title: Proteins of the fibrinolytic system in human thrombi.
abstract: The proteins of fibrinolysis have been quantified in human thrombi, to assess the balance between plasminogen activators and their major inhibitor PAI-1. The relative roles of PAI-1 and alpha 2-AP were also examined since we have previously shown that both platelet PAI-1 and plasma alpha 2-AP are important determinants of clot lysis in vitro. Extracts and sections were prepared from human thrombi for quantitative immunoassay and immunohistochemical staining respectively. PAI-1 and alpha 2-AP were present at high concentrations. Levels of t-PA and t-PA-PAI-1 complex were relatively low. Staining confirmed the presence of abundant PAI-1, associated primarily with platelet material within the thrombus and also with fibrin. Staining for alpha 2-AP was also intense and demonstrated strong association with fibrin. The alpha 2-AP concentration was similar to its high plasma concentration, whereas PAI-1 levels were up to 30 times greater than that in circulating blood, suggesting that active recruitment of platelets contributes to the high PAI-1 concentration in thrombi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Robbie
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Croll
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000097:blood*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D010960:Plasminogen Activators