A monoclonal antibody preventing binding of tissue-type plasminogen activator to fibrin: useful to monitor fibrinogen breakdown during t-PA infusion

One (MA-1C8) of 36 monoclonal antibodies obtained by fusion of P3X63- Ag8–6.5.3 myeloma cells with spleen cells of mice immunized with purified human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) blocked the activity of t-PA on fibrin plates but not on chromogenic substrates. MA- 1C8 at a concentration of 200 micrograms/mL inhibited plasma clot lysis and binding of t-PA to the clot. MA-1C8 had no influence on the activation of plasminogen by t-PA, which obeys Michaelis-Menten kinetics with Km = 105 mumol/L and kcat = 0.05 s-1; however, it abolished the influence of CNBr-digested fibrinogen on Km. These findings confirm that the stimulatory effect of fibrin on the activation of plasminogen by t-PA is mediated by binding of t-PA to fibrin and provide additional support for the kinetic model. Addition of t-PA to pooled fresh human plasma to a concentration of 5 micrograms/mL resulted in extensive fibrinogen breakdown after incubation for one hour at 37 degrees C or during storage at -20 degrees C for one day. In both instances, fibrinogen degradation was completely prevented by addition of MA-1C8 to a concentration of 200 micrograms/mL of plasma. MA-1C8 also effectively prevented in vitro fibrinogen degradation and in vitro plasminogen activation in plasma samples obtained during infusion of recombinant t-PA in patients with thromboembolic disease. Thus, MA-1C8 is a useful tool for discriminating between in vivo and in vitro fibrinolysis during thrombolytic therapy with t-PA.