Marburg I mutant of factor VII activating protease (FSAP) as risk factor for arterial thrombosis

Abstract

A novel arterial thrombosis risk factor comprising one or more of the identified mutants of coagulation factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) is described. In addition, diagnostic determination methods for detecting these mutants which are identified as risk factors are described.

Description

[0002] The invention relates to mutants of factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) and to reduced blood plasma levels of FSAP as indicators of an increased risk for the development and progression of atherothrombosis (or arterial thrombosis) and of the pathophysiological sequelae resulting therefrom.

[0003] Atherosclerosis is a pathological change in the arteries which is associated inter alia with hardening, thickening and loss of elasticity thereof and is regarded as the main cause of myocardial infarction and stroke and of other disorders. Numerous exogenous and endogenous factors are thought to be responsible for the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, for example hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, toxins, nicotine, excessive alcohol consumption and inflammations. These influences are referred to as risk factors. However, with the increasing number of studies and improved analytical methods, in recent years further risk factors for atherosclerosis and subsequent arterial thrombosis have been found.

[0004] Risk factors are investigated in epidemiological studies, as in the Bruneck study which has become well known among specialists in the field. One thousand inhabitants of Bruneck, Italy, were recruited for this study in 1990. Ultrasound investigations of the carotid artery and analyses of a number of blood parameters and questioning of the subjects made it possible to establish a broad database for further follow-up of the development and progression of atherosclerosis. These investigations were continued on the same subjects and analyzed at 5-year intervals. A model of the development of atherosclerosis and its progression was derived therefrom. As a first result of this study, a connection was found between the development of atherosclerosis and known, traditional risk factors such as the aforementioned hyperlipidemia and other factors. However, if the atherosclerotic plaque reaches such an extent that the blood vessel is occluded by up to 40%, other risk factors become important and may significantly influence the further progress of the atherosclerosis and the vascular occlusion. These factors include in particular plasma proteins which intervene in hemostasis. A reduced coagulation-inhibitory potential contributes to this, e.g. reduced antithrombin or protein C levels, or the so-called APC (activated protein C) resistance. A reduction in the fibrinolytic potential may therefore have a crucial influence on the progression of the vascular occlusion, as is observed for example when the levels of lipoprotein (a) in the blood are raised.

[0005] To date, risk factors for venous occlusive disorders have been identified, such as APC resistance (Factor V Leiden). The extent to which a given risk factor increases the risk for a condition may be expressed as an “odds ratio.” The odds ratio for venous occlusive disorders in heterozygotes for the APC resistance mutation has been reported to be about 5 to 8, compared with subjects without APC resistance. For arterial occlusive disorders, on the other hand, this risk factor has been reported with low odds ratios of average about 2.

[0006] The plasma samples and DNAs available from the subjects in the Bruneck study were therefore investigated once again for the presence of other risk factors for atherosclerosis, directing particular attention at recently found mutants of coagulation factor VII-activating protease (=FSAP), referred to hereinafter as the FSAP Marburg I and Marburg II mutations.

[0007] German patent application 199 03 693.4 discloses a protease which can be isolated from blood plasma and which is able to activate coagulation factor VII. This protease is also referred to as factor seven-activating protease (FSAP) (or as PHBP or PHBSP, corresponding to plasma hyaluronic acid-binding (serine) protease). FSAP therefore has procoagulant properties. A particular property of FSAP is that of activating single-chain plasminogen activators, such as prourokinase or single-chain tissue plasminogen activator (sct-PA). However, alone or in combination with plasminogen activators, FSAP can also be used correspondingly to assist fibrinolysis, for example, in cases of thrombotic complications.

[0008] The test systems which are now available and are described in the German patent applications 199 03 693.4 and 199 26 531.3 make it possible not only to detect FSAP but also to quantify the FSAP antigen content and determine the activity thereof in plasma. The antigen determination is preferably carried out by means of an ELISA test. On the other hand, the activity can in principle be determined through activation of prourokinase to urokinase and conversion of a chromogenic substrate with subsequent extinction difference measurement.

[0009] German patent application 100 52 319.6 discloses the use of these test systems in investigations on healthy blood donors in which 5 to 10% of subjects were identified as having an average FSAP antigen content but a markedly reduced potential for activation of prourokinase. Since this probably also applied to the isolated, individual proteases, the corresponding DNAs were analyzed for further investigation from blood cells. It was surprisingly possible in this case to identify in particular a mutation (single nucleotide polymorphism; SNP; G/A in position 1601). This modification leads in the protein to a Gly to Glu amino acid exchange in position 511 of the mature protein or in amino acid position 534 of the FSAP proenzyme including the signal peptide. This amino acid exchange results in FSAP losing the ability to activate prourokinase to urokinase or at least suffering a considerable diminution in activity. The aforementioned mutation, called FSAP Marburg I, has to date been found in all samples having an average antigen content but a reduced activity in the formation of urokinase from prourokinase. These results are described, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/912,559, to which this application claims priority, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0010] For example, genomic DNA from the blood of two subjects with reduced activity and from four subjects with normal prourokinase activity was isolated, all exons amplified and then the FSAP DNA sequence was determined using the PCR primers. The result is shown in Table 1. A total of 4 nucleotide positions in the coding region were polymorphic, i.e. at these positions two bases were detected simultaneously. It can therefore be assumed that these cases are heterozygous, having one wild type and one mutant allele. Two of these (at positions 183 and 957) are third base exchanges that do not result in amino acid exchange. The other two, which were found only in the DNA of the subjects with reduced prourokinase activity, lead to amino acid exchanges as depicted in Table 1.

TABLE 1
DNA sequence at nucleotide positions*
Subject
No.	ProUK activity	183	957	1177	1601
S83182	T	G	G	G
9689	normal	T/C	G	G	G
9690	normal	T/C	G	G	G
9704	normal	T	G	G	G
9706	normal	T	G	G	G
9714	reduced	T	G	G/C	G/A
9715	reduced	T	G	G/C	G/A
*where 1 is A of the start codon.
Amino acid at position*
Subject		NT*:183	NT:957	NT:1177	NT:1601
No.	ProUK activity	AA*:61	AA:319	AA:393	AA:534
S83182	His	Lys	Glu	Gly
9689	normal	His	Lys	Glu	Gly
9690	normal	His	Lys	Glu	Gly
9704	normal	His	Lys	Glu	Gly
9706	normal	His	Lys	Glu	Gly
9714	reduced	His	Lys	Glu/Gln	Gly/Glu
9715	reduced	His	Lys	Glu/Gln	Gly/Glu
*NT-Nucleotide position;
AA-amino acid position, where 1 is the methionine of the leader peptide.

[0011] In order to study the correlation of the two FSAP mutations with Reduced prourokinase activating potency, the DNA of further individuals was Sequenced at these positions. The result is summarized in Table 2. All 6 subjects Having reduced prourokinase activating potency were heterozygous at the nucleotide Position 1601 (Gly-Glu exchange at amino acid 534), and four were additionally heterozygous at nucleotide position 1177 (Glu-Gln exchange at amino acid 393). None of the 11 subjects in total having normal prourokinase activating potency or prourokinase activating potency in the lower normal range had the abovementioned heterozygosities. This result suggests that the exchange in amino acid position 534 is causally linked to reduced prourokinase activity.

