title: The promise of protein C.
abstract: Protein C, a vitamin K-dependent serine protease zymogen that circulates in plasma, is converted by limited proteolysis to activated protein C (APC) by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. APC exerts anticoagulant, antiinflammatory, cytoprotective, and antiapoptotic activities. Recombinant APC therapy reduces mortality in severe sepsis patients. This review summarizes data from clinical observations, from in vitro studies, and from animal models of focal ischemic injury that provide a compelling rationale for clinical trials of APC for ischemic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, MEM180, 10550 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. jgriffin@scripps.edu
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Laurent O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Mosnier
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Berislav V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Zlokovic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D011486:Protein C / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D011486:Protein C