Thrombin inhibitors from different animals.
Venous and arterial thromboembolic diseases are still the most frequent causes of death and disability in high-income countries. Clinical anticoagulants are inhibitors of enzymes involved in the coagulation pathway, such as thrombin and factor X(a). Thrombin is a key enzyme of blood coagulation system, activating the platelets, converting the fibrinogen to the fibrin net, and amplifying its self-generation by the activation of factors V, VIII, and XI. Thrombin has long been a target for the development of oral anticoagulants. Furthermore, selective inhibitors of thrombin represent a new class of antithrombotic agents. For these reasons, a number of specific thrombin inhibitors are under evaluation for possible use as antithrombotic drugs. This paper summarizes old and new interests of specific thrombin inhibitors described in different animals.
Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Avenue Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. amt.azevedo@uol.com.br
A M
AM
Tanaka-Azevedo
K
K
Morais-Zani
R J S
RJ
Torquato
A S
AS
Tanaka
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D013917:Thrombin