WO2005031303A2 - Soluble phospholipids for use in clotting factor assays - Google Patents
Soluble phospholipids for use in clotting factor assays Download PDFInfo
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- WO2005031303A2 WO2005031303A2 PCT/US2004/030987 US2004030987W WO2005031303A2 WO 2005031303 A2 WO2005031303 A2 WO 2005031303A2 US 2004030987 W US2004030987 W US 2004030987W WO 2005031303 A2 WO2005031303 A2 WO 2005031303A2
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- G—PHYSICS
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- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
- G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
- G01N33/86—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving blood coagulating time or factors, or their receptors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to novel reagents and methods for conducting clotting activity assays, in particular, novel soluble phospholipid reagents and clotting activity assays using the same.
- FIG. 1 The traditional "cascade” view of blood coagulation is illustrated in Figure 1 and consists of two converging pathways: the intrinsic or “contact” pathway was originally defined based on adding clay or other "contact reagents” to blood in a test-tube, and the extrinsic pathway that is now believed to be the pathway by which clotting is initiated following tissue injury. Both of these pathways culminate in the production of blood coagulation factor X a (FX a , a serine protease) by pathways that depend on membranes.
- FX a blood coagulation factor X a
- factor lX a (FIX a , also a serine protease) and its cofactor factor Vill a (FVIil a ) activate factor X (FX) in a reaction that is dependent on activated platelet membranes (intrinsic pathway).
- FX is activated by another plasma serine protease factor Vll a (FVII a ) in conjunction with a cell-membrane located (thus, "extrinsic" to the plasma) cofactor, tissue factor (TF).
- Prothrombin activation is accomplished by the FX a -FV a enzyme 2+ complex, called "prothrombinase” in the presence of Ca , and negatively charged membranes (Mann, et al. (1990) Blood 76(1): 1-16; Rosing, et al. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255(1 ):274-83).
- the membranes derive from activated platelets in the form of vesicles (Sandberg, et al. (1985) Thromb. Res. 39(1 ):63-79; Sims, et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem.
- PS surface phosphatidylserine
- Coagulation factor IX also plays a pivotal role in blood coagulation as shown by the bleeding tendency associated with congenital factor IX deficiency (hemophilia B).
- the activated form of X, FIX a plays a key role in thrombin generation at the platelet plug by binding with FVIII a on platelet membranes to form the Xase complex that activates X to X a .
- Negatively charged phospholipids, especially PS are also critical to this process. PS- containing membranes increase the k cat of the factor Vlll a -IX a complex by more than a 1000-fold (Gilbert et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271 11120).
- FVIII a and FIX a bind specifically and with high affinity to PS-containing membranes.
- the exact role of PS in the activation of FX is not known.
- Synthetic membrane preparations which can be derived from phospholipid extracts of platelets, mammalian brain or lung, or soybeans, are commonly used in current clotting assays. More recently, synthetic membranes prepared from mixtures of purified synthetic lipids have been used to improve reproducibility and shelf life of assays. Synthetic phospholipids are also commercially available (e.g., from Avanti® Polar Lipids Inc; Alabaster, AL).
- the inventors demonstrate herein that the prothrombinase complex triggered by soluble phospholipid binding to the human FX a and FV a is fully active ⁇ i.e., functionally equivalent to the membrane-bound complex) in prothrombin activation.
- the soluble phospholipids of the invention have a number of advantages over conventional lipid vesicles in terms of reproducibility, ease of manufacture and improved shelf-life.
- the soluble phospholipid compositions disclosed herein may be better suited for use in clotting assays with blood or plasma from lupus patients.
- the invention provides for the use of a soluble phospholipid in an assay for clotting activity, wherein the soluble phospholipid is substituted for platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations in the clotting factor assay.
- the invention provides a method of performing an assay for clotting activity, the improvement comprising substituting a soluble phospholipid for platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations in the assay.
- the invention provides a method of evaluating clotting activity comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) a contact activator; and (iii) calcium; (b) incubating the mixture of (a) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for thrombin activation; and (c) detecting Factor X a or thrombin activity, wherein the activity of Factor X a or thrombin is indicative of clotting factor activity in the sample.
- the invention provides a method of performing a clotting assay comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) a contact activator; and (iii) calcium; (b) incubating the mixture of (a) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation.
- the invention provides a method of detecting a deficiency in intrinsic clotting pathway activity comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) a contact activator; and (iii) calcium; (b) incubating the mixture of (a) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation; (c) determining a clotting time for the sample; (d) comparing the determined clotting time for the sample with a standard, wherein a prolonged clotting time as compared with the standard is indicative of a deficiency in intrinsic clotting pathway activity.
- the invention also provides a method of monitoring clotting time in a subject following heparin treatment comprising: (a) obtaining a sample comprising blood or plasma from a subject that has been given heparin treatment; (b) combining the sample with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) a contact activator; and (iii) calcium; (c) incubating the mixture of (b) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation; (d) determining a clotting time for the sample, thereby monitoring clotting time in the subject following heparin treatment.
- the invention provides a method of evaluating Factor VI l a activity comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising plasma with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) soluble tissue factor; and (iii) calcium; (b) incubating the mixture of (a) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for thrombin activation; and (c) detecting thrombin activity, wherein thrombin activity is indicative of Factor Vila activity in the sample.
- the invention provides a method of evaluating the activity of a clotting factor in the intrinsic clotting pathway comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising plasma with: (i) a soluble phospholipid; (ii) exogenous Factor X; (iii) activated phospholipid-dependent clotting factors other than Factor X that are dependent on the clotting factor being evaluated in the intrinsic clotting pathway or are required for activation of the clotting factor being evaluated; and (iii) calcium; (b) incubating the mixture of (a) above for a time and under conditions sufficient for Factor X activation to Factor X a ; and (c) detecting Factor X a activity, wherein Factor X a activity is indicative of the activity of the clotting factor in the sample.
- this aspect of the invention is practiced to evaluate FVIII a activity
- the invention further provides assay compositions and kits for practicing the methods of the invention.
- Figure 1 presents the traditional "cascade” view of blood coagulation. It consists of two converging “pathways”, the intrinsic or “contact” pathway that was originally defined based on adding clay or other "contact reagent” to blood in a test-tube, and the extrinsic pathway that is now believed to be the pathway by which clotting is initiated following tissue injury. These both culminate in the production of factor X a , by reactions that depend on membranes (arrows with a dashed-line), one on activated platelet membranes (intrinsic pathway), and one on membranes of damaged cells at the point of the wound (extrinsic pathway).
- Thrombin is the central metabolite of blood coagulation. Thrombin production is accomplished by an enzyme complex, called "prothrombinase,” that consists of blood coagulation factors X a (FX a , a 2+ serine protease) and V a (FV a , a cofactor), Ca , and negatively charged membranes.
- prothrombinase blood coagulation factors X a (FX a , a 2+ serine protease) and V a (FV a , a cofactor), Ca , and negatively charged membranes.
- Figure 2 shows assembly of the prothrombinase complex as monitored by the rate of thrombin formation in the presence of C6PS.
- the initial rate of thrombin formation was monitored by DAPA fluorescence. Stopped flow fluorescence measurements were performed at 37°C with final mixing chamber concentrations of 1 ⁇ M prothrombin, 5 ⁇ M DAPA, 1 nM factor X a , 400 ⁇ M C6PS and various concentrations of factor V a2 (Panel A) or V a ⁇ (Panel B) in 50 mM Tris-HCI (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCI 2 .
- the initial rates were fit to a single binding site model as described herein to determine the K d eff of factor X a binding to factor V a2 in presence of 400 ⁇ M C6PS (2.4 ⁇ 0.3 nM).
- the inset to Panel A shows the size of aggregates detected by quasi-elastic light scattering at increasing concentrations of C6PS under the conditions of these experiments.
- the abrupt appearance of aggregates at 700 ⁇ M C6PS defines the critical micelle concentration under these experimental conditions.
