Blood clotting enzyme, what is it called?

It’s good when such a nuisance as a cut or injection heals quickly and without problems. We do not attach importance to how much energy, substances and systems are involved in ensuring the integrity of our body.

What is a blood coagulation system?

In medical science, the blood coagulation system is called "homeostasis." This is a process that ensures the liquid state of the blood, as well as preventing the loss of a large amount of it. Blood for people is a source of life, since with its help all useful substances come into the cells. It not only nourishes the body, but also protects it. This fluid in the body is not so much, so every puncture or cut that violates the integrity of the vessels could end in failure. But the coagulation system comes to the rescue, or rather its enzyme, which causes blood coagulation. It is called in tune with the very particles of this fluid platelets.

This system is unique as it is in liquid blood throughout all vessels. As soon as the vessel is broken, various substances and mechanisms immediately enter the work, covering the hole in the vessel. This system not only coagulates blood, but also prevents this with the help of individual substances. Normally, all processes are balanced, due to which the blood task is fully carried out even with damaged vessels.

Blood anticoagulation

The objective of this system is to regulate blood coagulation. After all, if this process is not regulated, this will lead to a violation of an important protective function. The anticoagulant system aims to prevent blood clots throughout the vessels so that thrombin acts only on damaged areas. In addition, anticoagulants constantly maintain the fluid state of all blood, counteracting the tendency to viscosity and thickening of this fluid.

At the physiological level, heparin, antithrombin, proteins, inhibitors of various factors (anticoagulants of this system) inhibit the formation of fibrin, inhibit the aggregation of red blood cells, platelets and inhibit the production of thromboplastin by the body. But still, what is the name of the blood coagulation enzyme , and what is its effect?

Why dissolve blood clots in a coagulation system?

The third component of the entire large-scale process of the blood coagulation system is the fibrinolytic system. Its function is to dissolve existing blood clots. This process is necessary when the main task is completed and the surface of the vessel is restored. Hemostasis ends successfully if the three components of the blood coagulation system are balanced. Otherwise, a violation occurs in this process - bleeding or excessive thrombosis may occur. Such a "bias" in the work is observed in diseases of the liver, lungs, neoplasms, coronary heart disease, rheumatism and other pathologies.

How does blood coagulation begin?

Coagulation is a change, the transformation of liquid blood into a clot of a jelly structure. Thanks to this function, the body saves itself from blood loss. When a small vessel is damaged, a blood clot forms (when an enzyme that causes blood coagulation begins to act), which acts as a cork, which helps to stop bleeding.

Blood coagulation occurs due to a special system, which is understood as coagulation inhibitors, utilizing factors. The enzyme that causes blood coagulation is constantly formed. Inhibitors operate continuously in phases:

• 1 phase. Heparin and antiprothrombinase begin to act.
• 2 phase. Thrombin inhibitors (fibrinogen, fibrin, prethrombin I and II, hydrolytic thrombin products) come into play.

During many diseases, additional inhibitors form in the body. For many, it remains a mystery which enzyme causes blood coagulation. Indeed, in this process so many microelements and substances are involved. But they all fulfill their functions strictly, if this enzyme loses its hemostatic ability, then even the slightest damage to the vessel will lead to fatal bleeding.

Clotting enzyme

We figured out why we need a coagulation system, now let's look a little into its physiological mechanisms. What is the name of an enzyme that causes blood coagulation? The main thing in this process is thrombin from the trypsin family. During chemical reactions, it acts on fibrinogen and forms it into fibrin. The blood coagulation enzyme intensively regulates fibrinolysis and thrombus formation, vascular tone. The formation of the enzyme occurs in inflammatory processes.

From prothrombin, thrombin arises at the last stage of coagulation. Thrombin promotes the activation of V, VIII, XIII coagulation factors. It has hormonal properties, manifested in contact with platelets and endothelial cells. During the connection with thrombomodulin, this enzyme ceases to clot.

Phases of hemostasis: what role does the blood coagulation enzyme play?

A feature of hemostasis is the closure of a damaged vessel. Fibrin filaments contribute to the formation of a blood clot, after which the blood acquires astringent properties. What is the name of the enzyme that causes blood coagulation? The name is very similar to the word "thrombus" - thrombin. He is always ready to work, and in case of violations begins to act intensively. Hemostasis is divided into several phases:

1. The phase of prothrombinase. At this stage, tissue and blood enzymes are formed, the process of their occurrence proceeds at different speeds. The formation of blood prothrombinase directly depends on tissue prothrombinase (a tissue enzyme activates the formation factors of a blood enzyme). In the same phase, the external and internal mechanism of hemocoagulation occurs.
2. Thrombin formation phase. In this phase, we get the answer to the question of which enzyme causes blood coagulation. Prothrombin is split into parts and a thrombin-activating substance is formed, which stimulates the following phases and implements accelerin.
3. The phase of fibrin. Thrombin (an enzyme that causes blood coagulation) acts on fibrinogen, and amino acids are cleaved.
4. This phase is special in that the polymerization of fibrin and the formation of a clot occur.
5. Fibrinolysis. At this phase, hemocoagulation ends.

