Plasminogen

Content:

In the article we will consider one of the most important components of the blood system, which is responsible for the normal functioning of the body - “plasma”.

Plasma is the liquid part of blood, which makes up about 55% of its volume. Plasma contains various substances necessary for the normal functioning of the body, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, mineral salts, etc.

One of the important substances in plasma is “plasminogen”. It is the main protein of the blood coagulation system and is responsible for the process of stopping bleeding when blood vessels are damaged.

The formation of plasminogen occurs in the liver, and its amount is regulated by the hormone heparin. When heparin appears in the blood, it binds to plasma proteins, including plasminogen, and thereby inhibits its activity. This mechanism prevents the development of bleeding during and after surgery, myocardial infarction, stroke and other diseases.

However, if the level of heparin in the blood decreases (for example, when taking anticoagulants), the amount of plasminogen increases and the activity of the system begins to increase. This may increase the likelihood of bleeding, so it is important to monitor heparin levels in these conditions.

In addition, plasminogen is involved in the process of purifying blood from blood clots and other harmful substances. It is activated by enzymes that break down its molecules and release active forms of proteolytic enzymes