Researchers in Japan, working on the fibrinolytic enzyme Nattokinase, found that is breaks up a protein called plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1 or endothelial plasminogen activator inhibitor, or serpin E1).

PAI-1 inhibits tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase – two enzymes that ultimately increase fibrinolysis (the breakdown of fibrin in blood clots).

After treatment with Nattokinase, the PAI-1 lost it’s activity.

Since the enzymes that break up the clots are no longer inhibited, fibrinolysis increases.

This was dose dependent.

The profibrinolytic enzyme subtilisin NAT purified from Bacillus subtilis Cleaves and inactivates plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1.

Urano T, Ihara H, Umemura K, Suzuki Y, Oike M, Akita S, Tsukamoto Y, Suzuki I, Takada A.

J Biol Chem. 2001 Jul 6;276(27):24690-6. Epub 2001 Apr 26.