- Figure 3 shows the characterization of the complex formed by FX a and FV a2 in the presence of soluble C6PS.
- a mixture of FX a and FV a2 in the absence (lane 1 of gel) and presence (lane 2) of 400 ⁇ M C6PS (5 mM Ca 2+ ) was analyzed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on a standard 6% gel (Majumder, et al. (2002) supra).
- a log-log plot of retardation coefficients versus molecular mass of different reference proteins is also shown (open circles).
- Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of human prothrombin (II) activation.
- Two peptide bonds ⁇ Arg ⁇ -Thr 274 ⁇ and ⁇ Arg 322 -lle 323 ⁇ in prothrombin are cut by factor X a for activation to thrombin (ll a ) thereby creating two possible pathways of activation (A&B and C&D) and two possible released intermediates (Pre2 and Mzll a ).
- a third possible pathway of activation (E) occurs when no intermediate is released ("channeling" or processive activation).
- Figure 5 shows the initial rates of thrombin formation from intermediates as a function of substrate concentration. Activation was initiated by stopped-flow mixing of equal volumes of substrate and DAPA in one syringe with prothrombinase complex in another syringe. Substrates were Mzll a (Panel A) and an equimolar mixture of Pre2 & F1.2 (Panel B).
- the concentration of C6PS was: 50 ⁇ M (inverted triangles), 100 ⁇ M (triangles), 200 ⁇ M (diamond), 300 ⁇ M (square), and 400 ⁇ M (circle),
- the kinetic parameters V max (open triangles) and K (open squares) for the conversion of Mzll a and Pre2+Fragment 1.2 to thrombin are plotted versus C6PS concentration in the insets to Panels A and B, respectively.
- Figure 6A shows the best fits of simulations to observed initial prothrombin proteolysis time courses.
- Prothrombin 0.5 ⁇ M proteolysis catalyzed by Factor X a (1 nM) in the presence of 5 mM CaCI 2 , factor V a2 (5 nM), and 400 ⁇ M C6PS, was monitored at 37°C either by means of thrombin (circles) and Mzll a (squares) activity (shaded symbol), or by means of SDS- PAGE and densitometry (open symbols).
- the time course of Pre2 formation detected by SDS-PAGE is presented as open triangles.
- the inset shows the rate of change of DAPA (2.5 ⁇ M) fluorescence under the same conditions (open triangles) along with DAPA fluorescence calculated (Wu, et al. (2002) supra) from the activity data shown in this figure.
- Figure 6B shows the calculated time courses of thrombin formed via the Pre2 (dot dashed line), the Mzll a (dashed line), and the channeling (solid line) pathways, with shaded circles showing the experimental time course for total thrombin formation.
- Figure 7 illustrates that prothrombinase complexes assembled in the presence of either C6PS or of PS/PC membranes are essentially identical.
- Rates (k C at i ]) of prothrombin activation left boxes
- percents of prothrombin initially channeled to thrombin right boxes
- Membrane data are well-known (Weinreb, et al. (2003) supra).
- Figure 8 shows binding of C6PS to Factor IX a as detected by intrinsic fluorescence.
- Integrated intrinsic fluorescence of 0.20 ⁇ M factor IX a in 50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCI l and 0.6% PEG, pH 7.5 was measured as a function of C6PS concentration at 22°C to follow C6PS binding.
- the inset shows the fluorescence titration of ANS in the presence of 200 nM factor IX a and calcium with the sudden increase of fluorescence indicating C6PS CMC.
- Figure 9 shows the amidolytic activity of IXa (300 nM) in 20 mM
- Tris 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM calcium and 0.6%PEG.
- the assay was conducted in the presence of 1 mM Leu-PHG-Arg-pNA.AcOH and increasing concentrations of C6PS.
- Figure 10 shows the proteolytic activity of IXa (10 nM) in 20 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM calcium and 0.6%PEG.
- the assay was conducted in the presence of increasing concentrations of C6PS.
- the hyperbolic fit gives a K ⁇ j of 164 ⁇ M, which is similar with the Kd obtained in Figure 9.
- Figure 11 shows the rate of activation of factor X by factor IX a in the presence of 700 ⁇ M C6PS at different concentrations of factor X.
- the inset illustrates that the rate of activation of factor X by factor IX a at 700 ⁇ M C6PS is identical to the rate determined in the presence of 20% PS/PC membrane (dashed line), C6PS (solid line).
- Figure 12 illustrates the rate of activation of factor X by factor IX a versus C6PS concentration at different concentrations of calcium 0 mM (cross-hatch shading), 1 mM (horizontal line shading), 2 mM (horizontal line shading), 3 mM (vertical line shading), 4 mM (open), 5 mM (wavy-line shading).
- Figure 13 shows the rate of activation of factor X by 2.5 nM factor IX a and 10 nM factor Vlll a in the presence of 600 ⁇ M C6PS, monitored at different concentrations of factor X.
- Figure 14 shows bovine factor V a (100 nM) incubated with APC (10 nM) in the presence of 200 ⁇ M C6PS (circles), 4 ⁇ M C6PS (squares), or no C6PS (triangles) at 37°C.
- Figure 16 shows the results of the FVIII chromogenic assay using 875 ⁇ M C6PS.
- Figure 17 illustrates the effect of varying C6PS levels on the FVIII chromogenic assay.
- the present invention is based, in part, on the unexpected discovery that solubilized phospholipids are functionally equivalent to platelet membranes and can substitute for them in membrane-catalyzed reactions within the intrinsic clotting pathway.
- the inventors have shown that a tight prothrombinase complex assembles in solution under the regulatory influence of a solubilized phosphatidylserine (PS).
- PS solubilized phosphatidylserine
- This complex is functionally equivalent to the complex assembled on PS-containing membranes (Figure 7).
- the results provided herein further demonstrate that soluble phospholipid molecules regulate the assembly, the activity, and the reaction mechanism of the prothrombinase complex.
- Standard methods can be used for preparing plasma and blood samples, carrying out standard clotting assays or assays for specific clotting factors (e.g., chromogenic or fluorescent assays for thrombin or FX a activity), clotting factor inhibitors and the like.
- clotting factors e.g., chromogenic or fluorescent assays for thrombin or FX a activity
- clotting factor inhibitors e.g., chromogenic or fluorescent assays for thrombin or FX a activity
- Such techniques are known to those skilled in the art. See, e.g., Chapters 60 and 69 of Wintrobe's Clinical Hematology, 10 th edition, G. Richard Lee, John Foerster et al. (eds), Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore (1999); Hemostasis and Thrombosis: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, 4 th edition, Robert W. Colman, Jack Hirsh et al.
- the present invention can be practiced in connection with any membrane-dependent assay known in the art, where the soluble phospholipids of the invention are substituted for (i.e., used in place of) platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations.
- the methods and assay kits of the invention do not rely upon exogenously added platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations.
- "Synthetic membranes” or “synthetic membrane preparation” (and variations thereof) as used herein means any suspension in aqueous buffer of natural or chemically synthesized water-insoluble lipids to form membrane -like surfaces for use in clotting assays.
- the present invention is used in connection with assays that measure intrinsic clotting pathway activity or specific assays for FV a activity, FVII a activity, FVIII a activity, FIX a activity, FX a activity, or a combination thereof.
- the soluble phospholipid compositions of the invention can also be used in connection with assays for Activated Protein C (APC) resistance or assays for the presence of other inhibitory (anticoagulant) factors (e.g., antibodies to FV, FVIII, FIX, FX, FXI or prothrombin or lupus anticoagulants).
- APC Activated Protein C
- a "soluble" phospholipid comprises essentially no aggregates (e.g., as micelles, lamellar or non-lamellar structures). By “essentially no aggregates,” it is intended that the soluble phospholipid contains less than about 5% (weight of lipid as aggregate/total lipid weight) aggregates. Aggregates can be detected and measured by methods known in the art and as described in the Examples below, e.g., by quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) techniques (see, e.g., Koppaka et al., (1996) Biochemistry 35:7482-91 ). In particular embodiments, a "soluble" phospholipid comprises no detectable aggregates.
