This paper discusses a therapeutic method to induce coagulation for hemophiliacs. To do this, the authors modified the coagulation factor Xa (FXa) to have decreased sensitivity towards plasma inhibitors. Using the I16L and V17A FXa mutants, blood loss was minimized in hemophilic mouse models to that of wild-type FXa. Additionally, the mutant FXa was compared to current hemophilia treatment, which uses FVIIa. The coagulant properties were shown to be better using the FXa mutant. I thought this paper was interesting because it shows how a simple mutation can have profound medical effects.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
A zymogen-like factor Xa variant corrects the coagulation defect in hemophilia
This paper discusses a therapeutic method to induce coagulation for hemophiliacs. To do this, the authors modified the coagulation factor Xa (FXa) to have decreased sensitivity towards plasma inhibitors. Using the I16L and V17A FXa mutants, blood loss was minimized in hemophilic mouse models to that of wild-type FXa. Additionally, the mutant FXa was compared to current hemophilia treatment, which uses FVIIa. The coagulant properties were shown to be better using the FXa mutant. I thought this paper was interesting because it shows how a simple mutation can have profound medical effects.
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This is cool in that they were able to stabilize the inactive form of the enzyme to keep it around for longer so that it would have a chance to become activated and do its job properly.
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