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Matrix plasminogen activator inhibitor. Modulation of the extracellular proteolytic environment.

We have previously demonstrated that plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) is associated with the extracellular matrix of cultured bovine smooth muscle cells (Knudsen, B.S., Harpel, P.C., Nachman, R.L. (1987) J. Clin. Invest. 80, 1082-1089). In this report we describe the physiologic role of PAI-1 during the interaction of the tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) secreting Bowes human melanoma cell line with endothelial extracellular matrices. In addition we have characterized the t-PA.PAI complexes formed during this interaction in the presence and absence of plasminogen. In the absence of plasminogen, a 104-kDa complex between Bowes t-PA and PAI-1 appears in the supernatant. In the presence of plasminogen, PAI initially prevents plasmin formation on the matrix and protects the matrix from degradation by plasmin. The 104-kDa t-PA.PAI complex is degraded into a 68 and a 47-kDa complex by small amounts of plasmin generated from secreted Bowes t-PA and plasminogen. Analysis of these complexes revealed that t-PA is rapidly cleaved by plasmin within the complex whereas complexed PAI-1 is not further degraded. Matrix-associated PAI-1 may play an important role in the protection of extracellular matrices from remodeling and degradation by cellular t-PA and plasminogen.

Cell Line↗

Activated protein C decreases plasminogen activator-inhibitor activity in endothelial cell-conditioned medium.

Confluent cultures of endothelial cells from human umbilical cord were used to study the effect of activated human protein C (APC) on the production of plasminogen activators, plasminogen activator-inhibitor, and factor VIII-related antigen. Addition of APC to the cells in a serum-free medium did not affect the production of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or factor VIII-related antigen; under all measured conditions, no urokinase activity was found. However, less plasminogen activator-inhibitor activity accumulated in the conditioned medium in the presence of APC. This decrease was dose dependent and could be prevented by specific anti-protein C antibodies. No decrease was observed with the zymogen protein C or with diisopropylfluorophosphate-inactivated APC. APC also decreased the t-PA inhibitor activity in endothelial cell-conditioned medium in the absence of cells, which suggests that the effect of APC is at least partly due to a direct effect of APC on the plasminogen activator-inhibitor. High concentrations of thrombin-but not of factor Xa or IXa--had a similar effect on the t-PA inhibitor activity. The effect of APC on the plasminogen activator-inhibitor provides a new mechanism by which APC may enhance fibrinolysis. The data suggest that activation of the coagulation system may lead to a secondary increase of the fibrinolytic activity by changing the balance between plasminogen activator(s) and its (their) fast-acting inhibitor.

Animals↗

Plasminogen activator system, vascular endothelial growth factor, and colorectal cancer progression.

AIMS: To plasminogen activator system (PAS) consists of the plasminogen activators (urokinase (uPA) and tissue-type (tPA) plasminogen activators), the uPA receptor (uPAR), and the plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2). Plasminogen activators activate plasminogen to plasmin, which can break down extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mitogen for endothelial cells and is involved in angiogenesis. VEGF has been shown to upregulate uPA and this may facilitate tumour angiogenesis further. METHODS: PAS components and VEGF were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in paired colorectal tumour and normal tissue (n = 50) and correlated with pathological staging. RESULTS: uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, and VEGF values were significantly higher in tumour tissue (for example, tumour uPA: median, 2.3 (range, 0.1-6.7) ng/mg protein v normal uPA: median, 0.2 (range, 0-2.6) ng/mg protein). tPA was significantly higher in normal mucosa and there was no difference in PAI-2. uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, and VEGF values significantly correlated with each other and with Dukes's staging (uPA in adenomas: median, 0.42 (range, 0.1-1.2) ng/mg protein; upA in Dukes's B tumours: median, 2.1 (range, 0.4-4.3) ng/mg protein; and uPA in Dukes's D tumours: median, 4.0 (range, 3.7-4.2) ng/mg protein) and lymphatic invasion. In addition PAI-1 also correlated with tumour size and differentiation. CONCLUSION: The involvement of the PAS and VEGF in colorectal cancer appears to be complex. uPA, uPAR, PAI-1, and VEGF were upregulated in tumour tissue and this correlated with Dukes's staging and lymphatic invasion.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Characterization of the gene for human plasminogen, a key proenzyme in the fibrinolytic system.

