Secretion Of Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator Research Articles

Bioevaluation of Pheretima vulgaris Antithrombotic Extract, PvQ, and Isolation, Identification of Six Novel PvQ-Derived Fibrinolytic Proteases.

Thrombosis is a disease that seriously endangers human health, with a high rate of mortality and disability. However, current treatments with thrombolytic drugs (such as recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator) and the oral anticoagulants (such as dabigatran and rivaroxaban) are reported to have a tendency of major or life-threatening bleeding, such as intracranial hemorrhage or massive gastrointestinal bleed with non-specific antidotes. In contrast, lumbrokinase is very specific to fibrin as a substrate and does not cause excessive bleeding. It can dissolve the fibrin by itself or convert plasminogen to plasmin by inducing endogenous t-PA activity to dissolve fibrin clots. Therefore, searching for potentially new therapeutic molecules from earthworms is significant. In this study, we first collected a strong fibrinolytic extract (PvQ) from the total protein of the Pheretima vulgaris with AKTA pure protein purification systems; its fibrinolytic bioactivity was verified by the fibrin plate assay and zebrafish thrombotic model of vascular damage. Furthermore, according to the cell culture model of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the PvQ was proven to exhibit the ability to promote the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), which further illustrated that it has an indirect thrombolytic effect. Subsequently, extensive chromatographic techniques were applied to reveal the material basis of the extract. Fortunately, six novel earthworm fibrinolytic enzymes were obtained from the PvQ, and the primary sequences of those functional proteins were determined by LC-MS/MStranscriptome cross-identification and the Edman degradation assay. The secondary structures of these six fibrinolytic enzymes were determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy and the three-dimensional structures of these proteases were predicted by MODELLER 9.23 based on multi-template modelling. In addition, those six genes encoding blood clot-dissolving proteins were cloned from P. vulgaris by RT-PCR amplification, which further determined the accuracy of proteins primary sequences identifications and laid the foundation for subsequent heterologous expression.

Can laser therapy modify the secretion of the tissue-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in an endothelial cell culture under hyperglycemia?

Introduction : The effect of low-level laser therapy on the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) in an endothelial cell (EC) culture under hyperglycemia is the subject of the presented work. Hyperglycemia associated with diabetes causes vascular EC dysfunction. Low-level laser therapy is a good method to support the pharmacological treatment of diabetes complications. Materials and methods : We used lasers of 2 wavelengths: 635 nm and 830 nm with dose of 2 J/cm2. The experiment was performed in vitro in 4 groups of EC: 1 – no glucose in culture medium, no irradiation (control), 2 – glucose, no irradiation, 3 – glucose, laser 635 nm, 4 – glucose, laser 830 nm. After 2 irradiations, cells were counted and the t-PA and PAI-1 antigen (Ag) concentration in the supernatant was measured. Results : In group 2, we observed a statistically significant lower number of cells (p < 0.0001) and a higher concentration of t-PA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. However, in groups 3 and 4, the number of cells increased and the concentration of t-PA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag decreased compared to group 2 and nearly reached the values in the control group. Conclusions : Hyperglycemia affects the fibrinolytic activity of ECs which is manifested by a significant increase in t-PA:Ag and PAI:Ag concentrations – recognized markers of endothelial damage. Irradiation of ECs by a low-power laser caused attenuation of the adverse effects of hyperglycemia. A tendency towards a decrease in t-PA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag concentration in the supernatant was observed with a significant increase in the number of cells to values close to control.

Suppression of the release of type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor from human vascular endothelial cells by Hawaii deep sea water