- QELS quasi-elastic light scattering
- the soluble phospholipid comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylhomoserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and/or phosphatidic acid.
- the soluble phospholipid comprises two acylated fatty acid molecules, which can be short, medium or long chain fatty acids, -or a mixture thereof.
- the fatty acids can be saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, or a mixture thereof.
- phospholipids containing short to medium chain fatty acids are advantageous as they are less likely to form aggregates. Further, as is known in the art, unsaturated fatty acids are less likely to form aggregate structures.
- the soluble phospholipid comprises acylated C2 to C14 or C16 fatty acids.
- the soluble phospholipid comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of acylated C4 to C10 or C12 fatty acids.
- the soluble phospholipid comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of C6 phosphatidylserine ⁇ i.e., 1 ,2-dicaproyl-sn- glycero-3-phospho-L-serine; C6PS).
- the concentration of the soluble phospholipid used in the inventive assays is not critical as long as the phospholipid remains soluble (as defined above) and is high enough to result in occupancy of the protein regulatory sites for the proteins involved in a particular assay.
- the soluble phospholipid can be added at any suitable concentration that retains the solubility of the phospholipid and activates the clotting cascade (or portion thereof).
- the concentration of phospholipid is below the critical micelle concentration, which can be determined using known techniques, such as QELS (see, e.g., Koppaka et al., (1996) Biochemistry 35:7482-91).
- the soluble phospholipid is added to achieve a final concentration in the reaction mixture of at least about 1 ⁇ M, 2 ⁇ M, 4 ⁇ M, 10 ⁇ M, 20 ⁇ M, 50 ⁇ M or 100 ⁇ M and/or less than about 250 ⁇ M, 300 ⁇ M, 400 ⁇ M, 500 ⁇ M, 600 ⁇ M, 700 ⁇ M, 1 mM, 1.5 mM or 2 mM.
- the particular concentration range that will maintain the phospholipid in a soluble form will vary somewhat based on the type of phospholipid and the length and degree of saturation of the acylated fatty acids, as well as the particular assay conditions, and can be routinely determined by those skilled in the art.
- the soluble phospholipid is added to the sample as an aqueous solution.
- the soluble phospholipid is added to the sample as a dried (e.g., lyophilized) composition. This latter approach can be advantageous as the dried composition is easier to handle and transport and has a longer shelf life.
- Phospholipid compositions can be prepared using known techniques and are available from a variety of commercial sources (e.g., Avanti Polar Lipids Inc; Alabaster, AL).
- the soluble phospholipids of the invention are "functionally equivalent" to platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations in that they can substitute for platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations in clotting assays or other clotting activity assays and accelerate phospholipid- activated reactions (e.g., FX - FX a or prothrombin- thrombin).
- the soluble phospholipids accelerate phospholipid-activated reactions with similar kinetics as membrane preparations.
- the rate constant (i.e., k cat /K ⁇ v ⁇ ) for prothrombin activation by a soluble phospholipid activated prothrombinase complex is on the order of at least about 10 -7 , 10 "8 or 10 "9 M-V.
- One surprising and unexpected advantage of the present invention is that it can be used to carry out assays to evaluate clotting activity on blood or plasma samples from subjects with lupus or samples that otherwise contain lupus anticoagulant factors.
- Lupus patients have circulating lupus anticoagulants, otherwise known as antiphospholipid antibodies, in their blood and plasma. These antibodies bind to lipid-binding proteins that can associate with synthetic membrane preparations used in conventional assays, thereby interfering with the assay.
- the invention provides a method of evaluating clotting activity in a blood or plasma sample comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with a soluble phospholipid, a contact activator and calcium; (b) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for thrombin activation; and (c) detecting a suitable endpoint such as FX a activity or thrombin activity, wherein the FX a activity or thrombin activity is indicative of clotting activity in the sample.
- the methods of the invention comprise providing a blood or plasma sample and combining the sample with the contact activator and incubating this mixture to activate the sample prior to addition of the calcium and soluble phospholipid.
- clotting factor activity or clotting activity are intended broadly and encompass assessment of any impairment (e.g., increases or decreases) in activity, e.g., as compared with activity in a normal sample or subject.
- clotting activity is also used broadly to indicate the ability of the sample to form a clot. The detected endpoint, however, need not be clot formation, although it can be in particular embodiments of the invention. Assays of clotting activity can be clotting assays or, alternatively, can assess the activity of individual clotting factors.
- Assays for the evaluation of clotting activity also encompass assessments of basal levels of activated clotting factors, the presence of inhibitory factors, resistance to clotting pathway inhibitors, or any other perturbation to the normal clotting pathway.
- “impairment” it is meant any abnormality in clotting activity, which may result from a deficiency or aberrant elevation of clotting factor activity.
- a “deficiency” in clotting activity, it is meant that the ability of a sample or subject to form a clot is reduced regardless of the cause, e.g., a decrease in the abundance of circulating clotting factor, impairment in clotting factor activation (e.g., due to lack of activating agents or due to abnormalities in the clotting factor itself), mutations that result in decreased biological activity of the clotting factor, increased turnover of the clotting factor, the presence of inhibitory factors (e.g., antibodies that bind to and neutralize clotting factors such as FV, FVIII, FIX, FX and FXI, Lupus anticoagulants, etc.) and the like.
- inhibitory factors e.g., antibodies that bind to and neutralize clotting factors such as FV, FVIII, FIX, FX and FXI, Lupus anticoagulants, etc.
- an "aberrant elevation" (and grammatical variations thereof) in clotting factor activity can be due to increased levels of circulating clotting factor, reduced clotting factor turnover, increased conversion of the inactive clotting factor to the activated state, mutations that ⁇ esult in enhanced clotting factor activity, reduced level of, or sensitivity to, inhibitory signals, and the like.
- Thrombin activity can be determined by any suitable method. For example, chromogenic and fluorescent assays of thrombin enzyme activity are known in the art ⁇ see, e.g., Triscott et al., (1999) Thromb Haemost, (Suppl):379).
- thrombin activity can be indirectly assessed by detecting clot formation (discussed in more detail below).
- methods of assaying FX a activity are known in the art. Typical assays are based on chromogenic or fluorescent determinations ⁇ see, e.g., Rosen et al., (1984) Scand. J. Haematol. 33 (Suppl. 40): 139-145). Suitable commercial assays and reagents are available from Chromogenix (Milano, Italy). FX a activity measurements can also be used as an endpoint to evaluate other clotting factors, e.g., FVIII a (discussed below).
- any contact activator in the art can be used in connection with the present invention, including particulate and chemical contact activators.
- Exemplary contact activators include but are not limited to kaolin, clay, silica, celite, diatomaceous earth, glass beads, ellagic acid, or combinations thereof.
- Ellagic acid based activators comprising phenol and metal ions have been described by U.S. 5,451 ,509. The length of time of the contact activation is not critical to the invention and will generally be from about 2 to 5, 7 or 10 minutes.
- Calcium is generally added to initiate the clotting activity and is provided in a form that will produce free calcium ions (e.g., calcium chloride or other calcium salt) in the reaction mixture.
- free calcium ions e.g., calcium chloride or other calcium salt
- other divalent metal cations are used instead of, or in addition to, calcium to initiate the clotting activity.
- Exemplary divalent metal cations include magnesium, manganese, barium, and combinations thereof.
- terbium (element 65) or lead can be employed in conjunction with or instead of the divalent metal cations above to initiate clotting activity.
- the present invention also encompasses methods of performing clotting assays, in particular, assays to evaluate clotting via the intrinsic clotting pathway.
- the method comprises: combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with a soluble phospholipid, a contact activator and calcium. The mixture is then incubated for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation. In particular embodiments, the reaction mixture is agitated prior to incubation.
- clotting factor deficiencies can result in abnormal clot formation, e.g., watery or thin clots.
