Protease-nexin: a cellular component that links thrombin and plasminogen activator and mediates their binding to cells

Effects of fibroblasts and endothelial cells on inactivation of target proteases by protease nexin-1, heparin cofactor II, and C1-inhibitor

Previous studies have shown that glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix accelerate the inactivation of target proteases by certain protease inhibitors. It has been suggested that the ability of the matrix of certain cells to accelerate some inhibitors but not others might reflect the site of action of the inhibitors. Previous studies showed that fibroblasts accelerate the inactivation of thrombin by protease nexin-1, an inhibitor that appears to function at the surface of cells in extravascular tissues. The present experiments showed that endothelial cells also accelerate this reaction. The accelerative activity was accounted for by the extracellular matrix and was mostly due to heparan sulfate. Fibroblasts but not endothelial cells accelerated the inactivation of thrombin by heparin cofactor II, an abundant inhibitor in plasma. This is consistent with previous suggestions that heparin cofactor II inactivates thrombin when plasma is exposed to fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Neither fibroblasts nor endothelial cells accelerated the inactivation of C1s by plasma C1-inhibitor.

Localization of protease nexin-1 on the fibroblast extracellular matrix

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a protease inhibitor that is secreted by fibroblasts and several other cultured cells. PN-1 forms complexes with certain serine proteases in the extracellular environment including thrombin, urokinase, and plasmin. The complexes then bind to the cells and are rapidly internalized and degraded. This report demonstrates that PN-1 is present on the surface of fibroblasts, bound to the extracellular matrix. Immunofluorescent studies showed that PN-1 colocalized with fibronectin on both intact cells and in preparations of extracellular matrix made from these cells. In contrast, PN-1 did not colocalize with the epidermal growth factor receptor, a plasma membrane marker. An enzyme-lined immunosorbent assay was developed which showed that the extracellular matrix contained at least 60-80% of the cellular immunoreactive PN-1. Extraction of the matrix with 2 M NaCl removed PN-1 in a form which reacted with 125I-thrombin to form complexes which were immunoprecipitated by anti-PN-1 IgG and were of identical size as complexes made from soluble PN-1 and 125I-thrombin. These data indicate that in addition to its role as a soluble protease inhibitor, PN-1 is also a component of the extracellular matrix and might control its proteolysis.

Purification and characterization of placental protein 5

This report describes the purification of placental protein 5, PP5, from the human placenta by two affinity chromatography steps, the first with Heparin-Sepharose and the second with Sepharose-linked monoclonal anti-PP5 antibody. The final purification is achieved by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. In SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing or nonreducing conditions, PP5 purified in this study migrates as one major band at 36 kD. The previously purified PP5 is more heterogeneous: under nonreducing conditions it migrates at 30 kD and, after reduction, it gives three bands at 16.8 kD, 18.3 kD, and 19.0 kD. In Western blot analysis, both purified proteins react with polyclonal and monoclonal anti-PP5 antibodies. Three N-terminal amino acid sequences are obtained for the previously purified PP5, whereas the N-terminal of PP5 purified in this study is blocked. These results suggest that PP5 previously purified in the absence of protease inhibitors, does not represent the native form of PP5. Computer comparison of the obtained amino acid sequences revealed no significant homology to known protein sequences.

Proliferation of rat astrocytes, but not of oligodendrocytes, is stimulated in vitro by protease inhibitors

Various natural protease inhibitors stimulate the proliferation of rat astrocytes grown in primary culture in the absence of serum. They are inactive on the proliferation of oligodendrocytes. The mean level of stimulation of the astrocyte proliferation elicited by the protease inhibitors is higher when the cells are in the growth phase, at low cell density than when they are quiescent, at high cell density. Among the protease inhibitors tested three serum proteins, alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin and anti-thrombin III were the most active. The present results, taken together with our previous finding that thrombin and some other proteases also stimulate the proliferation of astroglial cells but not of oligodendroglial cells, suggest that proteases and protease inhibitors participate, through still unclear mechanisms, in the control of the proliferation of astrocytes, but not in that of oligodendrocytes, during brain ontogenesis.

A fibroblast-derived urokinase-inhibitor differing from protease nexin

UK-I, a 60-kDa urokinase-inhibitor derived from human fibroblasts, inhibited 54-kDa urokinase (EC 3.4.21.31) activity dose-dependently on ordinary fibrin-agar autograms. This UK-I formed an SDS-stable approximately 75-kDa complex with radioiodinated urokinase (33 kDa) on an autoradiogram following SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Benzamidine hydrochloride inhibited its formation, indicating UK-I to bind at the active site of urokinase and form an inactive complex. UK-I did not form a complex with [125I]thrombin (EC 3.4.21.5). It is thus evident that UK-I is one type of urokinase-inhibitor derived from human fibroblasts with properties differing from protease nexin, another urokinase-inhibitor derived from the same source.

