Recombinant human fibrinogen that produces thick fibrin fibers with increased wound adhesion and clot density

Biomacromolecules. 2013 Jan 14;14(1):169-78. doi: 10.1021/bm301579p. Epub 2012 Dec 18.

Abstract

Human fibrinogen is a biomaterial used in surgical tissue sealants, scaffolding for tissue engineering, and wound healing. Here we report on the post-translational structure and functionality of recombinant human FI (rFI) made at commodity levels in the milk of transgenic dairy cows. Relative to plasma-derived fibrinogen (pdFI), rFI predominantly contained a simplified, neutral carbohydrate structure and >4-fold higher levels of the γ'-chain transcriptional variant that has been reported to bind thrombin and Factor XIII. In spite of these differences, rFI and pdFI were kinetically similar with respect to the thrombin-catalyzed formation of protofibrils and Factor XIIIa-mediated formation of cross-linked fibrin polymer. However, electron microscopy showed rFI produced fibrin with much thicker fibers with less branching than pdFI. In vivo studies in a swine liver transection model showed that, relative to pdFI, rFI made a denser, more strongly wound-adherent fibrin clot that more rapidly established hemostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Blood Coagulation / physiology*
  • Cattle
  • Fibrin / administration & dosage
  • Fibrin / chemical synthesis*
  • Fibrinogen / administration & dosage
  • Fibrinogen / chemical synthesis*
  • Humans
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemical synthesis*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Swine
  • Wound Healing / drug effects
  • Wound Healing / physiology*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Fibrin
  • Fibrinogen