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PAI-1

Meaning

PAI-1, or Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, is the principal physiological inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), thereby serving as a key regulator of the fibrinolytic system, which is responsible for dissolving blood clots. Elevated levels of PAI-1 are clinically associated with a prothrombotic state, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke. PAI-1 is also increasingly recognized as a link between metabolic dysfunction and vascular pathology, as its expression is often increased in conditions like obesity, insulin resistance, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).