The inhibition of thrombin and chymotrypsin by heparin-cofactor II

Heparin cofactor II (HC II) is known as a bifunctional inhibitor inactivating trypsin- and chymotrypsin type proteases. Its inhibitory activity increases in the presence of heparin, dermatan sulfate and chondroitin E. In the present study the inhibitory activity of HC II was investigated as function of various dermatan sulfate fractions and its stability was tested against oxidation reagents similar to thus secreted by activated leucocytes. High affinity dermatan sulfate (DS) increased the antithrombin inhibition activity of HC II about 1000-fold in contrast to about 100-fold in the case of low affinity DS. Oxidation of HC II carbohydrate side chains with sodiumperiodate showed less inactivation effects than oxidation by chloramine T or ammonium peroxodisulfate.