The organization and structure of the gene coding for plasminogen has been determined by a combination of in vitro amplification of leukocyte DNA from normal individuals and isolation of unique clones from three different human genomic libraries. These clones were characterized by restriction mapping, Southern blotting, and DNA sequencing. The gene for human plasminogen spanned about 52.5 kilobases of DNA and consisted of 19 exons separated by 18 introns. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the five kringle structures in plasminogen were coded by two exons. The nucleotides in the introns at the intron-exon boundaries were GT-AG analogous to those found in other eukaryotic genes. Three polyadenylation sites for plasminogen mRNA were also identified. When the amino acid sequences deduced from the genomic DNA and cDNAs of plasminogen were compared with that of the plasma protein determined by amino acid sequence analysis, an apparent amino acid polymorphism was observed in several positions of the polypeptide chain. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplified genomic DNAs and genomic clones also revealed that the plasminogen gene was very closely related to several other proteins, including apolipoprotein(a). This protein may have evolved via duplication and exon shuffling of the plasminogen gene. The presence of another plasminogen-related gene(s) in the human genomic library was also observed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Human prostate tumor angiogenesis in nude mice: metalloprotease and plasminogen activator activities during tumor growth and neovascularization of subcutaneously injected matrigel impregnated with human prostate tumor cells.

BACKGROUND: A critical aspect for growth of solid tumors is the development of a blood supply. Our objective was to establish a model for the study of angiogenesis of human prostate tumors by examining the growth of microvessels into Matrigel containing human prostate tumor cells implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. METHODS: Human prostate tumor cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP were injected in Matrigel under the abdominal skin of nude mice and were harvested at 4, 8, and 14 days post-injection. The growth of tumor cells and blood vessels was examined histologically and by immunohistochemical localization of von Willibrand Factor VIII (vWF). Since plasminogen activators and matrix metalloproteases are associated with angiogenesis, the activities and molecular forms of these proteases were determined in Matrigel control and Matrigel-tumor cell subcutaneous implants. RESULTS: Blood vessel formation in the Matrigel implants containing LNCaP and PC-3 cells was demonstrable at 8 days post-injection. However, the pattern of blood vessel formation by the two tumor cell lines was different; PC-3 tumors showed a more invasive phenotype and smaller diameter blood vessels, whereas LNCaP tumors grew as large cellular spheroids surrounded by large, dilated blood vessels. Many blood vessels of PC-3 tumors expressed vWF by day 14 of growth, whereas most blood vessels in LNCaP tumors were immunohistochemically negative for this antigen. Mouse skin blood vessels in the same PC-3 and LNCaP tumor histological sections were positive for vWF. Matrigel contained both plasminogen activator and metalloprotease activities. The plasminogen activator activity in Matrigel control implants was totally inhibited by 4 days post-injection, indicating the presence of an inhibitor provided by the host mouse. LNCaP tumor cells injected did not have appreciable plasminogen activator activity, nor did LNCaP tumors develop plasminogen activator activity with tumor growth post-injection. PC-3 cells did have plasminogen activator activities, which were partially negated after subcutaneous injection (4 days), but then increased again by 8 days post-injection. This increase in plasminogen activator activity was due to urokinase (about 54 kDa) produced by the tumor and not by the mouse host (mouse urine urokinase about 44 kDa). Matrigel alone demonstrated gelatinase B (about 95 kDa) activity in zymograms, and gained considerable gelatinase A (about 70 and 74 kDa) activity after subcutaneous implantation. No metalloprotease activity from the tumor cells could be distinguished over that contributed by the mouse host cells in the Matrigel. Matrigel also contains caseinolytic activities of approximately 56, 80, 85, and 89 kDa. After subcutaneous injection of Matrigel, the 89 kDa form increases considerably in activity and the others are diminished. This pattern is also observed in LNCaP and PC-3 tumors post-injection, except the PC-3 tumors demonstrate increased 56 kDa activity. CONCLUSION: The subcutaneous growth of LNCaP and PC-3 prostate tumor cells in Matrigel in nude mice can be used to study tumor-induced angiogenesis. However, the organization of LNCaP and PC-3 tumor growth and the pattern of microvessels associated with each tumor are different in this system, implying that each tumor has unique influences on the pattern of microvessel development. The mode of action by which this is brought about is not known, but may be due to specific factors produced/ released by the tumor cells.