The effect of deep sea water on the fibrinolytic properties of human vascular endothelial cells was investigated. There was no difference in the growth ratio between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured with growth medium (RPMI-1640 containing 20% fetal calf serum) prepared with Hawaii deep sea water (HDSW medium) and those with medium prepared with normal distilled water (control medium). The secretion of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) from HUVECs was significantly reduced by about twofold. However, the levels of PAI-1 mRNA in HUVECs cultured with HDSW medium did not change when compared with those cultured with control medium. Though HDSW medium also reduced the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator, the suppressive effect was more prominent for PAI-1. Thus, the balance of fibrinolytic activity was turned toward anti-thrombotic in HUVECs. This was evidenced by the lysis of 125I-fibrin clot in the presence of plasminogen. That is, HUVECs cultured with HDSW medium degraded 125I-fibrin more efficiently than HUVECs with control medium. Such enhanced clot lysis was maintained as long as HDSW medium was present. The accelerated effect of HDSW medium on clot lysis disappeared after the exchange of HDSW medium to control medium. These findings suggest that HDSW may specifically and predominantly affect the process of molecular transfer of PAI-1 after its transcription, resulting in an enhanced fibrinolytic activity of HUVECs. Since HDSW reduces the thrombotic potential of cultured HUVECs, it is speculated that the materials contained in HDSW may prevent the incidence of thrombotic disorders.

Ca 2+-regulated secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator and von Willebrand factor in human endothelial cells

von Willebrand factor (vWF) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) are products of endothelial cells which are secreted into the bloodstream upon a stimulus-induced rise in intracellular Ca 2+. Although the release of both factors appears to be regulated similarly, they exhibit opposing physiological effects in the vasculature with vWF inducing coagulation and platelet aggregation and tPA triggering fibrinolysis and thrombolysis. To analyze possible differences in the regulated secretion of vWF and tPA in more detail, we recorded the Ca 2+-triggered exocytosis of both factors in cultured human endothelial cells. We demonstrate that vWF and tPA which are stored in different granules within endothelial cells are released with different kinetics following endothelial stimulation with histamine or the Ca 2+ ionophore A23187. While the stimulus-induced release of vWF increases with time over a course of 30 min, maximal acute secretion of tPA is observed 5 min following stimulation and subsequently drops to background levels. In the case of vWF, secretion can also be monitored indirectly through an antibody-reinternalization assay which indicates an incomplete release of vWF during single exocytotic fusion events. Our data thus point to differences in the Ca 2+-triggered secretion of vWF and tPA which could allow a fine-tuning of their release thereby ensuring a balanced physiological action.

Losartan inhibits the angiotensin II-induced modifications on fibrinolysis and matrix deposition by primary human vascular smooth muscle cells.

Disorders in the fibrinolytic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition are determinant factors in several pathologic manifestations of vascular and cardiac tissue. We used primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and studied the effects of losartan on angiotensin II (Ang II)-mediated (a) DNA synthesis, (b) secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), (c) secretion of matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) activity and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs), and (d) synthesis of glycosaminoglycans. VSMC cultures, established from human pulmonary arteries, were treated with Ang II (0.1 nM -1 microM ) and/or losartan (0.1-10 microM ), for 24 or 48 h. DNA synthesis was assessed by incorporation of 3 H-thymidine into VSMC, secreted tPA, PAI-1, and TIMPs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, MMP-2 activity by gelatin zymography, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by 3 H-glucosamine incorporation. Ang II (1 microM ) enhanced DNA synthesis and secretion of PAI-1 and glycosaminoglycans and decreased secretion of MMP-2 activity and tPA, whereas it had no effect on secretion of TIMPs and glycosaminoglycans associated with cell layers. The Ang II-mediated effects were reversed by losartan, in a concentration-dependent manner. Losartan alone increased secretion of tPA, MMP-2 activity, and TIMPs and decreased secretion of PAI-1. These results indicate that AT 1 receptors are implicated in Ang II-mediated disorders of fibrinolysis and excessive ECM deposition by VSMC.

Control of mouse cumulus cell-oocyte complex integrity before and after ovulation: plasminogen activator synthesis and matrix degradation.

