Alpha2-Antiplasmin Limits Fibrinolysis by Tenecteplase and Enhances Brain Injury After Reperfusion in Ischemic Stroke

A bioengineered version of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, i.e., tenecteplase (TNK-tPA), was designed to have a longer half-life, resistance to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and fibrin-targeted plasminogen activation. By comparison to tPA, clinical trials suggest that TNK-tPA may be less susceptible to the effects of alpha2-antiplasmin (α2AP), the primary inhibitor of thrombus dissolution. However, preclinical studies are limited, and whether α2AP affects TNK-tPA’s fibrinolytic activity or efficacy in experimental ischemic stroke is unknown. We examined the effects of TNK-tPA and α2AP on the dissolution of human plasma clots (in vitro) and experimental ischemic brain injury from stroke induced by transient middle cerebral artery ischemia. TNK-tPA induced a dose-dependent increase in plasma clot dissolution; inhibition of α2AP with a specific monoclonal antibody caused a synergistic increase in TNK-tPA-mediated clot dissolution. In experimental ischemic stroke with ischemia and reperfusion, TNK-tPA treatment of α2AP−/− mice significantly reduced ischemic infarct volume, brain swelling, brain hemorrhage, and neurobehavioral disability vs. TNK-tPA-treated α2AP+/+ (C57BL/6 background) mice with normal α2AP levels (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). α2AP impairs the dissolution of human clots in vitro by TNK-tPA and significantly exacerbates ischemic brain injury, swelling, hemorrhage, and neurobehavioral disability after experimental stroke, even with reperfusion. Targeting α2AP may improve the efficacy of TNK-tPA and reduce hemorrhagic complications.