Interaction between pregnancy zone protein and plasmin.

Pregnancy zone protein (PZP, alpha 2-PAG, SP3) was found to bind to plasmin in crossed affino-immunoelectrophoresis using sodium caseinate in the first dimension gel. The plasmin presence in the PZP-plasmin complex was confirmed by addition of antiserum against plasminogen to the gel. In crossed affino-immunoelectrophoresis using plasmin in the first dimension gel a non migrative PZP immunoreactive peak appeared, similar to the peak obtained with casein in the first dimension gel. Incubation of mixtures of PZP and plasmin also demonstrated complex formation between PZP and plasmin. The complex between PZP and plasmin could be precipitated not only by anti-PZP antibodies, but also by anti-plasminogen antibodies, confirming the interaction between the two molecules. The significance of the binding between plasmin and PZP remains to be elucidated, but it is tempting to speculate that PZP, present on the trophoblastic surface, immobilizes plasmin, rendering this molecule able to perform a local fibrinolytic activity.