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The Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant plasminogen activator (r-PA) comprising the kringle 2 and protease domains of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) has a four-fold longer half-life time in the circulation than t-PA, possibly resulting in an increased opportunity for r-PA to interact with the endothelial lining. In the present study we investigated the interaction of r-PA and t-PA with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Specific binding of 125I-t-PA and 125I-r-PA were similar at 4 degrees C (Kd 6 nmol/l; Bmax about 120 fmol/mg cell protein). About half of the specific binding sites were shared by t-PA and r-PA, because unlabeled t-PA and r-PA competed equally with 125I-labeled t-PA and r-PA for binding to HUVEC. The low affinity interaction of 125I-t-PA was several-fold higher than that of 125I-r-PA. When PA binding was studied at 37 degrees C, HUVEC bound more t-PA than r-PA to both specific and non-specific binding sites. Both t-PA and r-PA were internalized and degraded, but t-PA internalization proceeded more efficiently than that of r-PA. In the presence of 100 microM chloroquine, the degradation of t-PA and r-PA was inhibited by 75% and 40%, respectively, indicating lysosomal degradation. When the active sites of t-PA and r-PA were blocked by PPACK, part of the cell association and most of the degradation of both t-PA and r-PA were inhibited. This points to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as one of the specific binding sites. A possible role of LDL-receptor related protein (LRP) or related members of this receptor family was investigated by using the 39 kD receptor associated protein (RAP) which prevents interaction of ligands with these receptors. RAP reduced the association of 125I-t-PA by 25% and the degradation of 125I-t-PA and 125I-r-PA by 65% and 50%, respectively. Our data show that both t-PA and r-PA bind to HUVEC and can subsequently be internalized and degraded. However, r-PA interacts less effectively with HUVEC than t-PA. This indicates that binding to the endothelium does not prevent the clearance of r-PA and is not the cause of its long half-life.

Despite the advances in pre-, peri- and post-operative medical care of colorectal carcinoma patients, the prognosis has improved only marginally over recent decades. Thus, additional prognostic indicators would be of great clinical value to select patients for adjuvant therapy. In previous studies we found that colorectal carcinomas have a marked increase of the urokinase-type of plasminogen activator (u-PA), and the inhibitors PAI-1 and PAI-2, whereas the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is found to be decreased in comparison with adjacent normal mucosa. In the present study we evaluated the prognostic value of several plasminogen activation parameters, determined in both normal and carcinomatous tissue from colorectal resection specimens, for overall survival of 136 Dukes' stage B and C colorectal cancer patients, in relation to major clinicopathological parameters. Uni- and multivariate analyses indicated that a high PAI-2 antigen level in carcinoma, a low t-PA activity and antigen level and a high u-PA/t-PA antigen ratio in adjacent normal mucosa are significantly associated with a poor overall survival. A high ratio of u-PA antigen in the carcinomas and t-PA antigen in normal mucosa, i.e. u-PA(C)/t-PA(N), was found to be predictive of a poor overall survival as well. All these parameters were found to be prognostically independent of the clinicopathological parameters. Multivariate analysis of combinations of these prognostically significant plasminogen activation parameters revealed that they are important independent prognostic indicators and have in fact a better prognostic value than their separate components. Based on these combined parameters, subgroups of patients with Dukes' stage B and C colorectal cancer could be identified as having either a high or a low risk regarding overall survival. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the relevance of the intestinal plasminogen activation system for survival prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer and, in the future, might constitute a patient selection criterion for adjuvant therapy.

Several studies have shown that reduced amyloid-β 1-42 (Aβ {42}) and increased tau levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflect increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in the brain. β-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1) is thought to be the major β-secretase involved in Aβ production in the brain, and therefore we investigated the relation between BACE1 activity and CSF markers Aβ {40}, Aβ-{42}, total tau (t-tau), and tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau) in CSF of control (n=12), mild cognitive impairment (n=18), and AD (n=17) subjects. Patients were classified according to their Aβ {42}, t-tau, and p-tau CSF biomarker levels, with either an AD-like biomarker profile (two or three biomarkers abnormal: Aβ {42} 495 pg/ml in combination with t-tau > 356 pg/ml, and/or p-tau > 54 pg/ml) or a normal biomarker profile (≤ one biomarker abnormal). This resulted in 19 subjects with an AD-like biomarker profile (66 ± 6 years, 53% female, and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score: 23 ± 5) and 28 subjects with a normal biomarker profile (62 ± 11 years, 43% female, and MMSE score: 27 ± 4). Subjects with an AD-like biomarker profile had higher CSF BACE1 activity levels, compared to patients with a normal biomarker profile (20 pg/ml and 16 pg/ml respectively; p=0.01), when controlled for age and gender. In the whole sample, BACE1 activity correlated with CSF levels of Aβ{40}, t-tau, and p-tau (r=0.38, r=0.63, and r=0.65; all p< 0.05), but not with Aβ {42}. These data suggest that increased BACE1 activity in CSF relates to AD pathology in the brain. © 2010 - IOS Press and the authors.