Monoclonal antibody to the thrombin receptor stimulates DNA synthesis in combination with gamma-thrombin or phorbol myristate acetate

Studies with various thrombin derivatives have shown that initiation of cell proliferation by thrombin requires two separate types of signals: one, generated by high affinity interaction of thrombin or DIP-thrombin (alpha-thrombin inactivated at ser 205 of the B chain by diisopropylphosphofluoridate) with receptors and the other, by thrombin's enzymic activity. To further study the role of high affinity thrombin receptors in initiation, we immunized mice with whole human fibroblasts and selected antibodies that blocked the binding of 125I-thrombin to high affinity receptors on hamster fibroblasts. One of these antibodies, TR-9, inhibits from 80 to 100% of 125I-thrombin binding, exhibits an immunofluorescent pattern indistinguishable from that of thrombin bound to receptors on these cells, and selectively binds solubilized thrombin receptors. By itself, TR-9 did not initiate DNA synthesis nor did it block thrombin initiation, but TR-9 addition to cells in the presence of alpha-thrombin, gamma-thrombin (0.5 microgram/ml), or PMA stimulated thymidine incorporation up to threefold over controls. In all cases, maximal stimulation was observed at concentrations of TR-9, ranging from 1 to 4 nM corresponding to concentrations required to inhibit from 30 to 100% of 125I-thrombin binding. These results demonstrate that the binding of the monoclonal antibody to the alpha-thrombin receptor can mimic the effects of thrombin's high affinity interaction with this receptor in stimulating cell proliferation.

cDNA sequence coding for a rat glia-derived nexin and its homology to members of the serpin superfamily

Rat glial cells release a neurite-promoting factor with serine protease inhibitory activity. By using a rat glioma cDNA clone as a probe, it was possible to isolate rat cDNAs containing the entire sequence coding for this neurite-promoting factor. The largest rat cDNA (approximately 2100 bp) was characterized by DNA sequencing. It contained the entire coding region, 135 bp of the 5' nontranslated region, and about 750 bp of the 3' nontranslated region. The open reading frame coded for 397 amino acids including a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids. The correct identity of the coding sequence was substantiated by the fact that the sequence of tryptic peptides, derived from the purified rat factor, matched exactly with the deduced amino acid sequence. The rat protein sequence had 84% homology with the corresponding protein from human glioma cells. Both amino acid sequences indicated that the proteins belong to the protease nexins [Baker, B.J., Low, D. A., Simmer, R. L., & Cunningham, D.D. (1980) Cell (Cambridge, Mass.) 21, 37-45] and therefore can be defined as glia-derived nexins (GDNs). Further analysis showed that both rat and human GDN belong to the serpin superfamily and share 41%, 32%, and 25% homology with human endothelial-cell-type plasminogen activator inhibitor, antithrombin III, and alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor, respectively.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor is associated with the extracellular matrix of cultured bovine smooth muscle cells

The extracellular matrix secreted by cultured bovine smooth muscle cells (BSMC) contains an endothelial type plasminogen activator (PA) inhibitor. When PA is incubated with the matrix, a high molecular weight complex containing a truncated PA inhibitor is released into the supernatant. The inhibitor also dissociates from the matrix by treatment with glycine, pH 2.7, in its intact, functionally active, 45-kD form, whereas treatment of the matrix with thrombin results in the release of a cleaved, inactive, 41 kD PA inhibitor. Bowes melanoma cells but not smooth muscle cells cultured on BSMC matrices decrease available matrix associated PA inhibitor. PA inhibitor incorporated into the extracellular matrix may serve an important role in the regulation of plasminogen activator mediated matrix degradation.

The glioma cell-derived neurite promoting activity protein is functionally and immunologically related to human protease nexin-I

Protease nexin-I (PN-I, Mr approximately 43,000) is representative of a newly described class of cell-secreted protease inhibitors. PN-I has been purified to apparent homogeneity, partially sequenced, and monospecific antibodies have been raised against it. PN-I is a potent inhibitor of urokinase, thrombin, plasmin, and trypsin. In addition, cells have specific receptors that mediate the uptake of covalently linked complexes formed between PN-I and its protease substrates. In the present studies, we have investigated the relationship between human PN-I and a protease inhibitor derived from C6 glioma cells in culture that has neurite-promoting activity. On the basis of co-purification on heparin-Sepharose, identical molecular weight, antibody cross-reactivity, and receptor cross-reactivity, we conclude that PN-I and the glioma-cell-derived inhibitor are equivalent molecules.

