Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0033036 (APC)
10,214 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The use of oral contraceptives (OC) causes disturbances of the procoagulant, anticoagulant and fibrinolytic pathways of blood coagulation which may contribute to the increased risk of venous thrombosis associated with OC therapy. Here we report the results of a cycle-controlled randomized cross-over study, in which we determined the effects of so-called second and third generation OC's on a number of anticoagulant parameters. In this study, 28 non-OC using women were randomly prescribed either a second generation (150 microg levonorgestrel/30 microg ethinylestradiol) or a third generation OC (150 microg desogestrel/30 microg ethinylestradiol) and who switched to the other OC after a two month wash out period. The anticoagulant parameters determined were: antithrombin (AT), alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M), alpha1-antitrypsin, protein C inhibitor (PCI), protein C, total and free protein S and activated protein C sensitivity ratios (APC-sr) measured with two functional APC resistance tests which quantify the effect of APC on either the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) or on the endogenous thrombin potential (ETP). During the use of desogestrel-containing OC the plasma levels of alpha2-M, alpha1-antitrypsin, PCI and protein C significantly increased, whereas AT and protein S significantly decreased. Similar trends were observed with levonorgestrel-containing OC, although on this kind of OC the changes in AT, PCI and protein S (which was even slightly increased) did not reach significance. Compared with levonorgestrel, desogestrel-containing OC caused a significant decrease of total (p <0.005) as well as free protein S (p <0.0001) and more pronounced APC resistance in both the aPTT (p = 0.02) and ETP-based (p <0.0001) APC resistance tests. These observations indicate that the activity of the anticoagulant pathways in plasma from users of desogestrel-containing OC is more extensively impaired than in plasma from users of levonorgestrel-containing OC.
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PMID:A randomized cross-over study on the effects of levonorgestrel- and desogestrel-containing oral contraceptives on the anticoagulant pathways. 1092 60

Activation of the coagulation system in the alveolar space plays an important role in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary fibrosis. The protein C (PC) pathway is the main modulator of coagulation activation. This study evaluated whether dysfunction of the PC pathway is associated with increased collagen synthesis in the intraalveolar space of patients with ILD. This study comprised 22 patients with ILD; of these, five had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), nine had sarcoidosis-associated ILD, and eight had collagen vascular disease-associated ILD (CVD-ILD). Thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) was measured as a marker of coagulation activation. As markers of the PC pathway activity, the concentration of activated PC-PC inhibitor (APC-PCI) complex and the APC-PCI/PC ratio were measured and, as a marker of collagen synthesis, the concentration of aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP) was measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ILD patients. TAT was significantly increased in BALF from ILD patients as compared to control subjects. The concentrations of PIIINP were significantly elevated in patients with ILD as compared to healthy subjects. In contrast, the concentration of APC-PCI and the values of APC-PCI/PC ratio were significantly decreased in BALF from patients with ILD. BALF concentration of PIIINP was significantly and inversely correlated with the concentration of APC-PCI and with the APC-PCI/PC ratio. These findings suggest that dysfunction of the protein C pathway may have important physiopathologic implications in the development of pulmonary fibrosis in ILD.
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PMID:Decreased protein C activation is associated with abnormal collagen turnover in the intraalveolar space of patients with interstitial lung disease. 1103 May 25

Acquired activated protein C resistance (APCR) has been hypothesized as a possible mechanism by which antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) cause thrombotic events (TEs). However, available evidence for an association of acquired APCR with APLAs is limited. More importantly, an association of acquired APCR with TEs has not been demonstrated. The objective of the study was to determine, in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whether (1) acquired APCR is associated with the presence of APLAs, (2) APCR is associated with TEs, and (3) there is an interaction between APCR and APLAs in association with TEs. A cross-sectional cohort study of 59 consecutive, nonselected children with SLE was conducted. Primary clinical outcomes were symptomatic TEs, confirmed by objective radiographic tests. Laboratory testing included lupus anticoagulants (LAs), anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLAs), APC ratio, protein S, protein C, and factor V Leiden. The results revealed that TEs occurred in 10 (17%) of 59 patients. Acquired APCR was present in 18 (31%) of 58 patients. Acquired APCR was significantly associated with the presence of LAs but not ACLAs. Acquired APCR was also significantly associated with TEs. There was significant interaction between APCR and LAs in the association with TEs. Presence of both APCR and LAs was associated with the highest risk of a TE. Protein S and protein C concentrations were not associated with the presence of APLAs, APCR, or TEs. Presence of acquired APCR is a marker identifying LA-positive patients at high risk of TEs. Acquired APCR may reflect interference of LAs with the protein C pathway that may represent a mechanism of LA-associated TEs. (Blood. 2001;97:844-849)
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PMID:Acquired activated protein C resistance is associated with lupus anticoagulants and thrombotic events in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. 1115 6

