Understanding the enzymology of fibrinolysis and improving thrombolytic therapy.
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for 17 million deaths per year but acute myocardial infarction and stroke can be treated with thrombolytics ("clot busters"), which are plasminogen activators. However, despite many years of study and huge investment from the pharmaceutical industry, clinical trials of new drugs have often been disappointing. Part of the problem may be our incomplete understanding of the regulation of plasminogen activation in vivo. We have developed precise in vitro methods and with the application of computer simulations, we hope to improve our understanding of plasminogen activation to facilitate improvements in thrombolytic therapy.
Longstaff
Colin
C
Division of Haematology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Herts, EN6 3QG, UK. clongstaff@nibsc.ac.uk
Thelwell
Craig
C
D000818:Animals; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006801:Humans; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism
D004798:Enzymes; D010958:Plasminogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator