Fatty Streaks and Fibrous Plaques in Human Aorta Show Increased Plasminogen Activator Activity

Abstract

Marked changes of the plasminogen activator activity, plasmin inhibition, and plasminogen activator inhibition were found in fatty streaks and fibrous plaques compared to the normal intima of the human aorta. Plasminogen activator activity and plasmin inhibition showed the following pattern: fibrous plaques greater than fatty streaks greater than normal intima. Plasminogen activator inhibition showed the opposite pattern: normal intima greater than fatty streaks greater than fibrous plaques. The tissue-type, but not the urokinase-type, plasminogen activator was detected immunologically.