	TABLE 2
	DNA sequence at
Subject		nucleotide position
No.	FSAP antigen	ProUK activity	1177	1601
9714	Normal	Low	C/G	A/G
9715	Normal	Low	C/G	A/G
9802	Normal	Low	C/G	A/G
10032	Normal	Low	G	A/G
10039	Normal	Low	C/G	A/G
10047	Normal	Low	G	A/G
9698	Lower normal range	Lower normal range	G	G
9702	Lower normal range	Lower normal range	G	G
9711	Lower normal range	Lower normal range	G	G
9712	Lower normal range	Lower normal range	G	G
10038	Lower normal range	Lower normal range	G	G
9689	Normal	Normal	G	G
9690	Normal	Normal	G	G
9704	Normal	Normal	G	G
9706	Normal	Normal	G	G
9803	Normal	Normal	G	G
10043	Normal	Normal	G	G

[0012] Some embodiments of this invention therefore relate to an atherothrombosis risk factor that consists of a mutant of coagulation factor VII-activating protease (FSAP). In some embodiments of this invention, the risk factor is a mutant in which the FSAP proenzyme, including the signal peptide, has a Gly/Glu exchange at amino acid position 534. This mutation is herein called the Marburg I

[0013] The corresponding nucleotide sequence of the FSAP proenzyme including the signal peptide shows a G/A base exchange at nucleotide position 1601. The sequences of the above FSAP species are provided in Table 3.

[0014] The Marburg I mutation is sometimes found together with a Glu/Gln exchange at position 393 (position 370 in the mature FSAP protein without the leader sequence), resulting from a G to C mutation at position 1177 in the nucleotide sequence corresponding to the FSAP proenzyme including the signal peptide. The Glu/Gln exchange at position 393 is herein called the Marburg II mutation.

TABLE 3
		NT:1177	NT:1601
SEQ ID NO.	Description	AA:393	AA:534
1	wild-type nucleotide	G	G
2	Marburg I nucleotide	G	A
3	Marburg II nucleotide	C	G
4	Marburg I and II	A
	nucleotide
5	wild-type protein	Glu	Gly
6	Marburg I protein	Glu	Glu
7	Marburg II protein	Gln	Gly
8	Marburg I and II protein	Gln	Glu

[0015] A PCR test for the Marburg I and II mutations was established and used to investigate the DNA of the subjects recruited for the Bruneck study. The FSAP Marburg I mutation was found in 4.5% of all the samples analyzed. These findings were then assessed using the individual data collected during the study to assess the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

[0016] Surprisingly, the Marburg I mutation correlates with an increased risk of developing arterial atherosclerosis. An odds ratio of about “6.6” was calculated for this FSAP mutation, i.e. a risk on the arterial side that is comparable with the risk of APC resistance in the venous region. In this study the Marburg I polymorphism was the risk factor with the highest odds ratio of all factors investigated, as shown in table 4. It is particularly surprising that this mutation represents an independent risk factor, making its own, marked contribution to the development and progression of atherosclerosis after allowance for all previously known risk factors. This realization and the determination of the sequences corresponding to the FSAP Marburg I mutation may therefore improve the prospects of diagnosing and treating heart diseases and vascular disorders caused by atherosclerosis.

[0017] Atherothrombosis frequently leads, for example, to coronary artery disease followed by myocardial infarctions. Depending on the vessels affected, the organ supplied thereby becomes involved. In the case of the carotid artery, this results in the brain being undersupplied with nutrients and oxygen and may, in the worst case, lead to a stroke. Other organs affected by atherothrombosis and subject to the risk of vascular occlusive disease and the sequelae resulting thereform are also affected by the FSAP Marburg I mutant. This may result, for example, in disorders of the kidneys, liver, lungs, and other disorders.

[0018] Thus, the risk factor of this invention may indicate a genetic predisposition to arterial thrombosis, and/or a genetic predisposition to the development of thromboses. The risk factor may also indicate a genetic predisposition to the development of atherosclerotic disorders and their sequelae, such as coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery occlusion, acute ischemic stroke, and thromboembolism, in addition to arterial thrombosis. The risk factor may also indicate a genetic predisposition to thrombotic disorders and their sequelae, such as arterial and venous thrombosis, deep vein thrombosis, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery occlusion, acute ischemic stroke, and thromboembolism. The risk factor may also indicate a genetic predisposition to at least one of arterial and venous occlusive disorders, to at least one of atherosclerotic and thrombotic restrictions of organ functions, as well as to one or more of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and strokes.

[0019] Methods for examining the structure, sequence, and activity of the FSAP Marburg I and II mutants are described in the aforementioned German patent applications, in particular in German patent application 1090 52 319.6, as well as in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/912,559, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. These methods include measurement of the FSAP protease activity, preferably in combination with an FSAP antigen test, and determination of the nucleotide sequence in the mutated region by suitable test systems.

[0020] The arterial thrombosis risk factor of the invention may thus be defined as one or more FSAP mutants that have lost the ability to activate single-chain plasminogen activators or for which this ability is at least impaired. In some embodiments, the risk factor is characterized by an FSAP mutant that has lost the ability to activate prourokinase or for which this ability is reduced.

[0021] A genetic predisposition to the development of arterial thrombosis can thus be identified by detecting one or more of the aforementioned FSAP mutants. Detection, as used herein, means determining if a mutant FSAP is present in a sample. Detection may be carried out by a variety of methods, as described below.

[0022] Detection of these FSAP mutants also indicates the predisposition to the development of arterial thromboses and the predisposition to the development of atherosclerotic or thrombotic disorders and their sequelae, such as arterial and venous occlusive disorders, coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, peripheral artery occlusion, acute ischemic stroke, deep vein thrombosis, and thromboembolism. The predisposition to development of atherosclerotic or thrombotic restrictions of organ functions is a frequent cause of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction or strokes. It is typical of all cases that the potential for activation of single-chain plasminogen activators, such as single-chain tissue plasminogen activator (sc-tPA), and single-chain urinary plasminogen activator (sc-uPA), or prourokinase, is reduced. The reduction of this activation potential can be detected in the blood but especially in the plasma.

[0023] In view of the great importance of FSAP mutants as atherothrombosis or arterial thrombosis risk factors, diagnostic methods for detecting them are very important. They may be based on determining at least one of a reduced FSAP antigen concentration and a reduced activity of FSAP in the body fluids of an individual. This may entail determination of the potential for activation of single-chain plasminogen activators, such as prourokinase, in the body fluids.

[0024] In the context of the present invention, an individual, or donor, may be a mammal, such as a human. Relevant body fluids include whole blood, blood plasma, serum, as well as lymphatic, cerebrospinal, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, and synovial fluids, tears, seminal plasma, and cell lysates.

[0025] Some embodiments of the invention include detecting heterozygous or homozygous mutants of the FSAP proenzyme gene with a G/A base exchange at nucleotide position 1601 by analysing the genomic DNA of an individual, or the mRNA or cDNA derived therefrom. Some embodiments of the invention include detecting heterozygous or homozygous mutants of the FSAP proenzyme gene with a G/C base exchange at position 1177. In some embodiments, both of these base exchanges may be detected.

[0026] In other embodiments, FSAP mutants may be detected at the protein level. Specific monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies may be used for this purpose, as well as their corresponding Fab or F(ab′)2 fragments. Histological investigation methods on tissues or in solutions extracted from tissues are also available. For examples of relevant tissues in the context of this invention, see table 4 below.

[0027] Exemplary antibodies are those specific for one or more of wild-type FSAP, including its proenzyme with or without the signal sequence, and its fragments; and FSAP mutants comprising at least one of a Glu to Gln exchange at amino acid position 393 and a Gly to Glu exchange at amino acid position 534, as well as their proenzymes with or without the signal sequence, and their fragments. Antibodies herein that specifically recognize both wild-type and mutant FSAP sequences, such as sequences corresponding to full-length active enzymes, proenzymes and enzyme fragments, are termed “FSAP-specific,” while those that are specific for only wild-type or only mutant FSAP sequences are termed “wild-type FSAP-specific” and “mutant FSAP-specific,” respectively.

[0028] In some embodiments, the diagnostic method includes incubating a sample that might contain FSAP mutant(s) with a first antibody immobilized on a solid support, and, after washing, adding a second, labelled antibody, washing again and measuring the signal elicited by the second antibody, wherein the second, labelled antibody may be a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody.

[0029] Another method comprises incubating a sample that might contain FSAP mutant(s) with a first, wild-type FSAP-specific antibody, immobilized on a solid support, and, after washing, adding a second, labelled antibody, washing again and measuring the signal elicited by the second antibody.

