Glycosaminoglycans on fibroblasts accelerate thrombin inhibition by protease nexin-1

The Involvement of Protease Nexin-1 (PN1) in the Pathogenesis of Intervertebral Disc (IVD) Degeneration

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a serine protease inhibitor belonging to the serpin superfamily. This study was undertaken to investigate the regulatory role of PN-1 in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration. Expression of PN-1 was detected in human IVD tissue of varying grades. Expression of both PN-1 mRNA and protein was significantly decreased in degenerated IVD, and the expression levels of PN-1 were correlated with the grade of disc degeneration. Moreover, a decrease in PN-1 expression in primary NP cells was confirmed. On induction by IL-1β, the expression of PN-1 in NP cells was decreased at day 7, 14, and 21, as shown by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. PN-1 administration decreased IL-1β-induced MMPs and ADAMTS production and the loss of Agg and Col II in NP cell cultures through the ERK1/2/NF-kB signaling pathway. The changes in PN-1 expression are involved in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration. Our findings indicate that PN-1 administration could antagonize IL-1β-induced MMPs and ADAMTS, potentially preventing degeneration of IVD tissue. This study also revealed new insights into the regulation of PN-1 expression via the ERK1/2/NF-kB signaling pathway and the role of PN-1 in the pathogenesis of IVD degeneration.

Actions of thrombin in the interstitium

Thrombin is a pleiotropic enzyme best known for its contribution to fibrin formation and platelet aggregation during vascular hemostasis. There is increasing evidence to suggest a role for thrombin in the development of interstitial fibrosis, but interstitial thrombin has not been demonstrated by the direct determination of activity. Rather its presence is inferred by products of thrombin action such as fibrin and activated fibroblasts. This review will focus on possible mechanisms of thrombin formation in the interstitial space, the possible actions of thrombin, processes regulating thrombin activity in the interstitial space, and evidence supporting a role for thrombin in fibrosis.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 regulates tumor cell invasion through cleavage of protease nexin-1

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression is known to enhance the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. In previous work based on a proteomic screen, we identified the serpin protease nexin-1 (PN-1) as a potential target of MMP-9. Here, we show that PN-1 is a substrate for MMP-9 and establish a link between PN-1 degradation by MMP-9 and regulation of invasion. PN-1 levels increased in prostate carcinoma cells after downregulation of MMP-9 and in tissues of MMP-9-deficient mice, consistent with PN-1 degradation by MMP-9. We identified three MMP-9 cleavage sites in PN-1 and showed that mutations in those sites made PN-1 more resistant to MMP-9. Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is inhibited by PN-1. MMP-9 augmented uPA activity in the medium of PC3-ML cells by degrading PN-1. Prostate cancer cells, overexpressing PN-1 or treated with MMP-9 shRNA, had reduced cell invasion in Matrigel. PN-1 siRNA restored uPA activity and the invasive capacity. PN-1 mutated in the serpin inhibitory domain, the reactive center loop, failed to inhibit uPA and to reduce Matrigel invasion. This study shows a novel molecular pathway in which MMP-9 regulates uPA activity and tumor cell invasion through cleavage of PN-1.

Comprehensive profiling of cartilage extracellular matrix formation and maturation using sequential extraction and label-free quantitative proteomics

Articular cartilage is indispensable for joint function but has limited capacity for self-repair. Engineering of neocartilage in vitro is therefore a major target for autologous cartilage repair in arthritis. Previous analysis of neocartilage has targeted cellular organization and specific molecular components. However, the complexity of extracellular matrix (ECM) development in neocartilage has not been investigated by proteomics. To redress this, we developed a mouse neocartilage culture system that produces a cartilaginous ECM. Differential analysis of the tissue proteome of 3-week neocartilage and 3-day postnatal mouse cartilage using solubility-based protein fractionation targeted components involved in neocartilage development, including ECM maturation. Initially, SDS-PAGE analysis of sequential extracts revealed the transition in protein solubility from a high proportion of readily soluble (NaCl-extracted) proteins in juvenile cartilage to a high proportion of poorly soluble (guanidine hydrochloride-extracted) proteins in neocartilage. Label-free quantitative mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap) and statistical analysis were then used to filter three significant protein groups: proteins enriched according to extraction condition, proteins differentially abundant between juvenile cartilage and neocartilage, and proteins with differential solubility properties between the two tissue types. Classification of proteins differentially abundant between NaCl and guanidine hydrochloride extracts (n = 403) using bioinformatics revealed effective partitioning of readily soluble components from subunits of larger protein complexes. Proteins significantly enriched in neocartilage (n = 78) included proteins previously not reported or with unknown function in cartilage (integrin-binding protein DEL1; coiled-coil domain-containing protein 80; emilin-1 and pigment epithelium derived factor). Proteins with differential extractability between juvenile cartilage and neocartilage included ECM components (nidogen-2, perlecan, collagen VI, matrilin-3, tenascin and thrombospondin-1), and the relationship between protein extractability and ECM ultrastructural organization was supported by electron microscopy. Additionally, one guanidine extract-specific neocartilage protein, protease nexin-1, was confirmed by immunohistochemistry as a novel component of developing articular cartilage in vivo. The extraction profile and matrix-associated immunostaining implicates protease nexin-1 in cartilage development in vitro and in vivo.

