Fluorescence polarization and spectropolarimetric studies on the conformational changes induced by omega-aminoacids in two isozymes of Glu-plasminogen (I and II)

Degradation of Glu- and Lys-plasminogen by elastase in the presence or absence of tranexamic acid

Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was degraded by elastase in the presence or absence of tranexamic acid. Glu-plg was degraded faster in the presence of tranexamic acid. Increase in the concentration of tranexamic acid resulted in increase in the appearance of degradation products, reaching a plateau level at 1 mM of tranexamic acid. Fifty percent increase in the concentration of one of degradation products was obtained at 0.22 mM of tranexamic acid, which is similar to a dissociation constant (Kd) of low affinity lysine binding sites (LBS) with tranexamic acid. As to the degradation rate of two isozymes of Glu-plg (Glu-plg I and II), Glu-plg II containing one carbohydrate chain was degraded faster than Glu-plg I containing two carbohydrate chains. Comparison of the degradation rates of Glu-plg and Lys-plg indicated that Lys-plg was degraded faster.

Autoradiographic and immunoblotting analyses of the activation pathways of plasminogen by urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator in the plasma or clotted plasma

The activation pathway of Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was analyzed by using immunoblotting and autoradiography. Glu-plg was slowly activated to Glu-plasmin by urokinase (UK) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in the plasma. Significant amounts of a complex of alpha 2AP with plasmin were found. On the other hand, UK and t-PA rapidly activated Glu-plg in the clotted plasma. The major form of plasmin was Lys-form, and significant amounts of alpha 2M complexed with plasmin were found. A complex of alpha 2AP with plasmin was not so significantly formed in the clot, confirming ineffective inhibition of plasmin by alpha 2AP in the presence of fibrin. Glu-plg was directly activated by UK or t-PA to Glu-plasmin and further to Lys-plasmin in the plasma or clotted plasma.

Effects of tranexamic acid on fibrinolysis, fibrinogenolysis and amidolysis

When Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was activated by urokinase (UK) in the presence of fibrinogen or fibrinogen plus tranexamic acid (1 mM), or else tranexamic acid (1 mM), the activation as measured by the hydrolysis of S-2251 was enhanced by tranexamic acid or fibrinogen or both. When plasma or clotted plasma was activated by UK in the presence of 1 mM tranexamic acid, fibrinolysis was completely inhibited. When Lys-plg was activated by UK in the presence of tranexamic acid and fibrin or fibrinogen, fibrinolysis was completely inhibited by 1 mM tranexamic acid, but some inhibition of fibrinogenolysis was observed. The release of B beta 15-42 from fibrin in clotted plasma activated by UK was inhibited to some extent by 1 mM tranexamic acid. The release of B beta 15-42 from fibrin after UK-activation of Lys-plg was partly inhibited by tranexamic acid. In conclusion, tranexamic acid in the concentration of 1 mM enhanced amidolysis, but inhibted fibrinolysis measured by the generation of fibrin-degradation products. Fibrinogenolysis and the release of B beta 15-42 from fibrin were partly inhibited.

Release of N-terminal peptides from Glu-plasminogen by plasmin in the presence of fibrin

The rate of plasmin-catalyzed Glu-plasminogen to Lys-plasminogen conversion was faster in the presence of fibrin than in its absence when assayed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by quantification of stained bands by densitometer. Experiments with the isozymes Glu-plasminogen I and Glu-plasminogen II showed that plasmin-catalyzed formation of Lys-plasminogen II was especially facilitated in the presence of fibrin.

Effects of fibrin on the enhanced activation of plasminogen by urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator: role of cross-link

When human plasma was activated by urokinase (UK) in the presence of thrombin, thrombin plus Ca++, Ca++ or in their absence and the plasmin activity was measured by the hydrolysis of S-2251, plasmin activity was higher in the presence of cross-linked or non cross-linked plasma clot. The results of similar experiments utilizing plasma after severe exercise indicated that the hydrolysis of S-2251 by plasma containing tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was also higher in cross-linked or non cross-linked plasma clot. Fibrinolysis was faster in thrombin-induced plasma clot, but was later shown significantly in plasma clot induced by thrombin and Ca++, whereas practically no fibrinogenolysis was shown in plasma. When Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was activated by UK in the presence of cross-linked or non cross-linked fibrin and alpha 2 antiplasmin (alpha 2AP), fibrinolysis was faster in cross-linked fibrin than non cross-linked fibrin in the presence of alpha 2AP. No fibrinogenolysis was shown either. Plasmin activity measured by the hydrolysis of S-2251 was also higher in cross-linked or non cross-linked fibrin than in fibrinogen in the presence of alpha 2AP. These results indicate that enhanced activation of Glu-plg by UK or t-PA in the presence of fibrin was a more significant event than the inactivation of plasmin in the plasma clot or purified clot by alpha 2AP cross-linked to fibrin.

