Using a Systems Pharmacology Model of the Blood Coagulation Network to Predict the Effects of Various Therapies on Biomarkers.

A number of therapeutics have been developed or are under development aiming to modulate the coagulation network to treat various diseases. We used a systems model to better understand the effect of modulating various components on blood coagulation. A computational model of the coagulation network was built to match in-house in vitro thrombin generation and activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) data with various concentrations of recombinant factor VIIa (FVIIa) or factor Xa added to normal human plasma or factor VIII-deficient plasma. Sensitivity analysis applied to the model revealed that lag time, peak thrombin concentration, area under the curve (AUC) of the thrombin generation profile, and aPTT show different sensitivity to changes in coagulation factors' concentrations and type of plasma used (normal or factor VIII-deficient). We also used the model to explore how variability in concentrations of the proteins in coagulation network can impact the response to FVIIa treatment.

Mechanics of proplatelet elaboration.

The cellular and molecular basis of the intricate process by which megakaryocytes (MKs) form and release platelets remains poorly understood. Work has shown that proplatelets, long cytoplasmic extensions made by mature MKs, are essential intermediates in platelet biogenesis. Microtubules are the main structural component of proplatelets and it is microtubule sliding, driven by dynein motors within cortical bundles, which elongates and thins proplatelets. Kinesin motors carry their cargo of platelet-specific granules and organelles into the proplatelets using the microtubule bundles as tracks. Extension of proplatelets is associated with repeated actin-dependent bending and bifurcation, which results in considerable amplification of free proplatelet ends. Large proplatelets, dissociated from the residual MK cell body, have the capacity to mature platelets. Only the ends of proplatelets form marginal microtubule coils similar to that observed in mature platelets, demonstrating that platelet formation completes primarily at proplatelet ends. Understanding the molecular basis of platelet formation requires detailed knowledge of how the MK microtubule machinery interacts to generate proplatelets and release platelets.

Role of DDC-4/sFRP-4, a secreted frizzled-related protein, at the onset of apoptosis in mammary involution.

Using differential display, we isolated DDC-4, a secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP), which is induced in the physiological apoptosis of hormonally regulated, reproductive tissues such as mammary gland, prostate, corpus luteum and uterus. The role of this gene in apoptosis was studied in animals overexpressing ectopic DDC-4/sFRP-4. Transgenic mice bearing the DDC-4/sFRP-4 cDNA under the control of the MMTV-LTR promoter showed lactational insufficiency and many apoptotic cells in the alveoli between day 19 of pregnancy and day 4 of lactation as demonstrated by TUNEL reaction and the presence of activated caspase-3. We performed a PKB/Akt kinase assay and studied several of its substrates using phosphorylation-specific antibodies to show reduced phosphorylation in PKB/Akt itself, as well as in glycogen synthetase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), BAD, and Forkhead. Taken together, our results show a role for DDC-4/sFRP-4 in abrogating an epithelial cell survival pathway at the onset of mammary gland involution.