title: Further characterization of platelet-aggregating cysteine proteinase activity in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Circulating platelet-aggregating activities have been described by several authors. In a previous study we have confirmed the presence in serum and plasma from patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) of a platelet aggregating cysteine proteinase (PACP). This activity differed in that, among the class of thiol enzymes, it showed characteristics of a lysosomal cathepsin rather than of a cytoplasmic calpain. To further investigate the enzymatic properties of this PACP we have designed a study to evaluate the dependence of the activity on Ca++. Calcium-dependence is a property of calpains but not of cathepsins. A proteolytic assay was set up and conducted with and without Ca++. The release of acid-soluble peptide from denatured human globin promoted by TTP samples and standards was fluorimetrically measured. The results show that TTP samples were equally active with and without Ca++ similar to standard papain (the cathepsin B-like proteinase), whereas standard calpain only acted with Ca++. An inhibition study performed by the proteolytic assay confirmed the same pattern of sensitivity of PACP to a series of specific cystein proteinase inhibitors previously shown by the proaggregating assay. The enzymatic behaviour of PACP of TTP resembled a lysosomal (cathepsins) rather than a cytoplasmic (calpains) cysteine proteinase.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Division, Ospedali Riuniti Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Consonni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barbui
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002154:Calpain / Q000494:pharmacology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D010206:Papain / Q000494:pharmacology; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D002154:Calpain; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D010206:Papain; D002118:Calcium