Effects of tranexamic acid on the conversion of Glu-plasminogen I and II to its Lys-forms

Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was incubated with plasmin. It took more than 2 hr incubation for the conversion of Glu-plg to a modified form (Lys-plg) to take place. Especially the conversion of Glu-plg II to Lys-plg II by plasmin took place very slowly. On the other hand, the conversion of Glu-plg I to Lys-plg I took place faster than that of Glu-plg II. In the presence of 1 mM tranexamic acid, the conversion of both Glu-plg I and II to their Lys-forms by plasmin was accelerated and completed in 30 min incubation. Fifty percent increase in the rate of the conversion of Glu-plg I to Lys-plg I was observed in the presence of 0.18 mM tranexamic acid. For the conversion of Glu-plg II to Lys-plg II, larger concentration of tranexamic acid was needed. Another observation was that tranexamic acid protected the degradation of plasminogen by plasmin, indicating the involvement of the lysine binding sites (LBS) of plasmin in the proteolytic attack against plg.

Effects of pH on the conformation and activation of plasminogen

Glu-plasminogen (plg) or Lys-plg solution was kept at pH 2.0 for various time intervals, and then readjusted to pH 7.0. The activation rate and conformational changes of such acid-treated plg were measured using the hydrolysis of S-2251, spectrofluorometry and spectropolarimetry (circular dichroism). The activation rate of acid-treated Glu-plg increased after readjustment to pH 7.0. The increase was not reversible even after keeping acid-treated Glu-plg for 24 hrs at neutral pH. The activation rate of acid-treated Lys-plg rather decreased. The fluorescence intensity at 340 nm of acid-treated plg decreased, and the intensity of fluorescence induced by the interaction of plasminogen with ANS (1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate) increased after keeping plasminogen for longer than 24 hrs at pH 2.0. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that the secondary and tertiary structure of Glu-plg changed after acidification, and that only the tertiary structure of Lys-plg changed.

Glu-plasminogen I and II: their activation by urokinase and streptokinase in the presence of fibrin and fibrinogen

Two isozymes of a native form of human plasminogen (plg), Glu-plg I and II, were isolated. Glu-plg I or II was activated by urokinase (UK) or streptokinase (SK) in the presence of fibrinogen or fibrin. The activation of Glu-plg I was enhanced more than that of Glu-plg II in the presence of fibrin. Fibrin caused better activation of both Glu-plg I and II than fibrinogen. When fibrinolysis or fibrinogenolysis was measured, fibrin was degraded faster than fibrinogen after the activation of Glu-plg I and II by UK. These results suggest that the activation of Glu-plg I was enhanced more than that of Glu-plg II in the presence of fibrin or to less extent fibrinogen.

Fibrinogenolysis and fibrinolysis in normal volunteers and patients with thrombosis after infusion of urokinase

We have studied the effects of urokinase (UK) on concentration changes of alpha 2 antiplasmin (alpha 2 AP) and on fibrino(geno)lysis. Medium dose (480,000 u) or large dose (960,000 u) of UK was given to each of seven normal volunteers by intravenous drip infusion within six hours, and then blood and urine analyses were carried out. Total alpha 2 AP, which includes free alpha 2 AP and alpha 2 AP-plasmin complex, decreased to about 50% of the original value with large dose of UK. alpha 2 AP-plasmin complex appeared in the plasma one hr after UK infusion and increased up to 50% of total alpha 2 AP at the end of UK infusion. B beta peptides, which are liberated from fibrin(ogen) at the very early stage of fibrino(geno)lysis, increased significantly with UK infusion, and was 65 times as much as the normal range at the end of UK infusion. Urinary B beta peptides increased as well as plasma B beta peptides. On the other hand, fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP) measured with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) increased only slightly, and moreover, urinary FDP was not detectable at any time. Plasma fibrinogen levels did not decrease and changed within the normal range in both groups. We then gave 960,000 u of UK to four patients with deep vein thrombosis and blood analyses were carried out as with normal volunteers. The most significant observation different from that of normal volunteers was shown in FDP levels. Serum FDP levels of four patients increased significantly in comparison with normal volunteers. Urinary FDP increased as significantly as plasma FDP. In conclusion, the infusion of 960,000 u of UK caused only very early stage of fibrinogenolysis without advanced fibrinogenolysis in normal volunteers, but in thrombotic patients, advanced fibrinolysis was observed.