Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.7 (plasmin)
 9,023 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The extracellular lipid that accumulates in fibrous atherosclerotic lesions appears to be derived directly from plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL). One factor that may influence the lipid deposition is immobilization of part of the LDL in lesions, and an immobilized fraction can be released by incubation with the fibrinolytic enzyme, plasmin, suggesting that it is associated with fibrin. The lipoprotein variant Lp(a) is associated with increased risk of arterial disease, and its characteristic apoprotein, apo(a), is structurally related to plasminogen, suggesting that it might bind to the plasminogen binding sites on fibrin. In this study we have compared blood Lp(a) and the soluble and plasmin-releasable Lp(a) in 45 samples of normal intima and different types of lesion. Levels of soluble and plasmin-releasable Lp(a) were dependent on both blood level and type of tissue sample. Although the amount of soluble LDL was 5-20 times higher than Lp(a) in intima, the amounts released by plasmin were similar, and Lp(a) appears to account for most of the apo B-containing lipoprotein that is immobilized in lesions.
Atherosclerosis 1990 Oct
PMID:Factors influencing the accumulation in fibrous plaques of lipid derived from low density lipoprotein. II. Preferential immobilization of lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)). 214 68

Endothelial cells play a critical role in thromboregulation by virtue of a surface-connected fibrinolytic system. Cultured endothelial cells synthesize and secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) which can bind to at least two discrete sites on the cell surface. These binding sites preserve the catalytic activity of t-PA and protect it from its physiological inhibitor (PAI-1). N-terminal glutamic acid plasminogen (Glu-PLG), the main circulating fibrinolytic zymogen, also interacts specifically with the endothelial cell surface. Binding is associated with a 12-fold increase in catalytic efficiency of plasmin generation by t-PA which may reflect conversion of Glu-PLG to its plasmin-modified form, N-terminal lysine plasminogen (Lys-PLG). Lipoprotein(a) is an atherogenic lipoprotein particle which contains the plasminogen-like apolipoprotein(a) bound to low density lipoprotein. We report here that lipoprotein(a) interferes with endothelial cell fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasminogen binding and hence plasmin generation. In addition, we demonstrate lipoprotein(a) accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions. These findings may provide a link between impaired cell surface fibrinolysis and progressive atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Lipoprotein(a) modulation of endothelial cell surface fibrinolysis and its potential role in atherosclerosis. 252 66

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a plasma component whose concentration is related to the development of atherosclerosis, although the underlying mechanisms are not known. Lp(a) contains a unique structure, apolipoprotein (a), that shares partial homology with plasminogen. We now report that plasmin catalyzes the binding of Lp(a) to both immobilized fibrinogen and fibrin in a manner analogous to our previously reported studies with plasminogen. Plasmin treatment of immobilized fibrinogen induces a 3.7-fold increase in Lp(a) binding. Low density lipoprotein, molecules similar to Lp(a) but lacking apolipoprotein (a), bind poorly to immobilized fibrinogen and binding is not increased by plasmin. Trypsin but not neutrophil elastase also increases the binding of Lp(a) to fibrinogen. Lp(a) also complexes to plasmin-fibrinogen digests, and binding increases in proportion to the time of plasmin-induced fibrinogen degradation. Lp(a) binding is lysine-binding site dependent as it is inhibited by epsilon-aminocaproic acid. Lp(a) inhibits the binding of plasminogen to plasmin-modified immobilized fibrinogen, indicating that both molecules compete for similar lysine-binding sites. These findings demonstrate an affinity between Lp(a) and protease-modified fibrinogen or fibrin and thereby provide a potential mechanism to explain the association between thrombosis, coronary atherosclerosis, and increased blood concentrations of Lp(a).
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PMID:Plasmin catalyzes binding of lipoprotein (a) to immobilized fibrinogen and fibrin. 252 34