Animals↗

Plasminogen mediates liver regeneration and angiogenesis after experimental partial hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Plasmin system components are upregulated after partial hepatectomy, but their contribution to surgery-induced hepatic angiogenesis and regeneration is unclear. Liver regeneration and angiogenesis after partial hepatectomy were examined in mice lacking plasminogen or urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA). METHODS: Mice with a single-gene deletion of plasminogen or uPA were subjected to 70 per cent partial hepatectomy. Liver regeneration was measured as relative liver weight and cell proliferation index. Angiogenesis was quantified by determining hepatic microvessel density after staining for sinusoidal endothelial cells. RESULTS: The liver remnant weight was significantly reduced in mice lacking plasminogen or uPA compared with that in wild-type mice on days 2 and 7 after partial hepatectomy. This correlated with impaired cell proliferation. In wild-type mice, regeneration was accompanied by a significant increase in microvessel density after hepatectomy; this increase was impaired in plasminogen-deficient mice. CONCLUSION: Plasminogen and uPA are essential for optimal liver regeneration. In addition, plasminogen appears to be a major determinant in regeneration-associated hepatic angiogenesis.

Animals↗

Increased tissue-type plasminogen activator activity in orthotopic but not heterotopic liver transplantation: the role of the anhepatic period.

The major cause of the increased tissue-type plasminogen activator activity during orthotopic liver transplantation is still unclear. Both the lack of hepatic clearance of tissue-type plasminogen activator in the anhepatic period and increased endothelial release from the graft on reperfusion have been proposed as the major causes. Heterotopic liver transplantation avoids the resection of the host liver and is a useful model to help differentiate between these two possibilities. In this study the fibrinolytic system was evaluated in 10 orthotopic liver transplantations, 18 heterotopic liver transplantations and a control group of 10 partial hepatic resections. A marked increment in tissue-type plasminogen activator activity, from 0.2 to 5.2 IU/ml (p less than 0.02), was observed during the anhepatic period of orthotopic liver transplantation, which rapidly normalized after reperfusion. In contrast, tissue-type plasminogen activator activity levels remained normal in heterotopic liver transplantation and partial hepatic resections. In orthotopic liver transplantation and in heterotopic liver transplantation no increase occurred in tissue-type plasminogen activator activity after reperfusion. The first venous hepatic outflow after reperfusion did not contain elevated tissue-type plasminogen activator activity levels. Plasma degradation products of fibrin and fibrinogen increased during the anhepatic period of orthotopic liver transplantation (from 2.60 to 8.80 micrograms/ml [p less than 0.008] and from 0.40 to 1.60 micrograms/ml [p less than 0.04], respectively) and remained elevated thereafter. In heterotopic liver transplantation and partial hepatic resections these levels remained low. In conclusion, the lack of hepatic clearance during the anhepatic period is probably the most important factor in the evolution of increased tissue-type plasminogen activator activity during orthotopic liver transplantation.

Blood Transfusion↗

Post-transcriptional stabilization of urokinase plasminogen activator mRNA by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in a human keratinocyte cell line.

The actions of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a potent rodent carcinogen and suspected human carcinogen, are mediated by the Ah receptor, a ligand-activated transcription factor. Genes altered by TCDD at the transcriptional level in the transformed human keratinocyte cell line SCC-12F include cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), CYP1B1, transforming growth factor-beta 2, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2). Plasminogen activators are serine proteases involved in a number of cell processes, including migration, proliferation, growth factor activation, and tumorigenesis. In this study we investigated the effect of TCDD on other members of the plasminogen activator family. We report that in addition to the transcriptional induction of PAI-2, treatment of SCC-12F cells with 10 nM TCDD also resulted in an increase in urokinase-plasminogen activator (u-PA) mRNA. Induction of u-PA mRNA was maximal by 12 hr and remained approximately twofold above control levels for the 48-hr assay period. Transcription of u-PA was not altered by TCDD as determined by nuclear runoff analysis. Instead, induction of u-PA occurred as a result of a stabilization of the u-PA mRNA following TCDD treatment. Tissue-plasminogen activator and PAI-1 expression were not altered by TCDD. Thus, TCDD acts through different mechanisms in SCC-12F cells to induce both a plasminogen activator and a specific inhibitor of plasminogen activation. These results, together with our earlier results showing an induction of TGF-alpha by TCDD as a result of a stabilization of the TGF-alpha mRNA, demonstrate the importance of both transcriptional and post-transcriptional events in the regulation of gene expression by TCDD.

Cells, Cultured↗

Dexamethasone-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor: characterization, purification, and preparation of monoclonal antibodies.

The effects of dexamethasone on protein synthesis were studied in human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) cells. Dexamethasone induced a new protein of 46 kD which was rapidly secreted into the medium, while neither progesterone nor estradiol would induce the synthesis of this protein and only a small increase in its amount could be seen in the presence of testosterone. The 46 kD protein was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration and mouse monoclonal antibodies to it were produced in mouse hybrid cells. Altogether 13 positive clones were found, of which six reacted only with native and seven reacted with the unreduced 46 kD protein in Western blotting. It was possible by using polyclonal antibodies to plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1) and purified plasminogen activator inhibitor type I to confirm that the 46 kD protein purified and characterized here was PAI-1. In addition, the 46 kD protein clearly inhibited plasminogen activation, thus further confirming that protein isolated was an inhibitor of plasminogen activator. Since the induction of PAI-1 by dexamethasone was very extensive, it is possible that glucocorticoids regulate proteolysis and fibrinolysis in vivo by increasing the amount of the inhibitor of plasminogen activator and thus preventing the activation of plasminogen to plasmin. The reduction of activation of plasminogen to plasmin by glucocorticoid-induced inhibitor could be of great importance, e.g., in various blistering diseases, in metastases from malignant cells, and in the migration of inflammatory cells.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

alpha 2-Antiplasmin and plasminogen activator inhibitors in healing human skin wounds.

Mechanical injury of tissues is followed by the formation of a provisional fibrin matrix, which is later replaced by granulation tissue. The fibrinolytic proteinase, plasmin, is thought to contribute to the displacement of the primary matrix. Plasmin is generated from the ubiquitous proenzyme plasminogen by plasminogen activators. The system of plasminogen activation is controlled at several levels: plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) counteract the activity of plasminogen activators and alpha 2-antiplasmin inhibits the activity of plasmin. In order to elucidate the mechanisms that regulate the plasminogen activator system in healing human skin wounds, we performed the immunohistological study reported here. The plasmin inhibitor alpha 2-antiplasmin and PAI-2 were found in the primary fibrin-rich matrix and in the granulation tissue. alpha 2-Antiplasmin was diffusely distributed in the tissue and its distribution correlated with the presence and localization of plasmin(ogen) except that, in contrast to plasmin(ogen), the alpha 2-antiplasmin was apparently not cell-associated. The stainings for PAI-2 increased with time and paralleled the development of the cellular infiltrate. PAI-2 was found in association with cells, which were identified by double immunofluorescence stainings as monocytes/macrophages and fibroblasts. In line with the immunohistological data, polymerase chain reaction after reverse transcription revealed mRNA for PAI-2 in healing human skin wounds. Taken together, our findings indicate that in healing human skin wounds, PAI-2 is the primary regulator of plasminogen activators, whereas alpha 2-antiplasmin may serve to control plasmin activity.

Base Sequence↗

Effect of antisense oligonucleotide to annexin II on the t-PA-mediated plasminogen activation in vitro.

In order to study the role of annexin II, a recombinant expression vector, pZeoSV2(+) ANN II, containing the annexin II cDNA, was developed. The 1.1-kb-length annexin II cDNA was inserted into a expression vector, PZeoSV(+) and transfected into HL-60 cells which had low baseline expression of Ann- II. pZeoSV(+) ANN II was analyzed by restriction mapping and the Ann- II sequence identified. The ability of the transfected cells, non-transfected and mock-transfected cells to stimulate t-PA-depend plasminogen activation was compared. The results showed that HL-60 with pZeoSV(+) ANN II transfection could significantly increase the plasminogen activation (8.9 +/- 1.2 U) in vitro with the difference being significant as compared with non-transfected (1.5 +/- 0.4 U) and mock-transfected cells (4.2 +/- 0.9 U), respectively. Antiannexin II oligonucleotides significantly inhibited the binding ability of t-PA and plasminogen to annexin II, and obviously reduced the plasminogen activation in vitro. The above findings showed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with sense or missense oligonucleotides indicated no significant change in binding of t-PA and PLG. Treatment of HUVECs with antiannexin II oligonucleotides could significantly reduce the plasminogen activation by 2.4 +/- 0.3 U as compared with sense oligonucleotide group in binding of t-PA and PLG. These results, therefore, suggest that Ann- II can bind plasminogen and participate in the stimulation of t-PA-dependent activation of plasminogen, and that interference with Ann-II mRNA by antisense oligonucleotide may be a new strategy for the therapy of bleeding in patients with hyperfibrinolysis.