[0030] A further method comprises immobilizing the sample that might contain FSAP mutant(s) on a support, adding a labelled antibody, alone or mixed with an unlabelled antibody, and detecting the labelled antibody.

[0031] Yet another method comprises mixing an antibody immobilized on a support with the sample that might contain FSAP mutant(s) in the presence of a labelled FSAP mutant, and measuring the signal elicited by the label.

[0032] In the methods described above, the first or second antibodies, unless stated otherwise, may include FSAP-specific, wild-type FSAP-specific, or mutant FSAP-specific antibodies.

[0033] An example diagnostic method in which the activity of FSAP is measured comprises incubating an FSAP-containing sample on a solid support onto which an FSAP-specific antibody has previously been coupled, and then, after washing out the free support, incubating the FSAP immobilized thereon with reagents that allow determination of FSAP activity.

[0034] Some embodiments include diagnostic methods in which antibodies are used to detect FSAP mutants by Western blotting for immunohistology, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), or comparable methods.

[0035] The diagnostic methods of the invention may also be carried out by the ELISA technique. This entails binding an FSAP and/or FSAP mutant to a matrix, for example to a microtiter plate. For optimal presentation of the FSAP and/or FSAP mutant, it is possible to coat the plate with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, or the F(ab′)2 or Fab fragments thereof, before loading with FSAP and/or FSAP mutants. Since FSAP and FSAP mutants generally bind very well to dextran sulfate, heparin and similar substances, coating with these agents is also possible prior to loading with FSAP and/or FSAP mutants. After the support or microtiter plate has been washed, it is blocked where appropriate with the agents known for this purpose, such as detergent or albumin, washed and then incubated with the solution to be tested. The solutions containing FSAP-specific antibodies include blood serum, plasma, and other body fluids, as well as synovial fluids, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, tears, seminal plasma or cell lysates.

[0036] Incubation and washing of the support is followed by use of a suitable detection reagent. The test substances required for detecting the various antibody classes, such as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and the relevant subclasses, are commercially available as labelled reagents. Detection and quantification of the antibody titer can then take place by a photometric examination, for example, by measurement of the extinction brought about by cleavage of a chromogenic substrate by an enzyme coupled to the anti-human antibody. It is also possible to measure the fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent group connected to the antibody used for the detection. In addition, it is possible to carry out the detection with a radiometric measurement, if the substance used for detection is labelled with a radioactive group. Diagnostic methods in which the bound human antibodies are incubated with a labelled anti-human immunoglobulin or fragments thereof, or labelled protein A or protein G, and in which the signal emitted by the bound, labelled substance is determined, have already proved very suitable in many instances.

[0037] It is also possible to detect the antibodies by a photometric measurement of the extinction caused by cleavage of a suitable chromogenic or fluorogenic substrate by enzyme-coupled anti-human antibodies or fragments thereof, or protein A or protein G. Diagnostic methods in which antibodies are detected by measuring the fluorescence caused by a bound substance labelled with fluorescent groups are also suitable.

[0038] In some embodiments, monoclonal antibodies were prepared and characterized as follows:

Immunization

[0039] Three female balb/c mice (approx. 6 weeks old) were immunized with FSAP. The first injection consisted of 0.2 ml of the antigen (10 μg) mixed with 0.2 ml of complete Freund's adjuvant. In the three following boost injections (each 2 weeks apart) the antigen (20 μg in 0.2 ml) was administered without adjuvant (all injections i.p.). The immunogen was diluted in PBS. After the last injection, the serum titer was determined by means of indirect ELISA by coating a microtiter plate with FSAP. The mouse with the highest serum titer was selected for the fusion.

Fusion

[0040] About three weeks after the last application, the antigen was administered on three successive days (10 μg in 0.1 ml i.v.). On the next day (day 4) the mouse was sacrificed after taking blood. The spleen was removed and the spleen cells were isolated. The spleen cells were then fused with the murine myeloma cell line SP2/0-Ag 14. The fusion reagent was polyethylene glycol 4000 (Merck). The fusion was carried out using a modification of the original Köhler/Milstein method. The cells were distributed on 24-well culture plates. The medium used was Dulbecco mod. Eagle's medium with 10% fetal calf serum and HAT for selection. After about two weeks, the cell clones grown were transferred to the wells of a 48 well plate and coded.

Hybridoma Screening

[0041] The culture supernatant was taken from 1728 grown clones and assayed by means of ELISA for the presence of mouse IgG. With the aid of immobilized FSAP, mouse IgG-positive supernatants were tested for specificity (ELISA). Of the cell lines assayed, 108 cell lines were identified as specific for FVII activator and stored in the frozen state.

[0042] The two hybridoma cell lines denoted DSM ACC2453 and DSM ACC2454 were selected for further studies. These cell lines were deposited on Apr. 5, 2000, with the DSMZ—Deutsche Sammlung Von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, a depository which is subject to the Treaty of Budapest regulations. The specificity of the antibodies produced by said cell lines was confirmed by BIACORE and binding kinetics were determined. The two monoclonal antibodies are of the IgG1 type.

[0043] With the aid of the described antibodies against FSAP wild type and against its mutants, it is possible to carry out diagnostic methods for detecting the mutants by:

[0044] a) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with a first antibody, immobilized on a solid support, then, after washing, adding a second, labeled antibody and, after washing out again, measuring the signal produced by the second antibody, wherein the second antibody may comprise a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody; or

[0045] b) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with a first antibody immobilized on a solid support, then, after washing, adding a second, labeled antibody and, after washing out again, measuring the signal produced by the second antibody, wherein the first antibody is a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody; or

[0046] c) immobilizing a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants on a support and detecting the sample with a labeled antibody, alone or in a mixture with an unlabelled antibody; or

[0047] d) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with an antibody immobilized on a support in the presence of a labeled FSAP mutant, and measuring the signal produced by the label.

[0048] Antibody fragments, such as Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments, may also be used in the diagnostic methods in some embodiments.

[0049] An example diagnostic method in which the FSAP activity is measured may include incubating the protease-containing sample with a solid support to which at least one of an FSAP-specific antibody, a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody, or a mutant FSAP-specific antibody has been coupled beforehand and, after washing out the solid support, incubating the FSAP fixed to the support with reagents which allow determination of its activity.

[0050] In this connection, FSAP activity, such as protease activity, can be measured by photometric determination of the extinction appearing following the action on chromogenic substrates.

[0051] It is also possible to determine FSAP protease activity by measuring:

[0052] its action of inactivating blood clotting factors VIII/VIIIa or V/Va or

[0053] its action of shortening blood clotting times in global clotting assays or

[0054] its action of activating plasminogen activators or

[0055] its action of activating blood clotting factor VII.

[0056] In some embodiments, FSAP action of activating plasminogen activators may be measured, by examining FSAP activation of the

[0057] single-chain urokinase (scuPA, single chain urokinase plasminogen activator) or the

[0058] single-chain-tPA (sctPA, single chain tissue plasminogen activator).

[0059] The mutations responsible for the reduction of prourokinase activating potency can be detected at the DNA and RNA level by using methods that are also used for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, for example

[0060] cDNA amplification of mRNA or amplification of the genomic DNA and sequencing;

[0061] detection of the mutation at the cDNA level or genomic DNA level or their amplification by

[0062] hybridization with sequence-specific probes which may also carry labels for the detection, such as enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, HRP and their substrates, fluorescent dyes, also reporter-quencher pairs (such as, for example, scorpions, molecular beacons, TaqMan probes), radioisotopes, chromophores, chemiluminescence labels and electrochemiluminescence labels) or

[0063] methods such as selective 2′-amine acylation, electrochemical oxidation of nucleic acids by “minor groove binder” oligonucleotide conjugates, or by HPLC.

