Streptokinase-producing streptococci grown in human plasma acquire unregulated cell-associated plasmin activity.
Group A streptococci grown in the presence of human plasma generated plasmin from plasminogen and captured the functional enzyme to a specific cell-surface receptor. Bacteria-bound plasmin was not regulated by alpha 2-antiplasmin present in the medium. The ability of the bacteria to acquire cell-associated plasmin activity was dependent on both the presence of plasminogen in the culture medium and the production of a bacterial plasminogen activator, streptokinase. The ability of group A streptococci to produce a plasminogen activator and capture resulting plasmin in an unregulatable form could provide the organism with a mechanism for invasion of normal tissue barriers.
Lottenberg
R
R
Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610-0277.
DesJardin
L E
LE
Wang
H
H
Boyle
M D
MD
D015153:Blotting, Western; D003470:Culture Media; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013300:Streptokinase / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D003470:Culture Media; D010958:Plasminogen; D013300:Streptokinase; D005341:Fibrinolysin