Absence Of TPA Research Articles

Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator and the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein Mediate Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway Activation

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine proteinase found in the intravascular space and the central nervous system. The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) is a member of the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene family found in neurons and astrocytes. Cerebral ischemia induces activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway. The present study investigated the role that the interaction between tPA and LRP plays on middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced NF-kappaB-mediated inflammatory response. We found that MCAO increased LRP expression primarily in astrocytes and that this effect was significantly decreased in the absence of tPA. The onset of the ischemic insult induced activation of the NF-kappaB pathway in wild-type and plasminogen (Plg(-/-))-deficient mice, and this effect was attenuated after inhibition of LRP or genetic deficiency of tPA. Moreover, administration of tPA to tPA(-/-) mice resulted in activation of the NF-kappaB pathway comparable with that observed in wild-type and Plg(-/-) mice. We also report that inhibition of either tPA activity or LRP or genetic deficiency of tPA resulted in a significant decrease in MCAO-induced nitric oxide production and inducible nitric-oxide synthase expression. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that after MCAO the interaction between tPA and LRP results in NF-kappaB activation in astrocytes and induction of inducible nitric-oxide synthase expression in the ischemic tissue, suggesting a cytokine-like plasminogen-independent role for tPA during cerebral ischemia.

Two Synergistic Activation Mechanisms of α2β1 Integrin-mediated Collagen Binding

Activation of protein kinase C by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induces ligand-independent aggregation of a cell surface collagen receptor, alpha2beta1 integrin. Concomitantly, TPA increases the avidity of alpha2beta1 for collagen and the number of conformationally activated alpha2beta1 integrins. The structural change was shown using a monoclonal antibody 12F1 that recognizes the "open" (active) conformation of the inserted domain in the alpha2 subunit (alpha2I). Amino acid residue Glu-336 in alpha2 subunit is proposed to mediate the interaction between alpha2I domain and beta1 subunit. Glu-336 seems to regulate a switch between open and "closed" conformations, since the mutation alpha2E336A inhibited the TPA-related increase in the number of 12F1 positive integrins. E336A also reduced cell adhesion to collagen. However, E336A did not prevent the TPA-related increase in adhesion to collagen or alpha2beta1 aggregation. Thus, alpha2beta1 integrin avidity is regulated by two synergistic mechanisms, first an alpha2E336-dependent switch to the open alpha2I conformation, and second an alpha2E336-independent mechanism temporally associated with receptor aggregation.

Curcumin Suppresses AP1 Transcription Factor-dependent Differentiation and Activates Apoptosis in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes

The diet-derived cancer preventive agent, curcumin, inhibits skin cancer cell proliferation and tumor formation. However, its effect on normal human keratinocyte differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis has not been adequately studied. Involucrin (hINV) is a marker of keratinocyte differentiation and a useful model for the study of chemopreventive agent action. We show that curcumin suppresses the differentiation agent-dependent activation of hINV gene expression and that an AP1 transcription factor DNA binding site in the hINV gene is required for this regulation. A protein kinase C, Ras, MEKK1, MEK3 signaling cascade controls hINV expression by regulating AP1 factor level. Curcumin treatment inhibits the novel protein kinase C-, Ras-, and MEKK1-dependent activation of hINV promoter activity and reduces the differentiation agent-dependent increase in AP1 factor level and DNA binding. This reduction requires proteasome function. In addition, curcumin treatment reduces cell number, which is associated with a reduced cyclin and cdk1 levels. Curcumin treatment also suppresses the Bcl-xL level, leading to reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased cleavage of procaspases and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. These studies provide important insights regarding the mechanism whereby curcumin acts as a chemopreventive agent in normal human epidermis.

Is exogenous tissue plasminogen activator necessary for antithrombotic efficacy of an inhibitor of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in rats?

