Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1): Immunogold localization within platelet-fibrin thrombi
Thrombosis, the major clinical sequelae to atherosclerosis, is complex and encompasses a multiplicity of interactions among plasma proteins, platelets and other blood cells, and vascular endothelial cells. Thrombolysis, in a fashion paralleling thrombus progression, is also influenced by a multiplicity of interactions, and recent evidence has suggested that both platelets and endothelial cells play a role in prolonging the lytic process. This prolongation is detrimental to prognosis following vascular occlusion. We have previously reported that thrombin-stimulated platelets will prolong clot lysis when included in an in-vitro assay comprised of tissue-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen, and fibrin(ogen). This observation has been expanded in the present study to included TNF stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and our data document the association of platelet and EC derived PAI-1 with the fibrin network. HUVEC grown on carbon-stabilized, formvar-coated gold grids for whole mount IVEM were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor, prior to clot initiation and subsequent lysis, by addition to the cultures of fibrinogen, t-PA, plasminogen and thrombin-stimulated platelets. At selected times of lysis following polymerization, based upon laser light scattering kinetic studies, the samples were fixed and processed for PAI-1 localization using the immunogold technique. When observed by SEM, the partially lysed thrombi consisted of an anastomosing fibrin network that extended from endothelial cell surfaces (Figure 1). Within the thrombus, the delicate, branching fibrin strands often were focused at points containing the activated platelets. The interaction of fibrin with endothelial cells was evidenced by IVEM as a delicate extracellular array extending between and among adjacent cells (Figure 2 a,b). Immunogold probes, documenting PAI-1, were distributed in clusters along the fibrin (Figures lb,c). PA1-1, although cellular in origin, was not associated with the surfaces of either platelets or endothelial cells. The specificity of PAI-1 localization was verified through inclusion of a non-related immunogold probe which bound in substantially lower concentration and without site selectivity (Figure 2c). We conclude that HUVEC and platelets modulate thrombolysis through the release of PAI-1 which binds to fibrin and retards plasminogen activation.