Protease nexin-1 interacts with thrombomodulin and modulates its anticoagulant effect

The endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein thrombomodulin (TM) plays a critical role in the regulation of coagulation. TM is an essential cofactor in protein C activation by thrombin, and a direct inhibitor of thrombin-induced platelet activation and fibrinogen clotting. Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a serpin synthesized and secreted by a variety of cells including endothelial cells. PN-1 bound to the cell surface through interactions with glycosaminoglycans, is an efficient inhibitor of thrombin and controls thrombin-induced cell responses. An investigation of the interaction of PN-1 with TM using purified proteins and cultured human aortic endothelial cells was performed. Purified PN-1 was observed to bind to purified TM in a concentration-dependent manner. Double immunofluorescence studies indicated that PN-1 and TM were colocalized at the endothelial cell surface from which they were coprecipitated. Pretreatment of the cells with chondroitinase ABC greatly decreased the amount of the PN-1 associated to TM at the cell surface demonstrating the involvement of the TM chondroitin-sulfate chain in the formation of complexes. The inhibitory activity of the PN-1/TM complexes on the catalytic activity of thrombin, and on thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting, was markedly enhanced when compared with the inhibitory activity of each partner. PN-1-overexpressing human aortic endothelial cells and PN-1-underexpressing human aortic endothelial cells exhibited respectively a significantly reduced ability and enhanced capacity to activate protein C. Furthermore, PN-1 decreased the cofactor activity of TM on thrombin activable fibrinolysis inhibitor activation by thrombin. These data show for the first time that PN-1 forms complexes with TM and modulates its anticoagulant activity.

The mRNA for protease nexin-1 is expressed in human dermal papilla cells and its level is affected by androgen

Protease nexin-1, an inhibitor of serine proteases, plays important parts in the regulation of the growth, differentiation, and death of cells by modulating proteolytic activity. The mRNA for protease nexin-1 accumulates in rat dermal papilla cells in a hair cycle-dependent fashion and its levels are well correlated with the ability of dermal papilla cells to support hair growth. In an attempt to characterize the potential role of protease nexin-1 as a modulator of hair growth in humans, we investigated the steady-state level of protease nexin-1 mRNA in cultured human dermal papilla cells using a semiquantitative technique that involved reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, as well as the localization of this mRNA in vivo using dissected hair follicles. Protease nexin-1 mRNA was expressed in all dermal papilla cells examined, and it was also identified in the lower part of the connective tissue sheath. Moreover, we found that levels of protease nexin-1 mRNA were depressed by dihydrotestosterone, the most potent androgen, in cultured dermal papilla cells obtained from balding scalp. Our results suggest that protease nexin-1 might be a key molecule in the control of hair growth in humans and, moreover, that the androgen-mediated downregulation of the synthesis of protease nexin-1 might be associated with the progression of male-pattern baldness.

Developmental regulation of the serpin, protease nexin I, localization during activity-dependent polyneuronal synapse elimination in mouse skeletal muscle