Glycosaminoglycans on fibroblasts accelerate thrombin inhibition by protease nexin-1

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a proteinase inhibitor that is secreted by human fibroblasts in culture. PN-1 inhibits certain regulatory serine proteinases by forming a covalent complex with the catalytic-site serine residue; the complex then binds to the cell surface and is internalized and degraded. The fibroblast surface was recently shown to accelerate the rate of complex-formation between PN-1 and thrombin. The present paper demonstrates that the accelerative activity is primarily due to cell-surface heparan sulphate, with a much smaller contribution from chondroitin sulphate. This conclusion is supported by the effects of purified glycosaminoglycans on the second-order rate constant for the inhibition of thrombin by PN-1. Also, treatment of 35SO4(2-)-labelled cells with heparitin sulphate lyase or chondroitin sulphate ABC lyase demonstrated two discrete pools of 35S-labelled glycosaminoglycans; subsequent treatment of plasma membranes with these glycosidases showed that heparitin sulphate lyase treatment abolished about 80% of the accelerative activity and chondroitin sulphate ABC lyase removed the remaining 20%. These results show that two components are responsible for the acceleration of PN-1-thrombin complex-formation by human fibroblasts. Although dermatan sulphate is also present on fibroblasts, it did not accelerate the inhibition of thrombin by PN-1.

Identification of a protease inhibitor produced by astrocytes that is structurally and functionally homologous to human protease nexin-I

In the present studies we have compared the structural and biochemical properties of human protease nexin-I (PN-I) and a protease inhibitor present in the serum-free culture fluid of normal rat brain astrocytes. The inhibitor binds to and forms covalent complexes with human urokinase and thrombin. The inhibitor has an approximate Mr = 43,000 based on the size of the complexes (deduced from SDS-PAGE) and mediates the cellular binding and uptake of the proteases to which it links. Binding is heparin sensitive and occurs on a cell surface receptor that also binds complexes formed between proteases and a well-characterized cell-secreted protease inhibitor, human PN-I. In addition, the inhibitor co-migrates with PN-I on SDS-PAGE and cross-reacts with anti-PN-I antibody on immunoblots. A similar molecule, designated NPF, is produced by C6 glioma cells in culture and has neurite promoting activity on a neuroblastoma cell line.

Poly-D-lysine dependent inactivation of tissue plasminogen activator by a class PAI-2 inhibitor (minactivin)

Two-chain tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was found to be inactive in a coupled colorimetric assay for plasminogen activators, but a high level of activity was obtained in the presence of poly-D-lysine. This stimulated activity was strongly inhibited by minactivin, a urokinase inhibitor, but unstimulated enzyme could be shown to be unaffected by minactivin. In the presence of poly-D-lysine minactivin was a very successful competitive inhibitor of t-PA with respect to the substrate, plasminogen. The Ki for minactivin determined by the Henderson method was 2.5 X 10(-12) M, compared to the Km for plasminogen determined as 0.6 X 10(-6) M. The value of Ki for minactivin with u-PA, determined under the same conditions, was 1.6 X 10(-11) M.

Plasminogen activator inhibitors from placenta and fibrosarcoma cells are antigenically different as evaluated with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) purified from human placenta was compared to PAI purified from conditioned cell culture fluid of the human fibrosarcoma cell line HT-1080. The two inhibitors had a similar mobility (Mr approximately 50,000) in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Purified placental inhibitor revealed 2 major and 1 minor Coomassie blue stainable bands, while the fibrosarcoma inhibitor appeared as one band. By immunoblotting analysis both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against each of the inhibitors showed reaction with the inhibitor against which they were raised, but not cross reaction with the other inhibitor. Similar results were obtained, when antibody binding was tested by ELISA with the inhibitors coated on the solid phase. HPLC fingerprint patterns of cyanogen bromide fragments of the two inhibitors were different. The inhibitory activity of the placental PAI was decreased by a factor of 3 after incubation with SDS, while that of the fibrosarcoma PAI was increased by a factor of 30. It is concluded that the two inhibitors show no detectable common antigenic determinants and most likely are products of different genes.

Characterization of the receptor for protease nexin-I:protease complexes on human fibroblasts

