© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.
Thrombosis |
Antithrombotic Efficacy of a Novel Murine Antihuman Factor IX Antibody in Rats
From SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Departments of Cardiovascular Pharmacology (G.Z.F., J.R.T., A.J.N., R.V., P.K.), Protein Biochemistry (A.P.), Experimental Pathology (P.B.), and Structural Biology (A.B., M.N.B.), King of Prussia, Pa; and Green Mountain Antibodies (W.R.C.) Burlington, Vt
Correspondence to Michael N Blackburn, PhD, Department of Structural Biology, UE-0447, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 709 Swedeland Road, Box 1539, King of Prussia, PA 19406-0939. E-mail michael_blackburn{at}sbphrd.com
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Abstract |
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Abstract—A murine antihuman factor IX monoclonal antibody (BC2) has been generated and evaluated for its capacity to prolong the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in vitro and ex vivo and to prevent arterial thrombosis in a rat model in vivo. BC2 extended aPTT to a maximum of 60 to 80 seconds at 100 to 1000 nmol/L in vitro (rat and human plasma, respectively) and ex vivo (rat) after dosing of rats up to 6 mg/kg in vivo. BC2, administered as bolus (1 to 6 mg/kg) followed by infusion (0.3 to 2 mg · kg-1 · h-1), dose-dependently prevented thrombosis of an injured rat carotid artery (FeCl3-patch model), increased time to artery occlusion, and reduced incidence of vessel occlusion. BC2 efficacy in preventing arterial thrombosis exceeded that of heparin (bolus 15 to 120 U/kg followed by infusion 0.5 to 4.0 U · kg-1 · min-1), whereas the latter rendered the blood incoagulable (aPTT>1000 seconds). BC2 demonstrated complete antithrombotic efficacy also as a single bolus given either as prevessel or postvessel injury as evidenced by reduction of thrombus mass (from 4.18±0.49 to 1.80±0.3 mg, P<0.001), increasing vessel patency time (from 14.9±0.9 minutes to 58.3±1.7 minutes, P<0.001) and decreasing incidence of vessel occlusion from 100% to 0% in vehicle- versus BC2-treated rats, respectively. BC2 (3 mg/kg, IV) administered in a single bolus resulted in 50% reduction in thrombus mass (P<0.01), extended vessel patency time (P<0.001), extended aPTT only 4-fold, and had no effect on blood loss via a tail surgical wound; heparin, at doses that reduced thrombus mass to a similar extent, extended aPTT beyond 1000 seconds (over 500-fold) and increased blood loss from 1.8±0.7 to 3.3±0.6 mL (P<0.001). These data suggest that BC2 may provide enhanced therapeutic efficacy in humans at lesser interference with blood hemostasis than heparin.
Key Words: thrombosis • coagulation • factor IX • heparin • aspirin • monoclonal antibodies
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Introduction |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Despite substantial efforts to prevent and treat thrombotic events, arterial thrombosis continues to be the major cause of death in adult populations of developed countries. Although contemporary medicine offers several medical strategies to combat thrombosis, the unmet medical need is significant as none of the available therapeutics provides the desired efficacy and safety profile. Aspirin (ASA) remains the primary antiplatelet agent of proven efficacy for chronic, secondary prevention of arterial thrombosis,1 2 whereas ticlopidine and clopidogrel (ADP inhibitors) add marginal benefits3 4 over ASA. Heparin and coumadin are proven anticoagulants for acute and chronic thrombotic disorders, respectively.5 6 7 The most recent novel antithrombotic agent introduced for adjunctive treatment of thrombotic events associated with vascular interventions is abciximab (ReoProTM), an antibody that blocks platelet integrin GPIIb/IIIa (the fibrinogen receptor) and hence, platelet aggregation.8 9 However, these anticoagulants and the GPIIb/IIIa antagonists may have restricted therapeutic capacity due to significant adverse effects such as bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and need for careful patient monitoring.7 Thus the state-of-the-art in treatment of acute thrombotic disorders comprises a combination of antithrombotic agents including aspirin, heparin, fibrinolytics (when appropriate), and the GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonists. This arsenal of agents, however, carries significant liabilities of which bleeding, especially cerebral hemorrhages, remains a major medical problem.7 The persistent untoward consequences of contemporary antithrombotic regimens provide an impetus for exploration for superior antithrombotic agents that extend desired therapeutic efficacy, reduce liabilities, and overall, provide a significant broadening of the therapeutic index. In the past few years, research interest expanded toward additional anticoagulant targets such as specific thrombin, factor Xa, and tissue factor/factor VIIa inhibitors as antithrombotic agents.10 11 We have explored other sites in the coagulation cascade to identify alternative ways to combat the thrombotic process.
