Regulation and modulation of the plasma fibrinogen level

Abstract

Fibrinogen is a soluble plasma glycoprotein that, under normal circumstances, is present in human plasma at a concentration of 2-4 mg/ml (6-12 I'M). The plasma half-life is 3-4 days in humans and about 10-25 % of the total body fibrinogen is extravascularl. Fibrinogen is composed of two sets of three polypeptide chains (AOI, 86 . and 'Y) that are interconnected by disulphide bridges . The aminoterminal segments of all six chains form a central domain from which the AOI and 86 chains protrude. These aminotermini are the target of thrombin and small peptides (FPA and FP8) can be cleaved off