Journal of Biochemistry Advance Access originally published online on June 26, 2008
Journal of Biochemistry 2008 144(3):393-398; doi:10.1093/jb/mvn079
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© 2008 The Japanese Biochemical Society
Citrullinated Fibrinogen Inhibits Thrombin-catalysed Fibrin Polymerization

1Daiichi-Sankyo Co., Ltd., 1-2-58 Hiromachi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-8710; 2Laboratory for Rheumatic Diseases, Center for Genomic Medicine, The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045; 3Laboratory of Functional Genomics and Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639; and 4Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81-45-503-9569, Fax: +81-45-503-9590, E-mail: akaris{at}src.riken.jp
Received April 2, 2008; Accepted May 30, 2008
| Abstract |
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Citrullination is the post-translational modification of arginine residues by peptidylarginine deiminases (PADIs). Fibrinogen is one substrate of PADIs under physiological conditions. Fibrinogen is an important factor for blood coagulation and inducing inflammation. The citrullinated form of fibrinogen appears in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue together with the production of autoantibodies that target self-peptides containing citrulline. However, whether the function of fibrinogen changes after citrullination remains unclear. We found that citrullinated fibrinogen markedly impairs the function of thrombin-catalysed fibrin polymerization and also inhibits fibrin formation. Increased citrullinated fibrinogen might thus affect the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis and alter antigenicity under physiological conditions. These data suggest that citrullination of proteins could physiologically change functions and subsequently generate pro-inflammatory conditions and autoimmune reactions.
Key Words: autoantigen, citrullination, fibrinogen, fibrin formation, thrombin
Abbreviations: Cit, citrulline; DTT, dithiothreitol; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; FPA, fibrinopeptide A; HPLC, high-performance liquid chromatography; Ig, immunoglobulin; PADI, peptidylarginine deiminase; PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; PVDF, polyvinylidene difluoride; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SDS, sodium dodecyl sulfate
*These two authors contributed equally to this work