Thrombomodulin in human plasma contributes to inhibit fibrinolysis through acceleration of thrombin-dependent activation of plasma procarboxypeptidase B.

Thrombomodulin (TM) expressed on endothelial cells binds thrombin and initiates anticoagulant pathways. Soluble functional proteolytic fragments of TM are also present in circulating plasma. Recently, it was reported that TM accelerated thrombin-dependent plasma procarboxypeptidase B (pro-pCPB) activation in a purified system and suggested that TM may inhibit fibrinolysis in crude plasma. The aim of present study was to evaluate any functional role of soluble TM fragments in plasma or purified TM added into plasma to the regulation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Addition of rabbit TM (1-200 ng/ml) to plasma resulted in a concentration-dependent prolongation of urokinase (UK)- or tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA)-induced clot lysis time. The concentration of TM required for the inhibition of fibrinolysis was lower than that required for the inhibition of coagulation. Addition of anti-rabbit TM IgG or anti-human TM IgG into plasma reduced UK- or t-PA-induced clot lysis time without affecting clotting times, indicating that exogenous TM or soluble TM fragments in normal human plasma participated in regulation of fibrinolysis. Moreover, the TM-dependent inhibition of fibrinolysis was observed only in the presence of thrombin and blocked by addition of carboxypeptidase B inhibitors, but not mediated by protein C activation or direct inhibition of UK, t-PA or plasmin. Analysis of various substrates and inhibitors indicated that TM accelerated thrombin-dependent pro-pCPB activation in plasma. The present results indicate that TM, including soluble TM fragments in plasma, inhibit fibrinolysis via activation of pro-pCPB in plasma.