Fibroblasts as well as several other cell types, secrete a number of protease inhibitors into their culture media. Among these inhibitors are the protease nexins, a class of proteins which covalently bind serine proteases, thereby inactivating their specific targets. Protease nexin-I, first discovered in human foreskin fibroblasts, binds thrombin, plasmin, and urokinase with high affinity, forming covalently linked complexes. Human fibroblasts bind complexes of protease nexin-I and its target protease via a cell-surface, high-affinity receptor. We have analyzed a number of characteristics of this receptor, and found them to be typical of class II receptors in general. At 4 degrees C binding of PN-I:protease complexes was competed by heparin. In addition, binding was independent of the particular protease bound to the PN-I; purified complexes of PN-I with thrombin or urokinase competed equipotently for [125]I-thrombin:PN-I binding. As the pH of the binding buffer was lowered, binding to cells increased. A twofold increase in binding was attained by lowering the pH from 7.5 to 4.5. This phenomenon was not due to irreversible, pH-induced changes to either the cell surface or the labeled complexes. At 37 degrees C, the removal of labeled complexes from culture medium was rapid; approximately 80% was removed by 4 hours under given conditions. The internalization of complexes was also very rapid, with an estimated ke (endocytic rate constant) of 1.0 min-1. At neutral pH, fibroblasts bind complexes in a saturable manner. Scatchard analysis yields a receptor number of 250,000 per cell and a Kd of 1 nM.

Purification of a proteinase inhibitor from bovine serum with C1-inhibitor activity

This report describes the purification of a novel proteinase inhibitor from bovine serum. This protein was purified to apparent homogeneity employing affinity binding to sulfated dextran and precipitation by ammonium sulfate, followed by sequential chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that the concentration of this inhibitor is approximately 3 microM in bovine serum. The inhibitor is a single polypeptide chain with an estimated Mr of 83,000 as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An aspartic acid was found at the amino terminus of the protein; N-terminal amino acid sequence data indicated that there was no significant homology with other reported amino acid sequences. This bovine inhibitor covalently complexed the human proteinases C1-r, C1-s, factor XIIa and plasma kallikrein, which are also complexed and inactivated by human C1-inhibitor. In addition, the bovine inhibitor complexed and inactivated bovine chymotrypsin, a feature which functionally distinguishes it from human C1-inhibitor. Although the bovine inhibitor appears functionally very similar to C1-inhibitor, we found no evidence for structural homology with the human counterpart.

Plasminogen activator-specific inhibitors produced by human monocytes/macrophages

Human monocytes/macrophages produce plasminogen activator-specific inhibitors (PAIs) that form covalent complexes with urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). We have characterized two functionally and antigenically related forms of PAIs produced by resting and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-treated U 937 cells: an Mr 40,000 form, presumably nonglycosylated, with a pI of 5.2, that is constitutively synthetized by these cells and that remains predominantly intracellular; a PMA-induced form of heterogeneous Mr (50,000-65,000) with a pI of 4.7, that is preferentially secreted; this PAI is glycosylated with terminal sialic acid residue(s). Biosynthetic labeling experiments demonstrated that both PAIs are synthetized by U 937 cells. They are inactivated upon treatment with propanol, heat, and acid; the covalent and equimolar complexes formed between these PAIs and 125I-uPA are dissociated by ammonium hydroxide, suggesting that the PAIs are linked to uPA via an ester bond. Human peripheral blood monocytes/macrophages also produce the two forms of PAI. These PAIs are clearly different from the main plasma protease inhibitors and they are both antigenically related to the PAI-2 characterized in human placenta.

Mesosecrin: a secreted glycoprotein produced in abundance by human mesothelial, endothelial, and kidney epithelial cells in culture

Human mesothelial cells, endothelial cells, and type II kidney epithelial cells growing in culture devote approximately 3% of their total protein synthesis to the production of an Mr approximately 46-kD, pI 7.1, secreted glycoprotein (designated Sp46). Fibroblasts make about 1/10th as much Sp46 as these cell types, and their synthesis is dependent upon hydrocortisone. Keratinocytes, urothelial cells, conjunctival epithelial cells, and mammary epithelial cells do not make detectable amounts of Sp46. Mesothelial cells secrete Sp46 onto the substratum, and from there it is subsequently released into the medium. Immunofluorescence analysis using specific antisera discloses that Sp46 is deposited beneath cells as a fine coating on the substratum. In sparse cultures, Sp46 is detected in trails behind motile cells. In contrast, secreted fibronectin coalesces into fibers, most of which remain in contact with and on top of the cells; thus Sp46 does not preferentially bind to fibronectin. About 6 kD of the mass of human Sp46 is N-linked oligosaccharide, which is terminally sialated before secretion. Sp46 has a low glycine content, indicating that it is not a collagenlike protein. Its NH2-terminal sequence over the first 40 amino acids does not resemble any protein for which sequence information is available. Sp46 appears to be a novel extracellular glycoprotein, high-level constitutive expression of which is restricted to mesoderm-derived epithelial and endothelial cells. We therefore propose for it the name "mesosecrin."

