Separation and Characterization of Two Fibrinolytic Inhibitors from Human Placenta

Abstract

Summary Procedures for the separation of two inhibitors of the activation of plasminogen to plasmin by urokinase are described. Tissue thromboplastin was removed by adsorption to Al(0H)3 gel followed by ultracentrifugation. Plasminogen, plasminogen activator, a coagulation inhibitor and hemoglobin were removed by ion exchange chromatography (CM- or DEAE-Sephadex with NaCl gradients). The minor UK inhibitor is a relative basic protein with a pI of about 5.8. The major inhibitor was purified further by isoelectric focusing, preparative electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, and gel filtration. This inhibitor has α1-motility, the pI is about 5.2, and the molecular weight about 100,000. It inactivates urokinase progressively, but does not inhibit streptokinase, plasmin or thrombin.