , Chromatography, Agarose , Chromatography, Ion Exchange , Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/chemistry , Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/isolation & purification , Female , In Vitro Techniques , Kinetics , Kininogens/chemistry , Kininogens/isolation & purification , Male , Molecular Weight , Papain/antagonists & inhibitors , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The blood coagulation and the fibrinolytic systems of nine patients envenomed by Bothrops jararaca in São Paulo (Brazil) were studied. Five of the accidents were caused by young snakes (less than 50 cm). On admission, four patients had non-clotting and three partially-clotting blood. Fibrinogen levels were decreased due to the thrombin-like activity of the venom as expected. Consequent secondary activation of the fibrinolytic system was evident from the low levels of alpha-2-antiplasmin and the high titres of fibrin(ogen) degradation products. High titres of cross-linked fibrin fragment D (D-dimer) in seven patients together with decreased platelet counts and/or factor V, and/or factor VIII in some, suggests intrinsic thrombin formation as these factors are not consumed in the defibrinogenation induced by venom thrombin-like fractions such as Ancrod and Batroxobin. However, normal or increased levels of antithrombin III in all and normal levels of factor II in eight patients do not support this interpretation. The existence of variable concentrations of other proteins in the venom of B. jararaca such as botrocetin and thrombocytin isolated from B. jararaca and B. atrox or crotalocytin from Crotalus horridus venom should be considered. Such proteins are known to activate factors V, VIII, XIII, and platelets without affecting prothrombin (factor II) and antithrombin III. Slower recovery of the haemostatic disturbances after antivenom administration to patients bitten by young snakes suggests a more severe coagulopathy in such accidents. This is supported by clinical observations.
Subject(s)
Blood Coagulation Disorders/etiology , Fibrinolysis , Snake Bites/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Blood Coagulation Disorders/blood , Brazil , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Platelet Count , Snake Bites/complications , Whole Blood Coagulation TimeSubject(s)
Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/blood , Animals , Bromelains/antagonists & inhibitors , Chromatography, Affinity , Chromatography, Ion Exchange , Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/isolation & purification , Female , Kinetics , Kininogens/blood , Kininogens/isolation & purification , Kinins/analysis , Male , Papain/antagonists & inhibitors , SnakesABSTRACT
A kininogen-like protein was purified from Bothrops jararaca plasma by DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange and carboxy-methyl-papain-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecular weight, estimated by SDS-gel electrophoresis, is about 100,000 and a species of about 75,000 is formed after incubation with horse urinary kallikrein. After incubation with trypsin, only traces of biological activity were detected in tests on guinea pig ileum. The purified protein inhibits papain and bromelain, does not correct the clotting time of a kininogen-depleted human plasma, and does not affect the clotting time of plasma from Waglerophis merremii, a nonpoisonous snake; the same type of inhibitor was found in this nonpoisonous snake. The dissociation constant (Ki) for the papain-inhibitor complex is approximately 1.6 nM.
Subject(s)
Blood Coagulation/drug effects , Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors/blood , Kininogens/pharmacology , Snakes/blood , Animals , Female , Humans , Kininogens/blood , Male , Mammals , Muscle Contraction/drug effects , Papain/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
A kininogen-like protein was purified from Bothrops jararaca plasma by DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange and carboxy-methul-papain-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecular weight, estimated by SDS-gel electrophoresis, is about 100,000 and a species of about 75,000 is formed after incubation with hosrse urinary kallikrein. After incubation with rrypsin, only traces of biological activity were detected in tests on guinea pig ileum. The purified protein inhibits papain and bromelain, does not correct the clotting time of a kininogen-depleted human plasma, and does not affect the clotting time ogf plasma from Waglerophis merremii, a nonpoisonous snake; the same type of inhibitor was foind in this nonpoisonous snake. The dissociation cosntant (Ki) for the papain-inhibitor complex is approximately 1.6 nM
