Histidine-rich glycoprotein does not interfere with interactions between antithrombin III and heparin-like compounds on vascular endothelial cells

The role of histidine-rich glycoprotein in controlling heparin-like compounds on the endothelial cell surface is still unclear. The effects of this heparin-neutralizing protein on the interaction between antithrombin III and cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells were examined. Displacement of 125I-labeled antithrombin III specifically bound to endothelial cells by unlabeled histidine-rich glycoprotein was much less potent than that by unlabeled antithrombin III. One hundred- fold molar excess of histidine-rich glycoprotein displaced specific 125I-antithrombin III binding only by 20%. Furthermore, the endothelial cell-mediated acceleration of thrombin inactivation by antithrombin III was diminished by protamine sulfate, but was not affected by histidine- rich glycoprotein even at a histidine-rich glycoprotein/antithrombin III molar ratio of approximately 7:1. These data indicate that histidine-rich glycoprotein does not interfere with the interaction of endothelial cell heparin-like compounds with antithrombin III. Thus, it may not play an important role in the modulation of anticoagulant activity of endothelial cells in vivo, suggesting that the commonly accepted view of the probable function of this protein is erroneous.