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Fibrin structures during tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated fibrinolysis studied by laser light scattering: relation to fibrin enhancement of plasminogen activation

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Abstract

The aim was to relate fibrin structure and the stimulatory effect of fibrin on plasminogen activation during t-PA-mediated fibrinolysis using Lys78-plasminogen as activator substrate. Structural studies were undertaken by static and dynamic laser light scattering, cryo transmission electron microscopy and by the measurement of conversion of fibrin to X-, Y- and D-fragments. The kinetics of plasmin formation were monitored by measurement of the rate of pNA-release from Val-LeuLys-pNA. The process of fibrin formation and degradation comprised three phases. In the first phase, protofibrils with an average length of about 10 times that of fibrinogen were formed. The duration of this phase decreased with increasing t-PA concentration. The second phase was characterized by a sudden elongation and lateral aggregation of fibrin fibers, most pronounced at low levels of t-PA, and by formation of fragment X-polymer. The third phase was dominated by fragmentation of fibers and by formation of Y- and D-fragments: Plasmin degraded the fibers from within, resulting in the formation of long loose bundles, which subsequently disintegrated into thin filaments with a length of less than 10 and a mass per length close to one relative to fibrinogen. Plasmin generation at high t-PA concentrations sets in just prior to (and at low t-PA concentrations shortly after) the onset of the rapid second phase of elongation and lateral aggregation of fibrin fibers. The maximal rate of plasmin formation per mol t-PA was the same at all concentrations of activator and was achieved close to the time of the peak level of fragment X-polymer. Plasmin formation ceased after formation of substantial amounts of Y- and D-fragments. At this stage the length was between 300 and 3 and the mass per length close to 1, both relative to fibrinogen. In conclusion our results indicate that (1) formation of short fibrin protofibrils is the minimal requirement for the onset of the stimulatory effect of fibrin on plasminogen activation by t-PA, (2) formation of fragment X protofibrils is sufficient to induce optimal stimulation of plasminogen activation, and (3) plasmin degrades laterally aggregated fibrin fibers from within, resulting in the conversion of the fibers into long loose bundles, which later disintegrate into thin filaments.

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Abbreviations

t-PA:

tissue-type plasminogen activator

Lys78-plasminogen:

plasmin-modified plasminogen, mainly with NH2-terminal lysine (residues 78-791, residue numbering according to Forsgren et al. 1987)

Val-Leu-Lys-pNA:

H-D-valyl-L-leucyl-L-lysine-4-nitroanilide

Phe-Pip-Arg-pNA:

H-D-phenylalanyl-L-arginine-4-nitroanilide

pNA:

p-nitroanilide

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulphate

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Physics, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    R. Bauer, S. L. Hansen & L. Øgendal

  2. Daresbury Laboratory, WA4 4AD, Warrington, UK

    G. Jones

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry KB 3-01-1, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    E. Suenson & S. Thorsen

Authors
  1. R. Bauer
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  2. S. L. Hansen
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  3. G. Jones
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  4. E. Suenson
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  5. S. Thorsen
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  6. L. Øgendal
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The present work has been supported by the Danish Natural Science Research Council and the Danish Agricultural and Veterinary Research Council

Deceased on August 2, 1991

Correspondence to: R. Bauer

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Bauer, R., Hansen, S.L., Jones, G. et al. Fibrin structures during tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated fibrinolysis studied by laser light scattering: relation to fibrin enhancement of plasminogen activation. Eur Biophys J 23, 239–252 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213574

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213574

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