Selective fibrinolytic activity of recombinant non-glycosylated human pro-urokinase (single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator) from bacteria.

To assess their therapeutic value recombinant non-glycosylated human pro-urokinase (cPUK) and recombinant non-glycosylated human low molecular mass urokinase (cLUK) both obtained from genetically transformed bacteria were compared with respect to their thrombolytic efficacy and their potential to induce systemic plasminogen activation which impairs the coagulation system. The investigations were performed in in vitro and in vivo test systems. In vitro, both substances significantly and concentration-dependently lysed radiolabelled human thrombi in rotating loops of tubes (Chandler-loops) with equivalent efficacy. Fibrinolytic activity of cLUK was accompanied by a decrease in alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen and fibrinogen. In contrast, cPUK did not change the plasminogen and fibrinogen levels and induced a substantially smaller decline in alpha 2-antiplasmin than cLUK. In the lysis of pulmonary embolized radiolabelled blood clots in anesthetized rabbits cPUK and cLUK dose-dependently exerted significant effects of similar extent. Whereas cLUK significantly decreased plasma levels of alpha 2-antiplasmin, plasminogen and fibrinogen, cPUK caused only a marginal decrease in alpha 2-antiplasmin and left the plasminogen and fibrinogen levels unchanged. The results indicate that cPUK exerts fibrinolytic efficacy without systemic plasminogen activation and breakdown of fibrinogen. Therefore, cPUK might be expected to be a more specific and safer thrombolytic agent than urokinase and other traditional fibrinolytics.