A sensitive assay for tissue plasminogen activator activity in plasma, using adsorption on lysine-sepharose

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) in plasma was separated from inhibitors by adsorption on lysine-Sepharose. It was then determined indirectly by measuring the plasmin generated from plasminogen with poly-lysine as stimulator, in a chromogenic, parabolic rate assay. The reaction proceeded with tissue plasminogen activator and plasmin(ogen) adsorbed on the gel, and followed the kinetics described for similar parabolic rate assays in soluble systems. The assay was standardized against melanoma plasminogen activator (m-PA) and had the sensitivity range of 0.001-0.020 IU (4-80 pg). Anti-m-PA IgG quenched the activity generated in plasma on venous occlusion and part of the activity in pre-occlusion plasma. The method was sensitive to purified urokinase. The basic plasma values in resting normal individuals were: mean 0.08, range 0.01-0.26 X 10(3) IU/l (n = 19), and after 20 min of venous occlusion: mean 2.48, range 0.24-4.34 X 10(3) IU/l (n = 10). The assay correlates well with a fibrin plate method, r = 0.96.