Morbidity and mortality from stroke and coronary artery disease (CAD) are probably the most critical public health problems in the US. Both ischemic stroke and coronary occlusion are complications of atherosclerosis and inflammation which culminate in platelet activation, recruitment and vascular occlusion - a breach of the control of blood fluidity. Advances in therapeutic modalities for stroke and CAD have reached a plateau with an absence of novel approaches. The broad, long term objectives and specific aims of this proposal are to bring the ecto-enzyme CD39/NTPDase1 to clinical fruition via the in vitro and ex vivo studies described herein. Our recent studies of CD39 have demonstrated that it constitutes the main control system for blood fluidity (thromboregulation). CD39 has a unique mode of action whereby it inhibits platelet activation and recruitment, acting in the fluid phase. This occurs via metabolic deletion of prothrombotic ADP, the final common mediator in platelet-induced vascular occlusion. Thus the mechanism of action of CD39 is radically different from currently available therapeutic modalities for treatment of stroke and CAD. Our successful treatment of stroke with the soluble form of CD39 (solCD39) in 3 animal models, as previously published, suggests its safety and efficacy. Extensive preliminary molecular biology data indicate that expression of different CD39 alternative splice variants regulates CD39 expression, assembly into cholesterol-rich domains, and enzymatic and biological activity. This enhances our comprehension of the mechanisms of action of the enzyme, and its regulation. CD39 will be studied in cryptogenic and atherothrombotic stroke patients. Thus, we will evaluate the profile of CD39 variant expression in normals and patients with cryptogenic and atherothrombotic stroke. Platelet reactivity and markers of platelet activation will be evaluated in our cryptogenic and atherothrombotic patients and controls using a spectrum of platelet agonists and coagulation parameters, including circulating tissue factor, in the setting of their medication status. This also includes characterization of leukocyte-platelet aggregates (with emphasis on monocyte-platelet aggregates) and vascular cell-derived microparticles. We anticipate that our research will afford novel therapeutic opportunities for CD39 in prophylaxis and management of stroke and CAD. In this application we have developed a critical mass of patients and investigators in order to further our comprehension of the pathogenesis and treatment of platelet-driven cardiovascular diseases and to develop CD39 as the prototype of the next generation of antithrombotic agents. Thus, this revised submission is a broadly based multidisciplinary, molecularly and clinically focused application.

Public Health Relevance

Vascular occlusion in the brain (stroke) is initiated by excessive blood platelet reactivity and recruitment, leading to extensive morbidity and mortality. This reactivity can be neutralized by the enzyme CD39. The relevance of this research is that it is provides a new and safe approach to the management of stroke for which there is no satisfactory treatment. We anticipate that the research proposed herein will lead to formulation of a clinical trial of a human soluble apyrase such as solCD39.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL089521-03
Application #
8058705
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HEMT-D (01))
Program Officer
Link, Rebecca P
Project Start
2009-05-01
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2011-05-01
Budget End
2012-04-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$727,450
Indirect Cost
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
060217502
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Aldi, Silvia; Marino, Alice; Tomita, Kengo et al. (2015) E-NTPDase1/CD39 modulates renin release from heart mast cells during ischemia/reperfusion: a novel cardioprotective role. FASEB J 29:61-9
Parikh, Neal; Merkler, Alexander E; Cheng, Natalie T et al. (2015) Clinical reasoning: an unusual case of subacute encephalopathy. Neurology 84:e33-7
Peña, Jessica M; Kizer, Jorge R (2013) Management of the stroke patient with patent foramen ovale: new insights and persistent questions in the wake of recent randomized trials. Curr Atheroscler Rep 15:338
Karas, Maria G; Devereux, Richard B; Wiebers, David O et al. (2012) Incremental value of biochemical and echocardiographic measures in prediction of ischemic stroke: the Strong Heart Study. Stroke 43:720-6
Kizer, Jorge R; Umans, Jason G; Zhu, Jianhui et al. (2012) Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) mass and activity and risk of cardiovascular disease in a population with high prevalences of obesity and diabetes: the Strong Heart Study. Diabetes Care 35:840-7
Marcus, Aaron J (2012) New approaches for measurement of platelet reactivity. Blood 119:3378-9
Corti, Federico; Olson, Kim E; Marcus, Aaron J et al. (2011) The expression level of ecto-NTP diphosphohydrolase1/CD39 modulates exocytotic and ischemic release of neurotransmitters in a cellular model of sympathetic neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 337:524-32
He, Kai-Li; Sui, Guangzhi; Xiong, Huabao et al. (2011) Feedback regulation of endothelial cell surface plasmin generation by PKC-dependent phosphorylation of annexin A2. J Biol Chem 286:15428-39
Pulte, Dianne; Furman, Richard R; Broekman, M Johan et al. (2011) CD39 expression on T lymphocytes correlates with severity of disease in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 11:367-72
Drosopoulos, J H F; Kraemer, R; Shen, H et al. (2010) Human solCD39 inhibits injury-induced development of neointimal hyperplasia. Thromb Haemost 103:426-34

Showing the most recent 10 out of 11 publications