Dai J

Functional study of abnormal fibrinogen caused by Arg275His mutation in fibrinogen γ chain

OBJECTIVEnTo investigate the function of abnormal fibrinogen in two inherited dysfibrinogenemia pedigrees.nnnMETHODSnRoutine coagulation tests were conducted in the probands and related family members. The antigen and activity levels of fibrinogen were detected by immunoturbidimetry assay and clauss assay, respectively. All the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the three fibrinogen genes and antithrombin gene（AT3）were analyzed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Routine thrombelastography (TEG) test and functional fibrinogen TEG test were both used to make a comprehensive evaluation of coagulation status and functional fibrinogen level in patients. The molecular weights of the three peptides from fibrinogen were measured by Western blot. The function of abnormal fibrinogen was assessed by fibrinogen dynamic polymerization and fibrinolysis velocity.nnnRESULTSnThe coagulation routine tests were normal in two probands except for prolonged thrombin time (TT) and reptilase time (RT), as well as reduced activity levels of 0.5 g/L and 0.6 g/L fibrinogen, respectively. The antigen levels of fibrinogen were 2.32 g/L and 2.66 g/L in two probands, which were in the normal reference range. The genotype analysis showed that Arg275His in fibrinogen γ chain (γ Arg275His) existed in both probands and patients in these two pedigrees. Meanwhile, proband Bs grandfather and aunt also carried heterozygote g.5876T>C (Ser116Pro) mutation in AT3. The results of routine TEG test demonstrated that the α values of proband B and his father were close to and lower than the lower limit of reference range, respectively, while the MA values were normal in both of them. However, functional fibrinogen TEG test revealed obviously reduced MA value. All the probands and patients demonstrated prolonged lag-off time and reduced peak value in fibrinogen dynamic polymerization tests. Meanwhile, most of fibrin formed from the patients plasma could not be dissolved completely by plasminogen (PLG) and urokinase-typeplasminogenactivator (u-PA) at a certain time.nnnCONCLUSIONnWe first reported cases of inherited dysgibrinogenemia associated with inherited AT deficiency. γArg275His mutation caused the abnormal fibrinogen in terms of fibrin mono polymerization and possibly in fibrinolysis. Combined use of routine TEG test and functional fibrinogen TEG test with comprehensive analyses of the parameters in both tests could better evaluate the level of functional fibrinogen and predict the risk of hemorrhage and thrombosis in patients with inherited dysfibrinogenemia.

The functional study of antithrombin L99 mutation

OBJECTIVEnTo study the molecular mechanisms of inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency caused by AT L99 mutation.nnnMETHODSnWild type (WT), L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S AT were purified from drosophila expression system. The binding capacity of AT and the low molecular weight heparin sodium was analyzed by the heparin binding assay. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was used to detect the binding ability of AT to thrombin (FIIa) or AT to coagulation factor Xa (FXa). The activity of AT(AT∶A)was detected by chromogenic assay.nnnRESULTSnThe purified WT and mutant AT were at the same size. No additional band was observed by coomassie blue staining and western blot assay. Compared to the WT AT, the binding abilities of the low molecular weight heparin sodium to the AT L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S were (44.8±3.6)%, (118.9±14.0)%, (15.2±8.8)%, and(23.0±8.2)%, respectively. The binding abilities of FIIa to AT L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S were 13%, 57%, 3%, and 29%, while the binding of FXa to AT L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S were 7%, 51%, 1%, and 25%. The AT∶A of WT, L99V, L99A, L99I and L99S AT were 146.5%, 21.4%, 120.9%, 10.8%, and 39.0%, respectively.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe binding abilities of AT to heparin, FIIa and FXa were damaged by the L99 mutation, which resulted in decreased AT∶A and inherited AT deficiency.

Study on the impact of Trp1707Ser mutation on the binding mechanism of rF VIII light chain with VWF

OBJECTIVEnTo disclose the impact of Trp1707Ser mutation on the binding mechanism of rFVIII light chain (rFVIII LC) with VWF.nnnMETHODSnUsing long-chain PCR technique, we constructed rFVIII LC plasmids of both wild type and Trp1707Ser mutant type. BL21 competent cells were used for protein expression. Gradient renaturation was employed to refold protein. SDS-PAGE and Western blot were performed to identify the molecular weight of expressed protein. GST-Sefinose was used for protein purification and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was employed to detect binding of B-domain-deleted rFVIII (BDD-rFVIII), wild and mutant rFVIII LC with VWF, respectively.nnnRESULTSnThe results of SDS-PAGE and Western blot showed a molecular weight of 110×10(3) of expressed proteins, which were consistent with objective proteins. The expression quantity of wild type was higher than that of mutant type. A concentration-dependent combination of the 3 testing proteins with VWF was found. The KD value of BDDrFVIII (12.2) was lower than that of both rFVIII LCs (wild type 48.9 and mutant type 46.3), whereas there was no discrepancy between wild rFVIII LC and mutant rFVIII LC.nnnCONCLUSIONnTrp1707Ser mutation didnt impact the binding of rFVIII LC expressed by BL21 competent cells with VWF. The heavy chain played a more important role in impacting the binding of FVIII with VWF.

[The binding mechanisms of F VIII Trp1707Ser mutation-associated inhibitor].

OBJECTIVEnTo investigate the binding mechanisms of FVIII Trp1707Ser mutation-associated inhibitor.nnnMETHODSnThe APPT, PT, TT, Fg and FVIII:C were detected to make phenotypic diagnosis of haemophilia A. Inhibitors titer were measured by Bethesda method. Long distance-PCR (LD-PCR) and sequence-specific PCR were adopted for screening the intron 22 and intron 1 inversions respectively. FVIII coding and boundary sequences were analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. Inhibitor was reacted with different segments of FVIII, including heavy chain and its components A1 and A2, light chain and its components A3, C1 and C2. Corrected test was used to measure the remaining F VIII:C (% ) by adding pooled normal plasmas. After labeling purified inhibitors with biotin, western blot was performed to further confirm the binding reactions between inhibitors and segments.nnnRESULTSnThe haemophilia A patient had mild deficiency of FVIII:C (1.1%) and had high FVIII inhibitor titer of 18.4 BU. A mutation c.97223C>G in exon 14 of F8 gene resulted to p.Trp1707Ser was identified by DNA sequencing. Corrected test showed that the remaining F VIII:C was increased when inhibitors reacted with heavy chain and light chain, especially with heavy chain. The remaining FVIII:C was also increased in the A2 and C2 domain reactions. No significant differences were seen in the A1, A3 and C1 domain reactions. Antigen-antibody reaction bands were confirmed by western blots when degenerated B-domain deleted recombinant FVIII, A2 and C2 were used as antigens.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe binding sites of FVIIITrp1707Ser mutation inhibitor were the A2 domain of heavy chain and C2 domain of light chain. The binding reaction with heavy chain was more intense.