During vertebrate neuromuscular development, all muscle fibers are transiently innervated by more than one neuron. Among the numerous factors shown to potentially influence the passage from poly- to mononeuronal innervation, serine proteases and their inhibitors appear to play important roles. In this regard, protease nexin I (PNI), a potent inhibitor of the serine protease, thrombin, is highly localized to the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). In turn, thrombin is responsible for activity-dependent synapse elimination both in an in vitro model, and in vivo. In the present study, we used a monospecific anti-PNI polyclonal antibody to study the developmental kinetics of PNI expression in mouse leg skeletal muscle. By using immunoblotting, we detected PNI at embryonic day 16 (E16), as a 48-kDa band. This 48-kDa PNI band became prominent in leg muscle extracts at postnatal day 5 (P5) and remained so in extracts from adult muscle. In contrast, a higher molecular weight immunoreactive PNI band, which was sodium dodecyl sulfate- and beta-mercaptoethanol-resistant, was first detected at E16, increased at birth (P0), and then decreased at P15, i.e., after the wave of polyneuronal synapse elimination had occurred in these muscles. The results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, measuring active, complexed, and truncated PNI, correlated with Western blot data. We used immunocytochemistry to probe the localization of PNI at the NMJ and found that PNI was present in the cytoplasm of myotubes at E16, but neither then nor at birth did it colocalize with acetylcholine receptors. PNI became localized at NMJs by P5 and increased by P15, after which it remained stably concentrated there in the adult. Finally, we studied the gene expression of PNI mRNA, by using Northern blotting, and showed that PNI mRNA was present in skeletal muscle and remained stable throughout the time-course studies, suggesting that developmental regulation of muscle PNI occurs principally at the translational and/or post-translational levels. These results suggest that the localization of PNI, through a binding site or "receptor" may play an important role in differentiation and maintenance of synapse.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) binds to glycosaminoglycans: analysis of the binding site

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), a neurotrophic protein, is a secreted serpin identified in extracellular matrixes. We show that PEDF extractions from the interphotoreceptor matrix are more efficient with increasing NaCl concentrations, indicating that ionic interactions mediate its association with this polyanionic matrix. We have used affinity chromatography and ultrafiltration to probe for direct binding of PEDF to glycosaminoglycans/polyanions. Correctly folded PEDF bound to immobilized heparin, chondroitin sulfate-A, -B, -C, and dextran sulfate columns and eluted from each with an increase in NaCl concentration. However, in the presence of urea, the protein lost its affinity for heparin. Binding of PEDF to heparan sulfate proteoglycan in solution was in a concentration-dependent fashion (half-maximal specific binding EC50 = 40 micrograms/mL) and was sensitive to increasing NaCl concentrations. The glycosaminoglycan-binding region was analyzed using chemical modification and limited proteolysis. PEDF chemically modified on lysine residues by biotinylation lost its capacity for interacting with heparin, implicating the involvement of PEDF lysine residues in heparin binding. Cleavage of the serpin-exposed loop with chymotrypsin did not affect the heparin-binding property. A limited proteolysis product containing residues 21-approximately 260 bound to heparin with similar affinity as the intact PEDF. Homology modeling of PEDF based on the X-ray crystal structures of antithrombin III and ovalbumin shows a region at the center of beta-sheet A-strands 2 and 3- and helix F that has a basic electrostatic surface potential and is densely populated with lysines exposed to the surface (K134, K137, K189, K191, H212, and K214) that are available to interact with various glycosaminoglycans/polyanions. This region represents a novel site for glycosaminoglycan binding in a serpin, which in PEDF, is distinct and nonoverlapping from the PEDF neurotrophic active region.

Arterial smooth muscle cell heparan sulfate proteoglycans accelerate thrombin inhibition by heparin cofactor II

Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a potent thrombin inhibitor in the presence of heparin and dermatan sulfate, glycosaminoglycans that accelerate the inhibition reaction. HCII is postulated to be an extravascular thrombin inhibitor that is stimulated physiologically by dermatan sulfate proteoglycans. To understand how thrombin activity may be downregulated within the artery wall, cultured monkey aorta smooth muscle cell (SMC) proteoglycans were tested for their ability to accelerate thrombin inhibition by HCII. Early confluent SMC monolayers increased thrombin-HCII inhibition rates 2-fold to 4-fold compared with reactions in cell-free control wells (7.3 +/- 0.5 versus 2.7 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) mol.L-1.min-1, with and without SMCs, respectively; n = 7 experiments). Extracellular matrix obtained by cell monolayer removal also accelerated the thrombin-HCII inhibition reaction 3-fold to 5-fold. Rate increases were abolished by Polybrene or protamine sulfate. Pretreatment of monolayers with heparitinase I (and of extracellular matrix with HNO2) to degrade heparan sulfate blocked the thrombin-HCII inhibition rate increase. In contrast, pretreatment with chondroitinase ABC in the presence of proteinase inhibitors had no effect. "Pericellular" (cell surface- and extracellular matrix-derived) SMC heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) were purified and fractionated by charge on DEAE-Sephacel. At a concentration of 1 microgram/mL hexuronic acid, high-charge HSPG stimulated a 7-fold thrombin-HCII inhibition rate increase relative to reactions without proteoglycan, whereas low-charge HSPG induced a 2-fold rate increase. In comparison, an 18-fold rate increase was observed with 1 microgram/mL dermatan sulfate proteoglycan purified from SMC culture media. These results indicate that SMC HSPG could contribute significantly to thrombin inhibition by HCII in the artery wall.

