Plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor in malignant and non-malignant ascitic fluid.
Ascitic fluid from tumour patients (hepatoma, gastric cancer, gallbladder cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer) and from non-malignant diseases (liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failure) were compared with respect to their content of determinants of the fibrinolytic system, tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen (t-PAag) and activity (t-PAact), urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen (u-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PAI). Furthermore, SDS-polyacrylamide slab-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed to evaluate molecular weight distribution of the detectable fibrinolytic parameters. In malignant ascites, PAI activity was three to four times higher, and increased complex formation of PAI with t-PA could be demonstrated, compared with non-malignant ascitic fluid. Tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen and activity showed a similar concentration in ascites of both study groups. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator antigen was detectable neither in ascites of malignant nor in ascites of non-malignant origin. It is concluded that t-PA is the physiological plasminogen activator in ascites and that increased PAI levels followed by increased complex formation between t-PA and PAI might reflect a reaction of the peritoneum.
Huber
K
K
Laboratory for Clinical Experimental Physiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Wojta
J
J
Kirchheimer
J C
JC
Ermler
D
D
Binder
B R
BR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000032:analysis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis*
D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator