Abstract

CASTANON, María Mercedes. Glycosaminoglycans on hemostasis: Dermatan sulfate action on the fibrinolytic system. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2008, vol.42, n.4, pp.509-528. ISSN 0325-2957.

Dermatan sulfate (DS) is well-known for its anticoagulant activity by binding to heparin cofactor II in order to enhance the antithrombin action. It has also been suggested that DS has a profibrinolytic effect, although the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. This review exposes the results obtained and discusses on the available literature on DS effect on the fibrynolytic system. DS exhibited a stimulating effect on the activation of plasminogen by plasminogen activators (t-PA and u-PA), by in vitro amidolytic and coagulometric methods, showing a pro-fibrinolytic effect independent of its known anticoagulant action. Studies of fibrin networks obtained in the presence of DS showed longer and thinner fibers than controls, increased degree of compaction and lisability. Thus, DS displayed a pro-fibrinolytic effect associated to its anticoagulant action. These results contribute to clarify the mechanism of DS action on the plasminogen-plasmin system and to the understanding of the physiologic role of this glycosaminoglycan.

Keywords : Dermatan sulfate; Plasminogen activation; Tissue plasminogen activator; Urine plasminogen activator; Fibrin network; Structure; Lisability.

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