Search

High molecular weight (HMW) kininogen is known to be a large plasma protein and cleaved by plasma proteinase kallikrein, then it generates four fragments in the blood coagulation cascade: heavy chain, bradykinin, fragment 1.2, and light chain. The fragment 1.2 has also been found in the basic protein fraction of bovine milk as a bioactive protein which promotes osteoblast proliferation. The milk basic protein has been shown to be a multi functional edible protein which promotes bone formation and inhibits bone resorption. In the present study, we purified the fragment 1.2 from bovine plasma and assessed it could promote osteoblast proliferation and posses the activity after pepsin digestion. Purified plasma HMW kininogen did not promote the proliferation, however, the kallikrein-cleaved HMW kininogen promoted the proliferation. The fragment 1.2, purified from the proteolysate, also promoted the proliferation. The pepsin digestion was performed according to the method of the assessment of allergenesity of genetically modified crops. After pepsin digestion, the fragment 1.2 generated resistant fragments and showed the promoting activity of osteoblast proliferation. These results suggest that the enzymatically-digested fragments of bovine HMW kininogen are able to be a naturally occurred active protein that promotes the bone formation by oral administration.

Haemaphysalin is a kallikrein-kinin system inhibitor from hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis, and consists of two Kunitz type protease inhibitor domains. Each domain as well as haemaphysalin inhibited intrinsic coagulation by inhibiting activation of the kallikrein-kinin system without affecting the amidolytic activities of intrinsic coagulation factors, indicating that both domains were involved in the inhibition through a similar mechanism to that for haemaphysalin. Reconstitution experiments showed that the C-terminal domain contributed more predominantly to this inhibition. Direct binding assaying showed that the C-terminal domain could bind to the cell-binding region of high molecular weight kininogen (HK), suggesting that it also binds to the cell-binding region of factor XII. Judging from these findings, the C-terminal domain may more effectively inhibit the association of factor XII and HK with the cell surface by binding to cell-binding regions, and hence would predominantly contribute to the inhibition of activation of the kallikrein-kinin system.

As a step in elucidating the biological role of plasma kallikrein (PK) present in the follicular fluid of mammalian ovaries, we examined pig ovary fluid to determine its constituent activators and substrates. Using the inactive precursor form of plasma kallikrein (prePK) as a substrate, we purified an enzyme capable of activating this protein. The prePK-activating enzyme was shown to be the active enzyme blood coagulation factor XIIa. We also isolated high molecular weight kininogen (HMW-K) from the same fluid. Incubation of HMW-K with the ovarian follicular fluid PK resulted in the production of the nanopeptide bradykinin (BK). Expression of prePK, blood coagulation factor XII, and HMW-K was examined by Northern blot analysis using ovary and liver poly(A)+ RNA. All these transcripts were found in the liver, but none were found in the ovary. In addition, it was found that BK levels in the fluid derived from the small follicles were approximately 6 times higher than those from medium and large fol...

Brown Norway Katholiek (B/N-Ka) is a mutant rat strain deficient in plasma high-molecular-weight (HK) and low-molecular-weight kininogen (LK). It has been reported that the deficiency, caused by defective secretion of HK and LK by the liver, is associated with a point mutation of alanine (163) to threonine in the common heavy chain. In this report we demonstrate by specific radioimmunoassay that the amount of immunoreactive HK antigen in the B/N-Ka kidney was almost the same as that found in the normal Brown Norway rat (Brown Norway Kitasato, B/N-Ki). HK antigen in the kidneys of both strains was immunohistochemically localized at distal tubules with similar intensity in both strains. Among the subcellular fractions of the kidney homogenates, HK antigen was predominantly found in the microsomal fraction of both strains. To see whether this HK antigen is derived from plasma HK or is synthesized in the kidneys, we examined uptake of HK by the tubular cells after incubation with 125I-HK. Only 0.6% of the radioactivity of added 125I-HK was found in the tubular cells of both strains after a 60-min incubation. Messages of HK mRNA from both strains of rats were visualized by PCR at almost the same intensity. These results suggest that HK antigen found in the kidney may be derived mainly from biosynthesis in the kidney itself and partly from uptake of HK from blood. There was no difference in these features of HK between the kidneys of the deficient and the normal B/N rats.