- hypercoagulable states there is an increased propensity for clot formation, which can manifest as abnormally rapid clotting times or high clotting factor activity, even in the presence of inhibitory factors or in the absence of stimuli of the coagulation pathway (e.g., tissue factor).
- the standard clinical assay for intrinsic clotting pathway activity is the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time test (APTT).
- APTT Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time test
- conventional APTT tests are conducted by incubating a plasma sample pretreated with citrate or other anticoagulant with a particulate or chemical contact activator to activate FXI I - FXII a ( Figure 1).
- an activation period e.g., 2-7 minutes
- a synthetic platelet membrane substitute and calcium ions are added to the sample to initiate clotting. Variations on the APTT assay which use whole blood have been described (see, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos.
- AZACT Activated Whole Blood Coagulation Time
- ARBCT Activated Whole Blood Coagulation Time
- the AWBCT is conducted by mixing a whole blood sample with a particulate or chemical contact activator. The sample is then heated and agitated and clotting is monitored.
- the normal range of clotting times for particular assays are known, and methods of determining a prolonged or abnormally rapid clotting time would be apparent to those skilled in the art.
- Normal clotting times are typically on the order of 20-35 seconds; however, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the "normal" clotting time can be shorter or longer with different concentrations of the reagents, such as the soluble phospholipids, and other variations in assay conditions. Methods of standardizing clotting assays are discussed below.
- the methods of the invention are suitable for use in connection with any assay that evaluates the activity of the intrinsic clotting pathway or pathways within the clotting cascade that require phospholipids (traditionally provided in the form of platelet membranes or synthetic membrane compositions). Deficiencies in clotting factors are associated with various forms of hemophilia (e.g., deficiencies in FVIII, FIX and FXI).
- abnormalities that result in an abnormal elevation in clotting activity are associated with increased risk of thrombosis (e.g., deficiencies in antithrombin activity, Protein C activity, Protein S activity or FXI I activity, Activated Protein C resistance, the FV Le i d en mutation, elevated FVIII activity, thrombomodulin mutants, etc.).
- the first evaluation of clotting factor activity is a clotting assay such as the APTT that will be affected by a wide range of abnormalities. The APTT, however, will only indicate that there in impairment in the clotting pathway. Further assays can be conducted to more specifically identify the defect.
- the methods of the invention can be practiced to detect impairments (e.g., deficiencies) in the intrinsic clotting pathway.
- the invention provides a method of detecting a deficiency in clotting activity comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with a soluble phospholipid, a contact activator, and calcium; (b) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation; (c) determining a clotting time for the sample; and (d) comparing the determined clotting time for the sample with a standard, wherein a prolonged clotting time as compared with the standard is indicative of an impairment in intrinsic clotting pathway activity.
- thrombin enzyme activity or FX a activity can be detected.
- FX a activity can be detected.
- a clotting deficiency Once a clotting deficiency has been identified, it is common to follow up with a "mixing test.” Typically, the test plasma is mixed 1 :1 with normal plasma and the clotting test (or other suitable test of clotting activity) is repeated. If the clotting test provides a normal result, this typically indicates that a clotting factor deficiency is the underlying cause. In contrast, it will generally require further dilution to reverse the effects of an inhibitory factor. If a clotting factor deficiency is suspected, the methods of the invention can be used to carry out further mixing studies to evaluate and identify the specific clotting factor deficiency.
- the clotting defective test sample can be combined with reference plasma that has a known deficiency in a particular clotting factor(s).
- specific factor-deficient plasmas are commercially available. If the clotting defective test sample can compensate for the known deficiency in the reference plasma, this is an indication that this particular factor is present in the test sample. If combination with the reference plasma does not restore clotting, then the same factor is deficient in the test sample and the reference plasma.
- purified clotting factors can be added to the test sample prior to the clotting assay.
- FVIII can be added to a clotting defective test sample.
- test sample has a deficiency in FVIII activity.
- FI i.e., fibrin
- Fll ⁇ i.e., thrombin
- FV FI
- FX FXI
- FX1I FVIII a , FIX a and FXI a deficiencies, which are the most common deficiencies and are associated with hemophilias A, B and C, respectively.
- the level of clotting factor activity in the test sample can further be determined by comparison with a standard curve generated by preparing a range of dilutions of normal plasma with factor-deficient plasma and determining a clotting time for each. The clotting time of the sample can then be compared with the standard curve to determine what % of clotting factor is present in the test sample as compared with normal plasma.
- the present invention also encompasses methods of evaluating the activity of a clotting factor in the intrinsic clotting pathway (FV, FVIII, FIX or FX), including phospholipid- dependent clotting factors (e.g., a clotting factor that requires platelet membranes or synthetic membranes for activation or activity).
- one current assay is a FVIII a chromogenic assay that is used to specifically identify FVIII a deficiency, which is associated with hemophilia A.
- Commercial assays based on chromogenic detection of FVIII a are available from Chromogenix (Milano, Italy), such as the COATEST® VIII:C/4 test.
- exogenous FIX a exogenous FX and soluble phospholipids are combined with a plasma sample.
- FX will be activated to FX a .
- FX a activity can be detected using known techniques (see, e.g., Rosen et al., (1984) Scand. J.
- thrombin enzymatic activity or clot formation can be detected.
- small amounts of thrombin can be added to the system to activate FVIII - FVIII a .
- Similar assays can be used to evaluate the activity of other phospholipid-dependent clotting factors.
- FVIII a or FVIII and a FVIII activator
- FIX a can be added to the system described above to assess FIX a activity in the sample.
- FVIII a (or FVIII and a FVIII a activator) and FIX a can be added to the plasma and FX a or thrombin activity (e.g., by detecting thrombin enzymatic activity or clot formation) assessed.
- This assay system depends on the plasma to provide the clotting factor being evaluated to initiate the clotting cascade. If there is an impairment in clotting (or whatever other endpoint is being detected), it can be inferred that the sample was deficient for the particular factor being assessed as all other necessary component are provided to the assay system. In other words, all factors, other than the factor being evaluated, which would be required for clotting pathway activity are provided.
- the invention provides methods of evaluating the activity of a clotting factor in the intrinsic clotting pathway comprising: (a) combining a sample comprising plasma with: a soluble phospholipid, exogenous Factor X and activated forms of clotting factors other than FX that are dependent on the clotting factor being evaluated in the intrinsic clotting pathway or are required for activation of the clotting factor being evaluated, and calcium; (b) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for Factor X activation to Factor X a ; and (c) detecting Factor X a activity, wherein Factor X a activity is indicative of the activity of the clotting factor in the sample.
- FX a activity can be directly assessed (e.g., by a chromogenic or fluorescent assay) or can be indirectly assessed by detecting thrombin enzymatic activity or clot formation.
- the invention can also be used in methods of detecting and/or identifying inhibitory factors.
- Inhibitory factors include clotting factor inhibitors (i.e., antibodies that neutralize the clotting factors), heparin and lupus anticoagulants.
- the methods of the invention can be used to identify, and optionally quantify, autoantibodies (sometimes called inhibitors) of clotting factors (e.g., autoantibodies to FV, FVIII, FIX, FX or FXI).
- the titer of these inhibitors in the sample or subject is called a "Bethesda titer" (Ewing & Kasper, (1982) Am J. Clin. Pathol. 77:749-52).
- Low Bethesda titers can be treated by administering excess amounts of the clotting factor against which the autoantibody is directed to overcome the inhibitory effects.
- High Bethesda titers cannot generally be treated with this approach.
- Assays to determine Bethesda titers are based on mixing tests that involve determining how much a test plasma containing inhibitors has to be diluted into normal plasma to reduce the clotting time to normal.
- a clotting or FX a assay can be carried out in the presence of soluble phospholipids and conventional synthetic membrane preparations. A prolonged clotting time or low FX a activity in the presence of synthetic membranes with a normal clotting time or FX a activity with the soluble phospholipids indicates the presence of lupus anticoagulants in the sample.
- APC Resistance Assays The methods of the invention can also be used to evaluate abnormal elevations in clotting activity (i.e., hypercoagulable states).
