Summary
Fibrinogen (Fg), the major clotting protein in blood plasma, plays key roles in blood
coagulation and thrombosis. In addition, this 340 kD glycoprotein is a stress inducible
protein; its synthesis is dramatically upregulated during inflammation or under exposure
to stress such systemic infections.This regulation of Fg expression indicates that
Fg also participates in the host defense system against infections. In fact, a number
of reported studies have demonstrated the involvement of both the intrinsic and extrinsic
pathways of coagulation; the thrombotic and the fibrinolytic systems in the pathophysiology
of infectious diseases. It is, therefore, perhaps not surprising that many pathogenic
bacteria can interact with Fg and manipulate its biology.This review focuses on the
major Fg-binding proteins (Fgbps) from Gram-positive bacteria with an emphasis on
those that are known to have an effect on coagulation and thrombosis
Keywords
Bacterial infection - infectious diseases - bacteria - fibrinogen / fibrin - protein
function / activity