Serine proteases of the fibrinolysis pathway are not involved in lethal hepatitis and fibrinogen breakdown induced by tumor necrosis factor.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a key role in several types of fulminant and acute hepatitis, and induces massive apoptosis and necrosis of hepatocytes. Our previous studies described the central role played by several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and one or more unknown serine proteases. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of serine proteases of the fibrinolytic pathway, known to be activators of several MMPs, in TNF-induced hepatitis and fibrinogen (FG) breakdown. Experiments were performed in a model of TNF-induced hepatitis, consisting of administration of TNF in combination with D-(+)-galactosamine (GalN) to mice deficient in urokinase-type plasminogen (PG) activator (u-PA), tissue-type PG activator (t-PA) or PG. Lethality, transaminase release, increased plasma clotting time and FG levels were measured. In PA- and PG-deficient mice, TNF/GalN still induced hepatitis, as well as increased clotting time and FG breakdown. MMP-9 activation still occurred in the liver despite the lack of plasmin. The data suggest that the serine proteases involved in TNF-induced lethal hepatitis are no constituents of the fibrinolytic cascade.