Cellular Site for Fibrinogen Synthesis

Abstract

THROMBOSIS as a major medical disorder has received much attention because of the great morbidity and mortality rates with which it is associated. Recently, anticoagulants and fibrinolytic drugs have been used to suppress formation of clots or to dissolve those clots already formed. In either situation fibrinogen occupies a central position as the precursor of fibrin in the thrombus. Examination of the literature provides very little information on the normal physiology of fibrinogen. Furthermore, the specific cell type responsible for fibrinogen synthesis has remained obscure. This paper directly approaches the question of the cellular site of fibrinogen production and attempts to study mechanisms which affect fibrinogen turnover, synthesis, storage, and release. The hepatic parenchymal cell was revealed as the place where fibrinogen is produced and may be stored when conditions are favorable. The fluorescent antibody technique and highly specific antifibrinogen sera were used for cellular localizations. The rate of fibrinogen