Abstract
Fibrin persistence in the vasculature is an important complication of sepsis that can often lead to mortality. We have previously established that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from healthy individuals have the capacity to degrade fibrin via urokinase-type plaminogen activator (u-PA). We have also demonstrated an increase in u-PA antigen in the plasma of patients suffering from septic shock. In this study, we investigate the hypothesis that PMN from patients with sepsis have lost their fibrinolytic ability and that this might contribute to the persistence of fibrin deposits. We show here that PMN from these patients do not express any u-PA activity, despite retaining some u-PA antigen. Additionally, thrombi prepared from the whole blood of the patients exhibit reduced endogenous lysis compared with those from healthy individuals. These data indicate that loss of fibrinolytic activity from PMN may be a contributing factor in fibrin persistence in the microvasculature in sepsis.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 571-576 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Leukocyte Biology |
Volume | 76 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |
Keywords
- fibrinolysis
- PMN
- urokinase
- PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR INHIBITOR-1
- SEPTIC PATIENTS
- ARTERIAL THROMBI
- SHOCK
- COAGULATION
- UROKINASE
- PAI-1
- MECHANISM
- SYSTEM
- PLASMA