The plasmin-antiplasmin system: structural and functional aspects

The plasmin-antiplasmin system plays a key role in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis. Plasmin and alpha(2)-antiplasmin are primarily responsible for a controlled and regulated dissolution of the fibrin polymers into soluble fragments. However, besides plasmin(ogen) and alpha(2)-antiplasmin the system contains a series of specific activators and inhibitors. The main physiological activators of plasminogen are tissue-type plasminogen activator, which is mainly involved in the dissolution of the fibrin polymers by plasmin, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which is primarily responsible for the generation of plasmin activity in the intercellular space. Both activators are multidomain serine proteases. Besides the main physiological inhibitor alpha(2)-antiplasmin, the plasmin-antiplasmin system is also regulated by the general protease inhibitor alpha(2)-macroglobulin, a member of the protease inhibitor I39 family. The activity of the plasminogen activators is primarily regulated by the plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2, members of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily.