Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type 1: Biochemistry and Evidence for Modulationof Fibrinolysis In vivo

摘要

The process of plasmin-mediated intravascular fibrinolysis is primarily initiatedby the incorporation of the enzyme tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) into the fibrin clot, where-it can then convert fibrin-bound plasminogen to plasmin. The rate of endogenous fibrinolysis is largely determined by the activity of t-PA, which is present in normal plasma in picomolar concentrations. t-PA activity is regulated by plasminogen activator inhibitor, type 1 (PAI-1), a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family, which has several unique features. This review will describe the biochemistry of PAI-1 and discuss its role in regulating fibrinolysis as determined by in vitro experiments as well as in animal models and in clinical studies.