In the present study, the activation mechanism of fibrinolytic enzyme system in plasma
by human pancreatic elastase was investigated. It was confirmed that human pancreatic
elastase not only converted the co-existing plasminogen to low molecular weight-plasminogen
which could be easily activated by the activator, but also inhibited α2-macroglobulin and α2-plasmin inhibitor which are antiactivators or fast reacting antiplasmins, and consequently,
induced the activation of the fibrinolytic enzyme system in plasma.
Key words
Elastase - Pancreatitis - Plasmin - α
2-macroglobulin - α
2-plasmin inhibitor