Biomedical subjects

J Henkin

Publications and source records attributed to J Henkin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

gp330 on type II pneumocytes mediates endocytosis leading to degradation of pro-urokinase, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and urokinase-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex.

Glycoprotein 330 (gp330) is a member of a family of receptors related to the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Although several ligands have been shown to bind gp330 in solid-phase assays, the ability of gp330 to mediate ligand endocytosis has not been demonstrated. To develop a cellular model for gp330 function we screened a variety of cultured cell lines and identified several that expressed this protein, including immortalized rat type II pneumocytes and a human and two rodent tumor cell lines. Using type II pneumocytes, endocytosis of a previously described gp330 ligand, urokinase (uPA) complexed with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (uPA:PAI-1) and two new ligands, PAI-1 and pro-uPA, was demonstrated. RAP, the 39 kDa receptor-associated protein known to antagonize ligand binding to gp330 in solid-phase binding assays, completely inhibited both internalization and degradation of the radiolabeled ligands by type II pneumocytes. This suggested that the clearance of these ligands was dependent on either gp330 or the LDLR-related protein (LRP), which shares several ligand-binding characteristics with gp330. By using polyclonal antibodies to gp330, the cellular internalization and degradation of the ligands were inhibited by 30-50%; remaining ligand internalization and degradation activity could be partially inhibited by polyclonal antibodies against LRP. These findings indicate that gp330, like other LDLR family members, mediates endocytosis of its ligands. In addition, gp330 acts in concert with LRP in type II pneumocytes to mediate clearance of a variety of proteins involved in plasminogen activation, including uPA:PAI-1 complexes PAI-1 and pro-uPA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Solution structure of the amino-terminal fragment of urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

The amino-terminal fragment (ATF) of urokinase-type plasminogen activator is a two domain protein which consists of a growth factor and a kringle domain. The 1H, 13C, and 15N chemical shifts of this protein have been assigned using heteronuclear two- and three-dimensional NMR experiments on selective and uniformly 15N- and 15N/13C-labeled protein isolated from mammalian cells that overexpress the protein. The chemical shift assignments were used to interpret the NOE data which resulted in a total of 1299 NOE restraints. The NOE restraints were used along with 27 phi angle restraints and 21 hydrogen-bonding restraints to produce 15 low energy structures. The individual domains in the structures are highly converged, but the two domains are structurally independent. The root mean square deviations (rmsd) between residues 11-46 in the growth factor domain and the mean atomic coordinates were 0.99 +/- 0.2 for backbone heavy atoms and 1.65 +/- 0.2 for all non-hydrogen atoms. For residues 55-130 in the kringle domain, the rmsd was 0.84 +/- 0.2 for backbone heavy atoms and 1.42 +/- 0.2 for all non-hydrogen atoms. The overall structures of the individual domains are very similar to the structures of homologous proteins. However, important structural differences between the growth factor and other homologous proteins were observed in the region which has been implicated in binding the urokinase receptor which may explain, in part, why other growth factors show no appreciable affinity for the urokinase receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1994

Thermal stability of low molecular weight urokinase during heat treatment. II. Effect of polymeric additives.

Turbidimetric or light scattering assays can be used to determine the extent of aggregation in protein formulations. Using low molecular weight urokinase (LMW-UK) as a model protein, the effect of polymeric additives on heat-induced aggregation was evaluated. Previous work has shown that under 60 degrees C heat treatment, LMW-UK initially denatures and the unfolded protein associates to form soluble aggregates. Eventually, these aggregates associate to form a precipitate. The effects of polymers on the initial aggregation phase was examined. Hydroxyethyl (heta) starch, polyethylene glycol 4000, and gelatin were found to be effective, concentration-dependent inhibitors of aggregation, whereas polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyethylene glycol 300 were ineffective. Overall, the effect of polymeric additives on the stability of thermally-stressed LMW-UK can be accounted for by preferential exclusion of the solute from the surface of the protein.

Enzyme Stability↗

PubMed1994

Partial reversal of established bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by rh-urokinase in a rat model.

Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin. By 30 d post-bleomycin, the lungs exhibited elevated interstitial collagen levels. Thirty d after exposure to bleomycin, animals were further treated by intratracheal administration of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 12,500 units of recombinant human urokinase (rh-UK). Three days later, the animals were sacrificed and the lungs fixed, sectioned, and assessed for fibrosis. The presence of interstitial collagen was quantitated using a BioQuant Image Analysis System (R and M Biometrics, Inc., Nashville, TN). Urokinase treatment of animals with established pulmonary fibrosis induced by exposure to 0.5 units of bleomycin was found to diminish the collagen content of lungs to near control levels by 3 d post-UK treatment. By 36 d post-UK treatment (66 d post-bleomycin), values for interstitial collagen were again partially elevated, indicating that UK treatment interfered with established fibrosis but did not stop the bleomycin-mediated process. However, the extent of fibrosis was less than that observed in lungs from non-UK treated animals 66 d post-bleomycin. UK treatment initiated 63 d post-bleomycin exposure again revealed a decline in the extent of fibrosis, but the values did not return to baseline levels. A repeat of the short-term experiment with a higher dose of bleomycin (0.85 units) again revealed that UK treatment was effective in diminishing the extent of fibrosis from 22% to 12% collagen. These results indicate that exogenous UK may be an effective therapeutic modality in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis induced by some stimuli or developing in association with diseases such as scleroderma.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Urokinase inhibits HL-60 cell proliferation in vitro.

The binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) to its receptor (u-PA-R) is required for morphological and functional maturation during monocyte differentiation of the promyelocytic leukaemia line HL-60. This paper reports that monocyte differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D2 (vitamin D2) results in a marked increase in expression of u-PA and u-PA-R. This increase in u-PA expression is of greater magnitude than is observed after culture with interferon-gamma (IFN gamma), another potent inducer of monocytic differentiation. Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), an agent that induces granulocytic differentiation, also increased expression of u-PA. However, culture with the granulocyte-inducing all-trans retinoic acid (RA) did not induce an increase in surface expression of u-PA or u-PA-R. The vitamin D2-induced increase in cell-surface u-PA was not coincident with an increase in steady-state levels of u-PA mRNA, suggesting that intracellular stores of this protein, translational or post-translational mechanisms of regulation, or some other regulatory mechanism may be responsible for the increase in u-PA during differentiation. To ascertain an association between the increased expression of cell-surface u-PA and reduced proliferation that accompanies differentiation, the effect of u-PA on cellular proliferation of HL-60 cells was measured. Both pro-u-PA (whole molecule) and fragments of u-PA that retained receptor-binding capability caused a marked inhibition of HL-60 proliferation in the absence of vitamin D2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Autoreceptors↗

PubMed1993

Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor mediates cellular uptake of pro-urokinase.

The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein/alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor (LRP) is a large cell surface receptor consisting of a 515-kDa heavy chain and an 85-kDa light chain proteolytically derived from a 600-kDa precursor. Previous work has shown that LRP is responsible for mediating the internalization of urinary-type plasminogen activator (uPA) complexed to plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1) (Nykjaer et al., 1992; Herz et al., 1992). The current study indicates that pro-urokinase (pro-uPA) and two chain urokinase (tc-uPA) bind directly to purified LRP, and that LRP mediates their internalization and degradation in Hep G2 cells. In vitro binding assays demonstrated that pro-uPA and tc-uPA bind to purified LRP with affinities (Kd = 45 and 60 nM, respectively) that are approximately 15 to 20-fold weaker than the affinity of uPA.PAI-1 complex for LRP (Kd = 3 nM). Competitive binding experiments revealed that pro-uPA and tc-uPA completely inhibit binding of uPA.PAI-1 complexes to purified LRP. The binding of 125I-pro-uPA to LRP is blocked by the 39-kDa receptor-associated protein, but not by an amino-terminal fragment of uPA, which is known to block binding of uPA to the urokinase receptor. 125I-Pro-uPA can be internalized and degraded by Hep G2 cells independent of PAI-1. Both the internalization and degradation are completely blocked by receptor-associated protein or affinity-purified LRP antibodies, indicating that LRP is mediating this process. These processes are also blocked by the amino-terminal fragment, which suggests that the favored pathway for uPA metabolism is initial binding to the urokinase receptor, followed by ligand transfer to LRP, then internalization leading to degradation.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed1993

Nerve growth factor-gamma activates soluble and receptor-bound single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