Degradation of muscle basement membrane zone by locally generated plasmin

The turnover of basement membrane macromolecules in injured skeletal muscle has not been studied in contrast to other biologic systems undergoing remodeling. Plasminogen activators and other neutral proteases that are able to degrade these basement membrane macromolecules are secreted by cultured muscle cells. We sought to determine if locally released plasminogen activators could act on basement membrane components. Such degradation might be implicated in the disadhesion of nerve from muscle after motor nerve denervation. To test this hypothesis, we first undertook a study of the sensitivity of muscle extracellular matrix antigens following in vitro exposure to various proteases on frozen muscle sections. Fibronectin was found to be most sensitive, followed by type IV collagen and laminin. Of serine proteases, trypsin was the most active but was not selective, digesting matrix and sarcoplasmic components alike in less than 30 min. Purified urokinase was inactive unless plasminogen (also inactive alone) was previously added to tissue sections, at which time only matrix antigens were digested. Little if any observable degradation of sarcoplasmic proteins took place under these conditions. Using a highly sensitive and selective assay, we found that plasminogen activators were present in muscle tissue and increased 8- to 10-fold after 10 days of denervation. Using an extract of denervated muscle in the presence of plasminogen, we observed degradation of matrix antigens. No degradation was observed with control muscle extract. We next evaluated the degradation of these antigens in denervated muscle during a temporal study. The results, analyzed by quantitative image analysis, indicates that with increasing time after denervation a marked decrease of fibronectin and type IV collagen, followed by laminin occurred but, again, only in the present of plasminogen. These results indicate a selective sensitivity of basement membrane antigens of muscle and a role for plasminogen activators in the degradation of these adhesive basement membranes macromolecules after denervation.

Ligand blotting with 125I-fluoresceinamine-heparin

A highly sensitive method for ligand blotting with heparin has been developed. This ligand-blotting method is successful largely due to the ability to prepare heparin derivatives of high radiospecific activity. Heparin was modified with fluoresceinamine according to the method of C.G. Glabe, P.K. Harty, and S.D. Rosen [1983) Anal. Biochem. 130, 287-294), and this fluoresceinamine-derivatized heparin can be radioiodinated to a specific activity of 100,000 cmp/ng of uronic acid. This is a 500-fold increase in specific activity over Bolton-Hunter-modified heparin, as prepared by A.D. Cardin, K.R. Witt, and R.L. Jackson [1984) Anal. Biochem. 137, 368-373). 125I-Fluoresceinamine-derivatized heparin retains its ability to interact specifically with heparin-binding proteins such as human protease nexin-I and antithrombin III. 125I-Fluoresceinamine-derivatized heparin can be used to visualize and quantify heparin binding proteins on nitrocellulose. Protease nexin-I can be visualized at the nanogram level. In addition, ligand blotting with 125I-fluoresceinamine heparin can be combined with Cleveland digestion (D.W. Cleveland, S. Fisher, M.W. Kirschner, and U.K. Laemmli (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 1102-1106) in order to identify heparin binding fragments of proteins with heparin binding domains.

Treatment of mouse L-cells with phorbol myristate acetate induces the secretion of a plasminogen activator inhibitor which binds to human and mouse urokinase and human tissue plasminogen activator

1. Serum-free conditioned medium from L-cells or L-cells treated with the tumor-promotor phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was analyzed for plasminogen activator (PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity. Conditioned medium from control or PMA-treated cells did not contain detectable PA activity when assayed by SDS-PAGE and zymography. 2. Conditioned medium from PMA-treated cells, but not control cells, contained a PAI of Mr = 40,000 da when assayed by reverse zymography. 3. The L-cell PAI formed SDS-stable complexes with purified human (homo sapiens) urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator, as well as, mouse (Mus musculus) urinary PA. 4. These results indicate that biochemical and immunological differences between human and mouse urokinase and human urokinase and human tissue plasminogen activator do not influence the interaction of the L-cell PAI with these enzymes.

Binding of urokinase to specific receptor sites on human breast cancer membranes

The high molecular weight form of the plasminogen activator urokinase (54 kD) binds to specific receptor sites on the cell membrane of breast carcinomas by its inactive "A" chain. The binding is of high affinity (range of dissociation constants: 5.6 X 10(-11) to 4 X 10(-10) mol l-1 and there were between 20 to 250 fmol of binding sites per milligram of membrane protein) and equilibrium is reached in 60 min. No competition for binding sites was observed with epidermal growth factor, tissue plasminogen activator or the low molecular weight form of urokinase (33 kD). Cross-linking experiments suggest that the receptor is a monomeric unit of molecular weight of 50 kD. This binding site provides a mechanism for the incorporation of urokinase into the cell membrane.