- the soluble phospholipids of the present invention can be used in connection with Activated Protein C (APC) assays, which assess resistance to the anti-coagulatory effects of Protein C.
- APC Activated Protein C
- Protein C prevents uncontrolled coagulation and migration of the activated blood clotting factors from the site of vascular injury.
- Thrombin escaping from the site of hemostasis will bind to thrombomodulin, a cell bound receptor, which reduces the procoagulant activity of thrombin (i.e., ability to convert fibrinogen -> fibrin).
- Activated Protein C is a serine protease that, in the presence of Protein S, inactivates FV a and FVIII a , thereby markedly slowing the coagulation cascade.
- FV a and are termed "APC resistant.” Such subjects are at increased risk for thrombosis.
- APC resistance can result from hereditary or acquired deficiencies in normal Protein C or Protein S activity.
- the most prevalent form of APC resistance is a result of a specific mutation in FV (mutation of Arg 506 - Gin 506 ) that produces an APC resistant form of FV termed "FV Le i de n.”
- Addition of APC to plasma or blood from normal subjects results in a slowing down of the coagulation process and a prolonged clotting time (alternative results include reduced thrombin enzymatic activity or reduced FX a activity, etc.).
- APC resistance is manifested as an impairment in this inhibitory pathway, with continued rapid clotting (or alternatively, high thrombin enzymatic activity, high FX a activity, etc.).
- APC resistance assays are known in the art, and include assays described in international patent publications WO 93/10261 and WO 96/04560, U.S. Patent No. 6,426,192 and Dahlback et al., (1993) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 90:1004-08 (incorporated by reference herein in their entireties). Suitable commercial assay kits and reagents are also available from Chromogenix (Milano, Italy), such as the COATEST® APCTM Resistance assay.
- the existing assays which rely on synthetic membrane preparations, are relatively unreliable. For example, these assays are not sufficiently sensitive and reproducible to accurately identify FV Le i de n heterozygous individuals, who typically exhibit less APC resistance than homozygous individuals.
- Use of soluble phospholipid in place of the synthetic membrane preparations may increase the reproducibility of the assay and permit better discrimination between heterozygous and normal individuals.
- the APC resistance assay comprises: (a) combining a sample comprising blood or plasma with a soluble phospholipid, a contact activator, calcium and APC or a Protein C activator; (b) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for thrombin activation; and (c) detecting thrombin activity, wherein thrombin activity is indicative of APC resistance.
- Thrombin activity can be measured directly or by clot formation.
- the contact activator and phospholipids are added first, and following contact activation, the APC or Protein C activator and calcium are added to initiate the coagulation cascade.
- any endpoint that indicates the level of FV a known in the art can be used in the APC resistance assay, including but not limited to direct measurement of FV a activity, FX a activity, thrombin enzymatic activity and detection of clot formation.
- a chromogenic APC assay has been described in which FX a is added to diluted plasma in the presence of calcium, phospholipids and APC or a protein C activator.
- the measured end-point is hydrolysis of a chromogenic substrate by thrombin.
- APC resistance will impede the rate of FV a inactivation by APC and will result in higher levels of thrombin generation as compared with normal plasma.
- APC resistance can be determined by comparison with a standard such as normal plasma or values based on historical clinical information (as described below). The most common approach, however, is to determine a ratio of clotting time (or another suitable end-point such as thrombin activity or FX a activity) in the presence and absence of APC.
- Typical APC clotting ratios for healthy subjects are in the range of about 2-5, and are less than about 2 for APC resistant individuals (e.g., values of about 1.4 - 1.8 for heterozygous FV e i de n and about 1.1 - 1.3 for homozygous FV Le i de n)-
- APC resistant individuals e.g., values of about 1.4 - 1.8 for heterozygous FV e i de n and about 1.1 - 1.3 for homozygous FV Le i de n
- Chrogenix COATEST® APCTM assay recommends an APC resistance cut-off value as 0.75 to 0.80 times the median APC ratio for normal plasma.
- Thrombin in the presence of thrombomodulin is one activator of Protein C.
- venoms containing Protein C activators include snake venoms from Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix or from species of Elapidae such as Notechis, Tropidechis, Crptophys, Hoplocephalus and Pseudechis (e.g., Notechis scutatus scutatus, Notechis ater niger, Notechis ater humphreysi, Notechis ater serventyi, Notechis flinders, Notechis occidentalis, Tropidechis carinatus, Cryptophis nigrescens, Hoplocephalus stephensii and Pseudechis porphyriacus).
- the activating factors from the snake venom can also be produced using recombinant nucleic acid techniques, e.g., from microorganisms, insect cell cultures, mammalian cell cultures and the like.
- PROTAC® American Diagnostica, Greenwich, CT
- Protein C activator is isolated and purified from the venom of the southern copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix).
- Another cause of APC resistance is a deficiency in Protein S activity (e.g., due to reductions in the abundance of Protein S, the biological activity of the protein, or the presence of inhibitors). Protein S is the cofactor of APC.
- FVII is converted to FVII a in the presence of tissue factor (TF), which also acts as a potent cofactor of FVIIa activity.
- TF tissue factor
- FVIIa in the presence of TF activates FX -> FX a .
- Some individuals have a higher basal level of FVII a (i.e., in the absence of TF or tissue damage) and appear to be at greater risk for thrombosis.
- TF is generally embedded within membranes and it is believed that membrane-associated TF is required for FVII activation to FVII a but not as a cofactor of FVIIa in FX activation (i.e., a soluble TF can act as a FVII a cofactor).
- Methods of detecting and, optionally, quantifying FVIIa levels are known in the art (see, e.g., Morrissey et al., (1993) Blood 81 :734; Kapur et al., (1996) Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 16:1327-32), and can be modified to incorporate the soluble phospholipids of the present invention in place of synthetic membrane preparations.
- a representative method of evaluating FVII a activity comprises: (a) combining a sample comprising plasma with a soluble phospholipid, soluble tissue factor and calcium; (b) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for FX a or thrombin activation; and (c) detecting FX a activity or thrombin activity (e.g., by enzymatic assay or clot formation), wherein FX a activity or thrombin activity is indicative of Factor Vlla activity in the sample. While not wishing to be held to any theory of the invention, in the presence of soluble TF, FVII will not be activated to FVII a .
- the assay evaluates basal levels of FVII a .
- the soluble TF accelerates FVII a activation of FX in the presence of soluble phospholipid.
- Any suitable endpoint can be detected, e.g., FX a activity, thrombin enzyme activity or clot formation.
- FX a activity e.g., FX a activity, thrombin enzyme activity or clot formation.
- Soluble (e.g., not membrane-associated) tissue factor can be prepared by any method known in the art.
- TF can be solubilized by treating membranes containing TF with a detergent.
- the TF can be truncated so that the membrane-associated portion is removed (see, e.g., Morrissey et al., (1993) Blood 81 :734; U.S. Patent Nos. 5,750,358; 5,741 ,658).
- inventive methods can also be used to evaluate clotting activity in a subject prior to surgery.
- the methods can be practiced to monitor clotting time following anticoagulation therapy (e.g., heparin therapy prior to or during surgery).
- the method comprises: (a) obtaining a sample comprising blood or plasma from a subject that has been given anticoagulation therapy (e.g., heparin); (b) combining the sample with a soluble phospholipid, a contact activator, and calcium; (c) incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation; (d) determining a clotting time for the sample, thereby monitoring clotting time in the subject following heparin treatment.
- anticoagulation therapy e.g., heparin
- a soluble phospholipid e.g., a contact activator, and calcium
- incubating this mixture for a time and under conditions sufficient for clot formation
- determining a clotting time for the sample thereby monitoring clotting time in the subject following heparin treatment.
- other endpoints such as thrombin enzyme activity or FX a activity can be monitored.
- the assay can be performed one or more additional times to monitor the subject over time.
- samples can be taken from the subject at timed intervals (e.g., over minutes, hours or even days) to follow or monitor the effects of the anticoagulant therapy over time.
