Not available outside of the UK & Ireland.

Application

Protein C from human plasma has been used for pre-treatment of endothelial cells prior to antibody-inhibition assay. It has also been used in activated protein C (APC) assay to determine its inhibitory effect on copper.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Protein C is a plasma, vitamin κ-dependent zymogen of a serine protease that can inhibit blood coagulation by inhibiting thrombin formation, selectively inactivating Factors Va and VIIIa.

Protein C is a plasma, vitamin κ-dependent zymogen of a serine protease that can inhibit blood coagulation by inhibiting thrombin formation, selectively inactivating Factors Va and VIIIa. The Protein C anticoagulant pathway is triggered when thrombin binds to the endothelial cell proteoglycan, thrombomodulin. This complex, which cannot clot blood, is a potent activator of the protein C zymogen. Activation involves the release of a dodecapeptide from the N-terminal domain of the heavy chain. The activated Protein C (APC) then binds to protein S on cell surfaces and inactivates the coagulation factors Va and VIIIa by proteolysis. APC has also been shown to bind to receptors on the endothelium of large blood vessels.

In addition, activated protein C has been shown to inhibit TNF-α induced expression of the inflammatory proteins VCAM, ICAM-I, and Ilk-8 in endothelial cells.

General description

Protein C from human plasma is encoded by the gene PROC. In human chromosome, the gene is localised on chromosome 2q14. Activated protein C (APC) cleaves protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1) resulting in cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. Clinical trials with APC implicates its use in treating severe early onset preeclampsia in pregnant women and prolongs pregnancy and helps in perinatal outcomes.

Physical form

Lyophilized powder from 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, containing 0.1 M NaCl