Factor IX (FIX) is a key coagulation factor essential for amplification of coagulation that results in thrombus formation.12 13 14 Severe deficiency in FIX leads to bleeding (Hemophilia B, Christmas disease).15 Lollar and Fass16 showed that active-site blocked factor IXa (FIXai) inhibits clot formation in vitro. Benedict et al demonstrated that administration of FIXai prevents thrombosis in experimental animal models,17 indicating that modulation of FIX function can be achieved to gain therapeutic efficacy in thrombosis. Bajaj and co-workers18 have described antibody mediated inhibition of FIX coagulant activity but did not explore in vivo application of the antibody as an antithrombotic agent. We hereby report a novel murine antihuman FIX/IXa antibody (BC2) that possesses high efficacy in the prevention of thrombosis in a rat arterial thrombosis model. In addition, comparison of BC2 with aspirin (ASA) and heparin or a combination of BC2 with ASA resulted in superior antithrombotic efficacy with limited extension of aPTT and blood loss.
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Materials and Methods |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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BC2 Production and Assay
Monoclonal antibodies were generated against purified human FIX using female Balb/C mice as described by Jenny et al.19 Hybridoma medium was assayed in an ELISA format using FIX immobilized onto microtiter plates, and wells containing anti-FIX antibodies were subcloned by limiting dilution. Anti-FIX antibody from the hybridoma, BC2, was produced from ascites tumors in mice and purified by conventional means20 and stored in buffer containing 0.02 mol/L tris, 0.15 mol/L NaCl, pH 7.40. An MLA Electra 800 Automatic Coagulation Timer (Medical Laboratory Automation, Inc) was used to measure aPTT. Purified human factor IX and IXa were purchased from Hematologic Technologies (Essex Junction, VT). Molecular weight fractionated heparin with an average molecular weight of 15 40021 was used for all in vitro experiments. Unfractionated heparin was obtained from A.H. Robbins (Elkin-Sinns, Inc, Cherry Hill, NJ) and was dissolved in normal saline.
Assay of Factor IXa Activity
The effect of BC2 on factor IXa activity was determined by
measuring the prolongation of clotting times when clotting was
initiated by the addition of preactivated factor IXa to factor
IX deficient plasma. The factor IXa concentration was adjusted to 30
nmol/L, which gave a clot time of approximately 30 seconds.
Animal Preparation
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River, Raleigh, NC) weighing
300 to 490 g were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital
(55 mg/kg, IP). The rats were placed dorsal on a heated (37°C)
surgical board and an incision was made in the neck; the trachea was
isolated and cannulated with PE-240, Intramedic tube (Clay Adams,
Parsippany, NJ). The left carotid artery and jugular vein were
then isolated. A Parafilm M sheet (4 mm2,
American National Can) was placed under the carotid artery, and an
electromagnetic blood flow probe (Carolina Medical) was placed on the
artery to measure blood flow. A cannula (Tygon, 0.02x0.04 in,
Norton Performance Plastics) was inserted into the jugular vein
for drug administration. The left femoral artery was then isolated and
cannulated for measurement of blood pressure and collection of blood
samples.
Procedure of Carotid Artery Lesion
To initiate thrombosis in the carotid artery, a 6.5-mm diameter
circular patch of glass micro-filter paper saturated with
FeCl3 solution (50%) was placed on the carotid
artery downstream from the flow probe and kept for 10 or 15 minutes as
described previously.22 In this well characterized model,
thrombus formation is usually completed within 15 to 20 minutes.
Measurement of aPTT and Prothrombin Time
One mL of arterial blood was drawn from the femoral
artery into 3.8% citrate solution and centrifuged; aPTT and
prothrombin time (PT) were monitored by a fibrometer (BB1L, Baxter
Dade) with standard procedures. aPTT and PT values are
represented in seconds.
Monitoring Blood Loss From Surgical Wound
To monitor blood loss, a tail surgical cut model was used as
described previously.23 Briefly, the rat tail was cut at
30% of its length from its end using a new 21 surgical blade
(Bard-Parker). The proximal end of the tail was placed into a tube and
blood was permitted to drip freely into a reservoir of 3.8% citrate
solution (1 mL) for 15 minutes. This procedure followed the 60-minute
period of the experiment proper. The animals were then overdosed with
sodium pentobarbital.