- Prior art methods of evaluating intrinsic pathway clotting activity rely on platelet membranes or, more commonly, synthetic membrane substitutes.
- the present invention uses soluble phospholipids in place of the platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations.
- Conventional membrane-based clotting assays have suffered from a number of drawbacks, including high background, variability, difficulty in producing high quality and reproducible batches of the synthetic membranes, and the relatively short shelf life (i.e., instability) of these preparations.
- the soluble phospholipid compositions of the invention may have a lower background and be more reproducible.
- the soluble phospholipid compositions are easier and less expensive to prepare, with reduced batch to batch variability, and have a longer shelf life under room temperature, refrigerated or freezer conditions.
- the soluble phospholipid in dried form has a shelf life of at least about 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 18 months or longer at refrigerated (e.g., around -4°C) or freezer (e.g., -20°C) conditions.
- stability of the dried soluble phospholipid at room temperature is at least about 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 9 months or longer.
- Dried phospholipids can be readily solubilized, e.g., in water or other aqueous solution, and store extremely well when stored as a dried powder.
- any suitable sample can be used to carry out the methods of the invention, typically a blood or platelet poor plasma (PPP) sample, depending on the particular assay being used.
- the sample is mixed with an anti-coagulant (e.g., a citrate salt such as sodium citrate) to prevent clotting prior to initiation of the assay.
- an anti-coagulant e.g., a citrate salt such as sodium citrate
- the sample can be derived from any mammalian or avian subject. Suitable mammalian subjects include humans, non-human primates, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, sheep, goats, cattle and pigs.
- Suitable avian subjects include chickens, turkeys, quail, ducks, geese, parrots and parakeets.
- numerous assays are known in the art to evaluate intrinsic clotting pathway activity. These assays can be modified to incorporate the soluble phospholipids of the invention in place of platelet membranes or synthetic membrane preparations.
- suitable reaction conditions e.g., time and temperature
- clotting activity assays are well known in the art.
- the assays are carried out at room temperature or physiological temperature (e.g., 37°C).
- the inventive methods can be practiced to perform a clotting assay.
- a clotting time is determined for the sample, e.g., the amount of time for a solid clot to form.
- the method is carried out to provide a qualitative evaluation of the clot. Normal samples produce a strong gel clot. Samples that yield thin, watery or webby clots or with prolonged clotting times are indicative of a clotting abnormality.
- Detection of Clot Formation A variety of techniques and detection devices are known for detecting clot formation. Generally, most of these protocols and devices rely on detection of the increase in turbidity or viscosity in the sample. Visual inspection with the human eye (with or without a microscope or other magnifying instrument) can also be used to detect clot formation. Automated instruments typically monitor optical properties, mechanical properties or electrical conductivity. For example, one traditional approach employs an instrument that measures increasing conductivity during clot formation. Fibrometers are instruments that mechanically detect clot formation as an increase in sample viscosity. Likewise, turbidity can be optically detected by the decrease in light transmission through the sample due to clot formation.
- More advanced instruments such as the KoaguLab® (Ortho Diagnostic systems Inc., Raritan, NJ), generate a printed graph plotting turbidity against reaction time. The shape of the curve provides a "clot signature," which can be evaluated by clinicians.
- the HEMOCHRON® International Technidyne Corp., Edison, NJ; see, e.g., U.S. Patent Nos. 3,836,333 and 3,695,842
- Sigma Amelung AMAX CS-190® coagulation analyzer can also be used to determine clotting time.
- Other instruments for detecting coagulation and measuring clotting times are known in the art. Devices and methods are also known in the art that calculate the rate or velocity of clot formation (see, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 5,169,786).
- impaired clotting activity is determined by comparison with a standard. For example, based on historical experience with the assay, a threshold value can be selected as a reference value for comparison with the clotting activity in the test sample. For example, a clotting time in the test sample that is greater than the reference value or is greater than the reference value by a specified amount (e.g., at least about 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% or 50% greater or even two-fold or three-fold greater or more) presumptively identifies the sample as having a deficiency in clotting activity.
- a specified amount e.g., at least about 5%, 7%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% or 50% greater or even two-fold or three-fold greater or more
- reductions in the activity of individual clotting factors of at least about 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 33%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 75%, 80%, 90% or more can be used to identify a test sample as having a deficiency in clotting activity.
- Statistical analysis can also be used to identify assay values times that are significantly greater or less than the reference value.
- the reference value will be based on known assay values in samples from healthy subjects.
- One system for normalizing clotting times is the International Normalized Ratio (INR). Normal plasma will give an INR value of 1. Values greater than a particular ratio presumptively identifies a subject as having a deficiency in clotting activity.
- an INR value of more than about 1.05, 1.07, 1.1 , 1.15, 1.2, 1.25, 1.33, 1.4, 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 or 3 or greater can be used to identify subjects with clotting deficiencies.
- the choice of reference value can be based on a number of factors including past clinical experience, the reproducibility of the assays, tolerance of false negative or false positive results, cost-benefit of early diagnosis, and the like.
- a standard can be used to determine abnormally rapid clotting times or abnormally elevated clotting factor activity.
- the reference value is determined concurrently using a sample(s) from a normal subject(s) or a synthetic composition that is known to provide assay values that are similar to those from normal blood or plasma as a standard.
- kits and Assay Compositions As further aspects, the present invention provides assay compositions (e.g., reagent mixtures) and kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.
- an assay composition comprises: (a) a plasma sample; (b) a soluble phospholipid; (c) an additional reagent such as a contact activator, a soluble tissue factor, and/or exogenous Factor X; and (d) calcium.
- the assay composition does not contain exogenously added platelet membranes or synthetic membranes.
- the assay composition above comprises a contact activator and further comprises Activated Protein C or a Protein C activator.
- the assay composition above comprises exogenous Factor X and exogenous Factor IX a .
- the assay composition can further comprise a clotting factor deficient plasma or a Protein C or Protein S deficient plasma.
- kits for practicing the methods of the invention comprises: a soluble phospholipid, an additional reagent such as a contact activator, a soluble tissue factor and/or a composition comprising Factor X.
- the kit can further comprise a calcium reagent, exogenous clotting factors in the inactive or activated form, clotting factor deficient plasma, Protein S or Protein C depleted plasma, and/or a suitable standard.
- the kit above comprises a contact activator and further comprises Activated Protein C or a Protein C activator.
- the kit above comprises a composition comprising Factor X and a composition comprising Factor IX a , which may be provided as separate or as a single reagent.
- the kit can further comprise other reagents such as enzymes, salts, buffers, detergents and the like for carrying out the inventive methods.
- the components of the kit are packaged together in a common container, typically including instructions for performing selected specific embodiments of the methods disclosed herein.
- DAPA dansylarginine-N- (3-ethyl-1 , 5-pentanediyl) amide
- SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- S-2238 means H-D-phenylalanyl-L-pipecolyl-L-arginin-p-nitroanilid dihydrochlorid
- S- 2765 means N- -benzyloxycarbonyl-D-arginyl-L-glycyl-L-arginin-p-nitroanilid dihydrochlorid
- DOPC means 1 ,2-dioleoyl-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine
- C6PS means 1 ,2-dicaproyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine
- membranes Two key reactions of blood coagulation, factor X and prothrombin activation, require membranes. In vivo, these membranes are small vesicles released from activated platelets containing a negatively charged lipid, phosphatidylserine (PS) (Bode et al. (1985) Thrombosis Res. 39 49; Jones et al. (1985) Thrombosis Res. 39 711 ; Sims ef al. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263:18205). These two reactions involve highly homologous enzymes and cofactors, namely factors IX a and Vlll a in factor X activation, and X a and V a in prothrombin activation.