Binding sites for elastase on cultured human fibroblasts that do not mediate internalization

The proteolytic actions of elastases have been implicated in extracellular matrix damage, which is characteristic of a variety of pathological conditions including emphysema and rheumatoid arthritis. In order to elucidate the molecular events involved in elastase interaction with connective tissue cells, the present study was designed to investigate the association of elastase with human fibroblasts at 4 degrees C. Elastase bound saturably to binding sites that were present on the surface of these cells. Analysis of cell-bound elastase by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of a high molecular weight complex (Mr 54,000) that was not formed with elastase whose catalytic site serine was derivatized with a diisopropylphosphate group. The complex did not represent elastase bound to either protease nexin or contaminating serum. The cellular component with which elastase formed a complex could not be detected in the cell culture medium. Unexpectedly, elastase that had been pre-bound at 4 degrees C was not internalized after cells were warmed to 37 degrees C. The elastase binding site described in this report is therefore distinct from high affinity binding sites involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis and intracellular degradation.

Hormone-like activity of human thrombin

Recently, we have shown that thrombin is a chemotaxin and growth-promoting agent for cells of the mononuclear phagocytic lineage. These activities are independent of thrombin's enzymatic activity. Unlike other chemotactic factors, thrombin is specific for monocytes and does not attract granulocytes. To further explore the cellular specificity we have used a human leukemia cell line HL-60 that is capable of in vitro differentiation toward either monocytes (HL-60/mono) following incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3, or granulocytes (HL-60/gran) following incubation with DMSO. In contrast to undifferentiated HL-60 cells or HL-60/gran, we find that HL-60/mono respond chemotactically to intact human alpha-thrombin, esterolytically inactive iPR2P-alpha-thrombin, and the thrombin-derived peptide CB67-129, previously shown to contain the thrombin chemotactic exosite. In addition, thrombin induces in HL-60/mono association of actin with the cytoskeleton and causes an increase in levels of free cytosolic Ca2+. These phenomena are well characterized as early events occurring concomitant with directed cell movement associated with exposure to chemotactic agents such as FMLP. Furthermore, in contrast to fibroblasts, both iPR2P-alpha-thrombin and the thrombin chemotactic peptide CB67-129 evoke dose-dependent [3H]TdR incorporation, protein synthesis, and cell replication in growth-arrested J-744 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line. Limited tryptic digests of CB67-129 lose chemotactic activity but retain full mitogenic activity, demonstrating that as with PDGF, the sites on CB67-129 required for chemotaxis and mitogenesis are clearly dissociable. The mitogenic effects of the CB67-129 digest can be mimicked by a synthetic tetradecapeptide analogue of CB67-129 (residues 367-380) that includes the loop B insertion sequence, previously shown to be critical for thrombin's chemotactic effects. From these data, it is apparent that the loop B insertion is critical for thrombin's nonenzymic biological effects on cells, but additional sites are required for stimulation of cell movement.

Inactivation of plasminogen activator inhibitor by oxidants

The rapidly acting plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) purified from cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEs) was inactivated during iodination with chloramine T and other oxidizing iodination systems. Inactivation was observed in the absence of iodine, suggesting that the loss of activity resulted from the oxidizing conditions employed. In an attempt to further study the nature of this inactivation, the PAI was treated with chloramine T under conditions that specifically oxidize methionine and cysteine residues. Both PAI inhibitory activity and the ability of the PAI to form complexes with tissue-type PA were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by such treatment. The PAI was more sensitive to oxidative inactivation than urokinase, elastase, and alpha 1-protease inhibitor. Incubation of the chloramine T inactivated PAI with methionine sulfoxide peptide reductase in the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT) restored more than 90% of the PAI activity. The reductase is a DTT-dependent enzyme that specifically converts methionine sulfoxide to methionine. Little activity was restored by either the reductase or DTT alone. These results indicate that the oxidation of at least one critical methionine residue is responsible for the loss of PAI activity upon iodination. In this respect, the BAE PAI resembles alpha 1-protease inhibitor, a well-characterized elastase inhibitor that also is inactivated by oxidants. Both inhibitors are members of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily (Serpins), and both have a methionine residue in their reactive center.

