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Thromb Haemost 2013; 109(05): 930-939
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-10-0739
Wound Healing and Inflammation/Infection
Schattauer GmbH

Antimicrobial activity of fibrinogen and fibrinogen-derived peptides – a novel link between coagulation and innate immunity

Lisa I. Påhlman
1   Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
,
Matthias Mörgelin
1   Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
,
Gopinath Kasetty
2   Division of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
,
Anders I. Olin
1   Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
,
Artur Schmidtchen
2   Division of Dermatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
,
Heiko Herwald
1   Division of Infection Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 12 October 2012

Accepted after major revision: 17 February 2013

Publication Date:
22 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Fibrinogen is a key player in the blood coagulation system, and is upon activation with thrombin converted into fibrin that subsequently forms a fibrin clot. In the present study, we investigated the role of fibrinogen in the early innate immune response. Here we show that the viability of fibrinogen-binding bacteria is affected in human plasma activated with thrombin. Moreover, we found that the peptide fragment GHR28 released from the p-chain of fibrinogen has antimicrobial activity against bacteria that bind fibrinogen to their surface, whereas non-binding strains are unaffected. Notably, bacterial killing was detected in Group A Streptococcus bacteria entrapped in a fibrin clot, suggesting that fibrinogen and coagulation is involved in the early innate immune system to quickly wall off and neutralise invading pathogens.

Keywords

Innate immunity - coagulation - fibrinogen - infection

 

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