Summary
TAFIa was shown to attenuate fibrinolysis. In our in vitro study, we investigated how the inhibitory effect of TAFIa depended on the type and
concentration of the plasminogen activator (PA). We measured PA-mediated lysis times
of plasma clots under conditions of maximal TAFI activation by thrombin-thrombomodulin
in the absence and presence of potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor. Seven different
PAs were compared comprising both tPA-related (tPA, TNK-tPA, DSPA), bacterial PA-related
(staphylokinase and APSAC) and urokinase-related (tcu-PA and k2tu-PA) PAs. The lysis
times and the retardation factor were plotted against the PA concentration. The retardation
factor plots were bell-shaped. At low PA concentrations, the retardation factor was
low, probably due to the limited stability of TAFIa. At intermediate PA concentrations
the retardation factor was maximal (3-6 depending on the PA), with TNK-tPA, APSAC
and DSPA exhibiting the strongest effect. At high PA concentrations, the retardation
factor was again low, possibly due to inactivation of TAFIa by plasmin or to a complete
conversion of glu-plasminogen into lys-plasminogen. Using individual plasmas with
a reduced plasmin inhibitor activity (plasmin inhibitor Enschede) the bell-shaped
curve of the retardation factor shifted towards lower tPA and DSPA concentrations,
but the height did not decrease. In conclusion, TAFIa delays the lysis of plasma clots
mediated by all the plasminogen activators tested. This delay is dependent on the
type and concentration of the plasminogen activator, but not on the fibrin specificity
of the plasminogen activator. Furthermore, plasmin inhibitor does not play a significant
role in the inhibition of plasma clot lysis by TAFI.
Keywords
TAFI - internal lysis - plasminogen activator - plasmin inhibitor