During the preovulatory period, cumulus cells (CCs) form a hyaluronan-protein extracellular matrix (cumulus expansion) that positively influences oocyte fertilization. Degradation of this matrix and CC-oocyte complex (COC) dissociation occurs within a few hours of ovulation and parallels the aging of oocytes. Modulation of CC proteolytic activity by gonadotropins and oocyte soluble factors has been hypothesized to determine such cumulus matrix changes. In the present study, we investigated plasminogen activator (PA) synthesis by COCs during the expansion and disassembly processes. Our results show that the secretion of tissue type PA and urokinase type PA (uPA) by oocytes and CCs, respectively, does not change significantly during expansion but dramatically increases thereafter. Compact COCs were isolated from immature mice, primed 48 h earlier with 5 IU PMSGs, and were induced to expand in vitro with 100 ng/ml FSH in the presence of 1% FCS. Full expansion was achieved at 16 h, when hyaluronan synthesis ceased. Release of hyaluronan and CCs from the COC matrix began between 18 and 20 h of culture, which indicates that matrix degradation started at this time. PA activities in culture media were determined by SDS-PAGE, followed by a zymography at various time intervals between 4 and 32 h of culture. Secreted tissue type PA and uPA activity abruptly increased between 16 and 20 h after FSH stimulation. Slot blot hybridization of CC messenger RNA showed that uPA messenger RNA levels correlated with the increase in uPA activity. Similar temporal patterns of PA synthesis and matrix degradation were found in COCs induced to expand in vivo by injection of 5 IU human CG into PMSG-primed mice. Cultures of CCs, both in the presence and absence of oocytes, revealed that uPA synthesis is repressed in FSH-stimulated CCs by an oocyte-soluble factor for the first 16 h of culture, whereas CC responsiveness to this factor is lost thereafter. In conclusion, the data show that a sophisticated interplay between oocyte and CCs causes the two cell types to simultaneously secrete PA activity after ovulation. The fact that matrix degradation parallels PA production strongly supports the hypothesis that these enzymes may destabilize the expanded COC matrix.

Antimullerian hormone

Antimullerian hormone (АМН) (also called Mullerian Inhibiting Substance) is the gonadal hormone. It is a member of the transforming growth factor-bb family of peptide growth and differentiation factors. АМН is produced in both male and female gonads - by Sertoli cells of the testis and granulosa cells of the ovaries. During the male embryogenesis АМН causes regression of Mullerian ducts, and testosterone stimulate the differentiation of wolffian system. During female embryogenesis, in the absence of АМН and testosterone, mullerian structures differentiate and develop into female internal genitalia and wolffian ducts regress.&#x0D; АМН continues to be produced by the granulosa cells of the ovary during the reproductive life of the women. АМН is known to inhibit resumption of meiosis in oocytes. Besides, АМН disturbs ovarian steroidogenesis: it decreases aromatase activity, leading to lowered estradiol production and hyperandrogenia in the follicle. АМН inhibits granulosa cells mitosis and decreases the number of LH-receptors on the granulosa cells. АМН is the antagonist of Epidermal Growth factor ( EGF) and might inhibit EGF-stimulated secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), which plays significant role in the ovulatory rupture of the follicle.&#x0D; Thus, АМН exerts inhibitory influence on all follicular components, including granulosa cells growth, steroidogenesis, oocyte maturation and follicle rupture process. It suggests, that АМН might play certain role in pathogenesis of chronic anovulation (polycystic ovaries syndrome).

β2 adrenergic receptors mediate cAMP, tissue-type plasminogen activator and transferrin production in rat Sertoli cells

FSH is the main regulator of Sertoli cell function. Nevertheless, several other effectors such as catecholamines can also stimulate these cells through the adenylyl cyclase transduction pathway. However, the expression of β adrenergic receptors in Sertoli cells is a subject of controversy. The aim of the present study was to determine if there are physiologically functional β adrenergic receptors in Sertoli cells and to which subtype(s) they belong. In freshly isolated Sertoli cells, isoproterenol, a non selective β-adrenergic agonist, was found to stimulate cAMP production and tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion. Specific transcripts for the β1 and β2, but not β3, subtypes were detected by RT-PCR analysis. β2 transcripts were the form expressed predominantly in Sertoli cells. Binding experiments carried out on freshly isolated and on cytospined Sertoli cells indicated that in both conditions, [ 125I]iodocyanopindolol binding was inhibited by a non-selective and a β2 selective antagonist, whereas a β1 selective antagonist had no effect. Scatchard analysis of β2 specific inhibition revealed a dissociation constant of 0.3 nM and a receptor density of 14 000 sites per cell. In freshly isolated Sertoli cells, we observed that cAMP and tissue-type plasminogen activator were stimulated by isoproterenol and a β2 selective agonist, but not by β1 or β3 selective agonists. Accordingly, the isoproterenol-stimulated tissue-type plasminogen activator responses were abolished by the β2 selective antagonist only. In cultured Sertoli cells, the trend was the same: tissue-type plasminogen activator and transferrin secretions were increased by isoproterenol and β2 but not by β1 or β3 selective agonists. We conclude that freshly isolated Sertoli cells express β2 adrenergic receptors which are functionally coupled to adenylyl cyclase and that these characteristics are preserved in cell culture. For the tested parameters, catecholamines and FSH effects were similar, but response magnitudes were systematically lower with β agonists than with FSH. As norepinephrine is normally present in physiologically-relevant amounts in the interstitial fluid, it can be suspected to play a role in the regulation of Sertoli cell function.

Adenosine 3’:5’-Cyclic Monophosphate Induces Regulated Secretion of Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator and von Willebrand Factor from Cultured Human Endothelial Cells

The effect of compounds increasing intracellular adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate [cAMP]i levels (prostacyclin, isoproterenol, forskolin, cholera toxin), and of the cAMP analogs 8-bromo-cAMP and dibutyryl-cAMP, on the regulated secretion (acute release) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) was studied in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Prostacyclin, isoproterenol and forskolin, which increased [cAMP]i in HUVEC, and the cell-permeant cAMP analog 8-bromo-cAMP induced dose- and time-dependent secretion of tPA and vWF. The extent of vWF and tPA release correlated with [cAMP]i, and was increased by the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine. In contrast to thrombin, the cAMP-elevating agents did not increase the intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i in HUVEC. At submaximal concentrations, the effects of thrombin and prostacyclin were additive. Our results show that an increase in [cAMP]i resulted in regulated secretion (acute release) of tPA and vWF from HUVEC, without the concomitant increase in [Ca2+]i which is, in HUVEC, essential for thrombin-induced regulated secretion to occur. cAMP-induced secretion represents a novel mechanism for causing regulated secretion of tPA and vWF from endothelial cells.

Synthesis, storage and regulated secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator by cultured rat heart endothelial cells

The synthesis, storage and regulated secretion (acute release) of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) were studied in cultured rat heart endothelial (RHE) cells. In this study, special attention was paid to the correspondence between tPA metabolism in RHE cells in vitro and tPA metabolism in rats in vivo. RHE cells synthetized tPA, as shown by a spectrophotometric activity assay, by fibrin autography and by an ELISA for tPA antigen. The synthesis of tPA was strongly enhanced by phorbol myristate acetate, by all-trans-retinoic acid, by 8-bromoadenosine 3′:5′ cyclic-monophosphate (8-br-cAMP) and by compounds that enhance cAMP synthesis, such as cholera toxin and forskolin. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor were not detected. tPA was constitutively secreted by RHE cells, but was also present in an intracellular pool of small dense granules, from which it could be acutely released by stimulating the cells with thrombin or the calcium ionophore A-23187. This release was maximal during the first minutes after stimulation. In all these aspects of tPA metabolism, RHE cells closely resembled rat endothelial cells in vivo. It is concluded that cultured RHE rat heart endothelial cells constitute a relevant in vitro model for studying endothelial tPA metabolism.

Two-dimensional manipulation of confluently cultured vascular endothelial cells using temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted surfaces

Temperature-responsive hydration/dehydration changes in surface-grafted poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) were utilized for hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface property alterations in cell culture. In this report, we utilized PIPAAm-grafted surfaces to recover confluently-cultured vascular endothelial cells as coherent monolayers from this cell culture substrate and to transfer to new cell culture substrates. For this purpose, we used two different methods to recover and transfer cell monolayer cultures: (1) chitin membranes used as an apical side cell support during cultured cell transfer, allowing cell basal side reattachment to new culture substrates after transfer; and (2) a cell culture insert™ (porous PET) used as both a support as well as new substrate, allowing basal surfaces of cultured cells to be exposed to the medium after transfer. In both cases, all cells grown on PIPAAm-grafted surfaces detach completely with maintenance of basement membrane-like structure. Recovered cells attach to the second culture surfaces, covering more than 60% of the new substrate, and retain approximately 90% viability and their original function as judged from tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion. This technique could be utilized to prepare novel bioartificial organs as well as cell co-culture systems by multi-layering different cell types to mimic tissue structures for tissue engineering.

Altered expression of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor during cellular senescence.

Fibroblast senescence is associated with a loss of proliferative potential and an alteration in extracellular gene expression. Because the expression of extracellular gene products are frequently growth state dependent, we undertook a comparative study of the regulation of the components of the plasminogen activation system in young and senescent cells under controlled conditions of growth. Young and senescent cells were compared in quiescent and activated growth conditions for the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2). Whereas young cells showed decreased levels of PAI-1 in the secreted and extracellular matrix pools upon serum deprivation, senescent cells showed a more constitutive pattern of gene expression, with no noticeable decrease of the levels in a low concentration of serum. RNA analysis revealed that senescent lung and skin cells, independent of the growth state, constitutively express levels of u-PA and PAI-1 comparable to the expression levels in young mitotically growing cells. These expression levels are down-regulated in quiescent young cells. In contrast, both t-PA and PAI-2 were markedly overexpressed in senescent skin lung cells under all growth conditions. Total plasminogen activator activity in conditioned medium was 50-fold higher in senescent-cell medium compared to young when cultured in 0.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) for five days, with the majority of the activity co-migrating on zymograms with u-PA. Increases in PAI-1 was also observed in senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In summary, cells of various types display alterations in plasminogen activator activity during replicative senescence. The inappropriate over-expression of plasminogen activator activity in vivo may be expected to lead to a progressive disruption of extracellular matrix maintenance. Thus, our observations suggest that cellular replicative senescence is associated with an altered expression of several genes regulating tissue maintenance which, in turn, could lead to degenerative changes in tissue in age-related disease(s).

Human Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Digest Extracellular Matrix by Elaboration of Plasminogen Activators: Implications for Atherogenesis.

Migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are hallmarks of atherogenesis and restenosis after angioplasty. Digestion of surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) may be a critical link. To determine whether invasion of ECM by human aortic SMCs (HASMCs) depends on proteolytic digestion mediated by the cells themselves, we characterized ECM digestion in terms of solubilization of 3H-proline--labeled ECM, produced by the use of rat aortic SMCs, by HASMCs under various conditions. Plasmin alone (10 µg/ml) digested 80% of ECM in 2 hours. HASMCs in 10% fetal bovine serum cultured on ECM that was not exposed to plasmin digested 48% of the ECM in 7 days. When HASMCs were cultured on plasmin-pretreated ECM, only 14% of the residual ECM was digested. Conditioned media or cells cultured on porous membrane 1 mm removed from the ECM had no effect. Baseline secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) into the media by HASMCs averaged 3.9 ng/105 cells/24 hr and baseline secretion of type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) averaged 1300 ng/105 cells/24 hr. Thrombin (5 U/ml) increased t-PA antigen production by 184% without altering PAI-1 activity and increased ECM degradation by 43% in 7 days. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) decreased t-PA antigen production, increased PAI-1 activity, and decreased ECM degradation. These results suggest that (1) HASMCs can digest naturally produced ECM; (2) plasminogen-dependent mechanisms requiring cell contact are important in the initiation of this phenomenon; and (3) thrombin in the vicinity of clots may modulate the fibrinolytic and proteolytic properties of SMC through t-PA after vascular injury.

Thrombospondin modulates adhesion, proliferation and production of extracellular matrix in mesangial cells.

Thrombospondin (TSP) is produced by glomerular mesangial cells and one of the extracellular matrix in the mesangium, whereas the physiological role of TSP in mesangial cells is poorly understood. In order to know whether TSP modulates mesangial cell functions, we investigated the effects of TSP on cell adhesion, proliferation, synthesis of extracellular matrix and serine proteinases in cultured human mesangial cells. The substratum of TSP inhibited cell attachment and spreading in a TSP-dose-dependent manner in mesangial cells. Soluble TSP (50 micrograms/ml) also caused the detachment of fully adherent mesangial cells, whereas TSP less than 10 micrograms/ml did not. [3H]-thymidine incorporation into mesangial cells was dose-dependently reduced by TSP. On the other hand, the production of both fibronectin and type IV collagen from mesangial cells was enhanced by TSP. The incubation of mesangial cells with TSP increased the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), while plasminogen activator inhibitor-type 1 (PAI-1) decreased. These observations indicate that TSP inhibits cell adhesion and proliferation in cultured human mesangial cells. It is also suggested that TSP influences the metabolism of mesangial matrix by modulating both synthesis and degradation of matrix components. Thus, TSP, may be an important mediator of mesangial cell functions in an autocrine fashion.

