SummaryRecent studies showed that an imbalance of prothrombotic and antithrombotic factors and impaired thrombolytic activity contribute to the thrombophilia of the nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, it is not clear whether blood cell injury and/or activation is involved in hypercoagulability in NS patients. Our objectives were to study the increase in microparticle (MP) release and phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on the outer membrane of MP-origin cells in NS patients, and to evaluate their procoagulant activity (PCA). The subjects were patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and healthy controls. Analyses of MPs and PS exposure were performed using a flow cytometer. PCA was determined by clotting time and purified coagulation complex assays. We found that lactadherin+ MPs, which derived from red blood cells (RBC), platelet and endothelial cell, increased in NS patients. Moreover, PS exposure on RBCs and platelets in each NS group, especially in MN, are higher than that in controls. MP shedding and PS exposure of RBCs/platelets were highly procoagulant in NS patients. However, blockade of PS with lactadherin inhibited over 90% of PCA while an anti-tissue factor antibody had no significant inhibition effect. Our results demonstrate that the thrombophilic susceptibility of NS may be partly ascribed to MP release and PS exposure of RBCs, platelets and endothelial cells. Lactadherin is a sensitive probe for PS that has high anticoagulant activity.

By changing the ratio of reactants, two mononuclear Dy complexes, [Dy(phen)(acac)(3)] (1) and [Dy(phen)(2)(NO(3))(2)(acac)]·H(2)O (2) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In 1, a Dy atom bearing square-antiprism coordination geometry exhibits SMM behaviour, while compound 2 with a bicapped-square-antiprism geometry does not show such SMM properties. The different magnetic behaviours seen in 1 and 2 are probably due to a different coordination environment and ligand field around the Dy(III) ions. The results proved the important influence of the structural environment of a SMM on its magnetic behaviour.

Three new zinc(II) complexes: [Zn(2)(L(1))(2)Cl(2)](ClO(4))(2)·C(2)H(5)OH (1) and [ZnL(2)X(4)]·2CH(3)CN (X = Br for 2, Cl for 3), utilizing two new and interrelated di-nucleating polypyridyl ligands (L(1), L(2)), have been synthesized and characterized by using various physico-chemical techniques. The interactions of three complexes with CT-DNA have been explored by using absorption, emission and CD spectral methods, which reveal that three complexes bind to CT-DNA by partial intercalation binding modes. Notably, in the presence of H(2)O(2) as a revulsant or an activator, the cleavage abilities of all complexes are obviously enhanced. The hydrolytic mechanism was demonstrated by adding standard radical scavengers and anaerobic reaction. Further, the protein binding ability has been monitored by quenching of tryptophan emission in the presence of complexes using BSA as a model protein. The quenching mechanisms of BSA by the complexes are static procedures. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on three human tumor cells lines (HeLa, MCF-7 and RL952) and the apoptosis-inducing activity of were assessed by MTT, Clonogenic assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, Cell cycle and Annexin V binding experiments.

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The mechanisms contributing to an increased risk of thrombosis in uremia are complex and require clarification. There is scant morphological evidence of membrane-dependent binding of factor Xa (FXa) and factor Va (FVa) on endothelial cells (EC) in vitro. Our objectives were to confirm that exposed phosphatidylserine (PS) on microparticle (MP), EC, and peripheral blood cell (PBC) has a prothrombotic role in uremic patients and to provide visible and morphological evidence of PS-dependent prothrombinase assembly in vitro. We found that uremic patients had more circulating MP (derived from PBC and EC) than controls. Additionally, patients had more exposed PS on their MPs and PBCs, especially in the hemodialysis group. In vitro, EC exposed more PS in uremic toxins or serum. Moreover, reconstitution experiments showed that at the early stages, PS exposure was partially reversible. Using confocal microscopy, we observed that PS-rich membranes of EC and MP provided binding sites for FVa and FXa. Further, exposure of PS in uremia resulted in increased generation of FXa, thrombin, and fibrin and significantly shortened coagulation time. Lactadherin, a protein that blocks PS, reduced 80% of procoagulant activity on PBC, EC, and MP. Our results suggest that PBC and EC in uremic milieu are easily injured or activated, which exposes PS and causes a release of MP, providing abundant procoagulant membrane surfaces and thus facilitating thrombus formation. Blocking PS binding sites could become a new therapeutic target for preventing thrombosis.