[0064] On the basis of the test results which were obtained by the abovementioned antigen assays and activity assays it was possible to study three groups of healthy donors regarding potential mutations at the genomic level. For this purpose, blood was taken from the donors and the blood cells were separated from the plasma by centrifugation. The plasmas were then used to quantify the FSAP antigen and activity levels and were divided according to the latter into three groups, namely into “normal/normal,” “lower normal range/lower normal range” and “normal/low.” The blood cells obtained were then used to extract genomic DNA and determine the FSAP genotype. The results depicted above in Table 2 were determined.

[0065] Based on these results, it is now possible to detect rapidly one or both of the mutants described, whether their genotype is heterozygous or homozygous, at the level of the corresponding FSAP nucleotide sequence. Whereas the abovementioned antigen and activity assays reflected quite well the genotype in a healthy donor, this can become difficult or impossible when the FSAP plasma levels are influenced. Thus, parameters such as hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle, etc., as well as pathological conditions, may strongly influence antigen and/or activity levels. As described in the German Patent application 199 26 531.3, the measurable FSAP activity during a heart attack can increase markedly compared with the normal value with scarcely increased antigen content. As a result, donors that have a reduced FSAP activity when healthy, now appear to be “average.”

[0066] For example, studies on whether patients with FSAP mutations run an increased risk of suffering thrombotic complications such as heart attacks are possible only with difficulty, owing to the abovementioned restrictions. On the other hand, for example, liver failures may lead to reduced plasma levels, and this likewise may lead to misinterpretations of the “true” genetic predisposition. In contrast, a FSAP mutation assay at the DNA and/or RNA level is independent of temporary events. The combination of all of the assays mentioned allows a complete picture of the donor/patient, i.e. the evaluation of a potential mutation and of the acute state regarding an influence on the antigen-activity ratio. This may result in prophylactic and therapeutic measures.

[0067] As described above, heterozygous individuals whose blood plasma contains normal FSAP at about 50% and the FSAP mutant at about 50% have been found. This results in an about 50% reduced activity level of plasmas in which both types of FSAP molecules are present. A very small proportion of individuals was found to be homozygous, their blood plasma containing the FSAP mutant at 100%, in which the prourokinase activation potency was virtually abolished. Plasma pools which have been obtained from the blood of 100 and more donors therefore also contain 5 to 10% of FSAP mutants, depending on the population. This results in a corresponding probability to receive, in blood transfusions, donor blood plasma that contains an FSAP mutant. If blood containing an FSAP mutant is administered to a recipient who cannot produce the mutant, the mutant may be recognized as extraneous and appropriate antibodies can be generated. Subsequent administration of the FSAP mutant at a later stage may lead to immunological reactions in the recipient, the side effects of which are familiar to the skilled worker.

[0068] Conversely, in a homozygous blood recipient who produces only an FSAP mutant but not normal FSAP, the latter is recognized as “extraneous” and the appropriate antibodies against it are produced.

[0069] FSAP affects hemostasis and the cellular processes connected therewith. By involvement in blood clotting and/or fibrinolysis, it also affects the wound healing reaction. Moreover, FSAP, due to its property of having a high affinity to glycosaminoglycans, can bind to cells and other matrices and therefore is probably physiologically and pathophysiologically involved in cell migration and cellular-proteolytic processes.

[0070] FSAP-specific antibodies thus may influence all FSAP-mediated activities. In the case of autoantibodies against FSAP appearing, it is possible that, in addition to an impairment of the physiological functions, immunocomplexes (FSAP+antibody) contribute to side effects of known autoimmune diseases. This may lead, for example, to vasculitides locally in the endothelium. Neutralization of FSAP activity as a profibrinolytic agent could also contribute to a thrombosis-promoting state.

[0071] There is, therefore, a need for a diagnostic method for detecting the above described antibodies.

[0072] Some embodiments of the invention, therefore, relate to diagnostic methods for detecting antibodies against factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) and/or against one or more FSAP mutants formed by the exchange of one or more amino acids. The method may comprise mixing a sample which could contain antibodies reactive with the FSAP and/or FSAP mutants fixed to a solid support, incubating, and, after washing, detecting the antibody bound to the FSAP(s) with a labeled human anti-immunoglobulin or a labeled protein A and determining the signal emitted by the bound labeled substance.

[0073] This diagnostic method may also be carried out using the ELISA technique in which FSAP and/or one or more FSAP mutants are bound to a matrix, for example, to a microtiter plate. For optimal presentation of the FSAP and/or FSAP mutants, the plate may be coated beforehand with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies or their F(ab′)2 or Fab fragments prior to loading the plate with the FSAP and/or FSAP mutants. Since FSAP and its mutants generally bind very well to dextran sulfate, heparin and similar substances, prior coating with these agents before FSAP binding is also possible. After washing, the support or the microtiter plate may additionally be blocked and washed using agents known for this purpose, such as detergent or albumin, and then incubated with the solution to be assayed. FSAP antibody-containing solutions may include blood serum, plasma and other body fluids, such as synovial fluids, CSF, sputum, tears, and seminal plasma, as well as cell lysates.

[0074] After incubating and washing the support, a suitable detection agent is then used. The assay substances necessary for detecting the various antibody classes such as IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE and the subclasses belonging thereto, are commercially available as labeled reagents. The antibody titer may be detected and quantified by a photometric determination measuring the extinction caused by cleavage of a chromogenic substrate by an enzyme coupled to the anti-human antibody. It is also possible to measure fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent group linked to an antibody used for detection. It is also possible to carry out the detection using radiometric measurement, if the substance used for detection is labeled with a radioactive group.

[0075] The determination of antibodies against FSAP and/or in particular FSAP mutants makes it possible to identify the risk involved in a blood transfusion prior to carrying out the transfusion and to avoid dangerous complications by suitable measures.

[0076] Some embodiments of the invention relate to a diagnostic method for immunohistochemical detection of the blood clotting factor VII-activating protease (FSAP), its proenzyme, its mutants, or its fragments. The method may comprise letting an FSAP-specific, labeled, monoclonal or polyclonal antibody, or one of its fragments, react with a tissue sample, washing out the unbound antibody or its fragments, and determining the signal emitted from the bound antibody or one of its fragments.

[0077] The method may also be carried out by letting an unlabelled monoclonal or polyclonal antibody or antibody fragment, directed against FSAP, its proenzyme, its mutants, or its fragments, react with a tissue sample, washing out the unbound antibody or its fragments, then letting a labeled anti-antibody or its fragments react with the tissue sample, and, after washing out the unbound labeled anti-antibody, determining the signal emitted from the bound anti-antibody or its fragments.

[0078] It was also found that monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies directed against FSAP are very well suited to detecting FSAP in tissue sections of human origin, when the antibodies are labeled with chromophoric or luminescent groups. FSAP-specific polyclonal antibodies obtained by immunization of rabbits, sheep, goats, or other mammals are suitable for the detection as well as monoclonal antibodies. Particularly suitable for the histological specific detection of FSAP which may be present both in the active form and in the proenzyme form, as well as in a fragment, are the monoclonal antibodies of hybridoma cell lines DSM ACC 2453 and DSM ACC 2454. Complexes of activated FSAP with inhibitors such as antiplasmin may also be detected in this way. Suitable for this purpose are all common histological detection methods such as light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy.

[0079] Suitable for detecting FSAP in the abovementioned methods are both the complete polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and their fragments such as F(ab′)2 or Fab, as long as they are labeled with a detectable group. The abovementioned antibodies or their fragments may be applied alone or as a mixture. This is particularly recommended in case one of the recognized epitopes is obscured. For example, a protein domain may not be accessible for an antibody due to cellular association, but is bound by another antibody having specificity for a different FSAP region. Antibodies which are directed against human FSAP, such as against one or more of the wild type and mutants of human FSAP, and which are described in more detail in the German Patent application 100 52 319.6 may also be employed for detection of FSAP in tissue sections of human origin.