Prevention of activity-dependent neuronal death: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide stimulates astrocytes to secrete the thrombin-inhibiting neurotrophic serpin, protease nexin I

Neuronal cell death occurs as a programmed, naturally occurring mechanism and is the primary regressive event in central nervous system development. Death of neurons also occurs on an injury-induced basis after trauma and in human neurodegenerative diseases. Classical neurotrophic factors can reverse this phenomenon in experimental models prompting initiation of clinical trials in conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The glial-derived protease nexin I (PNI), a known promoter of neurite outgrowth in cell culture and a potent inhibitor of serine proteases, also enhances neuronal cell survival. PNI, in nanomolar concentrations, rescues spinal cord motor neurons from both naturally-occurring programmed cell death in the chick embryo as well as following injury in the neonatal mouse. The potent neuromodulator, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), influences neuronal survival through glial-mediated factors and also induces secretion of newly synthesized astrocyte PNI. We now report that subnanomolar amounts of PNI enhance neuronal survival in mixed spinal cord cell culture, especially when neuronal cells were made electrically silent by administration of tetrodotoxin. The mediation of this effect is by inhibition of the multifunctional serine protease, thrombin, because hirudin, a thrombin-specific inhibitor, has the same effect. In addition, spinal cord neurons are exquisitely sensitive to thrombin because picomolar and lower levels of the coagulation factor causes neuronal death. Thus, PNI is an astrocyte-derived, thrombin-inhibiting, activity-dependent neurotrophic agent, enhanced secretion of which by VIP may be one approach to treat neurological disorders.

Message of nexin 1, a serine protease inhibitor, is accumulated in the follicular papilla during anagen of the hair cycle

A group of specialized mesenchymal cells located at the root of the mammalian hair follicle, known as the follicular or dermal papillary cells, are involved in regulating the hair cycle, during which keratinocytes of the lower follicle undergo proliferation, degeneration and regrowth. Using the arbitrarily primed-PCR approach, we have identified a 1.3 kb messenger RNA that is present in large quantities in cultured rat follicular papillary cells, but not in skin fibroblasts. This mRNA encodes nexin 1, a potent protease inhibitor that can inactivate several growth-modulating serine proteases including thrombin, urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator. In situ hybridization showed that nexin 1 message is accumulated in the follicular papilla cells of anagen follicles, but is undetectable in keratinocytes or other skin mesenchymal cells. In addition, nexin 1 message level varies widely among several immortalized rat vibrissa papillary cell lines, and these levels correlate well with the reported abilities of these cell lines to support in vivo follicular reconstitution. These results suggest a possible role of nexin 1 in regulating hair follicular growth.

Serine proteinase inhibitors in human skeletal muscle: expression of beta-amyloid protein precursor and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin in vivo and during myogenesis in vitro

The balance of serine proteases and inhibitors in nerve and muscle is altered during programmed- and injury-induced remodeling. A serpin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin (alpha 1-ACT), and Kunitz-inhibitor containing forms of the beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) may be important components of this balance. In the present study, we analyzed their expression in primary cultures of human myogenic (satellite) cells that mimic myogenic differentiation using Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. In vitro results were compared to in vivo results from normal adult human skeletal muscle biopsies. Using an anti-alpha 1-ACT polyclonal antibody, we detected a 62 kDa immunoreactive band both in cultured human myogenic cells (mononucleated myoblasts as well as multi-nucleated myotubes) and in extracts of human muscle biopsies. With a polyclonal anti-beta APP antibody we found two bands (105 and 120 kDa) in myoblasts and myotubes in culture. However, the same antibody recognized only a single band at 92 kDa in biopsies. By immunocytochemistry, both alpha 1-ACT and beta APP were indistinctly present on localized to the surface of myoblasts in culture. In contrast, these inhibitors were dense on myotube surfaces, where they often formed distinct aggregates and frequently co-localized. In permeabilized muscle cells, alpha 1-ACT and beta APP appeared to be localized to the perikarya of both myoblasts and myotubes. Confirming previous results, both alpha 1-ACT and beta APP were present at the neuromuscular junction in human muscle sections. These developmental changes found during in vitro myogenesis for alpha 1-ACT and beta APP, both serine protease inhibitors, reinforce the hypothesis that regulation of the serine proteases and serine protease inhibitors plays an important role in neuromuscular differentiation.