Introduction TAFI indirectly reduces the action of tPA on plasminogen. Whether exogenous tPA is necessary for TAFI inhibitor efficacy is unclear. Potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI), a TAFI inhibitor, has shown variable tPA dependence in rat models of arteriovenous shunt thrombosis (required) and microthrombosis (not required). This study was designed to further explore the importance of exogenous tPA in revealing PCI activity in rat models of venous and arterial thrombosis and provoked bleeding. Methods PCI was given as a bolus (5, 10 mg/kg) ± infusion (5, 10 mg/kg/h) and with or without low dose tPA (5, 10, 25 μg/kg/min). In each instance tPA was adjusted to produce subthreshold thrombus reduction. Arterial thrombosis was induced by FeCl 2; venous thrombosis by tissue factor or FeCl 2. Bleeding was induced by kidney incision with PCI given (5 mg + 5 mg/kg/h) in the presence or absence of tPA (10, 150, 200 μg/kg/min). Results PCI was ineffective without exogenous tPA in all tested thrombosis models. With exogenous tPA, PCI decreased thrombus weight 85% in tissue factor thrombosis, 59% in FeCl 2 thrombosis, and 46% in arterial thrombosis. PCI prolonged bleeding only when combined with a relatively high tPA dose (200 μg/kg/min) that increased bleeding alone. Conclusions If the current results predict clinical efficacy, the need for exogenous tPA in combination with TAFI inhibition is a potential problem. However, in acute settings where intravenous fibrinolytics are administered, or indications in which tPA production increases, TAFI inhibitors may prove to be safe and moderately effective profibrinolytic agents.

Recombinant Factor VIIa Combined with Plasma Factor XIII Stabilize Clot Formation and Increase Clot Stability in Whole Blood from Patients with Severe Hemophilia A.

Patients with severe hemophlia A and inhibitors suffer from significantly compromised clot formation as well as reduced clot stability. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa - NovoSeven®, Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) has proven safe and efficacious for securing haemostasis in hemophilia patients with inhibitors. Recently, it was proposed that the reduced thrombin generation in severe haemophilia hinders sufficient activation of factor XIII and thereby result in insufficient covalent lateralization of fibrin (Blood 2005; 106: 11, Abstract 321). The present study aimed at exploring the effect of rFVIIa and rFVIIa + plasma-derived FXIII (Haematological Technologies Inc) on whole blood clot (WB) formation and WB clot stability in severe hemophilia A. In total, 14 patients with a verified FVIII:C < 0.01 IU/ml were enrolled. Ex vivo studies were performed with rFVIIa (2 μg/ml), rFVIIa+FXIII (2+10 μg/ml), and a buffer control. Dynamic WB coagulation profiles describing initiation (clotting time=CT[sec]), propagation (maximum velocity=MaxVel [mm*100/sec]) and clot strength (maximum clot firmness=MCF[mm*100]) were recorded using thrombelastography and activation with a minute amount of tissue factor (TF, Innovin, final dilution 1:50000). WB clot stability was evaluated using a reaction mixture containing TF and tPA (1nM), followed by evaluation of the MCF and the total area under the elasticity curve after 120 min analysis time (AUEC[mm*100*sec]). Data are presented as mean and Wilcoxon statistical results. In the absence of tPA, Both rFVIIa+FXIII and rFVIIa significantly shortened the CT (Buffer=1424, rFVIIa+FXIII=739 (p=0.010), rFVIIa=881, (p=0.0005)) and accelerated WB MaxVel (Buffer=3.8, rFVIIa+FXIII=10.5 (p=0.0001), rFVIIa=9.2, (p=0.0002)). The standard deviation (SD) of the CT was significant lower in WB spiked with rFVIIa+FXIII than rFVIIa (Buffer SD=697, rFVIIa+FXIII SD=289 vs rFVIIa SD=655, p=0.007). In the absence of tPA, rFVIIa+FXIII increased the MCF significantly more than rFVIIa (Buffer=4441, rFVIIa+FXIII=6414 vs rFVIIa=5943, p=0.04) and the SD of the MCF was significant lower in WB spiked with rFVIIa+FXIII than rFVIIa (Buffer SD=2174, rFVIIa+FXIII SD=331 vs rFVIIa SD=948, p=0.0006). In the presence of tPA, rFVIIa+FXIII induced higher clot strength and stability than rFVIIa alone (MCF: Buffer=1313, rFVIIa+FXIII=3295 vs rFVIIa=3023, p=0.10 (N.S.); AUEC: Buffer=3.8*106, rFVIIa+FXIII=12.8*106 vs rFVIIa=10.2*106, p=0.0269). In conclusion, both rFVIIa (2μg/mL) and FXIII (10 μg/ml) added to rFVIIa (2 μg/ml), significantly increased WB clot formation and stability in this ex vivo evaluation of the clotting potential of WB from patients with severe hemophilia A.

Apigenin Inhibition of Involucrin Gene Expression Is Associated with a Specific Reduction in Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase Cδ Tyr311

Apigenin is a plant-derived flavanoid that has significant promise as a skin cancer chemopreventive agent. In the present study, we examine the mechanism whereby apigenin regulates normal human keratinocyte differentiation. Expression of involucrin (hINV), a marker of keratinocyte differentiation, is increased by differentiating agents via a protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), Ras, MEKK1, MEK3 cascade that increases AP1 factor level and AP1 factor binding to DNA elements in the hINV promoter. We show that apigenin inhibits this response. Apigenin suppresses the 12-O-tetradeconylphorbol-13-acetate-dependent increase in AP1 factor expression and binding to the hINV promoter and the increase in hINV promoter activity. Apigenin also inhibits the increase in promoter activity observed following overexpression of PKCdelta, constitutively active Ras, or MEKK1. The suppression of PKCdelta activity is associated with reduced phosphorylation of PKCdelta-Y311. The physiological importance of this phosphorylation event was confirmed by showing that the PKCdelta phosphorylation-defective mutant, PKCdelta-Y311F, is less able to increase hINV promoter activity. Activation of hINV promoter activity by the green tea polyphenol, (-)-epigellocathecin-3-gallate, is also inhibited by apigenin, suggesting that the two chemopreventive agents can produce opposing actions in keratinocytes. Additional studies show that the apigenin-dependent suppression of differentiation is associated with reduced cell proliferation but that there is no evidence of apoptosis.

Insulin-like Growth Factor-binding Protein-5 Activates Plasminogen by Interaction with Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Independently of Its Ability to Bind to Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Insulin-like Growth Factor-I, or Heparin

Transgenic mice expressing IGFBP-5 in the mammary gland exhibit increased cell death and plasmin generation. Because IGFBP-5 has been reported to bind to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), we determined the effects of this interaction in HC11 cells. PAI-1 prevented plasmin generation from plasminogen and inhibited cleavage of focal adhesions, expression of caspase 3, and cell death. IGFBP-5 could in turn prevent the effects of PAI-1. IGFBP-5 mutants with reduced affinity for IGF-I (N-term) or deficient in heparin binding (HEP- and C-term E and F) were also effective. This was surprising because IGFBP-5 reportedly interacts with PAI-1 via its heparin-binding domain. Biosensor analysis confirmed that, although wild-type IGFBP-5 and N-term both bound to PAI-1, the C-term E had greatly decreased interaction with PAI-1. This suggests that IGFBP-5 does not antagonize the actions of PAI-1 by a direct molecular interaction. In a cell-free system, using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) to activate plasminogen, PAI-1 inhibited plasmin generation induced by both activators, whereas IGFBP-5 prevented the effects of PAI-1 on tPA but not uPA. Furthermore, we noted that IGFBP-5 activated plasminogen to a greater extent than could be explained solely by inhibition of PAI-1, suggesting that IGFBP-5 could directly activate tPA. Indeed, IGFBP-5 and the C-term E and F were all able to enhance the activity of tPA but not uPA. These data demonstrate that IGFBP-5 can enhance the activity of tPA and that this can result in cell death induced by cleavage of focal adhesions. Thus IGFBP-5 can induce cell death by both sequestering IGF-I and enhancing plasmin generation.