The protein structure, kinin-releasing activity, and tissue distribution of four major proteinases of mouse submandibular gland (mK22, mK9, proteinase F, proteinase P) were studied. When compared with the deduced amino acid sequence of each member of the tissue (glandular) kallikrein gene family, the amino acid sequence of proteinase F determined (approximately 40% of the total) was found to agree completely with the deduced amino acid sequence of mKlk-1. The proteinase P sequence, on the other hand, agreed with that of the product of mKlk-13, mK13 (prorenin-converting enzyme). Proteinase F had the strongest kininogenase activity for both low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight kininogen, while mK22 had 1/6 and 1/50 the activity of proteinase F for the respective kininogen substrate. Kininogenase activities of mK9 and proteinase P were less than 1/100 of the activity of proteinase F for both substrates. Acting on the two kininogen substrates, kallikreins mK22, mK9, and proteinase F, but not proteinase P, specifically released bradykinin, suggesting that the former three kallikreins strictly recognized peptide sequences around bradykinin in these substrate molecules but proteinase P recognized several sites in these molecules. Significant amounts of proteinase F, but not mK22 and others, were present in the urine, pancreas and digestive organs, as well as in the salivary glands. The present results revealed that the former proteinase F is identical to mK1, tissue/renal kallikrein, and confirmed its characteristics as a true kallikrein on the basis of its kinin-releasing activity and tissue distribution.

Levels of components of the contact activation, coagulation, and complement systems and their main inhibitors were measured in 45 critically ill patients during 61 episodes of uncomplicated bacteremia or bacterial shock. Levels of Hageman factor (factor XII), prekallikrein, high-molecular-weight kininogen, factor XI, factor VII, total hemolytic complement, alternative pathway activity, and C3 were within the normal range during uncomplicated bacteremia (n = 29), but during fatal bacterial shock (n = 13) a significant decrease by 40%-50% was observed in all measurements. During nonfatal bacterial shock (n = 19) a moderate decrease was observed in most of these measurements. The capacity of plasma to inactivate kallikrein was significantly higher during bacteremia than during bacterial shock because of a significant increase in the level of C1 esterase inhibitor. Levels of antithrombin III and alpha 2-macroglobulin were below normal in all groups. Thus increased inhibition of the contact activation and complement systems is beneficial during bacteremia.

On incubation of bovine plasma high-molecular-weight (HMW) kininogen with purified plasma kallikrein [EC 3.4.21.8], a large glycopeptide fragment and the vasoactive peptide, bradykinin, were initially liberated; the former, named fragment 1-2, was subsequently cleaved into fragment 1 (glycopeptide) and the previously established fragment 2 (histidine-rich peptide). The isolated fragment 1-2 contained a total of 108 to 110 amino acid residues and carbohydrates, and the amino-terminal sequence Ser-Val-Gln was established. The other fragment, fragment 1, consisted of a total of 69 amino acid residues with serine and arginine (and lysine) at the amino and carboxyl termini, respectively. It contained eleven residues each of histidine and glycine, together with an oligosaccharide chain consisting of galactosamine, hexose and sialic acid. The complete amino acid sequence of fragment 1 was determined by Edman degradation and standard enzymatic and chemical techniques. These results established the following sequence: H-Ser-Val-Gln-Val-Met-Lys-Thr-Glu-Gly-Ser-Thr-Pro/Thr-Val-Ser(CHO)-Val/Leu-Pro-His-Ser-Ala-Met-Ser-Pro-Val-Gln-Asp-Glu-Glu-Arg-Asp-Ser-Gly-Lys-Glu-Gln-Gly-Pro-Thr-His-Gly-His-Gly-Trp-Asp-His-Gly-Lys-Gln-Ile-Lys-Leu-His-Gly-Leu-Gly-Leu-Gly-His-Lys-His-Lys-His-Asp-Gln-Gly-His-Gly-His-His-Lys/ArgOH.