The urokinase/urokinase-receptor system and cancer invasion

u-PA binds with high affinity to its specific GPI-anchored receptor on the cell surface. The binding has at least two important consequences: (1) it enhances the rate of plasminogen activation on the cell surface; and (2) it focuses the u-PA proteolytic activity at the leading front of migrating cells. Several recent findings suggest that surface-bound u-PA is essential for the invasive ability of tumour cells, even if a picture is emerging indicating a concerted action with other proteases, like collagenases and cathepsin B (Kobayashi et al, 1992; Ossowski, 1992; Schmitt et al, 1992; (Danø et al, 1994). In some tumours, e.g. colon, breast and skin cancer, in situ hybridization studies have given an insight into the u-PA/u-PAR tumour biology showing a complex interplay between stromal and cancer cells Danø et al, 1994). u-PA, u-PAR, and PAI-1 tumour content are now well established prognostic factor in breast cancer. This body of knowledge could be used for theurapeutic purposes. For example, a large study with 671 patients has allowed the identification of node-negative patients which, according to their u-PA levels, would need adjuvant therapy (Foekens et al, 1992). Many other tumours, especially colorectal cancer, expect a direct clinical evaluation of u-PA, u-PAR and serpins as prognostic factors.

Plasminogen activation by human keratinocytes: molecular pathways and cell-biological consequences

Keratinocytes are the major cellular constituent of stratified epithelia. Defects in these epithelia are re-epithelialized by keratinocytes migrating from the edge of the defect into the wound. The cells form a monolayer with subsequent differentiation into a multilayered epithelium. It is thought that plasminogen activation by migrating keratinocytes is an important event during re-epithelialization. In the present report we summarize the studies on plasminogen activation by human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo. Under the aspect of pericellular proteolysis the discussion is focused on the molecular mechanisms of plasminogen activation at the keratinocyte surface and on the cell-biological consequences of pericellular plasmin formation. We describe a cell surface-associated pathway of plasminogen activation which crucially depends on cell surface receptors for (pro)-uPA and plasmin(ogen). uPA bound to its receptor converts cell-bound plasminogen into the active protease plasmin. Compared to plasminogen activation in solution, activation at the keratinocyte cell surface is accelerated by a factor of approx. 7-10, and the plasmin generated and bound at the cell surface is protected against its specific inhibitor alpha 2-antiplasmin. Plasmin thus provided in the pericellular space leads to detachment of cultured keratinocytes from the growth substratum. Plasmin interferes with the adhesion of keratinocytes to fibrin, but not with the adhesion to collagen type I. By demonstrating that keratinocytes of the epithelial outgrowth in healing skin wounds express uPA and the uPA-R and that plasmin(ogen) is colocalized with uPA and/or uPA-R, indirect evidence is provided that this pathway may be operative in vivo. In view of previous findings that plasminogen activation is also observed under certain pathologic conditions in the epidermis, we conclude that plasminogen activation by keratinocytes is rather related to tissue damage and subsequent repair mechanisms than to a specific pathologic situation.

Structure of heparan sulphate from human brain, with special regard to Alzheimer's disease

Heparan sulphate (HS) was isolated after proteolytic digestion of cerebral cortex, obtained at autopsy, of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and of control subjects. Deaminative cleavage in combination with selective radiolabelling procedures showed that the N-acetylated regions in the intact polysaccharides ranged from isolated residues to approximately 10 consecutive N-acetylated disaccharide units, without any apparent difference between AD and control HS. The yield of disaccharide deamination products was slightly higher with AD than with control HS, suggesting a differential distribution of N-sulphate groups. Separation of the disaccharides by anion-exchange h.p.l.c. yielded four mono-O-sulphated and one di-O-sulphated disaccharide; these components occurred in strikingly similar proportions in all cerebral HS preparations (except polysaccharide from neonatal brain) irrespective of the age of the individual and the histopathology of the cortex specimen. No significant difference was noted between HS obtained from control and from AD tissue. By contrast, the composition of HS isolated from brain differed significantly from that of HS preparations derived from other human organs.