Many epidemiological studies suggest that elevated plasma fibrinogen concentrations form one of the most important independent risk factors in blood for cardiovascular disease and particularly atherosclerosis in humans. To clarify the effect of genetic factors, diets and their interactions on plasma fibrinogen concentrations, we examined plasma fibrinogen levels in four strains of mice, which differ in their susceptibility to cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. When maintained on basal diet, two strains 129/J and C3H/HeJ exhibited a significantly higher plasma fibrinogen concentration (2.1 and 1.9 mg/ml) than C57BL/6J and BALB/C strains (1.5 and 1.4 mg/ml). The strongest and most rapid (1 week) increase of plasma fibrinogen (by all semi-synthetic diets) is observed in C57BL/6J mice, which are known to be highly susceptible to diet-induced atherosclerosis. After a period of 8 weeks an increase in plasma fibrinogen of approximately 30-50% was observed in all strains on all semi-synthetic diets. Remarkably, no increase was observed in the fibrinogen Aα- Bβ- and γ-chain mRNA levels in the liver on the same diets. These mRNA levels were even decreased by approximately 20-50% in all strains on an extremely atherogenic diet. It was found that: genetic background determines the plasma fibrinogen levels on basal diet; plasma fibrinogen levels are altered by diet; the extent of these changes depends on the genetic background: surprisingly, this increase of fibrinogen in plasma is independent of transcription; the diet-induced increase of fibrinogen was very fast in the very highly atherosclerosis-susceptible strain C57BL/6J having a low basal fibrinogen level, and very slow in the atherosclerosis-resistant strain C3H/HeJ having a high basal fibrinogen level. It might be concluded that it is the kinetics of the response of fibrinogen to diet rather than the actual level, which relates to atherosclerosis susceptibility. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interactions between specific cell-surface molecules, which include the urokinase receptor (uPAR) and integrins, are crucial to processes of tumor invasion and metastasis. Here we demonstrate that uPAR and beta1-integrins may cluster at distinct sites at the cell surface of metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and form functional complexes. Attachment assays performed in the presence of a synthetic peptide (p25), which interferes with the formation of uPAR-integrin complexes, reveal that uPAR is able to regulate the adhesive function of integrins in breast cancer cells. On dissociation of the uPAR-integrin complexes by p25, tumor cell attachment to the extracellular matrix was either decreased (vitronectin) or increased (fibronectin). Moreover, the tumor cells display remarkable morphological changes when cultured on fibronectin in the continuous presence of p25, leading to increased cell spreading and attachment. In marked contrast to control conditions, increased cellular adhesion to fibronectin after p25 treatment was entirely beta1-integrin-mediated. The role of uPAR-integrin complexes in tumor progression was studied in an in vivo bone xenograft model. Stably transfected MDA-MB-231 cells that overexpress p25 showed a significant reduction in tumor progression in bone (Por = 0.0001 versus mock-control). In line with these observations, continuous administration of p25 (25 microg/mouse/day, osmotic minipumps) for 28 days resulted in significantly reduced tumor progression of MDA-MB-231 cells in bone (Por = 0.005) when compared to scrambled control peptide. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that uPAR can act as an adhesion receptor in breast cancer and is capable of regulating integrin function. Our findings strongly suggest that adhesive and proteolytic events are tightly associated in metastatic breast cancer cells and that functional integrin-uPAR complexes are involved in tumor progression in vivo.