Parallel analysis of tissue-type plasminogen activator and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor in plasma and endothelial cells derived from patients with chronic pulmonary thromboemboli.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is the result of nonresolving pulmonary emboli that lead to chronic obstruction of the central pulmonary arteries. To determine if the failure to lyse pulmonary thromboemboli is caused by an abnormality in the endothelial cell (EC)-associated fibrinolytic system, conditions were established to culture ECs from patient main pulmonary arteries during surgical pulmonary thromboendarterectomies and to analyze the conditioned media for levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). Our data indicate that the levels of TPA antigen and PAI-1 activity in media conditioned by primary ECs harvested from areas free of thrombus were not significantly different between patients with chronic thromboemboli and organ donors. In 13 consecutive patients, no correlation was obtained in either the TPA antigen or PAI-1 activity level in a patient's plasma and the respective levels in media conditioned by the patient's pulmonary ECs. Moreover, patient pulmonary arterial ECs were observed to increase the secretion of TPA and PAI-1 in response to thrombin in a fashion similar to donor pulmonary artery ECs. The data suggest that an inherent EC-mediated fibrinolytic imbalance is not a generalized phenomenon observed in pulmonary arteries of patients with chronic pulmonary thromboemboli.

Involvement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase isozymes in tissue plasminogen activator secretion by rat Sertoli cells stimulated with follicle-stimulating hormone in vitro

This study was undertaken to investigate, in freshly isolated rat Sertoli cells, the physiological function of the type I and type II cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase isozymes in tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion and the regulation of this cAMP process by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Follicle-stimulating hormone-induced tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion depends upon intracellular cAMP levels. The changes in cAMP amounts required to activate maximally the tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion are extremely small, a cAMP threshold having to be reached for triggering the tissue-type plasminogen activator output. Intact Sertoli cells were incubated with combinations of cAMP analogs specific for each cAMP-dependent protein kinase type and complementary in their cAMP binding site on the cAMP-dependent protein kinase regulatory subunits: 8-aminohexylamino-cAMP = type 1, site 1; 8-thiomethyl-cAMP = type II, site 1 and N6-benzoyl-cAMP = types I/II, site 2. This allowed us to activate selectively each cAMP-dependent protein kinase type in a synergistic manner and then to evaluate their respective influence in the specific tissue-type plasminogen activator response. We establish that both of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase types are present and functional; the activity of the type I isozyme is preponderant (60%) in the cAMP-dependent tissue-type plasminogen activator secretion. Likewise, when these cAMP analogs were coupled with endogenously generated cAMP by FSH or forskolin, both of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase types were involved in the tissue-type plasminogen activator production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Polarized secretion of tissue-plasminogen activator in cultured thyroid cells

We studied the polarized secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator in porcine thyroid cells cultured as a monolayer on porous bottom chambers. The presence of tissue-type plasminogen activator was detected by zymographic analysis on two independent media that were in contact either with the apical surface or with the basolateral membrane. The amount of tissue-type plasminogen activator was determined in both media by ELISA and enzyme assay. Measurable tissue-type plasminogen activator activity was found in the basal but not in the apical medium. However, on zymogram, a lytic zone corresponding to tissue-type plasminogen activator was visible in both media. In addition, a lytic band at 130 kDa suggested presence of a complex formed by tissue-type plasminogen activator and an inhibitor. Preferential basolateral tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen secretion (70%) has been observed, showing the possible relation between tissue-type plasminogen activator and extracellular matrix components. Neither tissue-type plasminogen activator level nor polarized secretion seemed to be regulated by thyrotropin (0.1 mU/ml).

Transforming growth factor beta as a neuronoglial signal during peripheral nervous system response to injury.