[0080] The findings obtained so far on the immunohistochemical detection of FSAP can be summarized as follows:

[0081] FSAP is detected in almost all of the human tissues studied up until now;

[0082] endocrinologically active cells such as Leydig cells or the endocrinologically active cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas are very strongly stained intracytoplasmatically using antibodies against FSAP carrying chromophoric groups;

[0083] epithelia and endothelia display according to their location a more or less strong intracytoplasmatic immunoreaction with antibodies against FSAP;

[0084] gangliocytes and dendrites of the cortex display high concentrations of FSAP, and this is detected by a strong immunohistological color reaction with chromophoric antibodies;

[0085] plasma cells display an intensive intracytoplasmatic coloration with chromophoric antibodies against FSAP;

[0086] mesenchymal stroma cells display in complex tissues only a weak or no color reaction toward FSAP.

[0087] FSAP is thus a protein that can be regarded as a normal cell constituent. So far FSAP was found located both intracellularly and extracellularly, with the former compartment being markedly more stainable. The inventive detection of FSAP by the mentioned antibodies or their fragments makes it possible to identify the following pathological processes:

[0088] endocrinologically active tumors and neuro-endocrine tumors;

[0089] angiogenic endothelia and endothelia of the capillary endothelium; and also

[0090] angiogenically active tumors such as gliomas and glioblastomas, but also, for example, vascular tumors such as hemangioendothelioma or hemangiopericytoma and angiosarcoma;

[0091] wound healing reactions, granulation tissue and collagenoses;

[0092] atherosclerotic, (micro)thrombosed and necrotic areas;

[0093] neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or as spongiform encephalitides, for example caused by prion proteins;

[0094] gammopathies and myelomas.

[0095] FSAP may be detected by using monoclonal antibodies of hybridoma cell lines DSM ACC 2453 or DSM ACC 2454.

[0096] The diagnostic method of the invention is illustrated in more detail by the following example.

EXAMPLE I

[0097] The immunohistochemical reactivity of the FSAP-specific monoclonal antibodies of hybridoma cell lines DSM ACC 2453 and DSM ACC 2454 was studied by preparing from adult human tissue and malignant urological tumors 10 μm thick paraffin sections and subsequently de-waxing the sections which were treated in citrate buffer in the microwave for 3 times 5 minutes. First, an unlabelled antibody of the abovementioned hybridoma cell lines was allowed to react with the sections for 30 minutes. After washing out the tissue section, a labeled anti-mouse detection antibody was allowed to react with the tissue likewise for 30 minutes and then the bound FSAP antibody was made visible by forming the APAAP complex (Alkaline Phosphatase/Anti-Alkaline Phosphatase complex) and by staining with chromogen and counterstaining with hemalum.

[0098] As a negative control, each tissue was separately incubated with the detection antibody—without prior incubation with the FSAP antibody—in order to make potential unspecific reactions of the detection visible. In addition an antibody against α-keratin was included as a positive control.

[0099] The results of the immunohistochemical study of normal human tissue are summarized in Table 4.

TABLE 4
Antibodies against FSAP, clone DSMZ ACC2454 and DSMZ ACC 2453
Human normal tissue
	2454	2453		2454	2453
Esophagus			Appendix
Squamous epithelium	2+	2+	Epithelia	1+	3+
Secretory units	0	0	Musculature	1+	1+
Acinar ducts	2+	2+	Lymphatic follicle	1+	2+
Musculature	1+	1+	Plasma cells	2+	3+
Stroma	1+	1+ − 2+	Vascular endothelium	1+	1+
Vascular endothelium	2+	2+	Pancreas
Cardia (stomach)			Epithelia	1+	2+
Foveolar epithelium	0	0	Islets of Langerhans	3+	1+
Glandulae cardiacae	1+	2+	Duct epithelium	2+	2+
Mucous secretory units	0	0	Vascular endothelium	1+	1+
Oxyntic glands	3+	3+	Salivary gland
Musculature	1+	1+	Mucous end units	0	0
Vascular endothelium	1+	1+	Serous end units	1+	1+ − 2+
Corpus (stomach)			Acinar ducts	1+	1+
Foveolar epithelium	0	0 − 1+	Striate ducts	1+	1+
Corpus gland body	2+	2+	Vascular endothelium	0 − 1+	0 − 1+
Musculature	0	1+	Liver
Vascuiar endothelium	1+	1+	Hepatocytes	2+	2+
Duodenum			Bile ducts	0	0
Epithelia	0 − 1+	1+	Vascular endothelium	1+	(1+)
Brunner's glands	0	0	Gall bladder
Musculature	0	0 − 1+	Epithelia	1+	1+
Lymphatic follicle	1+	2+	Musculature	2+	1+
Ganglion cells	2+	3+	Vascular endothelium	2+	1+
Vascular endothelium	1+	1+	Cystic duct
Small intestine			Epithelium	3+	3+
Epithelia	2+	3+	Musculature	2+	1+
Musculature	1+	1+	Ganglion cells	3+	3+
Stroma	1+	2+	Vascular endothelium	2+	2+
Ganglion cells	3+	3+	Testis
Vascular endothelium	1+	1+	Leydig cells	3+	1+
Colon/Rectum			Sertoli cells	1+ − 2+	1+
Epithelia	1+	1+	Germ cells	1+ − 2+	1+
Lymphatic follicles	1+	1+	Vascular endothelium	1+	1+
Plasma cells	1+	1+	Rete testis
Vascular endothelium	1+	0	Epithelium	2+	2+
Epididymis			Placenta
Epididymis duct	2+	2+	Chorionic epithelium	3+	2+
Efferent ductulus	2+	2+	Amniotic epithelium	2+	2+
Stroma	1+	1+	Decidual cells2+− 3+	2+
Vascular endothelium	1+	1+	Stroma cells	0	+/−
Seminal gland			Vascular endothelium	1+	1+
Epithelium	2+	3+	Fetal membranes
Musculature	1+	1+	Amniotic epithelium	3+	2+
Vascular endothelium	2+	2+	Decidual cells	3+	1 +
Deferent duct			Fibroblasts	3+
Epithelium	2+	3+	Cervix uteri
Longitudinal muscle	0	+/−	Glandular epithelium 0	0
layer
Annular muscle layer	2+	3+	Vascular endothelium	1+	0 − 1
Vascular endothelium	2+	3+	Stroma	1+	0 − 1
Prostate			Fallopian tube
Glandular epithelium	2+	2+	Epithelium	2+	3+
Musculature	1+	1+	Musculature	0	1+
Vascular endothelium	1+ − 2+	1+ − 2+	Vascular endothelium	1+	2+
Kidney			Breast
Tubules	2+	1+	Epithelia mammary	2+	2+
			gland lobules
Glomerules	0	0	Duct epithelium 2+	2+
			secretory ducts
Medullary epithelium	1+	1+	Fibroblasts	0	1+
Vascular endothelium	0 − 1+	0 − 1+	Plasma cells	2+2+
Bladder			Vascular endothelium	1+	0
Urothelium	2+	1+ − 2+	Thyroid
Musculature	2+	1+	Follicular epithelium	2+
Plasma cells	2+	2+	Stroma	1+	1+
Fibroblasts	1+ − 2+	1+ − 2+	Vascular endothelium	1+	0
Peripheral nerve		0	Thymus
Adrenal gland			Hassall's bodies	2+ − 3+	2+
Glomerular zone	2+	1+	Follicles	1+	2+
Fascicular zone	1+ − 2+	(1+)	Mantle zone	(1+)	(1+)
Reticular zone	3+	(1+)	Starry sky	1+	1+
			macrophages
Medulla	0	0	Spleen ++
Vascular endothelium	1+	(1+)	Tonsils	+/−	+/−
Endometrium			Lymph nodes	+/−	+/−
Glandular epithelium	3+	2+	Maxillary sinus
Stroma cells	0	1+	Respiratory epithelium	2+	2+
Myometrium	1+	1+	Plasma cells	3+	3+
Vascular endothelium	1+	2+	Vascular endothelium	1+	1+
Lung			Fatty tissue	2+	2+
Bronchial epithelium	2+	1+	Vascular endothelium	2+	2+
Alveolar epithelium	1+ − 2+	1+	Skin
Bronchial glands	1+	1+	Epidermis	2+	1+ − 2+
Cartilage	3+	1+	Dermis	(1+)	0
Musculature	1+	1+	Hypodermis	(1+)	0
Alveolar macrophages	2+	2+	Sweat glands	1 +	0
Elastic fibers	2+ − 3+	2+ − 3+	Vascular endothelium	1+	0
Vascular endothelium	1+	1+	Endocardium	0	0
Skeletal muscles	2+	1+	Fibroblasts	2+ − 3+	2+ − 3+
0 = negative
1+ = weakly positive
2+ = moderately strong positive
3+ = strongly positive

