Pig endothelial protein C receptor is functionally compatible with the human protein C pathway

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays an anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory role by promoting the activation of protein C by thrombin bound to thrombomodulin (TBM). Incompatibility between pig TBM and human/primate thrombin is thought to contribute to dysregulated coagulation in pig-to-primate organ xenografts, and expression of human TBM (hTBM) in pigs has shown benefit in preclinical models. However, it is not known whether there are incompatibilities-or molecular barriers-between endogenous pig EPCR (pEPCR) and transgenically expressed human TBM. AIM: To clone and express pEPCR, and determine its function in the human protein C pathway in vitro. METHODS: Pig endothelial..