Fibrinogen function

Thrombin, the two-chain derivative of the prothrombin molecule, has a molecular weight of approximately 37,000 daltons. Its proteolytic properties induce the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin to produce the initial visible manifestation of coagulation, the soluble fibrin clot. In addition, thrombin influences the activity of Factors V, VIII, and XIII and plasmin. Thrombin affects platelet function by inducing viscous metamorphosis and the release reaction with subsequent aggregation. 

Alpha helices are sufficiently versatile to produce many very different classes of structures. In membrane-bound proteins, the regions inside the membranes are frequently a helices whose surfaces are covered by hydrophobic side chains suitable for the hydrophobic environment inside the membranes. Membrane-bound proteins are described in Chapter 12. Alpha helices are also frequently used to produce structural and motile proteins with various different properties and functions. These can be typical fibrous proteins such as keratin, which is present in skin, hair, and feathers, or parts of the cellular machinery such as fibrinogen or the muscle proteins myosin and dystrophin. These a-helical proteins will be discussed in Chapter 14. 

Mature human albumin consists of one polypeptide chain of 585 amino acids and contains 17 disulfide bonds. By the use of proteases, albumin can be subdivided into three domains, which have different functions. Albumin has an ellipsoidal shape, which means that it does not increase the viscosity of the plasma as much as an elongated molecule such as fibrinogen does. Because of its relatively low molecular mass (about 69 kDa) and high concentration, albumin is thought to be responsible for 75-80% of the osmotic pressure of human plasma. Electrophoretic smdies have shown that the plasma of certain humans lacks albumin. These subjects are said to exhibit analbuminemia. One cause of this condition is a mutation that affects spUcing. Subjects with analbuminemia show only moderate edema, despite the fact that albumin is the major determinant of plasma osmotic pressure. It is thought that the amounts of the other plasma proteins increase and compensate for the lack of albumin. 

A number of laboratory tests are available to measure the phases of hemostasis described above. The tests include platelet count, bleeding time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT or PTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), concentration of fibrinogen, fibrin clot stabifity, and measurement of fibrin degradation products. The platelet count quantitates the number of platelets, and the bleeding time is an overall test of platelet function. aPTT is a measure of the intrinsic pathway and PT of the extrinsic pathway. PT is used to measure the effectiveness of oral anticoagulants such as warfarin, and aPTT is used to monitor heparin therapy. The reader is referred to a textbook of hematology for a discussion of these tests. 

Fig. 9.1. A dysfunctional or injured endothelium is at the basis for initiation of and progression to atherosclerosis. Several mechanisms, such as adhesion molecules or liberation of von Willebrand factor (vWf, upper panel), determine a series of phenomena, including platelet activation and aggregation. This participation of platelets involves the implication of molecules like glycoprotein Ilb/IIIa, fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor. The endothelium also acts as a source of signals that regulate local functions, including VSMCs (lower panel). A list of the most relevant messengers produced by a functional and a dysfunctonal endothelium is presented in the lower panel...

Fig. 43 Dry thickness of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) as a function of the position on the substrate (lower panel). The fluorescence microscopy images show the corresponding structure of fibrinogen at three positions along the PHEMA gradient (upper panel). (Reproduced with permission from [164])...

Determination of acute-phase proteins (CRP, orosomucoid, haptoglobin, transferrin, prealbumin), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM), compressive markers (albumin, fibrinogen), markers of tissue destruction (Apo A-I, A-II, Apo B), components of complement (C3, C4), proteinase inhibitors (antithrombin HI, a -antitrypsin). The measurement was performed simultaneously in CSF and in serum (plasma) by a laser nephelometric method. The functional state of the blood-CSF barrier was evaluated numerically with the help of the quotient Q = Albcsp/s and also by the intrathecal synthesis of immunoglobulins according to Reiber s formula and for each class—IgG, IgM, IgA. 

Bianco et al. [34] CNT-r proteins (fibrinogen, protein A, erythropoietin, and apolipoprotein) CNT-TEG-short protein complex quickly entered fibroblasts and other cells, sometimes migrated to their nuclei. Proteins executed their normal biological functions... 

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