Evidence for disrupted NMDA receptor function in tissue plasminogen activator knockout mice

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a serine protease immediate-early gene product expressed in brain areas important in learning and memory, has been shown to cleave the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor leading to a potentiated Ca 2+ influx. Mice lacking tPA (tPA−/− mice) have disrupted late phase-LTP in the hippocampus, possibly as a consequence of reduced Ca 2+ flux through NMDA receptors. In the present experiments, we investigated whether the NMDA antagonist dizocilpine might alter performance in tPA−/− mice in behavioural tasks shown to be sensitive to hippocampal lesions. tPA−/− mice and wild-type controls (WT) showed similar rates of acquisition and performance of a spatial working memory task (eight-arm radial maze). Dizocilpine (0.03–0.3 mg/kg, i.p.), given acutely, disrupted performance by increasing the number of errors equally across both genotypes. At asymptotic performance of a differential reinforcement of low response rate operant task (DRL), acute dizocilpine (0.03–0.3 mg/kg) impaired performance, but no differences between genotypes were observed. However, dizocilpine (0.1 mg/kg), given repeatedly during acquisition of a signalled-DRL15′′ task, retarded acquisition in tPA−/− but not WT mice. This treatment regime had no effect on locomotor activity in either genotype. tPA−/− mice showed no spatial learning deficits, but were more sensitive to dizocilpine during acquisition (though not expression) of a DRL task. This supports a role for tPA in modification of the NMDA receptor, although absence of tPA does not have consequences for all forms of NMDA-dependent mediated learning.

Failure of thrombus to resolve in urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene-knockout mice: rescue by normal bone marrow-derived cells.

Monocytes may have an important role in the resolution of venous thrombosis. Increased expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is associated with an ingress of monocytes into the thrombus. This study was designed to evaluate the importance of these activators in thrombus resolution. Inferior caval vein thrombosis was induced in cohorts of adult wild-type, uPA gene-knockout (uPA-/-), and tPA gene-knockout (tPA-/-) mice in a flow model. Thrombi were harvested from wild-type and uPA-/- mice (n=60 per group) between 1 and 60 days. Thrombi were also obtained from groups of wild-type and tPA-/- mice (n=24 per group) between 1 and 28 days. Thrombus size and macrophage content were measured by computer-assisted image analysis. Thrombus resolution was significantly impaired in the uPA-/- mice compared with wild-type controls (P<0.0001) but was unaffected in tPA-/- mice. Monocyte content in wild-type mice was highest at 14 days after thrombus induction and was approximately 4 times greater than in uPA-/- mice (P=0.0043). Thrombus size in uPA-/- mice transplanted with wild-type marrow (0.29+/-0.06 mm2) was significantly smaller than in uPA-/- mice given uPA-/- bone marrow (3.9+/-1.1 mm2) (P=0.0022). Donor bone marrow-derived cells expressing LacZ were present in the thrombus after transplantation. The resolution of experimental venous thrombus is dependent on uPA but is unaffected by the absence of tPA. Absence of uPA is also associated with delayed monocyte recruitment into the thrombus. Transplanting wild-type bone marrow restores thrombus resolution in uPA-/- animals, suggesting an important role for bone marrow-derived cells in this process.

Effects of the spin trap agent disodium- [tert-butylimino)methyl]benzene-1,3-disulfonate N-oxide (generic NXY-059) on intracerebral hemorrhage in a rabbit Large clot embolic stroke model: combination studies with tissue plasminogen activator.

It has been proposed that the novel spin trap agent disodium-[(tert-butylimino)methyl]benzene-1,3-disulfonate N-oxide (NXY-059) may be useful in the treatment of ischemia and stroke. To date, there is little information concerning the safety of NXY-059 when administered in combination with the only Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacological agent for the treatment of stroke, the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Thus, we determined the effects of NXY-059G, a generic form of NXY-059, on hemorrhage and infarct rate and volume when administered alone or in combination with tPA. In addition, we determined whether NXY-059G affected 2 physiological variables, blood glucose levels and body temperature. Male New Zealand White rabbits were embolized by injecting a large blood clot into the middle cerebral artery via a catheter. Five minutes after embolization, NXY-059G (100 mg/kg) was infused intravenously; control rabbits received infusions of saline, the vehicle required to solubilize NXY-059G. In tPA studies, the thrombolytic was administered intravenously starting 60 minutes after embolization (20% bolus injection/80% infusion over 30 minutes). Body temperature and blood glucose levels were measured throughout the study. Postmortem analysis included assessment of hemorrhage and infarct rate, size, and location. In the vehicle control group, the hemorrhage rate after a thromboembolic stroke was 52% (n=23), and this was increased by 67% if tPA was administered (n=15). The rabbits treated with NXY-059G in the absence of tPA had a 79% incidence of hemorrhage (n=19), an increase of 52% over the control group. In the combination drug-treated groups, the NXY-059G/tPA group had a 47% incidence of hemorrhage (n=15). There was a decrease of hemorrhage volume in the NXY-059G+tPA group compared with the other 3 groups included in the study. There was no significant effect of NXY-059G either alone or in combination with tPA on infarct rate or volume. NXY-059G did not significantly alter the physiological variables that were measured. This study suggests that NXY-059G may affect the integrity of the cerebral vasculature when administered immediately after an embolic stroke, as evidenced by an increase in hemorrhage rate. However, when NXY-059G is administered in combination with tPA, it may improve the safety of tPA by reducing the incidence of tPA-induced hemorrhage. The mechanism(s) involved in the NXY-059G-induced increase in hemorrhage rate and reduction of tPA-induced hemorrhage rate remains to be elucidated.

