The inhibition of high and low molecular weight urokinase in plasma.

The rates of inhibition of high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) urokinase (UK) incubated in plasma or with purified antithrombin III (AT-III) were compared. Using a fibrinolytic assay system to determine residual biologic activity, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to demonstrate the formation of complexes, and selective immunoprecipitation techniques to identify the plasma inhibitors participating in the neutralization process, it was established that: (A) HMW-UK is inhibited more rapidly than LMW-UK, both in plasma and with purified AT-III; (B) heparin (3--10 U/ml accelerates the neutralization process in both systems, but only slightly; and (C) in plasma, several inhibitors, alpha 2-macroglobulin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, and antithrombin III, neutralize the activity of HMW-UK and LMW-UK.