A serratial protease with an apparent molecular weight of 56,000 (56K protease), which had been purified from the culture supernatant of a strain of Serratia marcescens isolated from a corneal lesion of a human eye [Matsumoto, K. et al. (1984) J. Bacteriol. 157, 225-232], greatly enhanced vascular permeability when injected into guinea pig skin. The 56K protease, which requires zinc ion for activity, was found to possess plasma kallikrein-like properties in vitro as judged by (i) preferential amidolysis of carbobenzoxy-Phe-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide and Pro-Phe-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide, which are known substrates for plasma kallikrein; (ii) release of kinin from high-molecular-weight kininogen; and (iii) prompt activation of Hageman factor followed by generation of kallikrein from plasma prekallikrein. These results suggest that the 56K protease enhances vascular permeability through activation of a Hageman factor-kallikrein-kinin pathway in vivo, and this molecular process appears to be a rational mechanism of enhancement of permeability and serratial pathogenesis.

Plasma prekallikrein, a precursor protein of kallikrein [EC 3.4.21.8], was highly purified from porcine plasma by chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column, followed by rechromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column, chromatography on a CM-Sephadex C-50 column and affinity chromatography on a p-aminobenzamidine-epsilon-aminocaproic acid-Sepharose 4B column. By this procedure, 3.3 mg of purified material was obtained from 1.6 liters of porcine plasma and about 240-fold purification was achieved from the first DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography. The purified protein was found to give a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. This preparation did not contain kallikrein, Factor XII (Hageman factor) of the blood coagulation system, high molecular weight (HMW) kininogen or plasma kininase. Thus, the material is presumed to be functionally pure. The molecular weight of prekallikrein was estimated to be about 88,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and prekallikrein consists of a single polypeptide chain. Activation of prekallikrein by trypsin [EC 3.4.21.4] was found to involve the cleavage of a single peptide bond on the disulfide-bridged polypeptide chain, and no change of molecular weight was observed during the activation. This trypsin-activated kallikrein released kinin rapidly from bovine HMW kininogen. However, liberation of kinin was extremely slow from bovine low molecular weight (LMW) kininogen. The kallikrein activity was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and Trasylol, but not by Polybrene or egg-white trypsin inhibitor (EWTI).

The molecular interaction of bovine kininogen and its derivatives with papain was investigated. High-molecular-weight kininogen (HMWK) or low-molecular-weight kininogen (LMWK) and inactive papain treated with N-[N-(L-3-trans-carboxyoxiran-2-carbonyl)-L-leucyl]agmatine (E-64) formed, respectively, a complex, which was dissociable on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The densitometric determination of the bands separated on SDS-PAGE and amino acid analysis of the samples extracted from the electrophoresis gel revealed that the complex between kininogen and papain is formed in a molar ratio of one to one. Moreover, analysis of the inhibition of the caseinolytic activity of papain by these kininogens indicated that HMWK, LMWK, and kinin-free derivatives obtained from both kininogens inhibit active papain with a stoichiometry of 1:1. On the other hand, the papain activity was inhibited by two kinds of cyanogen bromide fragments isolated from the heavy chain of HMWK. These two fragments with Ki values of 38 and 0.64 nM corresponded, respectively, to residue Nos. 47 to 243 and Nos. 244-360 of the HMWK heavy chain. These results suggest that in the intact HMWK and LMWK, one of the two potential reactive sites interacts with papain to form a complex and that the other reactive site becomes active only after separation of the two sites.