Heparin and its derivatives modulate serine proteinases (SERPS) serine proteinase inhibitors (SERPINS) balance. Physiopathological relevance

Heparin and heparan sulfate, exhibiting wide biological interactions, are constituted of block structures. A defined pentasaccharide motif was found responsible for the enhancement of the rate of inactivation of factor Xa by antithrombin III. Heparin also interacts with other serine proteinase inhibitors as protease nexin I, and thus possibly modulates extracellular matrix proteolysis by serine proteinases in the pericellular environment. Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) activity is inhibited by heparin with Ki = 75 pM. This strong interaction is electrostatic, involving HNE/arginine residues disposed in a "cluster shoe" arrangement on the surface of the molecule and mainly OSO3- groups of heparin. HNE-heparin interactions also interfere with HNE associations with its natural inhibitors: it decreases the rate of association of HNE with alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1 P(i)) by 3 orders of magnitude, while increasing kass between HNE and mucus bronchial inhibitor (MBI) by > 10 fold. In vivo experiments demonstrated that heparin fragments lacking anticoagulant activity were able to nearly completely abolish emphysematous lesions induced in mice by a single intratracheal administration of 200 micrograms HNE. Long chain unsaturated fatty acids peptide conjugates were described as competitive HNE inhibitors (Hornebeck W. et al. 1985). We synthesized N-oleoyl heparin derivative (3 oleoyl groups/one molecule of heparin); such a lipophilic glycosaminoglycan (LipoGAG), although acting as an elastin protecting agent, possessed lower HNE inhibitory capacity as compared with heparin. In contrast, however, it was able to inhibit other serine proteinases such as urokinase, plasmin, porcine pancreatic apha-chymotrypsin and elastase. Such Lipo GAG's can be therefore useful to control matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) during tissue remodeling or tumor invasion.

Glia-derived nexin/protease nexin-1 is expressed by a subset of neurons in the rat brain

Glia-derived nexin/protease nexin-1 (GDN/PN-1) is a serine protease inhibitor that is secreted by glial cells and fibroblasts in culture. In the adult mammalian nervous system it has been shown to be expressed in the olfactory system and by some glial cells in response to neuronal injury. In situ hybridization and immunocytochemical studies were performed to identify the structures expressing GDN/PN-1 in the developing and adult rat brain. In contrast to a transient widespread expression during pre- and postnatal development, some brain structures constitutively express GDN/PN-1. These include the olfactory nerve layer of the olfactory bulb, basal forebrain, striatum, pyramidal neurons of layer V in the cortex, thalamic nuclei, pars compacta of the substantia nigra, inferior and superior colliculi, and deep cerebellar nuclei. All of these parts, excluding the olfactory nerve layer, are characterized by a high neuronal cell density. Neurons in these regions were immunoreactive for GDN/PN-1. Furthermore GDN/PN-1 expression in cell lines showed that the active protein was synthesized and secreted from B104 but not from NB2a neuroblastoma cells. Although GDN/PN-1 has only been reported to be synthesized by glia, the results presented here demonstrate that in addition, a subset of neurons express this protease inhibitor.

Thrombin in inflammation and healing: relevance to rheumatoid arthritis

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Variable and multiple expression of Protease Nexin-1 during mouse organogenesis and nervous system development

Protease Nexin-1 (PN-1) also known as Glia-Derived Nexin (GDN) inhibits the activity of several serine proteases including thrombin, tissue (tPA)- and urokinase (uPA)-type plasminogen activators. These and other serine proteases seem to play roles in development and tissue homeostasis. To gain insight into where and when PN-1 might counteract serine protease activities in vivo, we examined its mRNA and protein expression in the mouse embryo, postnatal developing nervous system and adult tissues. These analyses revealed distinct temporal and spatial PN-1 expression patterns in developing cartilage, lung, skin, urogenital tract, and central and peripheral nervous system. In the embryonic spinal cord, PN-1 expression occurs in cells lining the neural canal that are different from the cells previously shown to express tPA. In the developing postnatal brain, PN-1 expression appears transiently in many neuronal cell populations. These findings suggest a role for PN-1 in the maturation of the central nervous system, a phase that is accompanied by the appearance of different forms of PN-1. In adults, few distinct neuronal cell populations like pyramidal cells of the layer V in the neocortex retained detectable levels of PN-1 expression. Also, mRNA and protein levels did not correspond in adult spleen and muscle tissues. The widespread and complex regulation of PN-1 expression during embryonic development and, in particular, in the early postnatal nervous system as well as in adult tissues suggests multiple roles for this serine protease inhibitor in organogenesis and tissue homeostasis.

