Tag Archives: plasmin

Role of plasminogen/plasmin in functional activity of blood cells

D. D. Zhernossekov, E. I. Yusova, T. V. Grinenko

Palladin Institute of Biochemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv;
e-mail:grinenko@biochem.kiev.ua

The article deals with the data concerning structural peculiarities of plasminogen/plasmin molecule, which define the specificity of intermolecular interactions and provide the variety of its biological functions. The main principles of the modern classification of plasminogen receptors and factors, which modulate their expression, have been presented. We have considered the mechanisms regulating both plasmin formation and activity on the surface of cells, fibrin and proteins of extracellular matrix. The data of previous investigators and our own results, concerning the influence of plasminogen/plasmin on platelet aggregation induced by different agonists, have been summarized. The participation of plasminogen/plasmin in atherogenesis and angiogenesis mediated­ by endotheliocyte receptors has been discussed. Special attention was given to plasminogen/plasmin pro-inflammatory function, which is realized by regulatory processes of activation, secretion, migration and apoptosis of monocytes and macrophages.

A novel mechanism controlling the growth of hemostatic thrombi

V. K. Lishko, I. S. Yermolenko, N. P. Podolnikova, T. P. Ugarova

School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA

Current knowledge of the mechanisms of blood coagulation does not provide an answer to one pivotal question: why is, in contrast to a pathological thrombus, the growth of normal hemostatic clot after blood vessel injury suddenly terminated? In the present paper, we summarize the results of our investigations that give an answer to this question. We show that the surface of fibrin clot in the circulation is coated with a thin metastable layer of fibrinogen which is not able to support adhesion of blood cells. Consequently, platelets and leukocytes, the cells expressing adhesive integrins, are incapable of consolidating­ their grip on the surface and washed away by blood flow, thereby preventing the thrombus propagation. The cells that escaped this fibrinogen shield and reached a solid fibrin matrix use an additional mechanism – the ability to activate plasminogen bound either to the surface of cells or to fibrin. Plasmin formed at the interface between the cells and the clot locally degrades fibrin resulting in the fragmentation of the surface rendering it unstable, non-adhesive and therefore non-thrombogenic. Thus, the growth of hemostatic thrombus is halted by two mechanisms, fibrinogen- and plasminogen-dependent, both of which are based on the same principle – the generation of the mechanically unstable, non-adhesive surface.