Recombinant antithrombin: production and role in cardiovascular disorder

Plasma-derived antithrombin (AT) concentrates have been used for the management of hereditary and acquired deficiencies since the early 1980s. Recombinant versions of other blood factors and their derivatives are increasingly becoming available, providing a safe and abundant supply of these important therapeutics. However, the complexity of the AT molecule and the large doses often required for supplementation treatments preclude the use of traditional cell culture bioreactors for recombinant production. The development of a very efficient expression system has been necessary for the cost-efficient recombinant production of AT. Transgenic production, with its ability to yield high levels of heterologous protein and its scale-up flexibility, is an attractive alternative to plasma fractionation. Purification of recombinant AT from the milk of transgenic dairy goats has been developed to provide a homogeneous, well-defined, and abundant supply of this factor. This article describes the production of recombinant AT and aspects of clinical applications of this molecule to cardiovascular disorders.