The saliva of D. rotundus contains at least four plasminogen activators (PAs) which all require fibrin as a cofactor. D. rotundus salivary PAs (DSPAs) exhibit a sequential array of structural motifs such as "Finger" (F), "EGF" (E), "Kringle" (K) and "Protease" (P) which was elucidated by cDNA cloning and sequencing. The respective domain organizations are: FEKP (DSPA alpha 1 and DSPA alpha 2), EKP (DSPA beta) and KP (DSPA gamma). In all four forms the plasmin-sensitive site of tPA is obliterated, indicating that they function as single-chain enzymes. DSPA alpha 1 differs from alpha 2 by amino acid substitutions found mainly in the F, E and K domain, 11% of the total sequence. DSPA beta and gamma, while being closely related to alpha 2, still exhibit 2 and 13 amino acid exchanges, respectively. These sequence heterogeneities, together with results of Southern blot hybridization experiments, strongly suggest that the four DSPA mRNA species originate from different genes. All four forms of DSPA have been expressed in animal cell culture and DSPA alpha 1 was chosen for a detailed pharmacological characterization. In vitro DSPA alpha 1 activity is enhanced 50,000-fold in the presence of fibrin, whereas the activity of single chain tPA is only enhanced 100-fold. At equally effective thrombolytic doses DSPA causes lower bleeding incidence in a rat mesenteric vein model and exhibits high potency, clot selectivity, and speed in the dissolution of fibrin embolized into the lung of anesthetized rats. In the copper coil-induced dog coronary heart infarction model, at doses that achieve patency at equal rates, reocclusion is significantly less frequent than with tPA. These results indicate that DSPA alpha 1 may be a safer and more efficacious thrombolytic agent than the PAs currently in clinical use.

In a canine coronary thrombosis model, DSPA exhibited higher potency and recanalized coronary arteries faster and with a lower incidence of reocclusion than TPA. Its properties may translate into a higher efficacy in patients compared with available thrombolytic agents. The long half-life of DSPA may allow for single bolus administration in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

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rDSPA alpha 1 (recombinant Desmodus salivary plasminogen activator alpha 1) is a recombinant protein corresponding to a natural plasminogen activator from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. The thrombolytic properties of rDSPA alpha 1 and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were compared in a rat model of pulmonary embolism. Whole blood clots, produced in vitro and labeled with 125I-fibrinogen, were embolized into the lungs of anesthetized rats. Thrombolysis was calculated from the difference between initial clot radioactivity and that remaining in the lungs at 60 minutes. Blood was sampled for gamma counting, measurement of hemostatic factors, and plasminogen activator antigen levels. Thrombolysis at 3, 10, 30, and 100 nmol/kg intravenously (10% bolus, 90% over 60 minutes) amounted to 30% +/- 2%, 51% +/- 4%, 85% +/- 4%, 98% +/- 0% for rDSPA alpha 1 and 30% +/- 3%, 41% +/- 3%, 57% +/- 6%, 93% +/- 2% for t-PA (controls: 29% +/- 2%; mean +/- SEM, n greater than or equal to 6). t-PA at 100 nmol/kg significantly decreased fibrinogen, plasminogen, and alpha 2- antiplasmin levels by 33% +/- 7%, 38% +/- 8%, and 61% +/- 9%, whereas rDSPA alpha 1 at 100 nmol/kg only lowered alpha 2-antiplasmin significantly (by 29% +/- 6%). Compared with t-PA, rDSPA alpha 1 is the more potent and more clot selective (fibrin specific) thrombolytic agent. These results suggest that rDSPA alpha 1 may be safer and more efficacious than currently used thrombolytics.

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