A simple centrifugation technique has been developed to study the interaction of human coagulation Factors IXa and X with phospholipid membranes. In the presence of Ca2+, equimolar phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine membranes form tight complexes with Factor X (KD = 2.8 X 10(-8) M); the KD is independent of the phospholipid concentration. Binding sites are available for about 2 mmol of Factor X/mol of phospholipid. Factor IXa has a slightly higher affinity for the phospholipid membrane (KD = 1.2 X 10(-8)M), and competes with Factor X for binding. The experimentally observed competition between Factor X and Factor IXa is in agreement with a model that describes the binding of two distinct ligands to a single class of independent binding sites.

Protein S (PS) is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that inhibits blood coagulation by serving as a nonenzymatic cofactor for activated protein C in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Low PS levels are a risk factor for the development of deep venous thrombosis. The regulation of PS levels through transcriptional regulation of the PS gene was investigated in this report. A minimal PS gene promoter 370 bp upstream from the translational initiation codon was sufficient for maximal promoter activity in transient transfections regardless of the cell type. A pivotal role for Sp1 in the constitutive expression of the PS gene was demonstrated through electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments, transient expression of mutant PS promoter-reporter gene constructs, and chromatin immunoprecipitations in HepG2 cells. At least four Sp-binding sites were identified. The two sites most proximal to the translational start codon were found to be indispensable for PS promoter activity, whereas mutation of the two most distal Sp-binding sites had a negligible influence on basal promoter activity. In addition, all other major promoter-binding proteins that were found by electrophoretic mobility shift assay could be positively identified in supershift assays. We identified binding sites for the hepatocyte-specific forkhead transcription factor FOXA2, nuclear factor Y, and the cAMP-response element-binding protein/activating transcription factor family of transcription factors. Their relevance was investigated using site-directed mutagenesis.The coagulation cascade is a complex system in which the consecutive activation of multiple coagulation factors leads to the production of thrombin and ultimately to the formation of fibrin polymers, the primary component of blood clots (for a recent review see Ref. 1). Protein S (PS)2 is a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein that functions as a nonenzymatic cofactor for activated protein C in the down-regulation of the coagulation cascade via proteolytic inactivation of coagulant factors Va and VIIIa (2-5). PS has also been shown to display activated protein C-independent anticoagulant activity in purified systems as well as in plasma (6 -8). Recent studies indicate that PS may have a second function unrelated to coagulation in the clearance of apoptotic cells (9, 10).Over the past two decades low PS plasma levels have become a well established risk factor for the development of deep venous thrombosis (11-13). However, not all mechanisms underlying low plasma PS levels have been fully characterized. Hereditary PS deficiency has been shown to be an autosomal dominant trait, and many causative genetic mutations have been described in the PS gene (14,15). On the other hand, PS deficiency can also be acquired throughout life by conditions such as oral contraceptive use and liver disease (16). To better understand the different functions of PS and the possible causes of PS deficiency, more information is needed on the regulation of the PS gene, mRNA, and protein.The major source of circulati...

SummaryWe studied activation of human coagulation factors IX and X by factor VIIa in the presence of calcium ions, phospholipid (phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine, 50/50, mol/mol) and purified tissue factor apoprotein. Activation of factor IX and factor X was found to occur without a measurable lag-phase and hence initial rates of factor IXa and factor Xa formation could be determined. Like previously observed for the activation of factor X, the activation of factor IX was saturable with respect to factor VIIa, tissue factor apoprotein and phospholipid. The results suggested that in the presence of a Ca2+ ions the same ternary complex of factor VIIa-tissue factor apoprolein-phospholipid is responsible for the activation of factor IX and factor X. Roth the apparent Km of 22 nM-factor IX and the apparent Kcat of 28 min−1 were about 3-fold lower than the coiicsponding parameters of factor X activation by this complex. Hence, the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/Km) of factor IX and factor X activation was about equal. However, the two substrates inhibited the activation of each other by competition for the same catalytic sites. The apparent Kinh of factor IX for inhibition of extrinsic factor X activation is 30 nM. The apparent Kinh of factor X for inhibition of extrinsic factor IX activation is 116 nM. From these kinetic data it was calculated that at plasma concentration of factors IX and X, the rate of extrinsic factor IX activation would be half the rate of factor X activation. These relative rates of extrinsic factor IX and factor X activation in combination with previously reported kinetic data on the activation of factor X by factor IXa in the presence of factor VIIIa provide support for the concept that at low levels of tissue factor, factor IXa formation might play an important role in the extiinsic pathway of coagulation in vivo.

It appears likely that, rather than a possible founder effect, the Bb 14 Arg fi Cys mutation occurs in a CpG dinucleotide (CGT to TGT change) which is a recognized mutation hot spot.Among all the dysfibrinogen variants so far reported, only Bb 14 Arg fi Cys and Aa 554 Arg fi Cys mutations show a sufficient number of reports to suggest an association with increased risk of thrombosis (http://www.geht.org/databaseang/fibrinogen/). Despite the fact that the pathophysiology still remains obscure, the presence of a Bb 14 Arg fi Cys mutation should currently be considered as a risk factor for inherited thrombophilia and the mutation should be looked for in patients with thrombin time prolongation and thrombosis.

Objective-The protein C anticoagulant pathway is an essential process for attenuating thrombin generation by the membrane-bound procoagulant complexes tenase and prothrombinase. In this pathway, protein S (PS) serves as a cofactor for activated protein C. PS circulates in plasma both in a free form and in complex with complement component 4b-binding protein (C4BP). C4BP is a known acute phase reactant, thereby suggesting a relation between PS and the acute phase response. Interleukin (IL)-6 has been shown to increase both PS and C4BP gene expression. Our objective was to study the regulation of PS gene expression by IL-6 in detail.