title: Activation of the contact system in ascites from patients with gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: Our observations indicates that the plasma contact system is activated in ascites from patients with gastrointestinal cancer: Factor XII is activated, plasma kallikrein is present in complex with the protease inhibitor alpha 2-macroglobulin, and the plasma kallikrein substrate high molecular weight kininogen, is highly degraded. Contact activation seems to take place in spite of a high level of inhibition. Activation of the contact system generates mediators, which may play a role in the accumulation of ascites.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000201:enzymology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005172:Factor XI / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005174:Factor XII / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011288:Prekallikrein / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D012016:Reference Values; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D005174:Factor XII; D005172:Factor XI; D011288:Prekallikrein; D007610:Kallikreins