The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

Vanderbilt University

Douglas E Vaughan

Paul Declerck

Mesut Eren

A method of testing a candidate composition for PAI-1 inhibition activity is disclosed. The method includes the steps of obtaining a transgenic non-human warm blooded vertebrate animal having incorporated into its genome a PAI-1 gene encoding a biologically active PAI-1 polypeptide, the PAI-1 gene being present in the genome in a copy number effective to confer over-expression in the transgenic non-human animal of the PAI-1 polypeptide; administering the composition to the transgenic non-human animal; and observing the transgenic non-human animal for determination of a change in the transgenic non-human animal indicative of inhibition of the activity of PAI-1. A transgenic non-human animal useful in such a method is also disclosed, as is a PAI-1 transgene construct encoding a biologically active PAI-1 polypeptide useful for preparing the transgenic non-human animal.

Therapeutic methods employing PAI-1 inhibitors and transgenic non-human animal for screening candidate PAI-1 inhibitors

Angiotensin IV (VAL-TYR-ILE-HIS-PRO-PHE), a degradation product of angiotensin II previously thought to be inactive, interacts directly with endothelial cells to induce expression of PAI-1 and thereby to inhibit clot lysis attributable to endogenous t-PA. Moreover, angiotensin IV does not effect substantial physiological changes (vasoconstriction, increased blood pressure, etc.) characteristic of angiotensin II. Fibrinolysis is promoted by reducing the amount or the effect of angiotensin IV. Fibrinolysis is inhibited by providing enhanced angiotensin IV. Methods of screening candidates for antagonizing angiotensin IV are also disclosed.

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Nashville, TN, United States of America

Douglas E Vaughan