Scanning Electron Microscopy of Rat Thrombosis Model
Segments of rat carotid artery were collected from sham,
FeCl3 injury, or FeCl3+6
mg/kg BC2 injected rats 15 minutes before injury. The arteries were
perfusion-fixed with formaldehyde and ligated above and below the
lesioned area. Fixed arteries were dehydrated with graded ethanol (30%
to 100%), incubated in hexamethyldisilazane, and dried in a
desiccator. Dried arteries were opened lengthwise, placed on
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) stubs, and sputter-coated with
gold.
Experimental Design for Assessment of Therapeutic
Interventions
Pretreatment Experiment
Figure 1
depicts the experimental
design of studies aimed to explore the effect of BC2 administered as
bolus+infusion before the onset of injury. This protocol was also used
for comparison of the BC2 effect with that obtained with heparin, ASA,
and combination of BC2 or heparin with ASA. In all studies, ASA was
administered at 5 mg/kg, IV bolus 15 minutes before vessel
injury, whereas heparin or BC2 were administered as bolus followed by
infusion as depicted in Figure 1. Heparin or BC2 pretreatments
started 15 minutes before placement of the FeCl3
patch on the carotid artery. All drug infusions continued to the end of
the experimental period, 60 minutes from start of vessel injury. Blood
samples were collected for aPTT and PT assay at 60 minutes (end of
study). Carotid artery blood flow was continuously monitored. At the
end of the experiment, the thrombus was extracted from the carotid
artery and weighed.
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Postinjury Protocol
The same experimental procedures were used as in the
pretreatment procedure except that heparin and BC2 administration
commenced at the end of the injury period. ASA, when administered, was
given 15 minutes before injury. Only bolus administration of BC2 was
used in the postinjury treatment experiments, whereas heparin was
always administered as bolus followed by infusion. In this series of
experiments, the injury period (FeCl3 patch
placement) was confined to 10 minutes only.
Data Analysis
All data in the text and figures are mean group values±standard
error of mean for the indicated number of rats in each group.
ANOVA and Bonferoni tests for multiple comparisons were used for
between group analyses and a value P<0.05 accepted
as significant.
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Results |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Effect of BC2 on aPTT, PT, and Activated Factor IX In Vitro
Figure 2
demonstrates a steep
dose-dependent effect of heparin on aPTT in vitro. In contrast to
heparin, which prolonged clotting times of normal human plasma to >350
seconds at 200 nmol/L, the anti-FIX mAb, BC2, extended the aPTT from 18
seconds to a plateau of 60 seconds in rat plasma and from 28 seconds to
85 to 90 seconds in human plasma at >200 nmol/L antibody. In parallel
experiments, anti-FIX antibody was found to cause no change in the PT.
ELISA experiments show that BC2 reacts with FIX and with
activated factor IX (FIXa) but not with factor X, factor XI, or
prothrombin, demonstrating the specificity of BC2.
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) or human citrated reference plasma (•) (100 uL)
were incubated with 100 uL of Dade Actin Activated
Cephaloplastin Reagent plus BC2 at the indicated concentrations for 3
minutes at 37°C. Samples of human plasma were also incubated with
heparin (
). Coagulation was initiated by addition of 100 uL of 0.02
mol/L Ca2+, and the time to clot formation was measured
with an MLA Automatic Coagulation Electra 800 Timer. B, Increasing
concentrations of BC2 were added to samples of Factor IX deficient
human plasma. Clotting was initiated by addition of 30 nmol/L Factor
IXa and 0.005 mol/L Ca2+, and the prolongation of the
clotting time was measured.
To identify potential animal species for use in the in vivo
analysis of BC2, plasma from rabbit, dog, rat, guinea pig, pig,
baboon, and cynomolgus monkey were screened using the aPTT assay. Of
these species, only plasma from rat (Figure 2
) and the nonhuman
primates were inhibited by the antibody, indicating that FIX from rat
and nonhuman primates cross-reacts with BC2.
To determine whether BC2 can block the activity of FIXa, BC2 was mixed
with 30 nmol/L FIXa and added to FIX deficient plasma. As shown in
Figure 2B, increasing concentrations of BC2 prolonged the
clotting time from 30 seconds (no BC2) to 65 seconds at 800 nmol/L
antibody demonstrating that BC2 binding blocks factor X activation by
FIXa.
SEM of Carotid Thrombus
SEM of sham arteries revealed an essentially normal
endothelium with rare scattered platelets (Figure 3B, inset). Few breaks in the
endothelium are noted, probably the result of
mechanical damage during surgery. No evidence of thrombus formation was
observed in the sham rats.
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SEM of the arteries treated with FeCl3 revealed
mural thrombi that occupied a large portion of the lumen of the vessel
(Figure 3A). The thrombi were composed of aggregated
platelets, red blood cells, and amorphous and fibrillar
proteinaceous material. The proteinaceous material is
consistent with fibrin. The endothelium of the
arteries was mostly obscured by the large thrombi (Figure 3).
Where visible, the endothelium overlying the region
treated with FeCl3 was covered by numerous
adherent platelets and amorphous proteinaceous material.
SEM of the arteries treated with FeCl3 from rats
treated with BC2 revealed the lumen of the vessels to be largely free
of thrombus (Figure 3B). The endothelium
overlying the region treated with FeCl3 showed
extensive damage. Some areas were covered by adherent platelets and
some platelet aggregates, but there was little or no proteinaceous
material.
Selection of BC2 Dose Based on aPTT Time/Dose
Relationships
Figure 4 depicts the effect of
various IV bolus doses of BC2 on aPTT throughout the duration of the
experimental protocol. The study demonstrates that only a dose of 3
mg/kg and above resulted in extension of aPTT and that 6 mg/kg
maintained aPTT extension of 3.5- to 4-fold over basal levels
throughout the designated experimental protocol.
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Effect of Pretreatment With BC2, Heparin, ASA, or BC2+ASA on
Thrombus Weight, aPTT, PT, and Vessel Occlusion in
FeCl3-Induced Arterial Thrombosis
Figure 5 illustrates the effects of
heparin (dose-response, 15 to 120 U/kg, bolus+0.5 to 4 U ·
kg-1 · min-1,
infusion), aspirin (5 mg/kg), BC2 (1 to 6 mg/kg), bolus+0.3 to 2
mg · kg-1 ·
h-1 (infusion), and combination of BC2 or
heparin plus ASA on thrombus mass. Heparin dose-dependently suppressed
thrombus formation in the carotid artery as reflected by thrombus
weight at the end of the experimental period. However, the residual
thrombus found in the vessels of rats treated with the highest dose of
heparin was still approximately 20% of that in the vehicle-treated
rats. ASA per se did not reduce the thrombus mass significantly,
whereas the combination of heparin (30 U/kg+1 U ·
kg-1 · min-1) and
ASA (5 mg/kg) resulted in a residual thrombus that equaled that found
in the heparin group alone. BC2 at 3 or 6 mg/kg bolus followed by 1 or
2 mg · kg-1 ·
h-1 effectively reduced thrombus mass as
compared with its vehicle control; in fact, the residual thrombus mass
at the highest BC2 dose was negligible. Interestingly, the lowest dose
of BC2, 1 mg/kg bolus (a dose that had no significant effect when given
alone), when combined with ASA (5 mg/kg, a dose of no effect per se)
resulted in complete abolishment of thrombus formation. Figure 6 demonstrates the incidence of occlusion
(%), as determined by the absence of measurable blood flow, of the
carotid arteries in the various treatment groups. Heparin treatment
resulted in reduction of the incidence of vessel occlusion from 100%
in the vehicle group to no occlusion at the highest dose. ASA alone had
a tendency to reduce the incidence of occlusion (not significant),
whereas ASA and heparin (30 U/kg+1
U · kg-1 · min-1), which had no
significant effect when administered alone, significantly reduced the
incidence of vessel occlusion. BC2 at the medium and higher doses, as
well as the combination of the lowest dose and ASA, completely
prevented vessel occlusion.
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Figure 7A shows the effect of the various
pretreatments on the aPTT, which was performed with a limitation of
1000 seconds. A dashed line denoting a 3.5-fold increase over baseline
aPTT is depicted. Heparin dose-dependently increased aPTT; the 2
highest doses rendered the plasma incoagulable as the aPTT reached 1000
seconds in every animal. The medium dose (H30) that failed to maintain
vessel patency in the majority of animals extended aPTT 10-fold over
baseline. ASA had no effect on aPTT but potentiated the extension of
the aPTT by the medium dose of heparin (H30). BC2 at 3 or 6 mg/kg doses
extended aPTT but even at the highest doses did not exceed a 3.5-fold
prolongation of aPTT; interestingly, in contrast to the synergy ASA had
on heparin extension of aPTT, no such augmentation was observed when
BC2 was administered with ASA.
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Figure 7B depicts the effect of the various treatments on PT.
