Inhibition of coagulation activation and inflammation by a novel Factor Xa inhibitor synthesized from the earthworm Eisenia andrei
Comparative biochemistry published in Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin (2009)
Abstract
We have cloned an earthworm-derived Factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor, with an excellent inhibitory specificity from the midgut of the Eisenia andrei. We designate this inhibitor eisenstasin. An eisenstasin-derived small peptide (ESP) was synthesized and we examined whether ESP played an essential role in FXa inhibition. Compared to antistasin-derived small peptides (ASP) originating from leech, ESP primarily exhibited a high level of FXa inhibition in chromogenic peptide substrate assays and revealed an approximately 2-fold greater inhibition of FXa cleavage of a target protein than ASP. This suggests that ESP could be an effective anti-coagulant that targets FXa during the propagation step of coagulation. ESP also inhibited proteinase-activated receptor 2-mediated FXa activation, which may trigger endothelial inflammation. Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) was significantly reduced by ESP (p<0.0001), indicating that protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) was effectively inactivated. We also found that ESP reduced the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-16, MCP-1, MIP-1alpha and MIP-1beta) by cultured cells treated with both ESP and FXa. Our results provide the first evidence that ESP might interrupt coagulation cascades by inhibiting FXa, and thereby may effectively control the bidirectional alternation between coagulation and inflammation.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Earthworm-derived Factor Xa inhibitor mirrors leech antistasin-type pharmacology — comparative annelid-derived antithrombotic research relevant to ASH catalog.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio clonó un inhibidor del Factor Xa (FXa) llamado eisenstasina a partir de la lombriz de tierra Eisenia andrei y sintetizó un péptido pequeño derivado (ESP). El ESP mostró mayor inhibición de FXa que los péptidos pequeños antistasina derivados de sanguijuela (ASP) en ensayos con sustrato cromogénico y mayor inhibición de la escisión de FXa sobre una proteína diana. El ESP también inhibió la activación de FXa mediada por PAR-2, redujo el óxido nítrico endotelial (p<0,0001) y redujo la expresión de múltiples citocinas proinflamatorias en cultivo celular. Este trabajo es relevante para el dominio de ASH como comparación directa con péptidos antistasina derivados de sanguijuela, situando a los inhibidores derivados de lombriz dentro de la misma clase de péptidos anticoagulantes. Sin embargo, el estudio es in vitro y no involucra sanguijuelas ni material derivado de sanguijuela más allá del comparador ASP.
Citación
Inhibition of coagulation activation and inflammation by a novel Factor Xa inhibitor synthesized from the earthworm Eisenia andrei.
Joo SS et al. · Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin, 2009
Contexto clínico relacionado
Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica
Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026