You are here: Home :: Area NEM :: Life sciences :: Biochemistry

Kusumam Joseph, Berhane Ghebrehiwet, Allen P. Kaplan

Activation of the Kinin-Forming Cascade on the Surface of Endothelial Cells

Activation of the plasma kallikrein-kinin forming cascade takes place upon incubation with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The mechanism by which initiation occurs is uncertain. Zinc-dependent binding of plasma proteins to gC1qR, cytokeratin 1, and perhaps u-PAR is requisite for activation to take place. We demonstrate here that during a 2 hour incubation time plasma deficient in either factor XII or high molecular weight kininogen (HK) fails to activate, as compared to normal plasma, but with more prolonged incubation, factor XII-deficient plasma gradually activates while HK-deficient plasma does not. Our data support both factor XII-dependent (rapid) and factor XII-independent (slow) mechanisms; the latter may require a cell-derived protease to activate prekallikrein and the presence of zinc ions and HK.

Biological Chemistry, Walter de Gruyter

Print ISSN: 1431-6730
Volume: 382, 02/2001
Pages: 71 - 75

Show full article (external site)

Show all available items of this journal

 

Area NEM