- PS phosphatidylserine
- Example 1 we show that a fully active human prothrombin-activating complex, prothrombinase, can be assembled in solution using SPS and does not require a surface of any kind. It is established that negatively charged phospholipids, especially PS, play a prominent role in controlling the factor X-activating complex (Xase) complex (Gilbert et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271 11120). In Example 2, we present preliminary results suggesting that SPS will be able to play the same role in promoting formation of a human Xase. Finally, in Example 3, we show that SPS plays the same role as PS-containing membranes in the down-regulation of thrombin generation by APC.
- Xase factor X-activating complex
- EXAMPLE 1 C6PS Assembly and Regulation of Prothrombin-Generatinq Complex Materials and Methods Materials.
- Ecarin from Echis carinatus snake venom, heparin, and EGTA were purchased from SIGMA Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO).
- Dansylarginine-N-(3-ethyl-1 , 5-pentanediyl) amide (DAPA) was obtained from Hematologic Technologies Inc. (Essex Junction, VT).
- Thrombin-specific substrate, S-2238, and the factor X a substrate, S-2765 were purchased from AB Kabi Diagnostica (Molndal, Sweden).
- C6PS 1 ,2-dicaproyl-sn-glycero-3- phospho-L-serine
- C6PS was purchased from AVANTI® Polar Lipids Inc. (Alabaster, AL), and stock solutions were prepared from the purchased chloroform stock using well-known methods (Banerjee, et al. (2002) Biochemistry 41 (3):950-7).
- Human prothrombin and factor X a and Pre2 and F1.2 were obtained from Hematologic Technologies Inc. (Essex Junction, VT), and Mzll a was prepared as described (Pei and Lentz (1991 ) Blood Coagul. Fibrinolysis 2(2):309-16).
- DEGR-X a was prepared as described (Majumder, et al. (2002) supra).
- Purified human factor V was prepared from fresh frozen human plasma (American Red Cross Center, Durham, NC) and then activated to factor V a according to standard methods (Kane and Majerus (1981 ) J. Biol. Chem. 256(2): 1002-7; Cutsforth, et al. (1996) Biophys. J. 70(6):2938-49). The activity of FV a was assayed using 25/75 PS/PC vesicles according to well-established methods (Krishnaswamy, et al. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264(6):3160-8).
- CMC Critical Micelle Concentration
- CMCs determined by this method agree with values determined by changes in factor X a activity (Koppaka, et al. (1997) supra), in the fluorescence of surface-seeking fluorescence probes (Koppaka, et al. (1997) supra), and in CD spectra of factor X a (Majumder, et al. (2003) supra).
- Phospholipid Vesicles Extruded large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) composed of 25/75 bovine PS and DOPC were prepared, and phospholipid concentration was determined by previously described methods (Wu, et al. (2002) supra).
- LUV large unilamellar vesicles
- prothrombin activation rates measured in the presence of PS/PC membranes by this method were shown to be equivalent to rates measured either with thrombin- specific substrates or with quantitative SDS-PAGE (Wu, et al. (2002) supra; Weinreb, et al. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278(8):5679-5684).
- Stopped-flow measurements were performed using an SLM-Aminco Milliflow® stopped flow reactor (Spectronic Instruments, Inc., Rochester, NY) attached to the SLM 48000® spectrofluorometer (Spectronic Instruments) as described (Wu, et al. (2002) supra; Weinreb, et al. (2003) supra).
- Syringe A contained substrate solution and DAPA in 50 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 5 mM CaCI 2 , pH 7.5, and syringe B contained pre-assembled prothrombinase (FX a , FV a and C6PS) in the same buffer, with the final concentrations of factors X a and V a2 in the reaction chamber being 1 and 5 nM and the substrate/DAPA ratio being 1/5.
- FX a , FV a and C6PS pre-assembled prothrombinase
- Rapid Chemical Quench Measurements Rapid quench experiments, using the Chemical-Quench-Flow Model RQF-3 from Kintek Corporation (State College, PA), were performed at 37°C as described (Wu, et al. (2002) supra; Weinreb, et al. (2003) supra).
- the quenching solution was 100 ⁇ L of 100 mM Na 2 EGTA solution, pH 7.5. Aliquots from collected samples were assayed for amidolytic activity using S- 2238 in a microplate reader (SLT 340ATTC, SLT Instruments, Hillsborough, NC), and the concentration of active site (ll a plus Mzll a ) was determined by comparing the initial rate of S-2238 hydrolysis to a standard curve obtained with active-site-titrated thrombin as described (Wu, et al. (2002) supra).
- Mzll a and thrombin formation were distinguished by incubating the reaction mixture aliquot for 1 minute at room temperature in the presence of heparin (10 ⁇ g/ml) and antithrombin III (300 nM) to selectively block the thrombin but not the Mzllg active site (Rosing, et al. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261(9):4224-8).
- the initial rate of thrombin formation was obtained by subtracting the rate of Mzll a appearance from the initial rate of total active site formation. Fluorescence Titration of DEGR-X a by FV a2 in the Presence of C6PS.
- the cuvette was initially charged with a solution of 1 nM DEGR-Xg and 5 nM FV a in order to "condition" the cuvette (Boskovic, et al. (2001) supra).
- the cuvette contained 0.95 mL of 1 nM DEGR-X a and 400 ⁇ M C6PS in 50 mM Tris, 0.1 M NaCl, 5 mM Ca 2+ at pH 7.5.
- FV a2 was added from a stock solution, the mixture was incubated for at least 2 minutes, and several intensity readings were taken, averaged, and corrected for dilution.
- CMC critical micelle concentration
- Soluble Complex vs. Lipid Aggregate It is reasonable to ask whether the complex involves binding of FV a2 to FXg to a C6PS aggregate or micelle.
- C6PS micelles were detected by quasi-elastic light scattering and ANS fluorescence (Koppaka, et al. (1996) supra) under the conditions of this experiment only at 700 ⁇ M C6PS and above which is well above the concentration used in the experiments herein. Quasi-elastic light scattering detected the minimal micelle that one would predict for C6PS (-200 monomers) (Koppaka, et al. (1996) supra).
- C6PS micelles formed in the presence of the X a -V a2 complex contain -17,000 to 125,000 monomers (depending on C6PS concentration, see inset to Figure 2) and thus are much easier to detect.
- quasi-elastic light scattering is certainly sufficient to detect C6PS micelles if they form under the conditions of experiments conducted herein. Since micelles are aggregates, their formation resembles a phase transition, i.e., amphipaths exist as monomers in solution up to a well-defined critical micelle concentration (CMC) and then as micelles in equilibrium with monomers above that concentration (Tanford (1973) The Hydrophobic Effect, John Wiley & Sons, New York).
- CMC critical micelle concentration
- the active FX a »FV a2 »C6PS complex observed in kinetic experiments described below has a molecular mass of 224 ⁇ 3.7 KDalton (see Figure 3). This molecular mass is consistent with a stoichiometry of 1:1 :3.4 ⁇ 7.7 (X a : Va2: C6PS).
- the error in this measurement (i.e., ⁇ 7.7 C6PS) is such that the exact number of C6PS molecules bound to the complex could not be determined but, within this error bar, it is likely that no more than 11 and not less than 0 C6PS molecules are bound to the complex.
- this number is most likely 5 to 6 C6PS molecules.
- the 5-6 C6PS molecules are bound to very different regions of factor X a (one in EGF pair and one in catalytic domain (Srivastava, et al. (2002) supra)) and factor V a (two in heavy chain, two in light chain with one of these in the C2 domain (Srivastava, et al. (2001 )
- Mzll a and Pre2+F1.2 The activation of Mzll a and Pre2+F1.2 to thrombin reflects cleavage of individual peptide bonds (see legend to Figure 4).
- the time-courses of thrombin formation from Mzll a or Pre2&F1.2 were determined by stopped-flow experiments as described.
- DAPA is a weak competitive inhibitor of FX a (Nesheim, et al. (1979) supra). Despite this, it has been shown that it provides rates of prothrombin activation in the presence of PS/PC membranes equivalent to those detected by activity measurements (Wu, et al. (2002) supra; Weinreb, et al. (2003) supra).