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with an increased incidence of vascular complications. Abnormalities in the hemostatic system contribute at least in part to the development of vascular disease or atherosclerosis. In order to assess the actual degree of activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in diabetics, plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) and plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PAP) were measured together with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in 18 patients with DM (three patients with type I DM and 15 with type II DM). Mean plasma levels of TAT (2.5 +/- SD 1.2 ng/mL) and PAP (0.9 +/- 1.2 micrograms/mL) were significantly elevated in diabetics as compared with healthy subjects (1.7 +/- 0.3 ng TAT and 0.2 +/- 0.1 micrograms PAP per mL of plasma; p = 0.009 and 0.02, respectively). Plasma antigen concentration of t-PA but not of PAI-1 was also elevated. No difference was found in the levels of these variables between type I and type II diabetics or between patients with and without retinopathy or nephropathy. These findings indicate that continuous activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis actually occurs in the majority of the patients with DM.
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PMID:Activation of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in diabetes mellitus: evaluation by plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex and plasmin-alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor complex. 238 33

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) has been strongly linked with atherosclerosis and is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. Distinguishing Lp(a) from other low-density lipoprotein particles is its content of a unique apoprotein, apo(a). The recently described sequence of apo(a) indicates a remarkable homology with plasminogen, the zymogen of the primary thrombolytic enzyme, plasmin. Lp(a) may contain 37 or more disulphide-looped kringle structures, which are 75-85% identical to the fourth kringle of plasminogen. Plasminogen receptors are widely distributed on blood cells and are present at extremely high density on endothelial cells. These receptors promote thrombolysis by accelerating plasminogen activation and protecting plasmin from inhibition. If, by molecular mimicry, Lp(a) competes with plasminogen for receptors, then thrombolysis would be inhibited and thrombosis promoted. Here we provide support for such a mechanism being responsible for the thrombotic risks associated with elevated Lp(a) by demonstrating that Lp(a) inhibits plasminogen binding to cells.
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PMID:A potential basis for the thrombotic risks associated with lipoprotein(a). 254 96

Changes in shape and the time course of residual coronary artery stenoses following thrombolysis were studied in 36 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The following results were obtained: 1. Residual stenoses after thrombolysis were categorized morphologically in three groups; long segment type (group L, eight patients), segmental type (group S, 18 patients) and filling defect type (group FD, 10 patients). 2. Residual stenoses in group L did not change either as to morphology or severity one month later. Group S did not show morphological change, but 11 of the 18 patients showed slight regression of residual stenoses. In group FD, filling defect images on repeated angiography resolved in all cases within one month. However, characteristic irregularity at the infarct-related coronary arteries were often observed at the same time. 3. Twelve of the 36 patients underwent angiography during three consecutive days to study sequential changes in residual stenoses. Intracoronary thrombi were resolved before the second day, which was compatible with a plasminogen-plasmin system change. 4. Severe coronary artery atherosclerosis may be an important factor in the pathogenesis in group L, while thrombus formation based on ulcerative lesions without significant stenoses may be an important factor in group FD. 5. Mechanical revascularization for the groups L and S patients, and an additional thrombolytic agent for the group FD patients are recommended as further therapy after thrombolysis.
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PMID:[Residual coronary artery stenosis: its shapes immediately after thrombolysis and subsequent time courses]. 263 21

A new approach to study the distribution of fibrin(ogen)-related antigens was investigated using three different monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and the avidin-biotin complex immunoperoxidase technique. MAb I8C6 recognizes B beta 1-42 peptide and can react with either fibrinogen or fibrin I; MAb T2G1 recognizes B beta 15-42 peptide and detects fibrin II but does not cross-react with fibrinogen; MAb GC4 reacts with Fragments D/DD derived from plasmin degradation of fibrinogen or fibrin but not with intact fibrinogen. The method can be applied to frozen or Bouin's fixed paraffin-embedded tissues obtained at biopsy, surgery, and autopsy. The distribution of the three antigens observed with the three MAbs was compared with that obtained with a polyclonal antiserum to fibrinogen and with the more conventional histochemical stains used in pathology to demonstrate fibrin deposits in tissues (Lendrum and PTAH). The staining observed with the three monoclonals clearly detected three different populations of fibrin(ogen)-related antigen in the tissues examined. The staining with MAb T2G1 specifically detected fibrin II with greater sensitivity than did conventional stains. The results of this study suggest that this method allows the molecular form of fibrin(ogen)-related deposits in tissues to be determined and this information may help to elucidate the role of fibrin in various disease states, such as atherosclerosis and renal disease, and in tumor growth and metastasis.
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PMID:Immunohistochemical characterization of fibrin(ogen)-related antigens in human tissues using monoclonal antibodies. 265 90