Identification of a new tissue-kallikrein-binding protein

We have identified a tissue-kallikrein-binding protein in human serum and in the serum-free culture media from human lung fibroblasts (WI-38) and rodent neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells (NG108-15). Purified and 125I-labelled tissue kallikrein and human serum form an approximately 92,000-Mr SDS-stable complex. The relative quantity of this complex-formation is measured by densitometric scanning of autoradiograms. Complex-formation between tissue kallikrein and the serum binding protein was time-dependent and detectable after 5 min incubation at 37 degrees C, with half-maximal binding at 28 min. Binding of 125I-kallikrein to kallikrein-binding protein is temperature-dependent and can be inhibited by heparin or excess unlabelled tissue kallikrein but not by plasma kallikrein, collagenase, thrombin, urokinase, alpha 1-antitrypsin or kininogens. The kallikrein-binding protein is acid- and heat-labile, as pretreatment of sera at pH 3.0 or at 60 degrees C for 30 min diminishes complex-formation. However, the formed complexes are stable to acid or 1 M-hydroxylamine treatment and can only be partially dissociated with 10 mM-NaOH. When kallikrein was inhibited by the active-site-labelling reagents phenylmethanesulphonyl fluoride or D-Phe-D-Phe-L-Arg-CH2Cl no complex-formation was observed. An endogenous approximately 92,000-Mr kallikrein-kallikrein-binding protein complex was isolated from normal human serum by using a human tissue kallikrein-agarose affinity column. These complexes were recognized by anti-(human tissue kallikrein) antibodies, but not by anti-alpha 1-antitrypsin serum, in Western-blot analyses. The results show that the kallikrein-binding protein is distinct from alpha 1-antitrypsin and is not identifiable with any of the well-characterized plasma proteinase inhibitors such as alpha 2-macroglobulin, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, C1-inactivator or antithrombin III. The functional role of this kallikrein-binding protein and its impact on kallikrein activity or metabolism in vivo remain to be investigated.

Human fibroblasts accelerate the inhibition of thrombin by protease nexin

Protease nexin (PN) is a protein protease inhibitor secreted by human fibroblasts in culture that complexes and inhibits certain regulatory serine proteases. The PN-protease complexes then bind to these cells and are rapidly internalized and degraded. This report shows that the fibroblast surface accelerates the formation of PN-thrombin complexes. In contrast, it did not accelerate the formation of complexes between thrombin and antithrombin III, a closely related protease inhibitor found in plasma. These results support a role for PN in the regulation of certain proteases in the extravascular compartment at and near the surface of tissue cells. The activity that accelerated PN-thrombin complex formation was membrane-associated, since fixed cells, purified membranes, and extracellular matrix preparations all contained this activity. The ability of cells to accelerate the reaction between PN and thrombin was inhibited by protamine, suggesting that the activity was similar to that of heparin. Heparitinase digestion of plasma membranes prior to assay reduced the activity by about 80%, suggesting that heparan sulfate may account for most of the accelerative activity.

Secretion of plasminogen activator inhibitor by cultured human epidermal cells

A conditioned medium from cultured human epidermal cells was observed to inhibit the activity of exogenous urokinase. By reverse fibrin autography after SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a plasminogen activator inhibitor was detected with a molecular weight of 46,000. Using Mr 33,000 [125I]-labelled urokinase we observed the formation of an enzyme-ligand complex. The molecular weight of this complex was 79, 000. These results indicate that cultured human epidermal cells secrete a plasminogen activator inhibitor (urokinase inhibitor) with a molecular weight of 46,000.

A simple two-step purification of protease nexin

This paper describes a simple purification procedure for protease nexin, a serine proteinase inhibitor secreted by cultured human fibroblasts that regulates proteinase activity at and near the cell surface. The first step in the procedure takes advantage of the high-affinity binding of protease nexin to dextran sulphate-Sepharose. This step eliminates the need for prior concentration of the serum-free fibroblast-conditioned medium, since protease nexin binds to the resin in the presence of physiological saline. The use of dextran sulphate also provides an affinity resin with considerably less variability than the heparin-based resins previously used. Final purification to homogeneity involves a combination of DEAE-Sepharose in-line with dextran sulphate-Sepharose to simultaneously purify and concentrate the protein. Purified protease nexin is shown by Ouchterlony analysis and peptide mapping to be immunologically and structurally distinct from antithrombin III and heparin cofactor II, two plasma proteinase inhibitors with similar properties.

The Mr 17500 region of the A chain of urokinase is required for interaction with a specific receptor in A431 cells

We have found the existence of specific receptors for the plasminogen activator, urokinase, in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cells, cultures in plasminogen-free conditions. Two subsets of receptors have been recognized on the basis of 125I-labelled urokinase binding analysis: about 1 X 10(3) high-affinity (Kd = 5.0 X 10(-11) M) and 1 X 10(5) low-affinity (Kd = 9 X 10(-9) M) receptors per cell. The electron microscopic observation of a urokinase: ferritin conjugate has shown single and clustered receptors at the cell surface. Down-regulation of the receptors (T1/2 = 3.77 h) follows the binding of urokinase. The binding does not involve an intact catalytic site and is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody against the Mr 17500 proteolytic fragment of the A chain of urokinase.

