TY - JOUR AU - van der Vorm, Lisa N.; Remijn, Jasper A.; de Laat, Bas; Huskens, Dana TI - Effects of Plasmin on von Willebrand Factor and Platelets: A Narrative Review SN - 2512-9465 PY - 2018 JO - TH Open JF - TH Open LA - EN VL - 02 IS - 02 SP - e218 EP - e228 DA - 2018/06/07 KW - plasmin KW - von Willebrand factor KW - platelets AB - Plasmin is the major fibrinolytic protease responsible for dissolving thrombi by cleavage of its primary substrate fibrin. In addition, emerging evidence points to other roles of plasmin: (1) as a back-up for ADAMTS13 in proteolysis of ultra-large von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers and (2) as an activator of platelets. Although the molecular mechanisms of fibrinolysis are well defined, insights on the effects of plasmin on VWF and platelets are relatively scarce and sometimes conflicting. Hence, this review provides an overview of the literature on the effects of plasmin on VWF multimeric structures, on VWF binding to platelets, and on platelet activation. This information is placed in the context of possible applications of thrombolytic therapy for the condition thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. PB - Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/s-0038-1660505 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0038-1660505 ER -