The Effect Of Plasmin On Factor XIII (Fibrin Stabilizing Factor)

The action of plasmin on several blood clotting factors has been studied; however, controversy exists concerning the effect of plasmin on factor XIII. Factor XIII was purified from plasma and platelets and then exposed to plasmin for up to 6 hours. Plasmin to factor XIII ratios ranged from 0.03-0.1 casein units plasmin per mg factor XIII. These plasmin levels exhibited strong proteolytic activities against B-casein and purified human fibrinogen Following incubation of factor XIII (activated and unactivated) with plasmin the mixtures were electrophoresed on 7% SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The factor XIII preparations were assayed for 14C-putrescine incorporating activity before and after exposure to plasmin. Platelet factor XIII was,labeled With 125Iodine and lableled a subunit (activated and unactivated) was exposed to plalmin for up to 2 hours. These mixtures were electrophoresed on 12.5% Urea-SDS Polyacrylamide gels and a radioactivity profile was determined for each gel. Following extensive exposure to Plasmin the relative molecular weights of the factor XIII subunits (a, a* and b)remained constant and almost all (90-100%) of the 14C-put-rescine incorporating activity was recovered. The radio-activity profiles of the gels of 125I-labeled platelet factor XIII were identical before and after incubation with plasmin. Plasmin did not activate factor XIII in the assay system nor did factor XIII inactivate plasmin by crosslinking it. These experiments indicate that plasmin does not activate or degrade factor XIII and that the b subunit of plasma factor XIII plays no role in protecting the a subunit from the action of plasmin.