Phorbol Ester Activation of a Proteolytic Cascade Capable of Activating Latent Transforming Growth Factor-β: A PROCESS INITIATED BY THE EXOCYTOSIS OF CATHEPSIN B

12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) suppresses the proliferation of the human breast epithelial cell line MCF10A-Neo by initiating proteolytic processes that activate latent transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in the serum used to supplement culture medium. Within 1 h of treatment, cultures accumulated an extracellular activity capable of cleaving a substrate for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). This activity was inhibited by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 or antibodies to uPA but not tPA. Pro-uPA activation was preceded by dramatic changes in lysosome trafficking and the extracellular appearance of cathepsin B and beta-hexosaminidase but not cathepsins D or L. Co-treatment of cultures with the cathepsin B inhibitors CA-074 or Z-FA-FMK suppressed the cytostatic effects of TPA and activation of pro-uPA. In the absence of TPA, exogenously added cathepsin B activated pro-uPA and suppressed MCF10A-Neo proliferation. The cytostatic effects of both TPA and cathepsin B were suppressed in cells cultured in medium depleted of plasminogen/plasmin or supplemented with neutralizing TGF-beta antibody. Pretreatment with cycloheximide did not suppress the exocytosis of cathepsin B or the activation of pro-uPA. Hence, TPA activates signaling processes that trigger the exocytosis of a subpopulation of lysosomes/endosomes containing cathepsin B. Subsequently, extracellular cathepsin B initiates a proteolytic cascade involving uPA, plasminogen, and plasmin that activates serum-derived latent TGF-beta.

An Intermediate State of the Triphenylamine Cation Radical Revealed Using an Electron-Transfer Stopped-Flow Method

Using an electron-transfer stopped-flow method, the triphenylamine cation radical (TPA. + ) was generated in acetonitrile via the electron transfer between TPA and the tris(p-bromophenyl) amine cation radical (TBPA. + ), and the changes in the absorption spectra were observed. The well-known decay process of TA. + was observed in the absence of TPA, reflecting the dimerization reaction of TPA. + and the consecutive electron-transfer reactions of the dimer compound, tetraphenylbenzidine (TPB). When TBPA. + was mixed with a large excess amount of TPA, new absorption peaks appeared around 400 and 850 nm. No time changes were observed for these peaks, while the decrease in TPA. + and the increase in TPB. were observed overlapping on these peaks. The new absorption spectrum can be assigned to that of(TPA) 2 . + , or, more presumably, (TPA) n + . Although (TPA) n + has not been recognized as an intermediate in the electrochemical oxidation of TPA, it has been ascertained that (TPA) n + is electrochemically generated under certain conditions, e.g., during the initial stage of the oxidation of TPA in a stirred solution containing a sufficient amount of TPA.

Pharmacological effects of the spin trap agents N-t-butyl-phenylnitrone (PBN) and 2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) in a rabbit thromboembolic stroke model: combination studies with the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator.