Nerve growth factor-gamma (NGF-gamma) is a serine proteinase which reversibly associates with the well characterized neurotrophin NGF-beta. In this study, we demonstrated that NGF-gamma cleaves recombinant single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA), converting the zymogen into a two-chain form (tcu-PA). The apparent masses of the two u-PA chains were 33 and 22 kDa, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). There was no evidence for secondary cleavage sites or further digestion of tcu-PA by NGF-gamma, even when conversion of scu-PA was complete. The NH2-terminal sequence of the 33-kDa band was Ile-Ile-Gly-Gly-Glu, indicating that NGF-gamma cleaved scu-PA at Lys158-Ile159, the plasmin cleavage site. Cleavage of scu-PA by NGF-gamma resulted in scu-PA activation. The kcat and Km for this reaction, as determined in a continuous assay with the tcu-PA-specific substrate L-pyroglutamyl-glycyl-arginine-p-nitroanilide hydrochloride (S-2444), were (4.1 +/- 0.6) x 10(-2) s-1 and 2.3 +/- 0.4 microM, respectively. The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) for scu-PA activation by NGF-gamma was 1.3 x 10(4) M-1 s-1, compared with 6.2 x 10(5) M-1 s-1 for the activation of scu-PA by plasmin. NGF-gamma-cleaved scu-PA which was bound to receptors on U937 monocytoid cells. The apparent masses of the resulting u-PA cleavage products were identical to those generated in solution as determined by SDS-PAGE. Cell-associated scu-PA was activated by NGF-gamma, as determined by the generation of activity against the tcu-PA-specific fluorogenic substrate, glutamyl-glycyl-arginine-7-amino-4-methyl coumarin. By activating scu-PA, NGF-gamma may initiate the u-PA-dependent cell-surface proteinase cascade and support NGF-beta activities which involve cellular migration and/or extracellular matrix remodeling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression in squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

We undertook a study to determine the role and regulation of expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. The contribution of urokinase to the invasive process was clearly demonstrated in experiments in which in vitro invasion by a cultured squamous-cell carcinoma cell line was substantially reduced by a monoclonal antibody directed at the catalytic site of urokinase. The conditioned medium from 2 invasive cell lines contained high levels of urokinase. Examination of resected tumors for urokinase revealed (a) localization of the antigen to the tumor cells and (b) higher levels of the plasminogen activator in tumor tissue than in adjacent non-malignant tissue. These results suggested that elevated expression of urokinase is a common feature of this malignancy. The mRNA half-lives of cell lines expressing high and low levels of urokinase were similar, indicating that elevated levels of mRNA for the plasminogen activator were not a consequence of a more stable transcript. No evidence of u-PA gene amplification was obtained by Southern blotting of DNA derived from the cell lines expressing high urokinase levels. Transfection of squamous-cell carcinoma cells, which express high levels of urokinase, with a construct bearing the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene driven by the full-length (2345 bp) urokinase promoter indicated activation of the urokinase promoter in trans. In conclusion, our results suggest that transcriptional activation of the urokinase gene, in squamous-cell carcinomas of the oral cavity, leads to elevated levels of urokinase mRNA/protein which, in turn, can promote the invasive phenotype.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1993

Recombinant pro-urokinase requires heparin for optimal clot lysis and restoration of blood flow in a canine femoral artery thrombosis model.

Heparin is often used as an adjunct to thrombolytic therapy in order to prevent reocclusion of the patent vessels in patients with thrombotic disease. Controversy exists as to whether heparin is required for effective clot lysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator, while in vitro data and small scale clinical trials have suggested an enhancement of pro-urokinase efficacy by heparin. The present study was conducted to determine whether heparin pre-treatment is required to produce optimal clot lysis and blood flow restoration in response to recombinant pro-urokinase (r-proUK). In four groups of dogs, blood clots labelled with 125Iodine were formed in the femoral artery and were monitored continuously for loss of counts as an indicator of clot lysis. Femoral artery blood flow was measured simultaneously. Group 1 received vehicle (n = 5), while group 2 was given vehicle + heparin (n = 6; 500 U bolus + 350 U/h). This dose of heparin increased the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) by at least 1.5 times the control level for the 4 h observation period. Group 3 received r-proUK alone at a dose of 100,000 U/kg (50% given as a 1-min bolus injection, 50% as a 30 min infusion) (n = 8), while group 4 was treated with the same dose of r-proUK in the presence of heparin as described (n = 8).2

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Characterization of the activation of pro-urokinase by thermolysin.

