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J G Harpel

Publications and source records attributed to J G Harpel.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

TGF-beta latency: biological significance and mechanisms of activation.

Transforming growth factor (TGF-) beta is secreted as a latent complex in which the mature growth factor remains associated with its propeptide. In order to elicit a biological response, the cytokine must be released from the latent complex, a process termed latent TGF-beta activation or TGF-beta formation. Although latent TGF-beta activation is a critical step in the regulation of its activity, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to the production of active TGF-beta. In this article, we present an overview of the data available on this topic, and we propose a tentative model for the mechanism of TGF-beta formation based upon the observations with different cell systems and on recent findings on the structure of the latent TGF-beta complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Latent transforming growth factor-beta: structural features and mechanisms of activation.

Transforming growth factor-beta are cytokines with a wide range of biological effects. They play a pathologic role in inflammatory and fibrosing diseases such as nephrosclerosis. TGF-beta s are secreted in a latent form due to noncovalent association with latency associated peptide (LAP), which is a homodimer formed from the propeptide region of TGF-beta. LAP is disulfide linked to another protein, latent TGF-beta binding protein (LTBP). LTBP has features in common with extracellular matrix proteins, and targets latent TGF-beta to the matrix. Activation of latent TGF-beta can be accomplished in vitro by denaturing treatments, plasmin digestion, ionizing radiation and interaction with thrombospondin. The mechanisms by which latent TGF-beta is activated physiologically are not well understood. Results to date suggest an important role for proteases, particularly plasmin, although other mechanisms probably exist. A general model of activation is proposed in which latent TGF-beta is released from the extracellular matrix by proteases, localized to cell surfaces, and activated by cell-associated plasmin.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Structure and activation of the large latent transforming growth factor-beta complex.

Most cell types express transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as a large latent TGF-beta complex that must be converted to an active form before TGF-beta can interact with cell surface TGF-beta receptors. This conversion involves the release of mature TGF-beta from the complex by disrupting noncovalent interactions between mature TGF-beta and its propeptide, latency associated peptide. A critical step in regulating TGF-beta effects may be the activation of the large latent TGF-beta complex. Activation of the complex can be achieved by chemical and enzymatic treatments, or by various cell systems. We have identified that coculturing bovine endothelial and smooth muscle cells generates active TGF-beta. Coculture activation of the large latent TGF-beta complex occurs through a plasmin-dependent mechanism that requires concentration of reactants on the cell surface and/or extracellular matrix. The mechanism of latent TGF-beta activation self-regulates through effectors of plasmin generation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

An assay for transforming growth factor-beta using cells transfected with a plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 promoter-luciferase construct.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent regulator of cellular differentiation, proliferation, migration, and protein expression. These properties have been exploited to create a variety of bioassays for detecting the mature growth factor. In this paper, we describe a highly sensitive and specific, nonradioactive quantitative bioassay for TGF-beta based on its ability to induce plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression. Mink lung epithelial cells (MLEC) were stably transfected with an expression construct containing a truncated PAI-1 promoter fused to the firefly luciferase reporter gene. Addition of TGF-beta (0.2 to > 30 pM) to the transfectants resulted in a dose-dependent increase in luciferase activity in the cell lysates. Although responsive to TGF-beta, this promoter fragment was only minimally influenced by other known inducers of PAI-1 expression. When compared to the widely used MLEC assay, this assay demonstrated greater sensitivity and specificity, allowing quantification of TGF-beta in complex biological solutions.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Control of transforming growth factor-beta activity: latency vs. activation.

Transforming growth factor-beta is a pluripotent regulator of cell growth and differentiation. The growth factor is expressed as a latent complex that must be converted to an active form before interacting with its ubiquitous high affinity receptors. This conversion involves the release of the mature growth factor through disruption of the non-covalent interactions with its pro-peptide or latency associated peptide. The mechanisms for this release in vivo have not been fully characterized but appear to be cell specific and might involve processes such as acidification or proteolysis. Although several factors including transcriptional regulation, receptor modulation and scavenging of the active growth factor have been implicated, the critical step controlling the biological effects of transforming growth factor-beta may be the activation of the latent molecule.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Inhibition of tissue plasminogen activator activity by aspirin in vivo and its relationship to levels of tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor antigen, plasminogen activator and their complexes.

The observation that aspirin inhibits the increment in tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity induced by venous occlusion of the forearm became controversial with the publication of several nonconfirmatory studies. The current study was performed to confirm the original observation and determine the mechanism by which aspirin suppresses the incremental t-PA activity induced by venous occlusion. Aspirin (650 mg/d X 2) caused no change in resting levels of t-PA antigen (t-PA:Ag) or activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 antigen (PAI-1:Ag), or activity or t-PA-PAI-1 complexes. In contrast, aspirin reduced the increments induced by venous occlusion as follows: t-PA:Ag by 45% (P = .001); t-PA activity (euglobulin lysis time, ELT) by 43% (P = .006); and t-PA activity (alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complexes, PIPC) by 41% (P = .003). The inhibition of incremental t-PA activity measured as ELT or PIPC was linearly correlated with the inhibition of incremental t-PA:Ag (respectively, r = .75, P less than .02; r = .67, P less than .05). Aspirin had no effect on the increment in PAI-1:Ag induced by venous occlusion, but similar to the effect on t-PA:Ag, aspirin induced a 51% inhibition of the increment in t-PA-PAI-1 complex formation. Aspirin did not alter the ability of alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor to bind plasmin, nor the ability of plasma to support the fibrin-catalyzed generation of plasmin by t-PA, nor the subsequent formation of PIPC. Aspirin inhibits the t-PA activity induced by venous occlusion primarily by inhibiting the release of t-PA antigen.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