It has been proposed that spin trap agents such as N:-t-butyl-phenylnitrone (PBN) may be useful as neuroprotective agents in the treatment of ischemia and stroke. However, to date, there is little information concerning the effectiveness of spin trap agents when administered in combination with the only Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacological agent for the treatment of stroke, the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Thus, we determined the effects of PBN when administered before tPA on hemorrhage and infarct rate and volume. We also compared the effects of PBN with those of 2,2,6, 6-tetramethylpiperidine-N:-oxyl (TEMPO), another spin trap agent that has a different chemical structure and trapping profile, on the incidence of infarcts and hemorrhage. One hundred sixty-five male New Zealand White rabbits were embolized by injecting a blood clot into the middle cerebral artery via a catheter. Five minutes after embolization, PBN or TEMPO (100 mg/kg) was infused intravenously. Control rabbits received saline, the vehicle required to solubilize the spin traps. In tPA studies, rabbits were given intravenous tPA starting 60 minutes after embolization. Postmortem analysis included assessment of hemorrhage, infarct size and location, and clot lysis. In the control group, the hemorrhage rate after a thromboembolic stroke was 24%. The amount of hemorrhage was significantly increased to 77% if the thrombolytic tPA was administered. The rabbits treated with PBN in the absence of tPA had a 91% incidence of hemorrhage compared with 33% for the TEMPO-treated group. In the combination drug-treated groups, the PBN/tPA group had a 44% incidence of hemorrhage, and the TEMPO/tPA group had a 42% incidence of hemorrhage. tPA, PBN/tPA, and TEMPO/tPA were similarly effective at lysing clots (49%, 44%, and 33%, respectively) compared with the 5% rate of lysis in the control group. There was no significant effect of drug combinations on the rate or volume of infarcts. This study suggests that certain spin trap agents may have deleterious effects when administered after an embolic stroke. However, spin trap agents such as PBN or TEMPO, when administered in combination with tPA, may improve the safety of tPA by reducing the incidence of tPA-induced hemorrhage. Overall, the therapeutic benefit of spin trap agents for the treatment of ischemic stroke requires additional scrutiny before they can be considered "safe" therapeutics.

Importance of Protein Kinase C Targeting for the Phosphorylation of Its Substrate, Myristoylated Alanine-rich C-kinase Substrate

We visualized the translocation of myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) in living Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells using MARCKS tagged to green fluorescent protein (MARCKS-GFP). MARCKS-GFP was rapidly translocated from the plasma membrane to the cytoplasm after the treatment with phorbol ester, which translocates protein kinase C (PKC) to the plasma membrane. In contrast, PKC activation by hydrogen peroxide, which was not accompanied by PKC translocation, did not alter the intracellular localization of MARCKS-GFP. Non-myristoylated mutant of MARCKS-GFP was distributed throughout the cytoplasm, including the nucleoplasm, and was not translocated by phorbol ester or by hydrogen peroxide. Phosphorylation of wild-type MARCKS-GFP was observed in cells treated with phorbol ester but not with hydrogen peroxide, whereas non-myristoylated mutant of MARCKS-GFP was phosphorylated in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide but not with phorbol ester. Phosphorylation of both MARCKS-GFPs reduced the amount of F-actin. These findings revealed that PKC targeting to the plasma membrane is required for the phosphorylation of membrane-associated MARCKS and that a mutant MARCKS existing in the cytoplasm can be phosphorylated by PKC activated in the cytoplasm without translocation but not by PKC targeted to the membrane.

Tissue plasminogen activator-mediated fibrinolysis protects against axonal degeneration and demyelination after sciatic nerve injury.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease that converts plasminogen to plasmin and can trigger the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. In the nervous system, under noninflammatory conditions, tPA contributes to excitotoxic neuronal death, probably through degradation of laminin. To evaluate the contribution of extracellular proteolysis in inflammatory neuronal degeneration, we performed sciatic nerve injury in mice. Proteolytic activity was increased in the nerve after injury, and this activity was primarily because of Schwann cell-produced tPA. To identify whether tPA release after nerve damage played a beneficial or deleterious role, we crushed the sciatic nerve of mice deficient for tPA. Axonal demyelination was exacerbated in the absence of tPA or plasminogen, indicating that tPA has a protective role in nerve injury, and that this protective effect is due to its proteolytic action on plasminogen. Axonal damage was correlated with increased fibrin(ogen) deposition, suggesting that this protein might play a role in neuronal injury. Consistent with this idea, the increased axonal degeneration phenotype in tPA- or plasminogen-deficient mice was ameliorated by genetic or pharmacological depletion of fibrinogen, identifying fibrin as the plasmin substrate in the nervous system under inflammatory axonal damage. This study shows that fibrin deposition exacerbates axonal injury, and that induction of an extracellular proteolytic cascade is a beneficial response of the tissue to remove fibrin. tPA/plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis may be a widespread protective mechanism in neuroinflammatory pathologies.

