The fibrinolytic system in human ascites.
BACKGROUND
We recently reported that the contact and kallikrein-kinin systems are activated in malignancy-related ascites. We have now studied the fibrinolytic system in ascites and plasma from patients with gastrointestinal cancer(n = 14) and non-malignant liver disease (n = 18).


RESULTS
Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) showed that urokinase and tissue plasminogen activators (uPA, tPA) and PA inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2) were present in ascites from both patient groups and that tPA was the predominant PA. uPA, tPA, and PAI-1, were detected in plasma from patients and controls. These EIA findings were supported by zymography studies. Functional assays showed considerable generation of plasmin-like activity and low plasminogen and antiplasmin values in malignancy-related ascites. The plasmin/antiplasmin and tPA/PAI-1 ratios were particularly high in malignancy-related ascites as compared with non-malignant ascites. Plasma from the liver disease patients showed a higher tPA/PAI-1 ratio and, thus a higher potential for plasminogen activation than plasma from cancer patients and controls. Patient plasma showed low values of plasmin-like activity, antiplasmin, and plasminogen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that the fibrinolytic system is activated in malignancy-related ascites.
Buø
L
L
Institute for Surgical Research, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
Karlsrud
T S
TS
Dyrhaug
G
G
Bell
H
H
Engström
L
L
Johansen
H T
HT
Aasen
A O
AO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000032:analysis; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000032:analysis; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2 / Q000032:analysis; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000032:analysis; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000032:analysis
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D017396:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 2; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator