Impact of homocysteine-thiolactone on plasma fibrin networks

J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2014 Nov;38(4):540-5. doi: 10.1007/s11239-014-1063-8.

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies have shown that hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for vascular disease. Homocysteine (Hcy) circulates as different species, mostly protein bound, and approximately 1% as its reduced form and the cyclic thioester homocysteine-thiolactone (HTL). Despite the level of plasma thiolactone being markedly low, detrimental effects are related to its high reactivity. HTL reacts with proteins by acylation of free basic amino groups; in particular, the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues forms adducts and induces structural and functional changes in plasma proteins. In order to assess the effects of HTL on plasma fibrin networks, a pool of normal plasma incubated with HTL (100, 500 and 1,000 μmol/L, respectively) was evaluated by global coagulation tests and fibrin formation kinetic assays, and the resulting fibrin was observed by scanning electron microscopy. HTL significantly prolonged global coagulation tests in a concentration-dependent manner with respect to control, and increases were up to 14.5%. Fibrin formation kinetic parameters displayed statistically significant differences between HTL-treated plasma and control in a concentration-dependent way, showing higher lag phase and lower maximum reaction velocity and final network optical density. Electron microscopy analysis of HTL plasma networks revealed a compact architecture, with more branches and shorter fibers than control. We can conclude that HTL induced a slower coagulation process, rendering more tightly packed fibrin clots. Since these features of the networks have been related to impaired fibrinolysis, the N-homocysteinylation reactions would be involved in the prothrombotic effects associated to hyperhomocysteinemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Blood Coagulation / physiology
  • Cattle
  • Fibrin / chemistry
  • Fibrin / metabolism*
  • Homocysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Homocysteine / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Plasma / chemistry
  • Plasma / drug effects*
  • Plasma / metabolism*

Substances

  • Homocysteine
  • Fibrin
  • homocysteine thiolactone