Lecture 21 Fibrinolytic System and Inhibitors Flashcards
What are the 2 components to the fibrinolytic system?
- Lyse unwanted clots
- Maintain hemostatic balance through inhibition of fibrinolysis
What is the role of plasminogen?
Circulating plasma plasminogen is converted to plasmin on the surface of the clot to slowly dissolve the clot.
How is plasminogen kept in check?
Any free circulating Plasmin is neutralized by plasmin inhibitors that would otherwise break down fibrinogen and Factors V and VIII which could lead to bleeding
Describe the Fibrinolytic System?
- Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) is released from endothelial cell during blood vessel injury.
- Thrombin bound to thrombomodulin also stimulates release of vascular TPA from endothelial cells.
- TPA converts plasma plasminogen to active enzyme Plasmin which breaks down fibrin
- Factor XII, XIIa fragments and Kallikrein will lead to conversion of plasminogen to plasmin.
See slide 5 for diagram.
What is plasmin’s effect on Fibrinogen?
Plasmin’s effect on Fibrinogen producing Fibrinogen Degradation Products D and E and on cross-linked Fibrin producing D-Dimers.
What does the D-Dimer test indicate?
The D-Dimer test in very important in a clinical setting as it proves the presence of stable cross-linked fibrin which can pose very serious health problems for the patient.
What are the three main pathways by which the Fibrinolytic system is activated?
1) Extrinsic Activation:
This includes endogenous activations of fibrinolytic system by in-vivo tissues and organs
2) Intrinsic Activation:
This includes the role of the Intrinsic system of coagulation in promoting fibrinolysis
3) Exogenous Activation:
This includes external and therapeutic activation of the fibrinolytic system to treat thrombotic conditions
What pathway provides tissue activators (TPA) and provides the majority of activation for Plasminogen to Plasmin?
Extrinsic Activation:
Provides the majority of activation for Plasminogen to Plasmin. Activation from this system includes tissue activators (TPA) from vascular endothelium, organs such as heart, muscle, prostate and uterus. Body fluids also supply activators that keep secretory and urinary passages functioning properly.
Where is Tissue Plasminogen Activator synthesized? How important is this source? What else makes TPA?
Primary source of extrinsic activation comes from vascular endothelium which synthesizes vascular Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA) and kidney endothelial cell Urokinase.
What factors in the Intrinsic System play a role converting Plasminogen to Plasmin?
Intrinsic System of coagulation Factors XIIa, HMWK and Kallikrein play a role in converting Plasminogen to Plasmin
Name the 3 most commonly used exogenous activators used by Doctors to treat abnormal thrombus formations (clots)?
The 3 most commonly used are:
1.) Urokinase
2.) Streptokinase
3.) Tissue Plasminogen Activator
What is the purpose of Urokinase in Fibrinolysis?
Produced by endothelial cells in the kidney where is dissolves clots formed in the renal tubules
Plays a minimal role in in vivo fibrinolysis compared to TPA
How can Urokinase be produced for therapeutic use? What are two negatives for this product?
Can be produced by kidney cell cultures and isolated for therapeutic use
- Expensive
- Lower affinity to fibrin than TPA
What does the Exogenous Activators - Streptokinase do?
Is a product of beta-hemolytic Streptococci
Forms a complex with plasminogen exposing plasminogen’s active sites
Complex can convert plasminogen to plasmin.
What is the disadvantage of Streptokinase?
Bacterial proteins that body can produce antibodies that would inhibit its function.
How does the doctor deal with Streptokinase resistance?
- Test for Streptase Resistance
- If resistance ↑dose
- Repeat administration should be 6-10 months apart
What are the advantages of TPA over Urokinase and Streptokinase?
- Action of TPA said to be clot bound (confined locally to fibrin) therefore minimal depletion of fibrinogen and clotting factors V and VIII resulting in less chance of bleeding. Urokinase and Streptokinase cause plasminogen activation to plasmin in the general circulation increasing chances of bleeding. (re: degradation of factors I,V and VIII by plasmin)
- TPA’s other advantage is that it is non-immunogenic and does not suffer from the antibody inhibitory effect experienced by Streptokinase.