Annexin A2↗

Euglobulin clot lysis induced by tissue-type plasminogen activator is reduced in subjects with increased levels of lipoprotein (a).

Several reports have evaluated the in vitro effect of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels on the fibrinolytic system, suggesting that high Lp(a) levels may inhibit fibrinolysis by competing for plasminogen binding in different systems. We have studied plasminogen activation induced by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), as well as other fibrinolytic parameters, in 25 subjects with Lp(a) levels greater than 30 mg/dl and the results were compared with those found in 23 subjects with Lp(a) less than 30 mg/dl. Both groups were similar in age, sex distribution, living habits and lipid pattern. Plasminogen activation, when measured by t-PA-induced euglobulin clot lysis, was significantly decreased in the group with elevated Lp(a) levels (lysis time, 16.7 +/- 3.3 min) compared with the group with low Lp(a) levels (11.8 +/- 2.0 min), although 8 of the 25 subjects with high Lp(a) levels showed plasminogen activation within the range of the control group. A positive significant correlation between Lp(a) levels and t-PA-induced euglobulin clot lysis time was found. No statistical differences were demonstrated between groups for the other fibrinolytic parameters studied. Addition of purified Lp(a) to the euglobulin fraction or to plasma resulted in a decrease in euglobulin clot lysis. The present study shows that t-PA induced plasminogen activation is decreased in individuals with high circulating levels of Lp(a) supporting the hypothesis that Lp(a) may interfere with the physiological functions of plasminogen.

Adult↗

Characterization of a plasminogen activator secreted by cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells.

A plasminogen activator was purified from the serum-free conditioned medium of bovine aortic endothelial cell cultures by chromatography on zinc chelate-agarose and benzamidine-CH-Sepharose. The final material consisted of a main fibrinolytically active component with Mr 30,000 and a minor component with Mr 41,000. It was obtained with a yield of 60%, a purification factor of 35 and a purity of 25-50%. The activity of this plasminogen activator was completely neutralized by antibodies to human urokinase but not by antibodies against human tissue plasminogen activator. Purified tissue plasminogen activator from bovine heart, however, was completely neutralized by antibodies against human tissue plasminogen activator but unaffected by antibodies to human urokinase. These findings indicate that bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture secrete mainly a urokinase-like. These findings indicate that bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture secrete mainly a urokinase-like plasminogen activator, and not a tissue-type plasminogen activator as was generally assumed.

Animals↗

Inhibition of a plasminogen activator from oncogenic virus-transformed mouse cells by rabbit antibodies against the enzyme.

Antisera were raised in rabbits against an electrophoretically pure 48 000 dalton plasminogen activator from mouse cells transformed by an oncogenic virus. The IgG fraction of the antisera inhibited 48 000 dalton mouse plasminogen activators from a variety of sources (neoplastic and nonneoplastic), a 29 00) dalton plasminogen activator from mouse urine and a 48 000 dalton plasminogen activator from rat urine. No inhibition was observed of a 75 000 dalton plasminogen activator extracted from mouse lung, of mouse plasmin or of plasminogen activators from human urine and from oncogenic-virus transformed chicken cells. The IgG antibodies were stronger and more specific inhibitors of the 48 000 dalton mouse plasminogen activator than any previously tested compounds.

Animals↗

Immobilized urokinase column as part of a specific detection system for plasminogen species separated by high-performance affinity chromatography.

Immobilized urokinase was used as part of a post-column reactor for the specific detection of human plasminogen species which were fractionated using a high-performance affinity column. After on-line activation of each peak, plasmin activity was measured by mixing the eluate with a specific fluorogenic substrate and the product was detected by a fluorescence monitor. This detection system gave linear calibration graphs for both purified plasminogens (0.1-50 micrograms) and plasminogens contained in plasma (25-100 microliters). Relative standard deviations for the determination of plasminogens in plasma were 6.1-6.6% (n = 12), showing good reproducibility. The detection limit was as low as 0.1 micrograms of plasminogen. Immobilized urokinase was very stable and no appreciable decrease in activity was found after 100 cycles of operation. In combination with an immobilized benzamidine column, this system made it possible to separate and detect Glu-plasminogen and Lys-plasminogen contained in human plasma samples as small as 100 microliters without any pretreatment.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

"Plasminogen steal" and clot lysis.