The bacterial metalloproteinase thermolysin catalyzes the efficient activation of pro-urokinase to an active high-molecular-weight form of the protein. Thermolysin and plasmin convert pro-urokinase to enzymes of essentially equal activities in amidolytic assays, but with different molecular structures. The B-chains of the proteins produced by thermolysin and plasmin are of the same size (33 kDa) and have the same amino-terminal sequences, demonstrating that the cleavage of the Lys158-Ile159 bond of pro-urokinase is catalyzed by both enzymes. However, thermolysin also reacts at additional sites in the growth factor domain of the A-chain at nearly the same rate as that of the activation reaction. Polypeptides derived from hydrolyses of the Glu3-Leu4, Tyr24-Phe25, Asn27-Ile28 and Lys36-Phe37 bonds are recovered after reduction of the activated protein. The carboxy-terminus of the A-chain has been shown to be Arg-156, a consequence of proteolysis of the Arg156-Phe157 bond. In contrast to plasmin, thermolysin activates thrombin-inactivated pro-urokinase nearly as rapidly as it does the native zymogen. Thermolysin provides a useful alternative to plasmin for the catalytic activation and analysis of pro-urokinase, since the bacterial metalloproteinase is stable in solution and not susceptible to inhibition by aprotinin and other serine proteinase inhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Comparative localization of receptors for plasmin and for urokinase on MCF 7 cells.

The receptor for plasmin and the receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator were characterized on MCF 7 cells either independently or simultaneously, using fluorescence microscopy and confocal microscopy. The plasmin receptor was visualized, as previously described by Correc et al. (Int. J. Cancer 50, 767, 1992) using biotinylated plasminogen and fluoresceinated streptavidin. The urokinase receptor was revealed by both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies reacting specifically with this receptor and by binding of urokinase aminoterminal fragment. On unfixed cells, these methods gave the same heterogeneous patterns of surface staining, consisting of contours and grains, localized mainly at the upper nonadherent face of the tumor cells by confocal microscopy. Only a part of the cells was stained. When both receptors were characterized together, their presence was found on the same cells and they gave almost superimposable patterns in many cases, as shown by confocal microscopy. In contrast, when MCF 7 cells were fixed or permeabilized before staining, quite different patterns were observed: almost all the cells were labeled. The staining was mainly cytoplasmic and localized preferentially in the center and close to the upper face of the cells. Similar results were found with antiserum against urokinase receptor and monoclonal antivinculin antibody. It is likely that the receptor for urokinase and the receptor for plasmin have similar localizations on MCF 7 cells, thus resulting in a functional cooperation.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMed1993

Exogenous rh-urokinase modifies inflammation and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a rat chronic pulmonary infection model.

The effect of recombinant human urokinase (rh-UK) in a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pulmonary infection was studied. Efficacy was assessed by lung histology and quantitative bacteriology. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received 1 x 10(4) or 1 x 10(5) P. aeruginosa encapsulated in agar beads via the intratracheal route on day 1. Intratracheal administration of up to 12,500 units of rh-UK on day 21 led to a dose-dependent disappearance of viable organisms from the lungs by day 24 in rats receiving 10(4) organisms. In slightly longer term infections (30 days), rh-UK was still effective in facilitating the disappearance of the organisms from the lungs of most of the treated animals. rh-UK was effective in eliminating organisms when animals were infected with 10(4), but not 10(5) bacteria. In vitro analysis revealed that rh-UK was not directly toxic for the organisms. Histologically, lungs from short-term infected control animals exhibited acute inflammation, inflammatory cell infiltrates, and fibrin deposition. Histology of lungs from UK-treated, short-term infected rats revealed decreased airway inflammation and cellular infiltration compared with infected controls. Lungs from infected animals treated with 12,500 units of rh-UK were histologically indistinguishable from the lungs of uninfected control animals, except for the foreign body reaction. These results indicate that exogenous rh-UK may be efficacious in the treatment of pulmonary inflammation accompanying exposure to Gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Expression of urokinase and its receptor in invasive and non-invasive prostate cancer cell lines.