Glycosaminoglycans and the regulation of blood coagulation

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Localization of heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan and proteoglycan core protein in aged brain and Alzheimer's disease

Two monoclonal antibodies, one which recognizes a glycosaminoglycan epitope present in heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan and another which recognizes the core protein of a basement membrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, were used to study the distribution and localization of these components in Alzheimer's disease and control brain. The cytoplasm of neurons, and occasional neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques and astrocytes were immunopositive for the heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan antibody in control brains. In Alzheimer's tissue, however, the number and intensity of these elements was more extensive than in control brains. In addition, within the Alzheimer's brains studied, the nuclei of select neurons and a small number of microglia were also immunopositive for heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan in contrast to controls, where nuclei and neuroglia were immuno-negative. Some senile plaques in Alzheimer's tissue also contained strong heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan-positive neurites which were not seen in controls. In Alzheimer's tissue, double labeling for heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans and the beta-amyloid protein in adjacent sections revealed that, in general, heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan- and beta-amyloid protein-immunopositive plaques were co-localized. Occasionally, however, beta-amyloid-positive plaques were seen without heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan immunoreactivity and vice versa. Heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan immunoreactivity and Tau immunoreactivity co-localized in many neurofibrillary tangles; however a small number of heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan-positive neurofibrillary tangles did not co-localize with Tau-positive neurofibrillary tangles. In contrast, the heparan sulfate proteoglycan antibody immunostained only the walls of blood vessels and a few senile plaques in Alzheimer's brains and primarily blood vessels in control brains. Heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan immunostaining was present within neurons, glia, neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in Alzheimer's tissue. These results suggest that heparan sulfate-like molecules play an important role in the pathogenesis of the characteristic lesions of Alzheimer's disease and could serve as a marker reflecting early pathological changes.

Characterization of proteoglycans in Alzheimer's disease fibroblasts

Skin fibroblasts lines established from patients with Alzheimer's disease and old normal individuals were cultured with 35S-sodium sulfate and 3H-glucosamine. Proteoglycans were isolated and characterized. Sulfate incorporation into proteoglycans increased in Alzheimer's disease fibroblasts relative to normal controls. These increases changed the ratio of chondroitin sulfate to heparan sulfate proteoglycan from 1.4 to 1.7 (p = 0.0012) and decreased the ratio of cell to medium proteoglycans from 0.32 to 0.26 in normal and Alzheimer fibroblasts (p = 0.006), respectively. HPLC analysis of the disaccharides produced by chondroitinase ABC revealed no differences in composition between proteoglycans of Alzheimer and normal fibroblasts in either the cell or medium fraction. However, analysis of disaccharides produced by heparinase plus heparitinase showed differences in composition in the medium but not the cell fraction. delta UA-GlcNS was increased by 30% while delta UA-GlcNS-6S was reduced by 40% in Alzheimer's disease.

Thrombin as a multifunctional protein: induction of cell adhesion and proliferation

The serine protease thrombin (E.C.3.4.21.5) is well recognized for its central role in hemostasis. In addition, thrombin is unique among the enzymes participating in the clotting cascade, by virtue of its cell activation effects induced via the enzymatic pocket or via functional domains located throughout the molecule. In this review, we elaborate on "nonhemostatic" activities of thrombin among which are interactions with vessel wall components. These activities include promotion of cellular adhesion and induction of smooth muscle cell proliferation. Thrombin can exert these effects when it is in a fluid phase and when it is immobilized to extracellular matrix.

Plasminogen activators and inhibitors in the neuromuscular system: III. The serpin protease nexin I is synthesized by muscle and localized at neuromuscular synapses