Although initially developed to reduce the risk of bleeding, second-generation (clot-selective) thrombolytic agents have been found to induce more prompt and frequent recanalization than do nonselective, first-generation agents. To determine whether they do so in part by preserving clot-associated plasminogen, human whole blood clots formed in Chandler tubes were studied. Addition of suprapharmacologic concentrations of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) to the media bathing mature clots led to a paradoxic impairment of clot lysis and a concomitant concentration-dependent depletion of clot-associated plasminogen (Western blot analysis). In contrast, supplementation of the plasma with plasminogen (0.27 mg/ml) led to significant conservation of both plasma and clot-associated plasminogen (p less than or equal to 0.05, n = 4), and prevented the diminution of clot lysis (p less than or equal to 0.05; n = 4). Fibrinogen degradation products did not account for the attenuation of lysis with the highest concentrations of rt-PA. In concentrations equivalent to those that were induced by the highest concentrations of rt-PA evaluated, fibrinogen degradation products potentiated rather than inhibited lysis (p less than or equal to 0.05, n = 4), probably by stimulating rt-PA activity directly. When preformed clots were incubated with plasminogen-depleted plasma plus 1,000 ng/ml rt-PA, the plasminogen content in residual clot declined (9.36 +/- 0.46 versus 12.39 +/- 0.69 ng/mg clot found in nondepleted plasma; p less than or equal to 0.05; n = 6). Furthermore, clot lysis was attenuated completely.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Coagulation↗

Gangliosides interact directly with plasminogen and urokinase and may mediate binding of these fibrinolytic components to cells.

Receptors for the fibrinolytic molecules plasminogen and urokinase are expressed at high capacity on a wide variety of peripheral blood cells and transformed cell lines. We have considered whether gangliosides, components of the outer leaflets of cell membranes, may modulate the interactions of these fibrinolytic ligands with cells. Radiolabeled plasminogen and urokinase bound directly to insolubilized gangliosides. The interactions were saturable and were 50% inhibited by 2.2 microM unlabeled plasminogen or 12 nM unlabeled urokinase, respectively. A panel of gangliosides inhibited binding of both ligands to U937 monocytoid cells, and the order of decreasing inhibitory effectiveness was GD1a greater than GM1 greater than GT1b greater than GM2, while GM3 was minimally effective. The individual components of gangliosides, hexoses, hexosamines, sialic acid, GM1 pentasaccharide, ceramides, and glucocerebrosides were ineffective in in inhibiting the binding of plasminogen and urokinase either to cells or to insolubilized gangliosides. Binding of both ligands to endothelial cells and granulocytes and binding of plasminogen to platelets were also inhibited by gangliosides. U937 cells were cultured with gangliosides to allow incorporation of these glycolipids into the cell membranes. After 3 days of culture, both urokinase binding and plasminogen binding to the cells became enhanced. These results suggest that gangliosides can directly bind to these fibrinolytic components and may mediate or modulate the interactions of plasminogen and urokinase with a variety of cell types.

Carbohydrates↗

Tetranectin binds hepatocyte growth factor and tissue-type plasminogen activator.

In the search for new ligands for the plasminogen kringle 4 binding-protein tetranectin, it has been found by ligand blot analysis and ELISA that tetranectin specifically bound to the plasminogen-like hepatocyte growth factor and tissue-type plasminogen activator. The dissociation constants of these complexes were found to be within the same order of magnitude as the one for the plasminogen-tetranectin complex. The study also revealed that tetranectin did not interact with the kindred proteins: macrophage-stimulating protein, urokinase-type plasminogen activator and prothrombin. In order to examine the function of tetranectin, a kinetic analysis of the tPA-catalysed plasminogen activation was performed. The kinetic parameters of the tetranectin-stimulated enhancement of tPA were comparable to fibrinogen fragments, which are so far the best inducer of tPA-catalysed plasminogen activation. The enhanced activation was suggested to be caused by tetranectin's ability to bind and accumulate tPA in an active conformation.

Animals↗