We previously reported that extracellular matrix invasion by the prostate cancer cell lines, PC-3 and DU-145 was contingent on endogenous urokinase being bound to a specific cell surface receptor. The present study was undertaken to characterize the expression of both urokinase and its receptor in the non-invasive LNCaP and the invasive PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cells. Northern blotting indicated that the invasive PC-3 cells, which secreted 10 times more urokinase (680 ng/ml per 10(6) cells per 48 h) than DU-145 cells (63 ng/ml per 10(6) cells per 48 h), had the most abundant transcript for the plasminogen activator. This, at least, partly reflected a 3 fold amplification of the urokinase gene in the PC-3 cells. In contrast, urokinase-specific transcript could not be detected in the non-invasive LNCaP cells previously characterized as being negative for urokinase protein. Southern blotting indicated that this was not a consequence of deletion of the urokinase gene. Crosslinking of radiolabelled aminoterminal fragment of urokinase to the cell surface indicated the presence of a 51 kDa receptor in extracts of the invasive PC-3 and DU-145 cells but not in extracts of the non-invasive LNCaP cells. The amount of binding protein correlated well with binding capacities calculated by Scatchard analysis. In contrast, the steady state level of urokinase receptor transcript was a poor predictor of receptor display. PC-3 cells, which were equipped with 25,000 receptors per cell had 2.5 fold more steady state transcript than DU-145 cells which displayed 93,000 binding sites per cell.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1992

The influence of glycosylation on the catalytic and fibrinolytic properties of pro-urokinase.

We previously found that human pro-UK expressed in Escherichia coli is more active in fibrinolysis than recombinant human pro-UK obtained from mammalian cell culture media. To determine whether this difference is related to the lack of glycosylation of the E. coli product, we compared the activity of E. coli-derived pro-UK [(-)pro-UK] with that of a glycosylated pro-UK [(+)pro-UK] and of a mutant of pro-UK missing the glycosylation site at Asn-302 [(-)(302)pro-UK]. The latter two pro-UKs were obtained by expression of the human gene in a mammalian cell. The nonglycosylated pro-UKs were activated by plasmin more efficiently (approximately 2-fold) and were more active in clot lysis (1.5-fold) than the (+)pro-UK. Similarly, the nonglycosylated two-chain derivatives (UKs) were more active against plasminogen and were more rapidly inactivated by plasma inhibitors than the (+)UK. These findings indicate that glycosylation at Asn-302 influences the activity of pro-UK/UK and could be the major factor responsible for the enhanced activity of E. coli-derived pro-UK.

Catalysis↗

PubMed1992

Decreased urokinase receptor expression by overexpression of the plasminogen activator in a colon cancer cell line.

There is now ample evidence that the proteolytic action of urokinase (UK) is potentiated by a specific cell surface receptor. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of UK as a modulator of its binding site. GEO colonic cells, which secrete low levels of UK (approximately 2.5 ng/ml per 72 h per 10(6) cells) and display approx. 10(4) receptors per cell, the majority of which are vacant, were transfected with an exogenous UK gene driven by the RSV long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter (pRSVUK). Several UK-overexpressing pRSVUK clones were identified by an e.l.i.s.a., Northern blotting and Southern blotting, and analysed for receptor numbers after an acid pretreatment which dissociates receptor-bound UK. pRSVUK GEO clones, expressing high levels of UK, consistently bound 50-75% less radioactive di-isopropylfluorophosphate (DFP)-UK than clones harbouring the selectable marker gene neo only or control GEO cells. Cross-linking experiments with a radioactive N-terminal fragment of UK which binds to the receptor showed a decreased amount of a binding protein of approx. 51 kDa in representative pRSVUK-transfected cells. Saturation and Scatchard analysis indicated that this reduction in radioligand binding reflected a 40-70% decrease in the number of UK receptors, rather than a change in the dissociation constant. The reduction in receptor display could be accounted for by a decrease in the amount of steady-state mRNA encoding the receptor. Radioactive DFP-UK binding to pRSVUK GEO clones, which display two-thirds less receptors than their neo counterparts, could be restored to control levels (untreated cells harbouring neo) by cultivating them in the presence of an antibody which inhibits the interaction of UK with its receptor. These data suggest that for one colonic cell line at least, UK reduces the expression of its own binding site via an autocrine stimulation of its cell surface receptor.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1992

Structural requirements for the growth factor activity of the amino-terminal domain of urokinase.

