Comparative evaluation of stable TAFIa variants: importance of alpha-helix 9 and beta-sheet 11 for TAFIa (in)stability

Activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa) attenuates breast cancer cell metastatic behaviors through inhibition of plasminogen activation and extracellular proteolysis

Background

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a plasma zymogen, which can be converted to activated TAFI (TAFIa) through proteolytic cleavage by thrombin, plasmin, and most effectively thrombin in complex with the endothelial cofactor thrombomodulin (TM). TAFIa is a carboxypeptidase that cleaves carboxyl terminal lysine and arginine residues from protein and peptide substrates, including plasminogen-binding sites on cell surface receptors. Carboxyl terminal lysine residues play a pivotal role in enhancing cell surface plasminogen activation to plasmin. Plasmin has many critical functions including cleaving components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which enhances invasion and migration of cancer cells. We therefore hypothesized that TAFIa could act to attenuate metastasis.

Methods

To assess the role of TAFIa in breast cancer metastasis, in vitro migration and invasion assays, live cell proteolysis and cell proliferation using MDA-MB-231 and SUM149 cells were carried out in the presence of a TAFIa inhibitor, recombinant TAFI variants, or soluble TM.

Results

Inhibition of TAFIa with potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor increased cell invasion, migration and proteolysis of both cell lines, whereas addition of TM resulted in a decrease in all these parameters. A stable variant of TAFIa, TAFIa-CIIYQ, showed enhanced inhibitory effects on cell invasion, migration and proteolysis. Furthermore, pericellular plasminogen activation was significantly decreased on the surface of MDA-MB-231 and SUM149 cells following treatment with various concentrations of TAFIa.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results indicate a vital role for TAFIa in regulating pericellular plasminogen activation and ultimately ECM proteolysis in the breast cancer microenvironment. Enhancement of TAFI activation in this microenvironment may be a therapeutic strategy to inhibit invasion and prevent metastasis of breast cancer cells.

In vitro and in vivo characterisation of the profibrinolytic effect of an inhibitory anti-rat TAFI nanobody

One of the main disadvantages of current t-PA thrombolytic treatment is the increased bleeding risk. Upon activation, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a very powerful antifibrinolytic enzyme. Therefore, co-administration of a TAFI inhibitor during thrombolysis could reduce the required t-PA dose without compromising the thrombolytic efficacy. In this study we generated and characterised a nanobody that is inhibitory towards rat TAFI and evaluated its profibrinolytic property in vitro and in vivo. Nanobody VHH-rTAFI-i81 inhibits (at a 16-fold molar ratio nanobody over TAFI) the thrombin/thrombomodulin (T/TM)-mediated activation of rat TAFI (rTAFI) by 83 ± 1.8% with an IC50 of 0.46 (molar ratio nanobody over TAFI). The affinity (KA) of VHH-rTAFI-i81 for rTAFI, as determined by surface plasmon resonance (Biacore®), is 2.5 ± 0.2 x 10(10) M(-1) and illustrates a very strong binding. In an in vitro clot lysis assay, administration of VHH-rTAFI-i81 strongly enhances the degree of lysis and reduces time to reach full lysis of t-PA-mediated clot lysis. Epitope mapping discloses that Lys392 is of primary importance for the nanobody/rTAFI interaction besides minor contributions of Tyr175 and Glu183. In vivo application of VHH-rTAFI-i81 in a tissue factor-induced mouse thromboembolism model significantly decreases fibrin deposition in the lungs in the absence of exogenous administered t-PA. Nanobody VHH-rTAFI-i81 is a very potent inhibitor of T/TM-mediated TAFI activation. Co-administration of this nanobody and t-PA enhances the fibrinolytic efficacy. In an in vivo mouse thromboembolism model, VHH-rTAFI-i81 reduces fibrin deposition in the lungs.

Monoclonal antibodies targeting the antifibrinolytic activity of activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor but not the anti-inflammatory activity on osteopontin and C5a

BACKGROUND

Recently, anti-thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) mAbs selectively inhibiting plasmin-mediated TAFI activation were shown to stimulate fibrinolysis in vitro and in vivo, suggesting, in contrast to other findings, that plasmin-mediated TAFI activation plays an important role in fibrinolysis regulation.