"External" coagulation

This mechanism is very complex and phased. First, the damaged areas are in contact with the blood, activating the thromboplastin factor III. After which he converts VII (proconvertin) into VII-A (convertin). As a result of this reaction, the Ca ++ + III + VIIIa complex arises, which activates the X factor, and the latter is converted to Xa. As a result of all processes, another complex arises that has all the functions of tissue prothrombinase. The presence of Va indicates the presence of thrombin activating the V factor. It is tissue prothrombinase that converts prothrombin to thrombin. This enzyme causes blood coagulation, activating factors V and VIII, which are needed when the appearance of blood prothrombinase.

"Internal" blood coagulation

Together with the external, internal coagulation is launched. Contacting with the irregular part of the vessel, the XII factor (XII - XIIa) is activated. At the same moment, a hemostatic nail is formed. The active XII factor activates XI, subsequently XIIa + Ca ++ + XIa + III arises, which affects IX and forms a modified complex. It activates X, and then Xa + Va + Ca ++ + III appears, which is a blood prothrombinase. Here another enzyme causes blood coagulation. The division into "external" and "internal" is very arbitrary and is used only in scientific circles for convenience, since these processes are very closely interconnected.

The role of coagulation factors in this process

We have already said that the process of blood coagulation is not complete without certain substances called factors. These substances are inherently plasma proteins, which are commonly called factors in medical science.

• Fibrin and fibrinogen. Fibrinogen coagulates when thrombin acts.
• Thrombin and prothrombin. Prothrombin is a glycoprotein, it is enough in the blood to convert fibrinogen to fibrin. Thrombin is an enzyme that causes blood coagulation; only traces of it are visible in it.
• Thromboplastin. It has a phospholipid structure, inactive at the beginning. It is the main participant in the initial phase.
• Calcium ionized Ca ++. It takes an active part in the mechanism of homeostasis.
• Proaccelerin and accelerin (AS globulin). Involved in two phases of coagulation. Accelerate many enzymatic processes.
• Proconvertin and convertin. This is a protein of the beta-globulin fraction. It activates tissue protombinase.
• Antihemophilic globulin A (AGG-A). Member of a blood prothrombinase. If there is no this protein, then hemophilia develops. Its small amount in the blood, but it is vital for humans.
• Antihemophilic globulin B (AGG-B, Christmas factor). The catalyst and activator of the X-factor.
• Koller factor, Steward-Praer factor. Participants of prothrombinase.
• Rosenthal factor, a plasma precursor to thromboplastin (PPT). Accelerates the process of prothrombinase.
• Contact factor, Hageman factor. They are the push of the coagulation mechanism. Involved in the activation of other factors.
• Fibrin stabilizer Lucky-Lorand. Needed upon receipt of insoluble fibrin.

All of these factors are necessary for proper coagulation, when this process occurs quickly and efficiently, without leading the human body to excessive blood loss.

Blood clot mechanism

The restoration of damaged vessels does not happen somehow, it involves a lot of substances that act in an orderly manner, performing their functions. The essence of this process is that irreversible coagulation of proteins and blood cells takes place. Thrombi are attached to the vascular wall, if the thrombus has joined the vessel, then its further detachment does not occur.

When a vessel is damaged, substances are released from it that contribute to the inhibition of coagulation processes. Platelets are altered and destroyed, as a result of which the procoagulants go into the blood: thromboplastin and thrombin, an enzyme that causes blood coagulation. Under its action, fibrinogen becomes fibrin, which has the appearance of a mesh and is the basis of a blood clot. This net becomes dense for some time. At this stage, the formation of blood clots ends, the blood is stopped.

Clotting time as an indicator of enzyme performance

The time from the moment of damage to the stop of bleeding takes from two to four minutes. The enzyme causes blood coagulation within 10 minutes. This time will be true in the event that there are no violations in the main systems involved in the process. But there are diseases in which the coagulation process slows down or is impossible at all. Such dangerous pathologies are hemophilia, diabetes mellitus and some others.

The participation of the nervous system in this process

When damage occurs, the body sends a pain signal to the brain. Pain changes processes. This type of stimulus helps accelerate clotting. Fear is added to pain factors, which further increases the coagulability and action of thrombin. If the pain lasts a short time, the blood clotting enzyme thrombin works so that a return to normal occurs much faster, with only the reflex mechanism involved. Long-term pain connects the humoral mechanism and blood coagulation, tissue healing takes place much more slowly.

When exposed to the sympathetic nerves or after an injection of adrenaline, coagulability increases. While the action on the parasympathetic nerves slows down these processes. Departments work together and support each other. After a blood stop, the activity of the parasympathetic system increases, which contributes to the activity of anticoagulation.

Endocrine system to help hemostasis

All organs entering the endocrine system are very important in their functions. Hormones act very strongly on the body systems. Hormones such as ACTH, STH, adrenaline, cortisone, testosterone, progesterone accelerate the blood coagulation process. The inhibitory effect on hemostasis is exerted by: thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine and estrogens. If hormones are malfunctioning, changes in this process are possible and there may be serious complications that need to be discussed with a specialist.