β-Carotene Fails to Act as a Tumor Promoter, Induces RAR Expression, and Prevents Carcinoma Formation in a Two-Stage Model of Skin Carcinogenesis in Male Sencar Mice

Clinical trials have shown a significant increase in incidence of lung cancer among smokers and asbestos workers supplemented with β-carotene, suggesting a tumor- promoting activity for this agent. We set out to test possible tumor-promoting and chemopreventive activities of dietary and topical β-carotene in the two-stage 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) model of mouse skin carcinogenesis. In the first study, the effects of three levels of dietary β-carotene (6, 60, and 600 μg/g purified diet containing no other retinoid or carotenoid) were assessed over a period of 42 weeks. Carcinoma yield was reduced by ∼50% in the 600 μg/g diet group (mean 0.22 carcinomas/mouse) compared with the 6 μg/g diet group (mean 0.44 carcinomas/mouse, p = 0.003). The 60 μg/g diet group showed a pattern of inhibition similar to the 600 μg/g diet group. A protective effect (25% reduction) of β-carotene (in the 600 μg/g diet group) on papilloma formation was also found. However, the intermediate 60 μg/g diet group showed the same incidence as the low 6 μg/g diet group. This points to a lack of correlation between papilloma and carcinoma incidence, as we also found in previous work on dietary retinoids and carotenoids. The purpose of the second study was to assess whether topical β-carotene (2 μg) has tumor-promoting or chemopreventive activity in the two-stage protocol. In the absence of TPA, β-carotene had no significant tumor-promoting activity. Instead, papilloma yield induced by TPA was decreased by topical β-carotene from an average of 20 to ∼10 papillomas/mouse (p = 2.5 ×10-7). The effect of topical β-carotene persisted beyond the treatment period (Week 24) until the termination of the study at Week 42. Western blot analysis of mouse skin extracts showed that topical β-carotene upregulated retinoic acid receptor-α and -γ expression in the dorsal skin. This finding suggests that β-carotene may work as a chemopreventive agent by upregulating the expression of retinoid receptors in mouse skin. In conclusion, our data show that β-carotene prevents skin carcinoma formation, induces retinoic acid receptor expression, and fails to act as a tumor promoter in the two-stage model of skin tumorigenesis.

A Regulated Interaction between α5β1 Integrin and Osteopontin

The extracellular matrix protein osteopontin (OPN) interacts with a number of integrins, namely αvβ1, αvβ3, αvβ5, α9β1, α8β1, and α4β1. We have investigated the interaction of α5β1 integrin with OPN using K562 cells, which only express α5β1. α5β1 is in a low activation state in this cell line, but can be stimulated to a higher activation state by the phorbol ester TPA. Treating K562 wild-type cells (K562-WT) with TPA stimulated an interaction between α5β1 and OPN. No interaction was seen in the absence of TPA. α5β1 selectively interacted with a GST fusion protein of the N-terminal fragment of OPN (aa17–168), which is generated in vivo by thrombin cleavage of OPN. Expression of the α4 integrin in K562 cells (K562-α4β1) stimulated α5β1-dependent binding to aa17–168 in the absence of TPA, suggesting that α4β1 activates α5β1 in K562 cells. Adhesion via α5β1 is mediated by the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif of OPN, as mutating this sequence to Arg-Ala-Asp (RAD) blocked binding of both cell types. These data demonstrate that thrombin cleavage regulates the adhesive properties of OPN and that α5β1 integrin can interact with thrombin-cleaved osteopontin when in a high activation state.

Function of the plasminogen/plasmin and matrix metalloproteinase systems after vascular injury in mice with targeted inactivation of fibrinolytic system genes.

