Heparinlike molecules with anticoagulant activity are synthesized by cultured endothelial cells

Cultured microvascular endothelial cells isolated from rat epididymal fat pads produce glycosaminoglycans that accelerate thrombin-antithrombin complex formation. The heparinlike nature of these macromolecules was established by complete destruction of their anticoagulant activity employing purified Flavobacterium heparinase. Only 15% of the biologic activity of these complex carbohydrates was expressed when the heparin binding domain on the protease inhibitor was chemically modified at the Trp 49 residue. The anticoagulantly active species contains disaccharides which constitute the unique antithrombin binding region of the mucopolysaccharide. Removal of the biologically active heparinlike components from endothelial cells with 0.05% trypsin suggests that these molecular species are present on the cell surface.