In this study we examined the localization of the plasminogen activation system and the matrix metalloproteinases in normal human arteries, arteries with diffuse intimal thickenings and atherosclerotic arteries. We found that MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 did not stain differently in normal arteries, arteries with intimal thickening and atherosclerotic arteries. MMP- 9 staining was, however, increased in atherosclerotic arteries as compared to normal arteries and arteries with diffuse intimal thickening. For u-PA there were no differences between normal arteries, arteries with intimal thickening and atherosclerotic arteries, t-PA staining was decreased in the media of atherosclerotic arteries as compared to both normal and intima-thickened arteries. In contrast, PAI-1 staining was elevated in the intima of atherosclerotic arteries as compared to the media. While u-PAR was elevated in the intima of arteries with intimal thickening, staining was weaker in the intima of atherosclerotic arteries, as compared to the intima of normal arteries. These results suggest that both the plasminogen activation system and the MMP system might be involved in the process of atherosclerosis most likely in different steps and stages in this process. (C) 1999 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

In mixed glial cell cultures from cerebral cortices of newborn rats, endotoxin induces nitric oxide (NO) production in microglial cells. Earlier we demonstrated that endotoxin induced NO production by microglial cells is inhibited in the presence of astroglial cells by transforming growth factor β (TGFβ). Both microglial and astroglial cells produce TGFβ in a biologically inactive form, which can be activated by plasmin generated by plasminogen activators (PA). In the present paper we describe studies on the mechanism by which glial cells may activate inactive TGFβ and its potential inhibitory effect on NO production by microglial cells. Inhibition of plasmin increased NO production in endotoxin-treated mixed glial cell cultures. Subsequently, antibodies against tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) increased NO production in endotoxin-treated mixed glial cell cultures while amiloride, an inhibitor for urokinase (uPA), had no effect. We hereby concluded that tPA is the crucial PA involved in plasmin production resulting in inhibition of NO production in mixed glial cell cultures. Zymography and Northern blot analysis of purified astroglial, microglial, and mixed glial cell cultures demonstrated that astroglial cells produce tPA and a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and are thereby responsible for the production of plasmin which may activate the inactive TGFβ in these cultures. In conclusion, astroglial-derived tPA plays a major role in the inhibition of NO production by endotoxin-treated microglial cells through enhanced plasmin production and possible subsequent TGFβ activation.

Here we describe a new principle for accessing the activity of the different members of the human matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) by a colorimetric assay. Using protein engineering, a modified pro-urokinase was made in which the activation sequence, normally recognized by plasmin (ProArgPheLys/IleIleGlyGly), was replaced by a sequence that is specifically recognized by MMPs (ArgProLeuGly/IleIleGlyGly). The active urokinase resulting from the activation of this modified pro-urokinase by MMPs can be measured directly using a chromogenic peptide substrate for urokinase. The assay has been made specific for MMP-9 using an MMP-9 specific monoclonal antibody. Using this antibody MMP-9 is captured from biological fluids or tissue culture media, and MMP-activity of both active and latent MMP-9 can be analysed. We determined the gelatinase-B (MMP-9) activity present in saliva from patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Using a general gelatinase assay with radioactively-labeled gelatinated collagen it was observed that gelatinase activity was slightly, though not significantly, increased in patients: general gelatinase activity in patients versus healthy controls: 17.0 +/- 4.9 vs 12.2 +/- 2.5 x 10(4) cpm/ml (p0.05, and 44.0 (4.0 vs 36.1 +/- 1.9 x 10(4) cpm/ml (p0.05), for active and latent gelatinase, respectively. However, using the immunocapture activity assay (using modified urokinase) specifically MMP-9 activity was measured, which was significantly increased in saliva from patients compared to healthy controls: MMP-9 (already active): patients 8.9 +/- 2.5 U/mg, controls 1.0 +/- 0.5 U/mg (p = 0.002); latent plus active MMP-9: patients 53.1 +/- 9.8 U/mg, controls 16.5 +/- 2.6 U/mg (p = 0.01). This assay, measuring MMP-9 activity using modified pro-urokinase as a substrate can easily be adapted for the specific detection of the various members of the MMP-family or other difficult to measure proteases, in a format that can be used for high throughput screening of compounds or samples.