- FIG. 9 shows the amidolytic activity (substrate Leu- PHG-Arg-pNA-AcOH, which does not depend on ethylene glycol) of 300 nM factor IX a in the presence of increasing C6PS concentration.
- a fit of these data to a single-site binding model gives a K d ⁇ f 130 ⁇ M.
- the 2 order of magnitude difference in the two K d values shows that IX a , like factor X a (Banerjee (2002) Biochemistry 41 7751 ), has two binding sites for C6PS.
- factor IX a also like factor X a (Koppaka et al. 1997 supra; Majumder et al (2002) Biophysical Journal 84 1238), undergoes changes in its active site upon binding C6PS.
- C6PS promotes the proteolytic activation of factor X by factor IX a , just as it promotes the proteolytic activation of prothrombin by factor X a .
- Figure 10 shows the rate of activation of factor X by factor IX a in the presence of increasing concentrations of soluble phosphatidylserine.
- the similar K d values from Figures 9 and 10 shows that a common C6PS site in factor IX a regulates the amidolytic and proteolytic activities.
- Figure 12 shows the rate of activation of factor X by factor IX a versus C6PS concentration at different calcium concentrations. As the concentration of Ca 2+ increases, the proteolytic activation of factor X by factor lX a increases as well. Enhancement of factor X activation appears to saturate at a calcium concentration of 3 mM. The data in Figure 12 demonstrate that both C6PS and calcium enhance proteolytic activation of factor X by factor IX a .
- aPTT Assay Activated partial thromboplastin time assays were done using an optical detection method to determine clotting time. Two reaction mixtures were created. Mixture A had kaolin in concentrations ranging from 50 g/L to 500 g/L and either phospholipid vesicles (ranging from 0.67 to 240 ⁇ M) or C6PS (ranging from 5 ⁇ M to 5250 ⁇ M) in buffer of 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 150 mM NaCl. Mixture B was 25 mM calcium chloride in a buffer of 20 mM HEPES (pH 7.4), 150 mM NaCl. Plasma, Mixture A, and Mixture B were all incubated at 37°C for 3 minutes.
- lipid vesicles were less effective, with a maximal shortening of only 80 seconds, while the C6PS was more effective with a maximal shortening of 20 seconds.
- Chromogenic FVIII Assay For the chromogenic factor VIII assay, a standard curve was prepared by diluting normal pooled plasma (which had 1 U/mL factor VIII according to the certification sheets) into factor VIII deficient plasma to give levels of 100% factor VIII, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 10% along with the factor VIII deficient plasma, which has 0% factor VIII. Two mixtures were prepared.
- Mixture #1 consisted of thrombin - 3 nM, factor IXa - 3 nM, factor X - 7.2 ⁇ g/mL, calcium - 12 mM in a buffer of 20 mM Tris (pH 7.9), 150 mM NaCl. Also included in Mixture #1 were either lipid vesicles (lipid unilamellar vesicles; "LUV") - 20 ⁇ M or C6PS - 2,625 ⁇ M.
- Mixture #2 consisted of hirudin - 60 nM and Pefachrome FXa - 1.8 mM in a buffer of 20 mM Tris (pH 7.9), 150 mM NaCl.
- Factor VIII levels were assayed by adding 25 ⁇ L plasma to 2000 ⁇ L of buffer. 50 ⁇ L of the diluted plasma, 100 ⁇ L Mixture #1 , and 100 ⁇ L of Mixture #2 were incubated at 37°C for 3 minutes. Then 50 ⁇ L of Mixture #1 was added to diluted plasma and incubated at 37°C for 2 minutes. Finally, 50 ⁇ L of Mixture #2 was added to diluted plasma + Mixture #1 and the reaction was monitored at 405 nm for 5 minutes. The rate is the change in absorbance between 30 seconds and 120 seconds expressed as mOD/minute. Results are shown in Figure 15 (lipid vesicles) and Figure 16 (C6PS).
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Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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ES04788891T ES2390271T3 (en) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-09-21 | Soluble phospholipids for use in coagulation factor assays |
EP04788891A EP1682863B1 (en) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-09-21 | Soluble phospholipids for use in clotting factor assays |
US10/572,521 US7727736B2 (en) | 2003-09-22 | 2004-09-21 | Soluble phospholipids for use in clotting factor assays |
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US50479603P | 2003-09-22 | 2003-09-22 | |
US60/504,796 | 2003-09-22 |
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WO2005031303A2 true WO2005031303A2 (en) | 2005-04-07 |
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US (1) | US7727736B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1682863B1 (en) |
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Cited By (7)
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WO2006088741A2 (en) * | 2005-02-16 | 2006-08-24 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Procoagulants based on metal-chelating lipids |
WO2007072197A1 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2007-06-28 | Dsm Ip B.V. | Methods and systems for detecting and quantifying indirect thrombin inhibitors |
WO2008052718A1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-05-08 | Roche Diagnostics Gmbh | Methods and apparatuses for electrochemical determination of factor xa inhibitors in blood samples |
US7682808B2 (en) | 2005-03-04 | 2010-03-23 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades modulator |
CN102650643A (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-29 | 希森美康株式会社 | Reagent kit for detecting LA and method of determining presence or absence of LA |
US8821861B2 (en) | 2007-10-05 | 2014-09-02 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Fibrin sealant |
US9241958B2 (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2016-01-26 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Anticoagulant antagonist and hemophilia procoagulant |
Families Citing this family (1)
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US10114017B2 (en) | 2013-11-15 | 2018-10-30 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Methods and assays for factor VIII activity |
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- 2004-09-21 EP EP04788891A patent/EP1682863B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-09-21 ES ES04788891T patent/ES2390271T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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WO2006088741A3 (en) * | 2005-02-16 | 2007-02-22 | Univ Illinois | Procoagulants based on metal-chelating lipids |
WO2006088741A2 (en) * | 2005-02-16 | 2006-08-24 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Procoagulants based on metal-chelating lipids |
US7682808B2 (en) | 2005-03-04 | 2010-03-23 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades modulator |
US9597375B2 (en) | 2005-03-04 | 2017-03-21 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinios | Coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades modulator |
WO2007072197A1 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2007-06-28 | Dsm Ip B.V. | Methods and systems for detecting and quantifying indirect thrombin inhibitors |
WO2008052718A1 (en) * | 2006-10-31 | 2008-05-08 | Roche Diagnostics Gmbh | Methods and apparatuses for electrochemical determination of factor xa inhibitors in blood samples |
US9594042B2 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2017-03-14 | Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. | Electrochemical determination of factor XA inhibitors |
US8636894B2 (en) | 2006-10-31 | 2014-01-28 | Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. | Electrochemical determination of factor XA inhibitors |
US8821861B2 (en) | 2007-10-05 | 2014-09-02 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Fibrin sealant |
US9241958B2 (en) | 2007-11-09 | 2016-01-26 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Illinois | Anticoagulant antagonist and hemophilia procoagulant |
EP2492685A1 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-29 | Sysmex Corporation | Reagent kit for detecting lupus anticoagulant and method for determining presence or absence of lupus anticoagulant |
US8759108B2 (en) | 2011-02-28 | 2014-06-24 | Sysmex Corporation | Reagent kit for detecting lupus anticoagulant and method of determining presence or absence of lupus anticoagulant |
JP2012181033A (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-09-20 | Sysmex Corp | Reagent kit for detecting lupus anticoagulant and method for determining existence of lupus anticoagulant |
EP3141907A1 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2017-03-15 | Sysmex Corporation | Reagent kit for detecting lupus anticoagulant and method for determining presence or absence of lupus anticoagulant |
CN102650643A (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-29 | 希森美康株式会社 | Reagent kit for detecting LA and method of determining presence or absence of LA |
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EP1682863A2 (en) | 2006-07-26 |
US20070037235A1 (en) | 2007-02-15 |
EP1682863B1 (en) | 2012-07-04 |
EP1682863A4 (en) | 2008-09-03 |
ES2390271T3 (en) | 2012-11-08 |
WO2005031303A3 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
US7727736B2 (en) | 2010-06-01 |
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