In the present study, a new functional test for the detection of increased resistance of coagulation factor V to degradation by activated protein C (factor V Leiden mutation) was evaluated. The STA-STACLOT APC-R Test (Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres, France) is based on the specific activation of factor X by Crotalus viridis helleri snake venom. The results are given as clotting time in seconds of the patient's plasma in the presence of venom and activated protein C. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was 2.17% (n=20) for samples within the normal range, and 1.70% and 1.42% (n=20) for the plasma of a heterozygous or a homozygous carrier of the factor V Leiden mutation, respectively. The inter-assay coefficient of variation (n=10) was 7.75% for the plasma of a healthy donor, 5.05% for the plasma of a heterozygous carrier and 3.38% for the plasma of a homozygous individual. The normal range (5th-95th percentile) of 136.4 s-174.7 s was derived from the clotting time of the plasma of 38 healthy controls. Values below 136 s were found in every sample from patients carrying the factor V Leiden mutation (n=52), whereas no patient with protein C (n=11) or protein S deficiency (n=10) had reduced clotting times. Homozygous carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation had clotting times shorter than 66.0 s and heterozygous carriers had clotting times longer than 80.0 s. Thus, based upon the individual clotting time, patients homozygous for factor V Leiden mutation could easily be distinguished from normals or heterozygous individuals. The influence of coagulation factor X, V, or II deficiency on the STACLOT APC-R Test was evaluated and revealed prolonged clotting times at factor V activities below 50%. In the presence of lupus anticoagulant the specificity of the STA-STACLOT APC-R Test was clearly decreased. In the present study, we clearly show that the STA-STACLOT APC-R Test is able to discriminate carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation from healthy controls or patients with protein C or protein S deficiency.
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PMID:Evaluation of a highly specific functional test for the detection of factor V Leiden. 1119 68

Human protein C is a natural anticoagulant factor, and a recombinant activated form of the molecule (rhAPC) is completing clinical evaluation for treatment of severe sepsis. Because of the pathophysiologic role of endothelial dysfunction in severe inflammatory disease and sepsis, we explored the possibility that rhAPC might directly modulate endothelial function, independent of its anticoagulant activity. Using broad transcriptional profiling, we show that rhAPC directly modulates patterns of endothelial cell gene expression clustering into anti-inflammatory and cell survival pathways. rhAPC directly suppressed expression of p50 and p52 NFkappaB subunits, resulting in a functional decrease in NFkappaB binding at target sites. Further, rhAPC blocked expression of downstream NFkappaB regulated genes following tumor necrosis factor alpha induction, including dose-dependent suppression of cell adhesion expression and functional binding of intracellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and E-selectin. Further, rhAPC modulated several genes in the endothelial apoptosis pathway, including the Bcl-2 homologue protein and inhibitor of apoptosis protein. These pathway changes resulted in the ability of rhAPC to inhibit the induction of apoptosis by the potent inducer, staurosporine. This new mechanistic understanding of endothelial regulation and the modulation of tumor necrosis factor-induced endothelial dysfunction creates a novel link between coagulation, inflammation, and cell death and provides insight into the molecular basis for the efficacy of APC in systemic inflammation and sepsis.
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PMID:Gene expression profile of antithrombotic protein c defines new mechanisms modulating inflammation and apoptosis. 1127 52

Sepsis-induced abnormalities of coagulation may contribute to mortality during severe bacterial infection. The aim of this study was to examine changes in coagulation parameters and to assess the role of protein C supplementation during murine S. aureus sepsis. Gram-positive sepsis was characterized by a hypercoagulable state with predominant activation of the external coagulation pathway, registered as an early increase of tissue factor activity and concomitant reduction in protein C. The internal coagulation pathway was unaffected. No correlation between the changes of coagulation parameters and the intensity of inflammation, determined as serum IL-6 levels, was found. Supplementation with neither protein C or APC favoured survival in S. aureus sepsis. Reduction in thrombin generation in response to protein C supplementation was associated with significantly increased survival.
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PMID:Thrombin generation and mortality during Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. 1131 18