OBJECTIVE

To further characterize the effects of two plasmin-specific anti-TAFI mAbs (MA-TCK11A9 and MA-TCK26D6) on TAFI-dependent inhibition of fibrinolysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Both mAbs inhibited plasmin-mediated but not thrombin/thrombomodulin-mediated TAFI activation, whereas neither inhibited the cleavage of hippuryl-arginine by activated TAFI (TAFIa). They stimulated tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced fibrinolysis in different clot lysis models through a TAFI-dependent mechanism, especially in the presence of thrombomodulin (TM), a condition in which TAFI is largely activated by the thrombin-TM complex. In a fibrinolysis-based TAFIa activity assay, both mAbs inhibited TAFIa, whereas other mAbs targeting thrombin-TM-mediated TAFI activation did not. The inhibition of TAFIa activity, however, was substrate-specific, because neither mAb inhibited the cleavage of thrombin-activated osteopontin and C5a by TAFIa, thus sparing the anti-inflammatory activity of TAFIa.

CONCLUSIONS

Our anti-TAFI mAbs, by selectively inhibiting TAFIa activity on fibrin, may represent the prototype of a new class of TAFI inhibitors with improved pharmacologic activity.

Hot spots in TAFIa

See also Sanglas L, Arolas JL, Valnickova Z, Aviles FX, Enghild JJ, Gomis-Rüth FX. Insights into the molecular inactivation mechanism of human activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor. This issue, pp 1056-65.

Biochemical characterization of bovine plasma thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI)

Background

TAFI is a plasma protein assumed to be an important link between coagulation and fibrinolysis. The three-dimensional crystal structures of authentic mature bovine TAFI (TAFIa) in complex with tick carboxypeptidase inhibitor, authentic full lenght bovine plasma thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), and recombinant human TAFI have recently been solved. In light of these recent advances, we have characterized authentic bovine TAFI biochemically and compared it to human TAFI.

Results

The four N-linked glycosylation sequons within the activation peptide were all occupied in bovine TAFI, similar to human TAFI, while the sequon located within the enzyme moiety of the bovine protein was non-glycosylated. The enzymatic stability and the kinetic constants of TAFIa differed somewhat between the two proteins, as did the isoelectric point of TAFI, but not TAFIa. Equivalent to human TAFI, bovine TAFI was a substrate for transglutaminases and could be proteolytically cleaved by trypsin or thrombin/solulin complex, although small differences in the fragmentation patterns were observed. Furthermore, bovine TAFI exhibited intrinsic activity and TAFIa attenuated tPA-mediated fibrinolysis similar to the human protein.

Conclusion

The findings presented here suggest that the properties of these two orthologous proteins are similar and that conclusions reached using the bovine TAFI may be extrapolated to the human protein.

Discovery of novel mechanisms and molecular targets for the inhibition of activated thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is an important regulator of fibrinolysis and an attractive target to develop profibrinolytic drugs.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the (inhibitory) properties of five monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed towards rat TAFI (i.e. MA-RT13B2, MA-RT30D8, MA-RT36A3F5, MA-RT36B2 and MA-RT82F12).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Direct interference of the mAb with rat activated TAFI (TAFIa) activity was assayed using a chromogenic activity assay. This revealed reductions of 79% +/- 1%, 54% +/- 4%, and 19% +/- 2% in activity in the presence of a 16-fold molar excess of MA-RT13B2, MA-RT36A3F5, and MA-RT82F12, respectively whereas MA-RT30D8 and MA-RT36B2 had no direct inhibitory effect. Additionally, MA-RT13B2 and MA-RT36A3F5 reduced rat TAFIa half-life by 56% +/- 2% and 61% +/- 3%. Tissue-type plasminogen activator mediated in vitro clot lysis was determined using rat plasma. Compared to potato tuber carboxypeptidase inhibitor, MA-RT13B2, MA-RT30D8, MA-RT36A3F5, and MA-RT82F12 reduced clot lysis times by 86% +/- 14%, 100% +/- 5%, 100% +/- 10%, and 100% +/- 11%, respectively. During epitope mapping, Arg(227) and Ser(251) were identified as major residues interacting with MA-RT13B2. Arg(188) and His(192) contribute to the interaction with MA-RT36A3F5. Arg(227), Ser(249), Ser(251), and Tyr(260) are involved in the binding of MA-RT30D8 and MA-RT82F12 with rat TAFI(a). The following mechanisms of inhibition have been deduced: MA-RT13B2 and MA-RT36A3F5 have a destabilizing effect on rat TAFIa whereas MA-RT30D8 and MA-RT82F12 partially block the access to the active site of TAFIa or interact with the binding of TAFIa to the blood clot.

