EVALUATION OF THE PLASMINOGEN/PLASMIN SYSTEM IN TRANSGENIC MICE

Indirect evidence suggests a crucial role for the fibrinolytic system, and its physiological triggers tissue-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator in many proteolytic processes, including blood clot dissolution (thrombolysis), thrombosis, hemostasis, atherosclerosis, neointima formation/restenosis, reproduction, embryo implantation, embryogenesis, wound healing, malignancy and brain function. The implied role of the fibrinolytic system in vivo is, however, deduced from correlations between fibrinolytic activity and (patho)physiological phenomena, which does not allow to definitively establish a causal role of this sytem in these processes. Recently, several transgenic mice, over- or under-expressing fibrinolytic system components, have been generated. This article reviews briefly the physiological consequences of gain or loss of function of these fibrinolytic system components on thrombolysis, thrombosis, hemostasis, neointima formation, cell invasion, brain function and the associated effects on reproduction, development, health and survival.