18 Questions
Plasminogen is synthesized in the kidney as an active enzyme.
False
Plasminogen binds to fibrin throughout the developing thrombus.
True
Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (UPA) is an extrinsic plasminogen activator.
False
Plasmin has narrow substrate specificity, mainly targeting fibrin polymer degradation.
False
TAFI activity is not localized to the fibrin clot and remains active when not associated with fibrin surfaces.
False
PAI-1 binds to circulating active plasmin, inhibiting its fibrinolytic activity.
True
Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a pro-inflammatory protein.
False
The binding of TPA to fibrin enhances its susceptibility to PAI-1 inhibition.
False
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors (PAIs) are synthesized in the liver.
True
The activation of the antifibrinolytic enzyme leads to increased plasminogen and TPA binding to fibrin.
False
Fibrin degradation products (FDP/FSP) are rapidly cleared from circulation by the kidneys.
False
Fragment X from fibrin degradation has an anticoagulant effect by promoting the formation of fibrin.
False
Plasminogen activators accelerate the hydrolysis of fibrin by bound plasmin.
True
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease with high specificity for converting plasminogen to plasmin.
True
Excessive fibrinolysis leads to thrombosis due to premature clot extension.
False
Plasminogen is the active enzyme involved in degrading fibrin.
False
Plasminogen activators are released in response to inflammation and coagulation.
True
The main function of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is to promote clot extension.
False
Study Notes
Plasminogen
- Major protein of the fibrinolytic system
- Synthesized in the liver as a zymogen
- Single-chain protein with a molecular weight of 92,000 Daltons
- Five glycosylated loops (kringles) enable binding to fibrin lysine molecules during polymerization
- Binds to fibrin throughout the developing thrombus, secreted by endothelial cells (sctPA)
- Hydrolyzes fibrin-bound plasminogen to form lysine bonds with fibrin during polymerization
- Localized at the surface of the thrombus with plasminogen
Plasminogen Activators
- Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)
- Produced by renal tubular epithelium, vascular endothelium, monocytes, and macrophages
- Plasma concentration: 2-4 ng/ml
- One kringle region, but does not bind firmly with fibrin
- Lacks binding affinity for fibrin
- Digests extracellular matrix in tissues during wound healing, embryogenesis, and inflammation
Thrombin Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI)
- Acute phase reactant protein
- Increased in metabolic syndrome, obesity, atherosclerosis, sepsis, and stroke
- Decreased in chronic mild bleeding
- Antifibrinolytic enzyme synthesized in the liver
- Procarboxypeptidase that hydrolyzes a peptide bond at the carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) end of a peptide
- Activated by thrombin-thrombomodulin complex
- Suppresses fibrinolysis by removing exposed carboxy-terminal lysine residues from partially degraded fibrin
- Prevents the binding of plasminogen and tPA to fibrin, blocking plasmin formation
Fibrin Degradation Products
- Fragment Y: regulates inflammation and wound healing
- Fragment D: binds to endothelial cells
- Fragment E: inhibits platelet aggregation
- Fragment D-D: a unique product of fibrin degradation
- Removed rapidly from the circulation by the liver
Fibrinolysis
- Slow digestion of fibrin
- D-D fragment: a product of fibrinolysis
- Fibrin degradation products (FDP/FSP) are distinct protein fragments from asymmetric, progressive degradation of fibrin (fibrinogen)
- FDPs remove rapidly from the circulation by the liver
- Fragment X: cleaves a small peptide from exposed polar appendages in the C-terminal region of the α-chain
- Fragment Y: regulates inflammation and wound healing
- Fragment D: binds to endothelial cells
- Fragment E: inhibits platelet aggregation
- Fragment D-D: a unique product of fibrin degradation
Test your knowledge on plasma proteins involved in fibrinolysis, including tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), and antifibrinolytic enzymes. Explore their roles in various conditions such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, atherosclerosis, sepsis, and stroke.
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