A comparison of the effect of decorsin and two disintegrins, albolabrin and eristostatin, on platelet function
Research article published in Thrombosis and haemostasis (1995)
Abstract
Naturally-occurring fibrinogen receptor antagonists and platelet aggregation inhibitors that are found in snake venom (disintegrins) and leeches share many common features, including an RGD sequence, high cysteine content, and low molecular weight. There are, however, significant selectivity and potency differences. We compared the effect of three proteins on platelet function: albolabrin, a 7.5 kDa disintegrin, eristostatin, a 5.4 kDa disintegrin in which part of the disintegrin domain is deleted, and decorsin, a 4.5 kDa non-disintegrin derived from the leech Macrobdella decora, which has very little sequence similarity with either disintegrin. Decorsin was about two times less potent than albolabrin and six times less potent than eristostatin in inhibiting ADP-induced human platelet aggregation. It had a different pattern of interaction with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa as compared to the two disintegrins. Decorsin bound with a low affinity to resting platelets (409 nM) and to ADP-activated platelets (270 nM), and with high affinity to thrombin activated platelets (74 nM). At concentrations up to 685 nM, it did not cause expression of a ligand-induced binding site epitope on the beta 3 subunit of the GPIIb/IIIa complex. It did not significantly inhibit isolated GPIIb/IIIa binding to immobilized von Willebrand Factor. At low doses (1.5-3.0 micrograms/mouse), decorsin protected mice against death from pulmonary thromboembolism, showing an effect similar to eristostatin. This suggested that decorsin is a much more potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in vivo than in vitro, and it may have potential as an antiplatelet drug.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Naturally-occurring fibrinogen receptor antagonists and platelet aggregation inhibitors that are found in snake venom (disintegrins) and leeches share many common features, including an RGD sequence, high cysteine content, and low molecular weight.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio comparativo evaluó tres proteínas que contienen RGD —albolabrina y eristostatina (desintegrinas de veneno de serpiente) y decorsina (una proteína de 4,5 kDa procedente de la sanguijuela Macrobdella decora)— por sus efectos sobre la función plaquetaria humana. La decorsina fue menos potente que las desintegrinas en la inhibición de la agregación plaquetaria inducida por ADP in vitro, pero mostró un patrón de interacción distintivo con GPIIb/IIIa, y a dosis bajas (1,5–3,0 μg/ratón) protegió a los ratones frente al tromboembolismo pulmonar, lo que sugiere una mayor potencia in vivo que in vitro y su potencial como fármaco antiplaquetario. Este trabajo es directamente relevante para el ámbito de ASH, ya que caracteriza una proteína antiplaquetaria procedente de una especie de sanguijuela, ampliando el conocimiento sobre las moléculas bioactivas presentes en las secreciones de las sanguijuelas más allá de la hirudina. No obstante, la decorsina proviene de Macrobdella decora (no de Hirudo medicinalis), y el estudio es preclínico, sin datos terapéuticos en humanos.
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026