Evidence for the adsorption upon erythrocytes of urokinase and other components of the fibrinolytic system

Abstract

Erythrocytes can adsorb urokinase, a urinary activator of plasma profibrinolysin, and protect it from plasma inhibitors. Adsorption of components of the plasma fibrinolytic system is affected by the fibrinolytic status of the animal from which the erythrocytes and plasma are obtained. The findings suggest that erythrocytes may play a role, heretofore unrecognized, in the development of fibrinolytic activity in vivo.