Characterization of plasminogen activator from two human renal carcinoma cell lines

Plasminogen activator (PA) activity was identified in the conditioned medium of two human renal carcinoma cell lines, Cur and Caki-1. PA activity of medium, following chromatography on Con A-Sepharose, was divided into effluent and eluate fractions, the latter obtained after elution with methyl mannoside. The ratio of PA activity in effluent:eluate was 90:10 for Caki-1 and 60:40 for Cur. The PA of both effluent fractions and the Caki-1 eluate fraction was of the urokinase (UK) type. Identification rested on molecular weight determination by zymography (major component with Mr 52,000 and a less prominent component of 93,000), lack of binding to fibrin, inhibition by anti-UK antibodies, and lack of inhibitory effect of anti-tissue type PA (TPA) antibodies or the Erythrina trypsin inhibitor, which inhibits TPA but not UK. PA of the Cur eluate fraction gave a more complex pattern in that it bound significantly to fibrin (like TPA), was completely inhibited by both anti-UK and anti-TPA antibodies, but was unaffected by Erythrina trypsin inhibitor. These results raise the possibility of an unusual PA-like enzyme that immunologically cross reacts with anti-UK and anti-TPA. Most of the PA of both cell lines was secreted in a latent form that could be activated by trypsin treatment. The latency appears to result largely from secretion of urokinase proenzyme, which is consistent with the Mr 52,000 of the major PA species and the insensitivity to diisopropyl fluorophosphate inhibition prior to trypsin activation. However, in addition, a UK binding component was found in the conditioned medium, which produced an Mr 93,000 component by reaction with UK.

Plasminogen activators catalyse conversion of inhibitor from fibrosarcoma cells to an inactive form with a lower apparent molecular mass

Purified approximately 54 kDa plasminogen activator inhibitor from human fibrosarcoma cells was converted to an inactive form with slightly higher electrophoretic mobility by incubation with catalytic amounts of urokinase-type or tissue-type plasminogen activator. Serine proteinase inhibitors and a monoclonal antibody against urokinase-type plasminogen activator inhibited the conversion, indicating that it was caused by plasminogen activator-catalyzed proteolysis. These findings represent the first demonstration of a well-defined protein apart from plasminogen, constituting a substrate for plasminogen activators.

Identification of a thrombin sequence with growth factor activity on macrophages

In contrast to fibroblasts, the exposure of G0/G1-arrested J774 cells, a murine macrophage-like tumor cell line, with either active or esterolytically inactive diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate-conjugated alpha-thrombin (the enzymatically active form of thrombin, EC 3.4.21.5) results in a mitogenic response as measured by increased [3H]thymidine incorporation. This response to thrombin is optimal at 10 nM and is specifically blocked by hirudin, a high-affinity thrombin inhibitor. When prethrombin 1 [a single-chain prothrombin derivative lacking fragment 1, resulting from the action of thrombin on prothrombin] is cleaved with cyanogen bromide, a fragment (peptide CB67-129) is produced that, like the parent thrombin molecule, is mitogenic for J774 cells but not for fibroblasts. Limited tryptic digests of this fragment retain the ability to stimulate macrophages--a function that can be mimicked by a synthetic tetradecapeptide homologue of CB67-129 (representing residues 367-380 of the human thrombin B chain sequence) but not by any of a series of well-known growth promoters, including platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, and fibroblast epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, and fibroblast growth factor. The mitogenic effects of this peptide are not limited to J774 cells but can be expressed in other macrophage-like tumor cell lines, including P388D1, RAW, and PU5. In addition to increased [3H]thymidine incorporation, the synthetic B chain peptide stimulates cell proliferation as evidenced by a dose-dependent increase in total protein per culture well and cell number. We conclude that the thrombin molecule contains a macrophage growth factor domain that is separate and distinct from its active center. Thus, thrombin, in addition to its major role in hemostasis and thrombosis, may also have important functions in such basic processes as the inflammatory response and monocytopoiesis.

Interactions of serine proteases with cultured fibroblasts

This review summarizes the mechanisms by which several serine proteases, particularly urokinase, thrombin, and elastase, interact with cultured fibroblasts. Many of these studies were prompted by findings that interactions of these proteases with cells and the extracellular matrix are important in a number of physiologic and pathologic processes. Two main pathways have been identified for specific interactions of these proteases with fibroblasts. One involves surface binding sites for the free protease that appear to bind only one particular protease. An unusual feature collectively shared by the binding sites for urokinase, thrombin, and elastase is that the bound protease is not detectably internalized by the fibroblasts. The other pathway by which serine proteases interact with fibroblasts involves proteins named protease nexins (PNs). Three PNs have been identified. They are secreted by fibroblasts and inhibit certain serine proteases by forming a covalent complex with the protease catalytic site serine. The complexes then bind back to the fibroblasts via the PN portion of the complex and are internalized and degraded. Recent studies showing that the fibroblast surface and extracellular matrix accelerate the inactivation of thrombin by PN-1 support the hypothesis that the PNs control protease activity at and near the cell surface. The PNs differ from plasma protease inhibitors in their molecular properties, absence in plasma, site of synthesis, and site of clearance of the inhibitor:protease complexes.