High molecular weight urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in which proteolytic activity was inactivated (diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP)-uPA), its amino-terminal fragment (ATF, amino acids (aa) 1-143), and fucosylated and defucosylated growth factor domains (GFD, aa 4-43) were tested for growth-promoting effects and binding in human SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells and U-937 lymphoma cells. DFP-uPA, ATF, and both the fucosylated and defucosylated GFD were capable of competing with 125I-ATF for binding to both SaOS-2 and U-937 cells. DFP-uPA, ATF, and fucosylated GFD were also mitogenic in SaOS-2 cells and increased cell numbers. However, defucosylated GFD was nonmitogenic in SaOS-2 cells and did not stimulate cell proliferation, even though it bound to these cells in a manner equivalent to the fucosylated GFD. A nonglycosylated high molecular weight uPA expressed and purified from Escherichia coli inhibited 125I-ATF binding to SaOS-2 cells but was also nonmitogenic. No mitogenic activity was observed in U-937 cells treated with the uPA forms capable of eliciting a mitogenic response in SaOS-2 cells. Proteolytically prepared kringle domain (aa 47-135) and low molecular weight uPA (aa 144-411) did not compete for 125I-ATF binding and did not elicit any mitogenic response in either of the cell lines tested. In addition, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which has been shown to be homologous to uPA in its growth factor domain and is also fucosylated, did not inhibit 125I-ATF binding nor elicit any mitogenic response. These results demonstrate that the GFD, implicated in binding to the uPA receptor, is also responsible for growth factor like activity in SaOS-2 cells and that the fucosylation at Thr18 within this domain may serve as a molecular trigger in eliciting this response.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed1992

Characterization of urokinase receptor expression by human placental trophoblasts.

The processes of implantation and placentation are both dependent on the invasion and remodeling of the uterine endometrium and vasculature by trophoblasts. Because the secretion and autocrine binding of urokinase (uPA) appears to be a common mechanism used by cells to facilitate plasmin-dependent tissue invasion, we measured the production of uPA and expression of uPA receptors by trophoblasts. Prourokinase bound specifically, reversibly, and with high affinity to cultured trophoblasts, via the uPA epidermal growth factor-like domain. Trophoblasts derived from two first-trimester placentae bound more prourokinase than cells isolated from term placentae. Furthermore, in vitro differentiation of cultured cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts was associated with diminished expression of urokinase receptors and a parallel decrease in the cellular content of uPA receptor mRNA. Trophoblasts also secreted prourokinase and plasminogen activator inhibitors types 1 and 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). Although prourokinase was secreted in amounts sufficient to endogenously saturate trophoblast uPA receptors, trophoblasts secreted greater amounts of PAI-1 and PAI-2 than uPA, and no net plasminogen activator activity was detected in trophoblast conditioned medium. In contrast, plasminogen added directly to cultured trophoblasts was readily converted to plasmin. Although the invasion and remodeling of uterine tissues by trophoblasts is a complex process dependent on several proteases of varying specificity, our findings suggest that the expression and modulation of urokinase receptors on the trophoblast cell surface may play an important role in this process.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1992

Domain structure and interactions of recombinant urokinase-type plasminogen activator.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a mosaic glycoprotein composed of an epidermal growth factor-like (EGF), a kringle and a serine protease (SP) module. It exists in single and two-chain forms designated HMW pro-uPA and HMW uPA, respectively. A low molecular weight form, LMW uPA, lacks the EGF and kringle modules and is composed of the SP module alone. Recombinant-expressed proteins representing both HMW forms exhibit four reversible unfolding transitions that are resolved by deconvolution of melting curves obtained by differential scanning calorimetry at pH 4.5; no differences in the melting properties of the single and two-chain forms were found. The proteolytic fragment Ser1-Lys135 (EGF-kringle) exhibits two transitions, while the isolated EGF and kringle modules each exhibit a single two-state transition. Thus, both of these modules retain an independently folded compact structure when isolated. The isolated SP module (LMW uPA) exhibits two closely spaced transitions at low pH indicating the melting of two domains of similar stability. Fluorescence-detected melting curves of LMW uPA reveal increasing cooperativity with increasing pH, suggesting an increase in the interaction between the two SP domains. Treatment of both HMW and LMW uPA with the tripeptide inhibitor Glu-Gly-Arg-chloromethylketone dramatically increased the stability of both domains of the SP module which now melt together in a single two-state transition, even at low pH, with no effect on the EGF and kringle modules. From these data one concludes that UK consists of four independently folded domains. Two are formed by the EGF and kringle modules which do not interact with each other or with the SP module. The SP module contains two domains that are independent at low pH but exhibit a tendency to merge into a single cooperative unit at neutral pH or after treatment with the tripeptide inhibitor.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones↗