In contrast to the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) displays an important regenerative ability which is dependent, at least in part, on Schwann cell properties. The mechanisms which stimulate Schwann cells to adapt their behavior after a lesion to generate adequate conditions for PNS regeneration remain unknown. In this work, we report that adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are able, after a lesion performed in vivo or when they are dissociated and cultured in vitro, to synthesize transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), a pleiotropic growth factor implicated in wound healing processes and in carcinogenesis. This TGF beta is tentatively identified as the beta-1 isoform. Adult rat DRG neurons release a biologically active form of TGF beta which is able to elicit multiple Schwann cell responses including a stimulation to proliferate. Moreover, purified TGF beta-1 produces a Schwann cell morphology alteration and decreases the secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and enhances the secretion of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) by Schwann cells. This generates conditions which are thought to favor a successful neuritic regrowth. Furthermore, purified TGF beta-1 stimulates type IV collagen mRNA expression in Schwann cells. This subtype of collagen is associated with the process of myelinization. Finally, TGF beta-1 decreases nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA expression by Schwann cells, an effect which could participate in the maintenance of a distoproximal NGF gradient during nerve regeneration. We propose that neuronal TGF beta plays an essential role as a neuronoglial signal that modulates the response of Schwann cells to injury and participates in the successful regeneration processes observed in the PNS.

High-level expression of recombinant human tPA in cultivated canine endothelial cells under varying conditions of retroviral gene transfer.

Successful genetic transduction of endothelial cells (EC) provides a theoretic means of increasing luminal secretion of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and lessening arterial and venous thrombotic processes. To identify the duration and number of retroviral exposures for an optimal tPA expression, enzymatically derived adult canine jugular venous EC were subjected to different exposure regimens using an amphotropic murine retroviral vector, MFG, containing the human tPA gene. Human tPA antigen secretion and its functional activity were determined at 2 days (subconfluent cells) and 14 days (confluent cells) after retroviral exposure. High-level secretion of human tPA was detected among transduced EC in all experimental groups. No secretion of human tPA occurred in control EC exposed to media alone. At 2 days after transduction, no significant differences in tPA secretion rates occurred among the different exposure regimens. At 14 days, the 12-hour X two-exposure group exhibited higher tPA secretion rates than all other exposure regimens (analysis of variance, p < 0.05). All exposure groups at 14 days exhibited significantly higher tPA secretion compared with those at 2 days (analysis of variance, p < 0.05). The presence of retroviral sequences in the genome of transduced EC was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. At 14 days, increased EC numbers were observed in vector-exposed wells compared with controls. Human tPA functional activity paralleled tPA antigen secretion. Genetically modified canine EC are capable of high levels of constitutive expression of human tPA after relatively short exposures to a retroviral vector containing the reporter gene. Increased cell number of tPA-transduced EC in culture suggests that tPA also may have other biologically important effects. These results support the efficacy of MFG-tPA gene transfer as a means of genetically modifying EC fibrinolytic activity and establishes the potential of this technology in vivo.

Stimulation by Retinoids of Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Secretion in Cultured Human Endothelial Cells

Retinoic acid induces tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) but not plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). To further investigate the relation between the structure of the retinoids and their ability to induce t-PA synthesis in vitro, 11 analogues were studied in HUVEC culture. The retinoid analogues were classified into one of three groups according to their t-PA-inducing potential. Group 1 showed little induction (0.9- to 1.9-fold after 48 h) at concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M. Group 2, which includes all-trans-retinoic acid, induced t-PA threefold to fivefold at 10(-6) M but had little effect at 10(-8) M (less than threefold). Group 3, which comprises arotinoid acid (RO-13-7410) and RO-13-6307, induced t-PA antigen secretion fivefold at 10(-8) M. The retinoids of groups 2 and 3 had a terminal carboxyl group and alkyl substitution of the lipophylic head of the retinoid skeleton. The group 3 retinoids also contained an aromatic ring. The t-PA-inducing activity of these third-generation retinoids correlates to some extent with other activities, including regression of papilloma, keratinization in vivo, and clonal inhibition of tumor cell lines in vitro. Some of the retinoids caused a small but significant (up to 1.5-fold at 24 h) increase in PAI-1 antigen secretion. The group 3 retinoids appear to be sufficiently potent inducers of t-PA secretion to warrant further investigation in in vivo animal models.