[0100] Endocrine cells such as the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, the Leydig cells of the testicular interstitium, the decidual cells of the placenta, the oxyntic gland body of the stomach cardia, and the highly cylindrical epithelium of the cystic duct, display a strong reaction, which in part, shows fine granules. Strongly positive reactions were observed in plasma cells located in tissue structures and ganglionic cells and nerve cells of the cortex. The decidual cells, the amniotic epithelium and the fibroblasts of fetal membranes displayed very strong immunohistological stainability, as did the epithelium lining the seminal glands and the enterocytes of the small intestine.

[0101] Studies of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor material of urological tumors displayed a weak to moderately strong intracytoplasmatical reaction of different differentiated adenocarcinomas of the prostate. Tumor cells of seminomatous testicular tumors showed only a weak intracytoplasmatic reaction while non-seminomatous tumors (embryonic carcinomas and chorionic carcinomas) had a widely increased stainability of the tumor cells, indicating increased concentrations of FSAP.

[0102] The diagnostic method of the invention thus allows an immunohistochemical detection of pathological processes in a wide variety of organs.

EXAMPLE II

Bruneck Study

Study Subjects

[0103] The Bruneck study is a prospective population study aimed at throwing light on epidemiology and etiology of carotid atherosclerosis (1-6). The study population was recruited in 1990 as a sample stratified according to sex and age and all the Bruneck inhabitants from 40 to 79 years of age (125 women and 125 men from each of decades 5 to 8 of age, n=1000). In total, 93.6% took part, with 919 completing the data acquisition. During the follow-up period between summer 1990 and 1995 (quinquennium1—Q1), a subgroup of 62 individuals died, while one subject moved house. Follow-up in the remaining population was 96.5% complete (n=826) (1-3). Before entry in the study, all the participants gave their consent after they had been informed about the study. As part of the follow-up in 1995, blood samples were taken to obtain DNA. Unsatisfactory PCR products were obtained in 16 cases, i.e. 810 men and women remained for the main analysis. Of these subjects, 94 died between summer 1995 and 2000 (quinquennium2—Q2). A total of 675 subjects underwent ultrasound investigation again in 2000 (follow-up rate among the survivors 94.3%) (6).

Clinical History and Examination

[0104] The study protocol included a clinical examination with priority for cardiological and neurological items and standardized questionnaires concerning the current or past vulnerability due to potential vascular risk factors (3-5). For smokers and former smokers, the average number of cigarettes smoked each day, and the pack-years, were recorded. The alcohol consumption was quantified as grams per day and classified in four categories (3). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were the means of three measurements, in each case measured after resting for ≧10 minutes. Hypertension was defined as a blood pressure of ≧160/95 or intake of antihypertensive agents (WHO definition). A standardized oral glucose tolerance test was carried out on all subjects excepting those previously known to be diabetic. Diabetes mellitus was entered as present for those subjects whose fasting blood glucose level was ≧140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol) and/or who had a 2-hour level (oral glucose tolerance test) of ≧200 mg/dl (11.0 mmol/l).

Laboratory Methods

[0105] After the subjects had taken no food and not smoked for at least 12 hours, blood was taken from the antecubital vein (3-6). Total cholesterol and cholesterol with high density lipoprotein were determined enzymatically (CHOD-PAP method, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), and lipoprotein(a) concentrations were measured using an ELISA (Immuno, Vienna, Austria). The cholesterol with low density lipoprotein was calculated from the Freidewald formula. Fibrinogen was measured by the method of Clauss, and the antithrombin Ill using a chromogenic assay. The Leiden mutation of factor V was detected by allele-specific PCR amplification (3).

[0106] FSAP antigen concentrations and scuPA-activating effect were determined as described recently (7, 8). Stated briefly, an ELISA with monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against FSAP was used for antigen quantification. The activity assay comprised an immunoadsorption onto microtiter plates coated with antibodies, a washing step and subsequent activation of prourokinase by FSAP, which was quantified by photometric observation of the amidolysis of a chromogenic substrate for urokinase. Pooled plasma from more than 200 healthy blood donors was used as arbitrary standard for both assays. A plasma equivalent unit (PEU) was defined as the FSAP antigenic activity present in one milliliter of the pooled plasma, which corresponds on average to 12 μg/ml (8).

[0107] DNA extraction and FSAP genotyping: high-quality DNA was obtained from frozen whole blood using a GenomicPrep Blood DNA Isolation Kit (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech). Ten ml of extracted DNA were amplified in 100 μl of 1×PCR standard reaction buffer with 50 pmol of the corresponding exon-specific forward and reverse primer, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM dNTP and 2.5 units of Taq DNA polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Langen, Germany); an initial 2-minute denaturation at 94° C. was followed by 35 thermocycles each for 30 seconds at 94° C., 30 seconds at 50° C. and 40 seconds at 72° C., which was followed by a final elongation step at 72° C. for 5 minutes. The pairs of primers used have recently been described in Roemisch J, Feussner A, Nerlich C, et al. The frequent Marburg I polymorphism impairs the prourokinase activating potency of the factor VII-activating protease. Blood Coag Fibrinol 2002; 13:1-9, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Scanning Protocol and Definition of the Ultrasound Endpoints

[0108] In the ultrasound examination, the internal carotid artery (bulbous and distal sections) and common carotid artery (proximal and distal sections) on both sides were scanned using a 10 MHz probe and a 5 MHz doppler (1,2). Atherosclerotic lesions were defined by two ultrasound criteria: 1) wall surface (protrusion into the lumen) and 2) wall texture (echogenicity). The maximum axial diameter of plaques was determined in each of 16 vessel sections (intra-observation coefficient of variation 10% or 15% depending on the vessel section). The thickness of the intima media was measured at the far walls of the common carotid artery (intra-observation coefficient of variation 7.9% (n=100)) (2). The scans were performed in 1990, 1995 and 2000 by the same experienced ultrasonic specialist, the clinical findings and laboratory values of the subjects being unknown to the ultrasonic specialist.

[0109] The development of atherosclerosis was characterized by the appearance of new plaques in previously normal sections. Thresholds of 0.7 mm (common carotid artery) and 1.0 mm (internal carotid artery) were introduced as minimum requirements concerning the plaque diameters in the definition of developing atherosclerosis, because smaller lesions were difficult to distinguish from focal/diffuse wall thickenings (1). Progression of non-stenotic lesions was defined as a relative enlargement of the plaque diameter of more than twice the measurement error of the method (1). In the current analysis, both processes were combined to a single result category referred to as “early atherogenesis” for easier presentation and because of the fact that most of the described risk factors were common to these processes. An “advanced atherogenesis” was assumed whenever the criterion of progression was met and the lumen was narrowed by >40%. As described elsewhere (1-5), the cutoff at 40% appeared to correspond to a biological threshold in our population, at which marked changes in the growth kinetics of plaques (continuous, slow and diffuse growth versus occasional and focal expansions of prominent lesions), in the risk profiles (conventional risk factors versus procoagulation risk factors) and in the process of vascular renewal (compensating or overcompensating versus insufficient or even absent) occurred, indicating a switch in the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms from conventional atherogenesis to atherothrombosis.