To describe the role of the lysyl binding site in the interaction of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA, FGK1K2P) with a forming fibrin clot, we performed binding experiments with domain deletion mutants GK1K2P, K2P, and the corresponding point mutants lacking the lysyl binding site in the absence and the presence of epsilon-amino caproic acid (EACA). Occupation of the lysyl binding site in the K2 domain with EACA has a pronounced effect on the binding of FGK1K2P to a fibrin clot (C50 = 77 +/- 11 nM versus 376 +/- 45 nM with EACA). Deleting the lysyl binding site in the K2 domain (substitution D236N) also impairs fibrin binding but to a lesser extent (C50 = 169 +/- 20 nM). Although the binding of K2P to a fibrin clot is weak (C50 = 1163 +/- 490 nM), it still is 2 orders of magnitude stronger than the binding of EACA to K2P. Therefore it was surprising to find that deletion of the lysyl binding site in K2P completely abolishes fibrin binding. Even when both the F domain and the lysyl binding site were deleted, considerable fibrin binding is still observed (C50 = 557 +/- 126 nM), suggesting other than F and K2-mediated interactions. The binding of FGK1K2P, FGK1K2P (D236N), GK1K2P, and GK1K2P (D236N) to fibrin could be competitively inhibited by FGK1K2P and K2P, indicating that all molecules recognize the same interaction sites on a fibrin clot. Based on these results, a new model for the interaction of t-PA with a forming fibrin clot is proposed. The fibrin binding sites in t-PA are not confined to the F and K2 domain. The main role of the lysyl binding site in the K2 domain of t-PA appears indirect rather than direct, most likely stabilizing a conformation favorable for fibrin binding.

During skin repair both keratinocytes and fibroblasts migrate into the wounded area. In the process of cell migration, controlled proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix occurs. It has been suggested that the plasminogen activator system is involved in such proteolytic processes occurring during wound healing. The role of plasmin, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) in keratinocyte and fibroblast migration in vitro was examined in the present study. Confluent cultures of normal human keratinocytes, human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-4), SV40 transformed keratinocytes (SVK-14) and human fibroblasts were mechanically wounded and the repopulation of the denuded area was examined. Migration of cells into the denuded area could be inhibited by neutralizing antibodies against t-PA or u-PA, or the serine protease inhibitor Trasylol in all cell types studied. For detailed study on involvement of u-PA and t-PA in migration processes wounded cultures of SVK14 cells were used. Both t-PA and u-PA activity could be detected at the migrating edge of SVK14 cultures as revealed by zymography and by immunocytochemistry using polyclonal antibodies. Our results demonstrate the direct involvement of not only u-PA but also t-PA in migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in wounded cultures in vitro.

Plasminogen activator (PA) and PA inhibitor (PAI) antigen, activity, and mRNA were analyzed in the three layers of rat aorta, and the effect of endotoxin on PA and PAI was studied. All PA activity in aorta was identified as tissue-type PA (TPA) activity; no urokinase-type PA was detected. In the tunica adventitia TPA activity, TPA antigen, and TPA mRNA were detected, whereas in the tunica media TPA antigen and TPA mRNA, but no TPA activity, were found. PAI activity was detected in the tunica media, explaining the absence of TPA activity in this layer. Removal of the endothelial cells had no effect on TPA antigen and PAI activity in intima-media preparations. Also, similar amounts of PAI-1 mRNA were found in intima-media preparations, irrespective of the presence or absence of the intima. Immunohistochemical staining showed that TPA immunoreactivity was present in all three layers of the aorta, whereas PAI-1 immunoreactivity was found in medial smooth muscle cells but not in endothelial cells. After endotoxin treatment, TPA activity was decreased in extracts of the total aorta and of the adventitia, although TPA antigen and TPA mRNA were unchanged. PAI-1 mRNA was strongly increased in the tunica adventitia and in the tunica media, as was PAI activity in the tunica media. Thus, endotoxin decreased TPA activity by increasing the synthesis of PAI-1; TPA was unaffected. Our observations in rat aorta differ from observations in mouse aorta and in rat carotid artery, and they caution against extrapolation from one tissue (or species) to another. Chemicals/CAS: plasminogen activator inhibitor, 105844-41-5; tissue plasminogen activator, 105913-11-9; urokinase, 139639-24-0; Endotoxins; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; RNA, Messenger; Tissue Plasminogen Activator, EC 3.4.21.68

The tissue-specific distribution of tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (t-PA and u-PA) and their inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) was analyzed at mRNA level in five major rat organ tissues. t-PA mRNA was detected in lung, kidney, heart, and liver. u-PA mRNA was detected in kidney and lung. Presence of PA mRNA correlated with the detection of PA activity in extracts of these tissues. PAI-1 mRNA was detected predominantly in heart and lung. Although PAI activity could not be measured directly in tissue extracts, the presence of PAI-1 mRNA correlated with the occurrence of PA·PAI complex in fibrin autography of tissue extracts. Endotoxin injection caused a very large increase in plasma PAI activity. This increase correlated with a marked increase in PAI-1 mRNA in nearly all tissues studied. The increase in PAI-1 mRNA is most pronounced in lung and liver. Endotoxin injection also caused an increased level of t-PA mRNA in heart and kidney, and an increased u-PA mRNA level in kidney. mRNA analysis of freshly isolated and separated subfractionated liver cells showed that the marked increase in PAI-1 mRNA in the liver after endotoxin injection may be due mainly to a strong increase of PAI-1 mRNA in the liver endothelial cells.