Neither ASA nor BC2 treatment regimens extended PT. All doses of
heparin, and especially the 2 highest doses, significantly prolonged
PT.
Effect of BC2 Administered as a Single Bolus Before Carotid Lesion
on Thrombus Weight, Incidence of Vessel Occlusion, and Patency Time
and aPTT
Comparison between a single bolus injection of BC2 with heparin
infusion at a dose that produced maximal extension of aPTT (Figure 8) demonstrates that both treatments
resulted in similar efficacy in reducing thrombus mass and extension of
vessel perfusion time; BC2 was somewhat more effective in preventing
vessel occlusion (10% compared with 27% in the heparin group) (Figure 8B). A marked difference was clearly noted in the effect of BC2
versus heparin on aPTT (Figure 8C); BC2 increased aPTT by
<3.5-fold, whereas heparin rendered the plasma incoagulable
(aPTT>1000 seconds).
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Effect of Murine IgG Administration on aPTT, PT, and Blood Loss of
Anesthetized Rats
To control for possible effects of murine immunoglobulin on
hemostatic parameters of rats, a bolus dose of murine IgG
at 6 mg/kg was administered IV as per the protocol described for
pretreatment studies. Figure 9
demonstrates that a 6 mg/kg, IV bolus dose of a murine IgG,
corresponding to the highest dose of BC2, does not result in alteration
of thrombus weight, time to occlusion, aPTT, or PT.
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Effect of BC2 or Heparin Administered After Completion of Carotid
Injury on Thrombus Mass, Vessel Patency Time, Incidence of Carotid
Artery Occlusion, aPTT and PT
Figures 10A and 10B compare the
effect of BC2 or heparin administered after the completion of the
FeCl3 patch injury, on thrombus mass, incidence
of vessel occlusion, and carotid artery patency time. In
vehicle-treated control rats, complete vessel occlusion occurs
approximately 5 minutes after the end of the injury period. BC2
administered as a single bolus (3 mg/kg) significantly inhibited
thrombus formation in the vessel and reduced the occlusion rate by
67%. Furthermore, vessel patency was extended to almost the complete
duration of the experiment (60 minutes). A dose-response study of
heparin administered after the completion of the injury demonstrated
that heparin treatment also reduced thrombus mass and increased vessel
patency time and occlusion frequency, as demonstrated in the
pretreatment experiments. Whereas BC2 prolonged the aPTT to 64
seconds, heparin (at all doses) dramatically extended the aPTT (600 to
1000 seconds) (Figure 11A).
Furthermore, at the 2 highest doses of heparin, a significant extension
of PT was also observed (Figure 11B). In marked contrast, BC2
(3 mg/kg) had no effect on PT.
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Effect of BC2 or Heparin on Blood Loss from Surgical Cut
The effect of BC2 (3 mg/kg, IV bolus) or heparin (dose-response)
on blood loss is illustrated in Figure 12. Blood volume was monitored over a
15-minute period by free flow after the completion of experimental
protocol, ie, 60 minutes post injury. BC2 treatment did not result in
an increase in blood loss as compared with vehicle control. In
contrast, heparin treatments (60 to 240 U/kg bolus+2 to 8 U ·
kg-1 · min-1)
resulted in a significant increase in blood loss over the prespecified
experimental period. The dose of heparin that did not result in
increased blood loss also failed to reduce thrombus mass or diminish
the incidence of vessel occlusion (see Figure 10A).
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To confirm that BC2 administration as a bolus followed by infusion does
not result in excessive blood loss, we have repeated the experiment
vide supra using a bolus treatment (2 mg/kg) followed by infusion of 1
mg · kg-1 · h-1 throughout the
experimental period. As depicted in Figure 13, the extended infusion paradigm has
not resulted in blood loss over that in the vehicle-treated rats,
although aPTT was significantly extended in accord with previous data
with bolus dose of BC2 (see Figures 8 and 11).
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Effect of BC2 on FIX Activity
Because aPTT may not linearly relate to FIX activity, we have
explored the effect of BC2 on FIX activity versus aPTT extension in the
same experiment. BC2 was dosed in vivo and FIX activity and aPTT
monitored ex vivo. Figure 14 indicates
that significant reduction in Factor IX activity is associated with
minor change in aPTT and almost complete reduction in FIX (>90%)
extends aPTT by approximately 3.5- to 4-fold. In the context of the
efficacy studies, significant blockade of thrombus formation and 90%
reduction of vessel occlusion incidence can be achieved with 3 mg/kg
doses of BC2, which decrease FIX activity levels to approximately 50%
of the normal levels.
