Plasma levels of t-PA free PAI-1 and a complex of t-PA with PAI-1 in human males and females at various ages.

The concentration of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and the complex of t-PA and PAI-1 (t-PA-PAI-1 complex) were measured using an enzyme immunoassay, where the first antibody was monoclonal antibody against PAI-1 and the second one was polyclonal anti-t-PA Fab' antibody. Plasma levels of t-PA and t-PA-PAI-1 complex increased with increase in age in the total population of males and females, but there was no age related change in free and total PAI-1. Plasma levels of t-PA antigen were higher in males than in females, and those in females gradually increased with increase in age, reaching the same levels as those of males at their 60s. Plasma levels of t-PA-PAI-1 complex were also higher in males than in females, but the difference was low at their 50s and no difference was observed at their 60s. Plasma levels of free PAI-1 were higher in males than in females, but those of males declined at age group higher than their 50s. At their 60s plasma levels of free PAI-1 were higher in females than in males. These results indicate that fibrinolytic parameters such as t-PA and PAI-1 were balanced at higher levels in plasma in males than in females.