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.
Tanaka-Azevedo
A M
AM
Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Butantan Institute, Avenue Vital Brazil 1500, 05503-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. amt.azevedo@uol.com.br
Morais-Zani
K
K
Torquato
R J S
RJ
Tanaka
A S
AS
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