Lipoprotein (a) is an antigenic variant of low density lipoprotein and is present in the plasma of most people. Many epidemiologic studies from Europe and North America have found that when plasma levels of lipoprotein (a) exceed 0.20 g/L, there is a significantly higher risk of coronary and cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. Until recently, there has been little insight into the function of lipoprotein (a) or its potential atherogenic mechanism. Molecular biological studies have shown that the characteristic protein of lipoprotein (a), called apolipoprotein (a), strongly resembles plasminogen, the precursor of the natural anticoagulant plasmin. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that lipoprotein (a) is the missing link between the lipoprotein and coagulation systems, acting perhaps as a vehicle which delivers cholesterol to the site of intravascular damage, or as an inhibitor of plasminogen activation at the site of an evolving thrombus.
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PMID:Lipoprotein (a): an emerging risk factor for atherosclerosis. 266 28

Lp(a) represents a genetically transmitted class of plasma LDL having apo B-100 linked by a disulfide bridge to a glycoprotein, apo(a). Lp(a) is heterogeneous in size and density. Apo(a) is also heterogeneous in size (molecular weight between approximately 300,000 and 700,000) due probably to the polymorphism of both polypeptide and carbohydrate chains. Recent studies have shown that apo(a) has a striking amino acid sequence homology with plasminogen, a serine protease zymogen that following activation to plasmin enters the fibrinolytic system. Apo(a) is severalfold larger than plasminogen (molecular weight approximately 90,000) and also differs from it because it fails to be activated to plasmin. This is due to the fact that arginine is replaced by serine at the site of cleavage by streptokinase, urokinase, or tissue plasminogen activator. A single gene locus appears to control the Lp(a) polymorphism as well as the concentration of the Lp(a) phenotypes in the plasma. Patients with high plasma levels of Lp(a) have been shown to have an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease but a causal relationship has not been firmly established. The information that is being rapidly acquired on the structure of Lp(a) should facilitate the understanding of the molecular basis of the polymorphism of this genetic variant and of the role that the various Lp(a) phenotypes play in atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The potential physiologic role of Lp(a) remains open to inquiry.
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PMID:Lipoprotein(a): a genetically determined lipoprotein containing a glycoprotein of the plasminogen family. 297 66

An inherited association of dysfibrinogenaemia and protein C deficiency was found in three members of the same family. The propositus was a 48-year-old man who suffered from severe and rapidly complicated atherosclerosis of the aorta and lower limbs arteries, which perhaps suggests that the association of these two molecular abnormalities may have enhanced the thrombotic process. The abnormal fibrinogen had a reduced ability to bind thrombin which may be thrombogenic. We found the same inherited association of dysfibrinogenaemia and protein C deficiency in a patient with venous thrombosis. The functional abnormality of the fibrinogen, which could have been responsible for thrombosis, was delayed proteolysis by plasmin. Not only fibrinogen, but also fibrin clots were resistant to plasmic degradation. These observations raise two questions: (1) Is the association of a protein C deficiency with a dysfibrinogenaemia fortuitous or the result of a common mechanism? (2) Is there a link between an increased thrombotic tendency and either both of the defects of haemostasis that we have found, or only one of them?
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PMID:Association of inherited dysfibrinogenaemia and protein C deficiency in two unrelated families. 335 91


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