Monoclonal antibodies to rat T-kininogen were produced and 9 hybridomas were selected. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) was developed using 125I-labeled T-kininogen and cell walls of Staphylococcus aureus (Zysorbin) for the separation of bound from free ligand, when IgG2a and IgG2b were used. In the case of IgG1 monoclonals, a second antibody (goat anti-mouse IgG) and Zysorbin were used. By this RIA, 1-16 ng T-kininogen/tube showed a linear inhibition curve, and cross reactivities to rat purified LMW- and HMW-kininogens were less than 0.5%, respectively. These monoclonal antibodies were also used for the immunohistochemical staining of the liver to detect T-kininogen in hepatocytes. By using the RIA and immunohistochemical staining, the T-kininogen levels in rat plasma and liver following carrageenin-induced inflammation were estimated. At 3-5 h after the carrageenin injection, when the paw swelling was at its peak, the plasma level of T-kininogen and staining of the liver were slightly increased. T-Kininogen levels in plasma and liver peaked on the 2nd day, when the paw swelling had already decreased. The result indicates that the increase of T-kininogen level in the liver and plasma occurs with a time lag and T-kininogen is not directly involved in the increase of vascular permeability in carrageenin paw edema.

Three activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) reagent test systems, General Diagnostics Automated APTT, American Dade Actin FS, and Pacific Hemostasis (Thromboscreen KAPTT) reagent, containing different activators for the APTT assay, were evaluated for their precision and sensitivity to factor deficiencies in the intrinsic coagulation system. The data suggest that micronized silica and ellagic acid reagent systems were similar in sensitivity to Factor VIII, X, and XII deficiencies, whereas, the micronized kaolin reagent was significantly less sensitive to these deficiencies. Factor XI deficiency was detected equally well with the use of all three reagent systems. The ellagic acid reagent was somewhat more sensitive to Factor IX deficiency than the micronized silica reagent, and the micronized kaolin reagent was again least sensitive. Both the micronized silica and ellagic acid based reagents were insensitive to all but severe deficiencies in prekallikrein, whereas the micronized kaolin reagent was unable to detect this deficiency. All three reagents were insensitive to all but severe deficiencies in high-molecular-weight kininogen. The authors conclude that the reagent systems tested, containing micronized silica or ellagic acid as activators, are similar in sensitivity when used in a routine activated partial thromboplastin time to screen for factor deficiencies, whereas the reagent system containing micronized kaolin as an activator is less sensitive.

Low molecular weight (LMW) kininogen was isolated from pooled rat plasma by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, CM-Sephadex C-50, Blue-Sepharose CL-6B, and Sephadex G-100. It was shown to be homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoelectrophoresis. The molecular weight of rat LMW kininogen was determined to be 72,000 by SDS-PAGE. The LMW kininogen contained 83.5% protein, 4.0% hexose, 5.5% hexosamine, and 2.7% sialic acid. Kinin liberated from LMW kininogen by trypsin treatment was identified as an Ile-Ser-bradykinin(T-kinin) by analysis involving ion exchange column chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-25 and high performance liquid chromatography on a reverse-phase column (ODS-120T). LMW kininogen formed kinin with rat submaxillary gland kallikrein, but the kinin liberated was only 14% of the total kinin content, that is, that released by trypsin. In order to determine the immunochemical properties of LMW kininogen, specific antiserum was prepared in rabbits. The antiserum cross-reacted with high molecular weight (HMW) kininogen, but spur formation was observed between the LMW and HMW kininogens. The kininogen level in rat plasma was estimated to be 433 microgram/ml by a quantitative single radial immunodiffusion test.

The amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal light chain portion of bovine high-molecular-weight kininogen (HMWK) was reinvestigated, since some discrepancy of the amino acid sequence, which we reported previously, was found in the cDNA analysis for bovine HMWK (Kitamura, N. et al. (1983) Nature 305, 545-548). The results showed that the following positions in the light chain should be revised: Gln-23 to Glu, the sequence Asp-Asp-Asp-Trp-Ser at positions 62-66 to Ser-Asp-Asp-Asp-Trp, Asp-102 to Asn, and Gln-109 to Glu.