t-PA ELISA

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is a serine protease which occurs in blood plasma, serum, other body fluids, tissues and conditioned media of certain cultured cells. It can convert the inactive proenzyme plasminogen to the active protease plasmin. Plasmin can degrade fibrin, the matrix of a blood clot in a process known as fibrinolysis, leading to dissolution of the clot. Furthermore plasminogen activation is implicated in metastatic spread of malignant cells and in tissue remodelling. Elevated levels of t-PA in serum were shown to occur in relation to retinopathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus. The major field of clinical interest is the field of diseases of the heart. t-PA plasma levels have been shown to be altered with the presence of transplant coronary artery disease in cardiac transplant recipients. A correlation between low serum levels of t-PA activity and thrombotic tendency has been described. Synonyms: Tissue-type plasminogen activator