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Effect of Human FIX on BC2-Induced aPTT Extension In Vivo
To assess the capacity of human FIX (hFIX) to serve as an antidote
to BC2, rats were administered BC2 and aPTT monitored 30 minutes later.
At that time, rats were injected with human FIX (3 or 5 mg/kg, IV
bolus) or vehicle and aPTT assayed 30 minutes later. Figure 15 depicts extension of aPTT from
17.6±0.3 to 45.2±2.3 seconds and 44.8±1.6 seconds
(P<0.001) at 30 and 60 minutes post BC2, respectively.
Human FIX dose-dependently reduced aPTT toward baseline, although
incompletely (aPTT at 60 minutes was 24.7±0.5 seconds after injection
of 5 mg/kg hFIX).
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Discussion |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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The present experiments describe the in vitro and in vivo anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties of BC2, a novel antihuman FIX monoclonal antibody that blocks the coagulant activity of FIX and FIXa. Initial studies indicate that BC2 binds to the Gla domain of human FIX, and the observation that BC2 cross-reacts with rat FIX suggests that the epitope is conserved between human and rat FIX. More detailed epitope mapping studies will be required to define the specific sequence recognized by BC2. The observation that BC2 inhibits rat FIX enabled the development of an extensive portfolio of in vivo animal pharmacology.
In vivo efficacy of BC2 was demonstrated in a standard arterial thrombosis model in rats where severe vessel wall (and endothelial cells) injury is rapidly induced by Fe+3- mediated oxygen radical formation.22 This has been clearly confirmed in our study by performing SEM and rapid and complete occlusion of the vessel as directly measured arterial blood flow in the carotid artery. BC2 was most efficacious in blocking thrombus formation when administered either before or shortly after the injury to the vessel. The effects of BC2 were dose-dependent and showed potential synergy with ASA (the latter had little effect in blocking thrombosis when administered on its own in this model). The antithrombotic efficacy of BC2 was reflected by thrombus mass reduction, increased perfusion time, and reduced incidence of vessel occlusion. In both preinjury or postinjury protocols, BC2 efficacy equaled or exceeded that of heparin, even when the latter was provided at very high doses. However, although heparin extended aPTT and PT and increased (doubled) the volume of blood loss after a surgical cut, BC2 had no effect on PT nor did BC2 treatment result in increased blood loss from the surgical wound. Indeed, complete protection against thrombosis was only achieved at heparin doses that rendered the plasma incoagulable (aPTT>1000 seconds). Most interesting, BC2 extension of aPTT ex vivo was limited to 60 to 70 seconds, which was similar to its plateau effect in vitro. Finally, the specificity of BC2 in blocking FIX and the reversibility of anti-FIX antibody therapy was proven by the administration of its antidote, FIX. Indeed, an almost 3-fold extension of the aPTT induced by BC2 infusion in rats was rapidly and dose-dependently reversed by human FIX administered at the peak of BC2 effect. The reason for the incomplete reversal of BC2-induced aPTT extension may be the result of species specificity of human FIX interacting with the rat proteins that comprise the factor X activating complex.
Despite the central location of FIX in the coagulation cascade, where it is activated by tissue factor/factor VIIa complex and by factor XIa24 and is the primary activator of factor X on activated platelets,13 factor IX/IXa has received little attention as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in thrombotic disorders.25 26 Our studies with this novel anti-FIX antibody clearly demonstrate the capacity of specific inhibition of FIX to prevent acute arterial thrombosis. These studies thus extend previous studies reporting antithrombotic efficacy of FIXai in canine models of arterial thrombosis and cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.17 27 Preliminary studies conducted in our laboratory also demonstrate that treatment with BC2 results in extended patency of the blood vessel; thus a single bolus injection of BC2 not only increased the incidence of vessel patency 60 minutes after BC2 administration but also 24 hours later at a time when aPTT was within normal range. This phenomenon may reflect the capacity of the vessel wall to initiate repair when coagulation is interrupted at FIX/IXa limiting the generation of factor Xa and thrombin. Taken together, our studies with BC2, as well as those with FIXai, demonstrate that efficacy in blocking thrombosis can be achieved with limited prolongation of the aPTT and with less resultant increase in bleeding compared with heparin.
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Acknowledgments |
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The authors wish to acknowledge the excellent technical contribution of J. Vasko-Moser and S. Tirri for preparation of the manuscript.
Received April 28, 1998; accepted February 22, 1999.
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