Coagulation Protein Function V (Diminution of Antithrombin III Function by Acetaldehyde)

The anticoagulant activity of antithrombin III(ATIII), as observed in a plasma-free system consistingof thrombin and fibrinogen, is readily reduced byacetaldehyde (AcH) at concentrations of 447, 89.4, and 17.9 mM. Whereas controlthrombin-fibrinogen mixtures clotted in 17.7 ±0.75 sec, ATIII prolonged clotting time to 55.0 ±1.75 sec on preincubation with thrombin for 30 min atroom temperature. On subsequent preincubation of ATIII with theAcH for 30 min at room temperature and passage of themixture through Sephadex G-25 minicolumns to removeexcess AcH, the eluates were tested for anticoagulant activity. Clotting times of 20.9 ± 1.0,32.3 ± 1.0, and 45.3 ± 1.6 sec wereobtained with 447, 89.4, and 17.9 mM AcH-ATIII mixtures,respectively. These data suggest that functional groupson ATIII, such as guanidiniums, aminos, and others aresusceptible to adduct formation with AcH, therebyaltering the shape and charge of the anticoagulant. Asa consequence of this type of reaction, an alteredmolecule of reduced biological activity may be produced.These experimental results may explain, in part, thereduction in ATIII levels reported by others in patientswith alcoholic liver disease.