Ir-CPI, a coagulation contact phase inhibitor from the tick Ixodes ricinus, inhibits thrombus formation without impairing hemostasis

Blood coagulation starts immediately after damage to the vascular endothelium. This system is essential for minimizing blood loss from an injured blood vessel but also contributes to vascular thrombosis. Although it has long been thought that the intrinsic coagulation pathway is not important for clotting in vivo, recent data obtained with genetically altered mice indicate that contact phase proteins seem to be essential for thrombus formation. We show that recombinant Ixodes ricinus contact phase inhibitor (Ir-CPI), a Kunitz-type protein expressed by the salivary glands of the tick Ixodes ricinus, specifically interacts with activated human contact phase factors (FXIIa, FXIa, and kallikrein) and prolongs the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in vitro. The effects of Ir-CPI were also examined in vivo using both venous and arterial thrombosis models. Intravenous administration of Ir-CPI in rats and mice caused a dose-dependent reduction in venous thrombus formation and revealed a defect in the formation of arterial occlusive thrombi. Moreover, mice injected with Ir-CPI are protected against collagen- and epinephrine-induced thromboembolism. Remarkably, the effective antithrombotic dose of Ir-CPI did not promote bleeding or impair blood coagulation parameters. To conclude, our results show that a contact phase inhibitor is an effective and safe antithrombotic agent in vivo

Protein camouflage in cytochrome c–calixarene complexes

Small molecules that recognize protein surfaces are important tools for modifying protein interaction properties. Since the 1980s, several thousand studies concerning calixarenes and host–guest interactions have been published. Although there is growing interest in protein–calixarene interactions, only limited structural information has been available to date. We now report the crystal structure of a protein–calixarene complex. The water-soluble p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene is shown to bind the lysine-rich cytochrome c at three different sites. Binding curves obtained from NMR titrations reveal an interaction process that involves two or more binding sites. Together, the data indicate a dynamic complex in which the calixarene explores the surface of cytochrome c. In addition to providing valuable information on protein recognition, the data also indicate that the calixarene is a mediator of protein–protein interactions, with potential applications in generating assemblies and promoting crystallization

Antiplatelet aggregation activity of compounds isolated from guttiferae species in human whole blood

Twenty compounds isolated from Calophyllum inophyllum L., C. inophylloides King, Garcinia opaca King, G. bancana Miq., and G. parvifolia Miq. (Guttiferae) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit platelet aggregation in human whole blood induced by arachidonic acid (AA), collagen, and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The compounds inhibited platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Among the compounds tested, 2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-1,3,5-trihydroxyxanthone and 2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-1,3,5,6- tetrahydroxyxanthone showed strong inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation induced by AA with IC50 values of 115.9 and 113.0µM, respectively. Rubraxanthone showed inhibitory activity against aggregation caused by the three inducers, and was the most effective antiplatelet compound against collagen-induced platelet aggregation with an IC50 value of 47.0µM. Macluraxanthone, GB-1a, pyranoamentoflavone, and a neoflavonoid showed selective inhibitory activity on platelet aggregation induced by ADP