Vitamin K-dependent carboxylase in horse liver, spleen and kidney

The presence of vitamin K-dependent carboxylase is demonstrated in the microsomal fraction of horse liver, spleen and kidney. The carboxylating enzyme systems in the spleen and in the kidney are susceptible to warfarin in a similar way as is carboxylase from the liver. It is concluded, that during the administration of vitamin K-antagonists (anticoagulation therapy) carboxylase in all these tissues is inhibited. Since most probably the majority of the reaction products of spleen and kidney carboxylase are no clotting factors, the inhibition of their production is a side-effect of the anticoagulation therapy. Whether this side-effect is harmful, neutral or even advantageous for the organism in vivo can only be judged, when the function of the various extrahepatic vitamin K-dependent proteins is known.