To assess possible interactions between inflammation and activation of the anticoagulant protein C system during post-ischemic reperfusion protein C, APC, neutrophil L-selectin expression and myocardial myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) were measured in 19 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. After reperfusion for 10 min, APC to protein C ratio (APC/PC) increased from pre-reperfusion value 1.43 +/- 0.12 (mean +/- SEM) to 2.25 +/- 0.29, p = 0.015. Negative correlations were observed between APC/PC and MPO activity (Spearman r -0.64, p = 0.007) and APC/PC and neutrophil L-selectin expression (r = -0.7, p = 0.007, demonstrating that post-ishemic protein C activation was associated with decreased neutrophil tissue sequestration. Thus, physiological protein C activation may be involved in regulation of the inflammatory injury during reperfusion of human ischemic coronary circulation.
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PMID:Activated protein C and inflammation in human myocardium after heart surgery. 1139 22

Abnormalities of the protein C anticoagulant pathway i.e. protein C and protein S deficiencies and factor V Leiden-related activated protein C resistance are among the most frequent risk factors for thrombosis in the Caucasian population. Until now, their screening is based upon the use of individual assays for each component. However, normal results are found in more than 70% of the tested patients. So, there was a rational behind the development of global assays to evaluate the functionality of the protein C pathway, as this would rationalize the use of costly specific assays. Such global assays are based on the ability of endogenous activated protein C generated by activation of protein C by a snake venom extract to prolong a clotting time. Up to now, two assays are commercially available, the ProC Global assay (Dade Behring) and the Protein C Pathway Test (Gradipore). Both were found to be highly sensitive for the factor V Leiden and for protein C deficiency, as confirmed by different studies in patients with a history of venous thrombosis. However, sensitivity of both global assays for protein S deficiency was found to be only moderate and highly variable depending of the cut-off level used. So, these global assays can be validly used for the screening of the factor V Leiden-related APC resistance and for protein C deficiency, but protein S have to be measured in all the cases. The overall sensitivity of these assays for abnormalities of the protein C pathway was dramatically different, since 40% of the patients without any known abnormality have a decreased response to the ProC Global assay versus less than 13% for the Protein C Pathway Test. These characteristics suggest that the clinical usefulness of these two global assays might be different.
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PMID:[Clinical usefulness of global assays of the anticoagulant pathway of protein C]. 1160 84

A heterozygous G-->T transversion at position 1388 of the protein C (PC) gene which predicted the substitution of Arg(-1) to a Leu (PC(R-1L)) was identified in a thrombophilic patient. The PC(R-1L) was purified from the patient's plasma by immunoaffinity chromatography using Ca++-independent and Ca++-dependent monoclonal antibodies. NH2-terminal sequencing of the light chain of PC(R-1L) revealed two amino acid sequences: one was identical to the complete propeptide sequence of PC, while the other matched the normal PC light chain sequence elongated by one amino acid (Leucine at position 1). Activated PC(R-1L/propeptide) exhibited normal amidolytic and impaired anticoagulant activity. Thus, the substitution of a Leu for an Arg at position -1 of PC shifts the propeptidase cleavage site by one amino acid. In addition, in PC(R-1L/propeptide) the propeptide cleavage at Lys(-2) is less efficient since approximately 60% of PC variant molecules present in patient's plasma retained the entire propeptide. Our findings suggest that depending on the specific amino acid substitution at position-1, PC can be secreted in plasma containing the entire propeptide attached to the light chain. Impaired interaction of elongated APC molecules with a membrane-surface and/or factor Va which is the physiological substrate for APC, is manifested in vivo by thrombophilia.
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PMID:Abnormal propeptide processing resulting in the presence of two abnormal species of protein C in plasma: characterization of the dysfunctional protein C Padua3 (protein C(R-1L/propeptide)). 1168 18

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a carboxy-peptidase B-like proenzyme that after activation by thrombin downregulates fibrinolysis. Thrombomodulin stimulates the activation of both TAFI and protein C whereas activated protein C inhibits the activation of TAFI by downregulation of thrombin formation, a process in which protein S acts as a cofactor. Here we determined the role of protein S in the activation of TAFI and regulation of fibrinolysis. Depletion of protein S from plasma or inhibition of protein S by specific antibodies resulted in an increased rate of TAFI activation and in an increased maximum of TAFIa activity generated. The effect on the rate of TAFI activation could be attributed to the APC-independent anticoagulant function of protein S whereas the effect on the maximum activity could be attributed to the APC cofactor function of protein S. Therefore it is concluded that protein S inhibits TAFI activation in two ways. On one hand, protein S functions as a cofactor for APC which results in a reduction of the maximum induced TAFI activity and on the other hand protein S inhibits the initial thrombin formation independently of APC which results in a decreased rate of TAFI activation. The effect of the APC-independent anticoagulant activity of protein S on the activation of TAFI provides a new mechanism for the regulation of fibrinolysis in the early stages of clot formation.
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PMID:The role of protein S in the activation of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and regulation of fibrinolysis. 1168 22


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