Biochemistry of Serine Protease Inhibitors and Their Mechanisms of Action: A Review

Abstract

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) activates and disrupts the hemostatic and inflammatory systems, which, in turn, makes an impact on the clinical outcome of patients. Postoperative bleeding is one common complication of CPB. Many techniques have been used to reduce post-operative bleeding, and pharmacological agents have demonstrated the greatest efficacy. In particular, the serine protease inhibitor, aprotinin, consistently reduces post-operative bleeding. The hemostatic mechanism of action of aprotinin; however, remains to be elucidated fully. The purpose of this review is to discuss the probable mechanisms of aprotinin action from the perspective of its interactions within the hemostatic and inflammatory pathways.

Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of a Schistosoma mansoni Serine Protease Inhibitor, Smserpin-p46

“…Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a superfamily of highly conserved proteins that participate in a number of fundamental physiological processes, such as blood coagulation [ 5 , 6 ], fibrinolysis [ 7 ], inflammation [ 7 ], signaling cascades [ 8 , 9 ], immune responses [ 10 , 11 ], tumor suppression and hormone carriage [ 12 ]. In pathogens, serpins are believed to have specifically evolved to limit or modulate their host immune responses [ 13 ].…”