CONCLUSIONS

The described inhibitory mAb towards rat TAFIa will facilitate TAFI research in murine models. Additionally, we reveal novel molecular targets for the direct inhibition of TAFIa through different mechanisms.

The crystal structure of thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) provides the structural basis for its intrinsic activity and the short half-life of TAFIa

Mature thrombin-activable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFIa) is a highly unstable metallocarboxypeptidase that stabilizes blood clots by clipping C-terminal lysine residues from partially degraded fibrin. In accordance with its in vitro antifibrinolytic activity, animal studies have reported that inhibition of mature TAFI aids in the prevention of thrombosis. The level of TAFI activity is stringently regulated through (i) controlled proteolytic truncation of the zymogen (TAFI), generating the mature enzyme, TAFIa, and (ii) the short half-life of TAFIa. TAFI itself exhibits an intrinsic enzymatic activity, which is likely required to provide a baseline level of antifibrinolytic activity. The novel crystal structure presented here reveals that the active site of TAFI is accessible, providing the structural explanation for the its intrinsic activity. It also supports the notion that an "instability region" exists, in agreement with site-directed mutagenesis studies. Sulfate ions, bound to this region, point toward a potential heparin-binding site and could explain how heparin stabilizes TAFIa.

Structure of activated thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, a molecular link between coagulation and fibrinolysis

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a metallocarboxypeptidase (MCP) that links blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. TAFI hampers fibrin-clot lysis and is a pharmacological target for the treatment of thrombotic conditions. TAFI is transformed through removal of its prodomain by thrombin-thrombomodulin into TAFIa, which is intrinsically unstable and has a short half-life in vivo. Here we show that purified bovine TAFI activated in the presence of a proteinaceous inhibitor renders a stable enzyme-inhibitor complex. Its crystal structure reveals that TAFIa conforms to the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold of MCPs and displays two unique flexible loops on the molecular surface, accounting for structural instability and susceptibility to proteolysis. In addition, point mutations reported to enhance protein stability in vivo are mainly located in the first loop and in another surface region, which is a potential heparin-binding site. The protein inhibitor contacts both the TAFIa active site and an exosite, thus contributing to high inhibitory efficiency.

Crystal structures of TAFI elucidate the inactivation mechanism of activated TAFI: a novel mechanism for enzyme autoregulation

Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a pro-metallocarboxypeptidase that can be proteolytically activated (TAFIa). TAFIa is unique among carboxypeptidases in that it spontaneously inactivates with a short half-life, a property that is crucial for its role in controlling blood clot lysis. We studied the intrinsic instability of TAFIa by solving crystal structures of TAFI, a TAFI inhibitor (GEMSA) complex and a quadruple TAFI mutant (70-fold more stable active enzyme). The crystal structures show that TAFIa stability is directly related to the dynamics of a 55-residue segment (residues 296-350) that includes residues of the active site wall. Dynamics of this flap are markedly reduced by the inhibitor GEMSA, a known stabilizer of TAFIa, and stabilizing mutations. Our data provide the structural basis for a model of TAFI auto-regulation: in zymogen TAFI the dynamic flap is stabilized by interactions with the activation peptide. Release of the activation peptide increases dynamic flap mobility and in time this leads to conformational changes that disrupt the catalytic site and expose a cryptic thrombin-cleavage site present at Arg302. This represents a novel mechanism of enzyme control that enables TAFI to regulate its activity in plasma in the absence of specific inhibitors.