Evaluation of the initiation phase of blood coagulation using ultrasensitive assays for serine proteases.

Caution in the interpretation of continuous thrombin generation assays.

1 Fritsch P, Cvirn G, Cimenti C, Baier K, Gallistl S, Koestenberger M, Roschitz B, Leschnik B, Muntean W. Thrombin generation in factor VIII-depleted neonatal plasma: nearly normal because of physiologically low antithrombin and tissue factor pathway inhibitor. J Thromb Haemost 2006; 4: 1071–7. 2 Hemker HC, Al Dieri R, De Smedt E, Beguin S. Thrombin generation, a function test of the haemostati...

Coagulation proteases and human cancer.

Tumours are capable of activating blood coagulation through the expression of procoagulant molecules such as tissue factor, cancer procoagulant and hepsin. Initiation of the clotting cascade results in the generation of the activated serine proteases factor VIIa, factor Xa and thrombin. These proteases act via protease-activated receptors and tissue factor to alter gene expression, thereby modu...

Serine proteases affecting blood coagulation and fibrinolysis from snake venoms.

Snake venom proteases, in addition to their contribution to the digestion of the prey, affect various physiological functions. They affect platelet aggregation, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, complement system, blood pressure and nervous system. This review provides a ready reference for serine proteases that interfere in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. They exhibit their activity by acti...

Detection of the Keratinolytic Activity of Agriculture and Mount Barker Strain Dermatophilus congolensis Serine Proteases.

New Infestin-4 Mutants with Increased Selectivity against Factor XIIa

Factor XIIa (fXIIa) is a serine protease that triggers the coagulation contact pathway and plays a role in thrombosis. Because it interferes with coagulation testing, the need to inhibit fXIIa exists in many cases. Infestin-4 (Inf4) is a Kazal-type inhibitor of fXIIa. Its specificity for fXIIa can be enhanced by point mutations in the protease-binding loop. We attempted to adapt Inf4 for the se...