[Interaction of heparin with defensin, a nonenzymatic cationic protein from neutrophils]

Heparin was shown to form complexes with cation non-enzymatic protein defensin from neutrophils. The complex obtained in vitro did not affect the anticoagulation and fibrinolytic properties of blood, whereas defensin decreased the content of heparin, rates of non-enzymatic fibrinolysis and total fibrinolytic activity while heparin stimulated the anticoagulation activity of blood plasma. Interaction of heparin with defensin appears to be involved in protective mechanism responsible for neutralization of both the heparin anticoagulation activity and the defensin properties related to inhibition of nonenzymatic fibrinolysis.