OBJECTIVES: The coagulation and fibrinolytic system appears to be activated by the septic process independently, leading to the syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In this study, we investigated the changes within the hemostatic system related to the severity of the illness and the prognosis in patients with sepsis. METHODS: Plasma thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) and plasmin-alpha 2-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes were measured using ELISA methods in 32 patients with sepsis and 20 controls and were analyzed according to the APACHE III scores and survival of the patients. RESULTS: Plasma TAT and PAP in patients with sepsis were significantly higher than controls. Nonsurvivors showed greater levels of TAT (21.7 +/- 22.3 ng/mL) and lower levels of PAP (628.4 +/- 378.1 ng/mL) than survivors (TAT: 11.1 +/- 11.2 ng/mL; PAP: 857.1 +/- 364.1 ng/mL). The imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis described as TAT/PAP ratio was closely related with APACHE III scores in patients with sepsis (r = 0.47) and the TAT/PAP ratio in nonsurvivors was significantly higher compared with survivors (34.4 +/- 21.4 vs. 14.4 +/- 13.8). CONCLUSION: In sepsis, both coagulation and the fibrinolysis system are activated and the imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis predisposes to the hypercoagulation state and is closely related to the severity of the disease and the prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Antiplasmin/metabolism ; Antithrombin III/metabolism ; Blood Coagulation* ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fibrinolysis* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Plasmin/metabolism ; Prognosis ; Sepsis/blood* ; Thrombin/metabolism

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this work was to investigate the distribution pattern of fibrinolytic factors and their inhibitors in rabbit tissues.

METHODSThe components of the fibrinolytic system in extracts from a variety of rabbit tissues, including tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), plasminogen (Plg), plasmin (Pl) and alpha(2) plasmin inhibitor (alpha(2)PI), were determined by colorimetric assay.

RESULTSThe tissue extracts in renal, small intestine, lung, brain and spleen demonstrated strong fibrinolytic function, in which high activity of tPA, Plg and Pl was manifested; whereas in skeletal muscle, tongue and stomach, higher activity of PAI-1 and alpha(2)PI showed obviously. Also excellent linear correlations were found between levels of tPA and PAI-1, Pl and alpha(2)PI, Plg and Pl. In related tissues, renal cortex and renal marrow showed distinctly higher activity of tPA and lower activity of PAI-1, with the levels of Plg and Pl in renal cortex being higher than those in renal marrow, where the alpha(2)PI level was higher than that in renal cortex. Similarly, the levels of tPA, Plg and Pl in small intestine were higher than those in large intestine, but with respect to PAI-1 and alpha(2)PI, the matter was reverse. In addition, the fibrinolytic activity in muscle tissue was lower, however, the levels of tPA, Plg, and Pl in cardiac muscle were obviously higher than those in skeletal muscles, and the levels of PAI-1 and alpha(2)PI were significantly lower than those in skeletal muscle.

CONCLUSIONOur data demonstrate that a remarkable difference of the fibrinolytic patterns exists in rabbit tissues, which has probable profound significance in understanding the relationship between the function of haemostasis or thrombosis and the physiologic function in tissues.

Animals ; Female ; Fibrinolysin ; metabolism ; Fibrinolysis ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Plasminogen ; metabolism ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Tissue Extracts ; metabolism ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism ; alpha-2-Antiplasmin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the effects of Hanfangji Compound and IFN-gamma on expressions of transthyretin (TTR) , inter-alpha inhibitor H1 (ITIH1) and serpin peptidase inhibitor clade F member 2 (SERPINF2) of hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6).

METHODHanfangji Compound and IFN-gammaof different concentrations were used in hepatic stellate cell-T6 (HSC-T6) for 48 h. Flow cytometer was used to detect the effects of Hanfangji Compound and IFN-gamma on HSC proliferation. RT-PCR method was adopted to detect mRNA expressions of TFR, ITIH1 and SERPINF2. TTR, ITIH1 and SERPINF2 secretions were detected by ELISA. The protein localizations of TTR, ITIH1 and SERPINF2 were examined by immune fluorescence. The protein expression of TfR and ITIHI were determined by Western blot.

RESULTAfter Hanfangji Compound and IFN-gamma were adopted in HSC-T6, compared with the control group, the cell proliferation was inhibited obviously (P < 0. 05) , protein expressions of TTR, ITIH1 and SERPINF2 and mRNA expression increased significantly, with certain correlation with concentrations of Hanfangji Compound. The 2. 5 g L-I Hanfangji Compound group was superior to the IFN-gamma group (P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONHanfangji Compound can inhibit HSC proliferation, upregulated TTR, ITIH1 and SERPINF2 proteins and mRNA expression, which may be one of mechanisms of anti-hepatic fibrosis of Hanfangji Compound.

Alpha-Globulins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Albumin ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-2-Antiplasmin ; genetics ; metabolism