Using specific assays, we studied fibrinolytic activity in plasma and colonic mucosa biopsies of 28 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (12 with Crohn's disease, 16 with ulcerative colitis) and 28 control patients without inflammatory bowel disease or colon malignancy. Blood coagulation was studied using standard techniques. In plasma of IBD patients significantly decreased tissue type plasminogen activator activity (t-PA) (p less than 0.02), increased plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) (p less than 0.01) and fibrinogen (p less than 0.001), and prolonged thrombin time (p less than 0.001) and prothrombintime (p less than 0.001) were found. In colon mucosa the percentage of t-PA to urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) was 80:20% in the control group and 71:29% in the IBD group in non-inflamed mucosa. In inflamed mucosa the plasminogen activator percentage was 55:45%, significantly different (p less than 0.01) from the control group. There was also a significant absolute increase in u-PA activity and decrease of t-PA activity in the inflamed mucosa compared to the control group (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01, respectively). Patients with inflammatory bowel disease therefore have significant changes in components of the fibrinolytic and coagulation system both systemically and locally in colon mucosa. These changes might contribute to an increased risk for thromboembolic complications and possibly to the pathogenesis of the colitis and to the local complications such as bleeding.

Human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) catalyses the conversion of inactive plasminogen into active plasmin, the main fibrinolytic enzyme. This process is confined to the fibrin surface by specific binding of t-PA to fibrin and stimulation of its activity by fibrin. Tissue-type plasminogen activator contains five domains designated finger, growth factor, kringle 1, kringle 2 and protease. The involvement of the domains in fibrin specificity was investigated with a set of variant proteins lacking one or more domains. Variant proteins were produced by expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells of plasmids containing part of the coding sequence for the activator. It was found that kringle 2 domain only is involved in stimulation of activity by fibrin. In the absence of plasminogen and at low concentration of fibrin, binding of t-PA is mainly due to the finger domain, while at high fibrin concentrations also kringle 2 is involved in fibrin binding. In the presence of plasminogen, fibrin binding of the kringle 2 region of t-PA also becomes important at low fibrin concentrations.

Tissue activator-mediated plasminogen activation is potentiated both by fibrin and by some soluble fibrin(ogen) fragments. The potentiating effect of the different fragments decreases in the order fibrin monomer > D-dimer > Y > D EGTA > Dcate > X. Fibrinogen and the fragments Ecate, E EGTA and E fibrin have almost no effect. The existence of a fibrin polymer is apparently not a prerequisite for this potentiating effect. The plasminogen activation by various urokinase preparations is not potentiated by fibrin and fibrin(ogen) fragments. Chemicals/CAS: fibrin, 9001-31-4; fibrinogen, 9001-32-5; plasminogen activator, 9039-53-6; plasminogen, 9001-91-6; thromboplastin, 9035-58-9; urokinase, 139639-24-0; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; Fibrin, 9001-31-4; fibrinmonomer; fibrinogen D fragment; fibrinogen fragment E; fibrinogen fragment X; fibrinogen fragment Y; Fibrinogen, 9001-32-5; Plasminogen Activators, EC 3.4.21.-; Plasminogen, 9001-91-6; Thromboplastin, 9035-58-9; Urinary Plasminogen Activator, EC 3.4.21.73

In resection tissue samples of colorectal carcinomas, the concentration of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-Pa) was found to be significantly higher than in the normal parent mucosal tissue, while there was less tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). u-PA and t-PA were also determined in endoscopic biopsies of colonic and gastric carcinomas, and the results were compared with those of the ultimate resection samples of the same patients, and with the histological evaluation of adjacent biopsies. The ratio of u-PA/t-PA antigen in the biopsies was found to represent a good discriminator between normal and malignant tissue. Nearly all (90%) tumour biopsies had a higher PA antigen ratio than that of the normal tissue biopsies. This discrimination based upon PA antigen measurements in biopsies was similarly efficient in the subsequent resection samples, and showed a good agreement with the histological evaluation. Thus, PA antigen measurements in endoscopic biopsies can be used to detect gastrointestinal malignancy.