Inventors:
Yoji Shibayama - Katoh-gun, JP
Allen P. Kaplan - Charleston SC
Assignee:
Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Osaka
International Classification:
C12Q 156
Abstract:
Blood coagulation factor XII (FXII) is activated using a receptor for globular heads of the complement component Clq. The receptor (gC1qr) is a protein and provides a more faithful in vitro reproduction of the actual FX-II-activating reaction which occurs in living organisms. The protein receptor, gClqR may be obtained in at least substantially pure or isolated form by recombinant genetic engineering techniques or by isolation from animal cell membranes to which the complement component Clq binds. The receptor may be separated, purified, or isolated from cell membranes. The activation of the blood coagulation factor XII may be conducted in: 1) an animal plasma, 2) a reconstituted plasma kallikrein-kinin system, or 3) an at least substantially pure blood coagulation factor XII. The activation with the receptor is preferably conducted in the presence of zinc ions. FXII may be subjected to an activation reaction with the isolated or at least substantially purified receptor for globular heads of Clq in the presence of a pharmaceutical to evaluate or measure the pharmaceutical's inhibiting or promoting action towards the plasma kallikrein-kinin system, blood coagulation system, fibrinolysis system, renin-angiotensin system, complement system, or arachidonate cascade.