[0110] The reproducibility of the ultrasound categories was “nearly perfect” (kappa coefficients of >0.8, obtained from two independent measurements carried out by the same ultrasound specialist in a reproducibility sample of n=100 (1-3).

Statistical Analysis

[0111] Possible associations between FSAP mutations and the various stages of atherogenesis were examined by means of logistic regression analysis. A base model was adjusted only in relation to age and sex. Multivariate equations were fitted by a stepwise progressive selection procedure as already described (p values for entry and exclusion 0.10 and 0.15 respectively) (3, 10). Age and sex were additionally inserted into these models in order to take account of the age and sex structure of the population sample. The main analysis was concentrated on the period between 1990 and 1995 (Q1). Analysis of advanced atherogenesis was restricted to subjects already suffering from atherosclerosis at the start of the study (n=326).

[0112] The regression-standardized atherogenesis risks were calculated for a number of risk factors. The marginal method of the regression adjustment procedure was used, because it is not based on the rare-disease assumption (11).

Results

[0113] In the Bruneck study cohort (n=810), 36 subjects were heterozygous for the Marburg I mutant of FSAP (17 men and 20 women) and one subject was homozygous, corresponding to an overall carrier rate [95% Cl] in the general population of 4.4% [3.0% to 5.8%]. A cosegregation of the Marburg II mutant (E393Q) of FSAP was observed in 16 of the 37 individuals (43 percent, 8 men and 8 women), while the Marburg I mutant occurred in isolation in the remaining 21 subjects (57 percent, 9 men and 12 women).

[0114] Plasma samples from the subpopulation (n=82) were investigated for FSAP antigen concentrations and corresponding prourokinase-activating effects. In 76 subjects with wild-type FSAP, the average (±2×SD) antigen concentrations, activity concentrations and activity/antigen ratios were respectively 0.991 (0.552 to 1.430) PEU/ml, 1.036 (0.614 to 1.458) PEU/ml and 1.07 (0.63 to 1.51). In contrast thereto, all six carriers of the Marburg I mutant in this subgroup showed a distinctly reduced in vitro capacity to activate prourokinase (<0.150 to 0.626) and activity/antigen ratios of 0.38 to 0.58. There was hardly any overlap in the distribution of these parameters in the two genetic groups.

[0115] During the five-year follow-up period between 1990 and 1995 (Q1), a total of 384 of the 810 subjects in the study (47.4%) developed new atherosclerotic lesions or showed extension of nonstenotic lesions (early atherogenesis), and 92 of 326 individuals (28.2%) with pre-existing plaques showed stenotic transformations (advanced atherogenesis). As expected, no relation was found between Marburg I mutant and early atherogenesis (age/sex adjusted, multivariate odds ratios [95% Cl] of 0.6 [0.3 to 1.4] and 0.7 [0.3 to 1.7]. Consistent with this, there were no differences in the thickness of the intima media of the common carotid artery between the carriers of wild-type FSAP (0.95 mm) and of the Marburg I mutant of FSAP (0.94 mm; P=0.853 for the difference). However, it emerged that the mutant is a strong risk factor for the advanced putative atherothrombotic stage in atherogenesis (age/sex adjusted odds ratio [95% Cl] 3.5 [1.1 to 11.4], P=0.036). The association remained statistically significant on adjustment of the logistic regression model for other relevant risk factors (tab. 1). The risk profile for advanced stenotic atherosclerosis also included diabetes, a high fibrinogen concentration, a low antithrombin concentration, a high platelet count, smoking, alcohol consumption (small amounts protective), Lp(a)>0.32 g/l and Leiden mutation of factor V. There were no sex-specific differences in the risk factors, and no evidence of differential effects of the Marburg I mutant was found in subpopulations arranged according to age, level of risk and life style. Exclusion of subjects taking aspirin, antihypertensive agents, antidiabetics or lipid-lowering agents likewise did not affect the results. Regression-standardized risks of advanced atherogenesis for a number of major risk factors (Marburg I mutant, IGT/diabetes, high lipoprotein(a) concentration, smoking, factor V mutation, high fibrinogen concentration and low antithrombin concentration) are shown in table 2. Subjects with none of the risk factors had a low risk for development/progression of carotid stenosis, whereas subjects with a cluster of more than two factors almost obligatorily experienced advanced atherogenesis.

[0116] The Marburg II mutant had no effect on in vitro activation of single-chain plasminogen activators by FSAP. Accordingly, it was not unexpected that no association between this mutation and atherogenesis could be found in our analyses. On comparison of subjects with wild-type FSAP and carriers of the Marburg II mutant, of the Marburg I mutant and carriers of both genetic deviations, the multivariate odds ratios [95% Cl] for advanced atherosclerosis were 1.6 [02 to 13.7], P=0.669, 6.2 [1.1 to 36.0], P=0.048 and 7.1 [1.1 to 45.1], P=0.037.

[0117] To demonstrate that our findings are also consistent over longer periods, the calculations were repeated with the data from the ten-year follow-up period between 1990 and 2000 (Q1+2). In these equations, the multivariate relation between the Marburg I mutant of FSAP and advanced atherosclerosis (same adjustments as for the original analysis) was again statistically significant (multivariate odds ratio [95% Cl] 4.1 [1.1 to 14.8], P=0.045).

TABLE 5
Multivariate logistic regression analysis of advanced atherogenesis according to
age, sex, Marburg I mutant of FSAP and other potential vascular risk factors.
	Means ± standard deviation (%)
	AS −	AS +	Odds ratio
Variable	(n = 234)	(n = 92)	(95% CI)	P value	Step
Age, y	64.9 ± 9.2	67.8 ± 8.0	1.87(1.19 − 2.92)	.0064	0
Female sex	109(46.6%)	32(34.8%)	0.56(0.25 − 1.25)	.1555	0
Glucose tolerance				<.0001	1
IGT	20(8.5%)	16(17.4%)	3.31(1.37 − 7.99)	.0081
DM	10(8.1%)	21(22.8%)	6.38(2.71 − 14.99)	<.0001
Cigarettes/day	3.2 ± 7.2	6.6 ± 9.6	1.77(1.30 − 2.40)	.0003	2
Lp(a) > 0.32 g/l	36(15.4%)	25(27.2%)	4.06(1.83 − 8.96)	.0005	3
Alcohol consumption				.0043	4
<1 g/d	114(48.7%)	42(45.6%)	1.00
1-50 g/d	60(25.7%)	15(16.3%)	0.26(0.10 − 0.66)	.0046
51-99 g/d	37(15.8%)	17(18.5%)	1.03(0.40 − 2.70)	.9475
≧100 g/d	23(9.8%)	18(19.6%)	1.90(0.63 − 5.69)	.2535
Fibrinogen, g/l	2.7 ± 0.6	2.9 ± 0.6	1.53(1.12 − 2.09)	.0083	5
Marburg I FSAP	5(2.1%)	8(8.7%)	6.63(1.58 − 27.72)	.0099	6
mutation
Factor V mutation	5(2.1%)	7(7.6%)	4.70(1.19 − 18.55)	.0291	7
Antithrombin III, %	96.3 ± 13.0	92.8 ± 16.4	0.74(0.55 − 1.00)	.0500	8
Platelet count, × 109/l	217.4 ± 56.5	230.3 ± 56.6	1.32(0.98 − 1.77)	.0769	9

[0118] Odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence interval (95% Cl) and p values (P) were derived from the logistic regression analysis of advanced atherosclerosis (development/progression of stenotic carotid atherosclerosis) in relation to age, sex and vascular risk factors. The model was fitted by a stepwise progressive selection process (step . . . entry step). The ORs were calculated for a 1−SD unit change of given variables.

[0119] AS−: group without advanced atherogenesis, AS+: group with advanced atherogenesis. This analysis was concentrated on the 326 subjects who already suffered from atherosclerosis at the start of the study in 1990.

