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Incorporation of an active site inhibitor in factor VIIa alters the affinity for tissue factor

B B Sorensen1, E Persson, P O Freskgârd

  • 1Vessel Wall Biology, Health Care Discovery, Novo Nordisk A/S, Niels Steensens Vej 1, DK-2820 Gentofte, Denmark. bbsn@novo.dk

Insights

Active site-inhibited factor VIIa shows higher affinity for tissue factor than factor VIIa, impacting thrombus formation. This suggests a potential therapeutic role for inactivated factor VIIa in controlling coagulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Hematology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Factor VIIa plays a crucial role in the coagulation cascade.
  • Active site-inhibited factor VIIa has shown potential in blocking thrombus formation.
  • Understanding the interaction between factor VIIa, its inhibitors, and tissue factor is vital for hemostasis research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the binding affinities and interactions of factor VIIa and active site-inhibited factor VIIa with tissue factor.
  • To investigate the structural differences between factor VIIa and active site-inhibited factor VIIa.
  • To explore the physiological implications of these interactions in coagulation.

Main Methods:

  • Factor X activation assays to assess catalytic activity and binding affinity.
  • Radioligand binding studies using a human bladder carcinoma cell line (J82).
  • Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using soluble tissue factor.
  • Equilibrium binding studies to cell surface tissue factor.
  • Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to analyze structural differences.

Main Results:

  • Active site-inhibited factor VIIa exhibited a 5-fold higher affinity for relipidated tissue factor compared to factor VIIa.
  • Active site-inhibited factor VIIa demonstrated faster association and slower dissociation rates with tissue factor.
  • While both forms bound functional tissue factor sites with high affinity, active site-inhibited factor VIIa showed significantly higher affinity for non-functional tissue factor sites.
  • CD spectra revealed structural differences in the protease domain between factor VIIa and active site-inhibited factor VIIa.

Conclusions:

  • Active site-inhibited factor VIIa binds tissue factor with higher affinity than factor VIIa, primarily due to enhanced binding to non-functional sites.
  • Structural differences in the protease domain contribute to the altered binding characteristics.
  • These findings suggest that active site-inhibited factor VIIa may have distinct physiological roles and therapeutic potential in modulating coagulation and thrombosis.

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