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system, which may be activated via the plasminogen (Plg)/plasmin system, is claimed to play a role in matrix degradation and smooth muscle cell migration. To test the role of both systems, expression of fibrinolytic and gelatinolytic activity was quantified after vascular injury in mice with targeted inactivation of tissue-type Plg activator (tPA-/-), urokinase-type Plg activator (uPA-/-), or Plg (Plg-/-). Neointima formation 1 week after vascular injury was impaired in uPA-/- and Plg-/- mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice or tPA-/- mice (reduction of neointimal area to 30% and 10% of WT, respectively). Cell accumulation at the borders of the injury was significantly (P<0.01) impaired compared with that in WT mice. One week after injury of the femoral artery, tPA-mediated fibrinolytic activity in arterial sections or extracts of WT, uPA-/-, or Plg-/- mice was not altered, whereas uPA activity levels in tPA-/- and Plg-/- mice were 2- to 3-fold higher than in uninjured controls. Total levels (latent plus active) of MMP-2 (gelatinase A) were increased by 2- to 4-fold, whereas the contribution of active MMP-2 represented 38% to 63% of the total in the different genotypes. MMP-9 (gelatinase B) was not detectable in the majority of control arteries, whereas total MMP-9 levels after injury were dramatically increased (up to 50-fold above the detection limit). Active MMP-9 represented 20% to 46% of total MMP-9 in WT, tPA-/-, and uPA-/- mice but was not consistently detectable in Plg-/- mice. Similar results were obtained in carotid arteries. Thus, the unaltered ratios of active and latent MMP-2 suggest that proMMP-2 activation may occur in the absence of tPA, uPA, or Plg, whereas no active MMP-9 was detected in the absence of Plg. The data of this study confirm a role for uPA and Plg but not for tPA in smooth muscle cell migration and neointima formation after vascular injury and indicate that impairment of these phenomena may occur despite the observed increases in MMP-2 or MMP-9 levels after vascular injury.

Removal of tissue plasminogen activator does not protect against neuronal degeneration in the cerebellum of the weaver mouse

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine protease that has been shown to be involved in neuronal degeneration. Recently, elevated cerebellar tPA has been reported in a naturally occurring mutant mouse, weaver. Weaver mice suffer extensive degeneration of cerebellar granular neurons during development, leading to severe malformation of the cerebellum as well as abnormal behavior (ataxia). The observations that the developing weaver cerebellum displays a 10-fold increase in tPA activity over wild-type and that a serine protease inhibitor was able to rescue weaver granule cells from premature death in culture suggested that tPA might mediate the death of these mutant neurons. We tested this possibility by introducing the weaver mutation into tPA-deficient mice and comparing the weaver phenotype in the presence or absence of tPA. Analysis at 28 days after birth indicates that tPA-deficient weaver mice are indistinguishable from tPA-containing weaver mice in behavior, cerebellar anatomy, histology, and laminin expression (also reported to be increased in weaver). These results suggest that removal of tPA activity from weaver mice does not protect against neuronal degeneration in the cerebellum and, thus, tPA does not appear to mediate this form of cell death.

Phorbol Ester-Induced Sensitisation of Adenylyl Cyclase Type II Is Related to Phosphorylation of Threonine 1057

Following up the results from previous studies on chemical fragmentation of TPA-treated, [32P]phosphate labeled adenylyl cyclase type II (AC II) (Böl, G. F., Hülster, A., and Pfeuffer, T. in press) we have replaced serine 871 or threonine 1057 by alanine using site directed mutagenesis. Both mutants had unimpaired catalytic activity, however enhancement by phorbolester TPA was reduced by 60–80 % in the T1057A mutant, but not in the S871A mutant. The stimulation of adenylyl cyclase type II by βγ subunits of heterotrimeric G-pro teins and that by PKC have been previously shown to be mutually exclusive (Zimmermann and Taussig (1996), J. Biol. Chem.271,27161-27166). This is in line with the present findings that AC II expressed in COS-1 cells was only barely stimulated (10%) by coexpressed βγ-subunits in presence of TPA. Mutation of threonine 1057 to alanine however caused partial regain of βγ-stimulation in the presence of TPA by 40%, as compared to that of WT adenylyl cyclase type II which was 70% in the absence of TPA. These data strongly implicate the importance of threonine 1057 as phosphate acceptor following PKC-mediated sensitisation of adenylyl cyclase type II.