REFERENCES

[0120] 1. Kiechl S, Willeit J. The natural course of atherosclerosis. Part I: incidence and progression. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1999; 19: 1480-90.

[0121] 2. Kiechl S, Willeit J. The natural course of atherosclerosis. Part II: vascular remodeling. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1999; 19: 1491-8.

[0122] 3. Willeit J, Kiechl S, Oberhollenzer F, et al. Distinct risk profiles of early and advanced atherosclerosis. Prospective results from the Bruneck Study. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2000; 20: 529-37.

[0123] 4. Kiechl S, Egger G, Mayr M, et al. Chronic infections and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. Prospective results from a large population study. Circulation 2001; 103: 1064-70.

[0124] 5. Kiechl S, Willeit J, Egger G, Poewe W, Oberhollenzer F. Body iron stores and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. Prospective results from the Bruneck Study. Circulation 1997; 96: 3300-7.

[0125] 6. Kiechl S, Lorenz E, Reindl M, Wiedermann C J, Oberhollenzer F, Bonora E, Willeit J, Schwartz D A. Toll-like receptor 4 polymorphisms and atherogenesis in humans. N Engl J Med 2002; 347: 185-92.

[0126] 7. Roemisch J, Feussner A, Stohr H A. Quantification of the factor VII- and single-chain plasminogen activator-activating protease in plasmas of healthy subjects. Blood Coagul. Fibrinolysis. 2001; 12: 375-83.

[0127] 8. Kannemeier C, Feussner A, Stohr H A, Weisse J, Preissner K T, Roemisch J. Factor VII and single-chain plasminogen activator-activating protease: activation and autoactivation of the proenzyme. Eur J Biochem. 2001; 268: 3789-96.

[0128] 9. Roemisch J, Feussner A, Nerlich C, Stoehr H A, Weimer T. The frequent Marburg I polymorphism impairs the prourokinase activating potency of the factor VII-activating protease (FSAP). Blood Coag Fibrinol 2002; 13: 1-9.

[0129] 10. Hosmer D W, Lemeshow S. Applied Logistic Regression. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1988.

[0130] 11. Wilcosky T C, Chambless L E. A comparison of direct adjustment and regression adjustment of epidemiological measures. J. Chron Dis 1985; 38: 849-56.

Figure Legend

[0131] FIG. 1 shows the regression-adjusted risk of advanced atherogenesis as a function of the vascular risk factors present in an individual (Marburg I mutant of factor VII-activating protease, IGT/diabetes, lipoprotein(a) concentration >0.32 g/l, smoking, Leiden mutation of factor V, fibrinogen concentration (Q5, >3.2 g/l) and antithrombin concentration (Q1, <84%)).

Claims

1. An atherothrombosis risk factor which comprises a coagulation factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) mutant.

2. The risk factor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the FSAP mutant comprises a Gly to Glu exchange at amino acid position 534 of the proenzyme sequence.

3. The risk factor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the FSAP mutant further comprises a Glu to Gln exchange at amino acid position 393 of the proenzyme sequence.

4. The risk factor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the FSAP mutant is encoded by a proenzyme nucleotide sequence comprising a G to A base exchange at position 1601.

5. The risk factor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the FSAP mutant is encoded by a proenzyme nucleotide sequence further comprising a G to C base exchange at position 1177.

6. The risk factor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the FSAP mutant has partially or completely lost the ability to activate single-chain plasminogen activators, as compared with wild-type FSAP.

7. The risk factor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the FSAP mutant has partially or completely lost the ability to activate prourokinase, as compared with wild-type FSAP.

8. The risk factor as claimed in claim 1, which indicates a genetic predisposition to the development of atherosclerotic disorders and their sequelae, or thrombotic disorders and their sequelae.

9. The risk factor as claimed in claim 8, which indicates a genetic predisposition to the development of at least one of arterial and venous occlusive disorders.

10. The risk factor as claimed in claim 8, which indicates a genetic predisposition to the development of at least one of atherosclerotic and thrombotic restrictions of organ functions.

11. The risk factor as claimed in claim 8, which indicates a genetic predisposition to the development of one or more of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and strokes.

12. An atherothrombosis risk factor, wherein the potential for activation of single-chain plasminogen activators is reduced.

13. The atherothrombosis risk factor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the potential for activation of single-chain plasminogen activators is reduced by a diminished FSAP activity in at least one of whole blood and blood plasma.

14. The atherothrombosis risk factor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the potential for activation of prourokinase is reduced.

15. A diagnostic method for identifying a genetic predisposition to the development of at least one of atherosclerosis and thromboses, which comprises determining at least one of a reduced FSAP protein concentration and a reduced FSAP prourokinase activating activity in one or more body fluids of an individual.

16. A diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the ratio between FSAP protein concentration and FSAP prourokinase activating potency in one or more body fluids of an individual is determined to identify the genetic predisposition.

17. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the one or more body fluids comprise blood plasma.

18. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the potential for activation of single-chain plasminogen activators is determined in one or more body fluids of the individual.

19. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the potential for activation of prourokinase is determined in one or more body fluids of the individual.

20. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising detection of heterozygous and/or homozygous mutants of the FSAP proenzyme nucleotide sequence with a G to A base exchange at nucleotide position 1601 by analysis of at least one of genomic DNA, mRNA, and cDNA of the individual.

21. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising detection of heterozygous and/or homozygous mutants of the FSAP proenzyme nucleotide sequence with a G to C base exchange at nucleotide position 1177.

22. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, comprising detecting FSAP mutants at the protein level.

23. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the FSAP mutants are detected by using FSAP-specific and/or mutant FSAP-specific antibodies.

24. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the FSAP mutants are detected by histological investigations on at least one of tissues and in solutions extracted from tissues.

25. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, comprising one or more of: (a) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with a first antibody, immobilized on a solid support, then, after washing, adding a second, labeled antibody and, after washing out again, measuring the signal produced by the second antibody, wherein the second antibody may comprise a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody; (b) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with a first antibody immobilized on a solid support, then, after washing, adding a second, labeled antibody and, after washing out again, measuring the signal produced by the second antibody, wherein the first antibody is a wild-type FSAP-specific antibody; (c) immobilizing a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants on a support and detecting the sample with a labeled antibody, alone or in a mixture with an unlabelled antibody; and (d) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants with an antibody immobilized on a support in the presence of a labeled FSAP mutant, and measuring the signal produced by the label.

26. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein FSAP activity is measured by: (a) incubating a sample that could contain one or more FSAP mutants on a solid support onto which an antibody has previously been coupled, wherein the antibody is at least one of an FSAP-specific, a wild-type FSAP-specific, and a mutant FSAP-specific antibody; and (b) after washing out the free support, incubating the FSAP immobilized thereon with reagents which allow determination of the activity thereof.

27. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15, wherein antibodies are used for detection of FSAP mutants by one or more of Western blots, immunohistology, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).

28. A test system for carrying out the diagnostic method as claimed in claim 15.

29. A diagnostic method for detecting antibodies against at least one of factor VII-activating protease (FSAP) and FSAP mutants, which comprises allowing a sample that could contain the antibodies to act on at least one of FSAP and FSAP mutants immobilized on a solid support, then washing and detecting the antibodies bound to the solid support.

30. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the antibodies bound to the solid support are incubated with a substance selected from one or more of labelled anti-human immunoglobulin, fragments thereof, labelled protein A, and labelled protein G; wherein the signal emitted by the bound, labelled substance is determined.

31. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the antibodies bound to the solid support are detected by a photometric measurement of the extinction caused by cleavage of a suitable chromogenic or fluorogenic substrate by one or more of enzyme-coupled anti-human antibodies, fragments thereof, protein A, and protein G.

32. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the antibodies bound to the solid support are detected by fluorescence measurement.

33. The diagnostic method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the antibodies bound to the solid support are detected by radiometric measurement.