Recent studies suggest that the nature of events leading to the formation, maintenance, and elimination of synapses may be regulated by cascade-type, locally expressed proteases and protease inhibitors acting on adhesive extracellular matrix components. We have identified a molecule in conditioned medium of murine skeletal muscle cells that in molecular weight, target protease inhibition, heparin-binding and cross-reactivity with authenic antisera is similar to the human serine proteinase inhibitor, protease nexin I. Protease nexin I is a 43-50 kDa glycoprotein of the serpin superfamily (arg-serpin class). Purified anti-protease nexin I antibody (anti-47 kDa) stains adult mouse skeletal muscle in discrete foci that precisely superimpose on synaptic neuromuscular junctions. Protease nexin I appears in patches on surfaces of cultured mouse skeletal myotubes, but not on myoblasts. These patches co-localize with acetylcholine receptor clusters and acetylcholinesterase staining during cellular maturation in culture. Evidence that protease nexin I is a synaptic, extracellular antigen is particularly intriguing since it has been shown to be identical, in structure and activity, with a factor released by glial cells, called glia-derived nexin that stimulates mouse neuroblastoma cell neurite outgrowth and inhibits granule cell migration. Protease nexin I inhibits both tumor cell and myoblast plasminogen activator-mediated destruction of extracellular matrix. Thus, such observations as presented in this report provide further evidence for involvement of cascade proteolytic systems, and their post-translational regulation by specific serpins, in the remodeling that occurs in synapse formation and elimination.

Proteoglycan synthesis by clonal skeletal muscle cells during in vitro myogenesis: differences detected in the types and patterns from primary cultures

Proteoglycan synthesis by two clonal murine skeletal muscle cell lines, G8-1 and C2, was examined. Cultures of skeletal muscle cells at both the myoblast and myotube stages were radiolabeled using [35S]sulfate as a precursor. The proteoglycans of the cell layer and medium were separately extracted and isolated by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel followed by gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B. The cell layer proteoglycans eluted from Sepharose CL-20 as a single peak with a Kav of 0.66 and contained glycosaminoglycan chains with an average molecular weight of 20,000. The glycosaminoglycan chains were composed of nearly equal mixtures of chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate with the exception that C2 myoblast cultures contained larger amounts of heparan sulfate. Of interest, this line differentiates more rapidly in our laboratory than G8-1. The medium proteoglycans also eluted from Sepharose CL-2B as a single peak with a Kav of 0.66 but contained glycosaminoglycan chains with an average molecular weight of 32,000. Based upon enzymatic and chemical analysis, the medium glycosaminoglycan chains were composed of a mixture of chondroitin sulfate (71-80%) and heparin sulfate (19-22%). Following chondroitinase ABC digestion, the predominant disaccharide released from all glycosaminoglycan fractions was chondroitin-4-sulfate. When the extracted cell layer proteoglycans were chromatographed on Sepharose CL-28 in the absence of detergent, a small but consistent proportion (14-18%) eluted in the void volume, suggesting the association of at least a portion of this proteoglycan with cellular lipid. These differences distinguish proteoglycan metabolism in fusing clonal lines from primary muscle cell cultures suggesting their utility in evaluating the contribution of these macromolecules in myogenesis.

Early accumulation of heparan sulfate in neurons and in the beta-amyloid protein-containing lesions of Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome

A monoclonal antibody (HK-249) that recognizes a glucosamine sulfate alpha 1----4 glucuronic acid-containing determinant in heparan sulfate (HS) chains of a basement membrane-derived heparan sulfate proteoglycan identified and immunolocalized HS specifically to the amyloid deposits in neuritic plaques (NPs), congophilic angiopathy (CA), as well as in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and non-tangle-bearing neurons in the brains of Alzheimer's and Down's syndrome (DS) patients. Ultrastructural immunohistochemistry demonstrated that HS within neurons of Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain was localized to lipofuscin granules, an aging pigment previously shown also to contain beta-amyloid protein (BAP). Heparan sulfate also was localized to neurite-containing, nonfibrillar 'primitive' plaques that also demonstrated positive BAP immunoreactivity in both AD and DS brains. Antibodies to laminin, fibronectin, and a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan failed to show positive immunostaining of the HS-containing sites described above. Analysis of DS patients at different ages revealed that HS accumulated within neurons of the hippocampus and amygdala as early as 1 day after birth. Young age-matched controls did not demonstrate similar positive HS immunoreactivity in neurons, whereas positive immunostaining for HS was observed in other regions thought to normally contain HS. The earliest deposition of BAP was first observed as 'amorphous' or 'diffuse' cortical deposits in DS brain in patients aged 18 and 24 years before the accumulation of fibrillar amyloid (observed in DS patients who are 35 years and older). These cortical deposits also contained positive HS immunoreactivity, implying that HS accumulation in conjunction with the BAP is an early event that ultimately may contribute to the early age-related accumulation (ie, as early as 35 years of age in DS) of NPs, NFTs, and/or CA. Furthermore the colocalization of HS and BAP in a number of specific locales in AD and DS brain indicates a possible interaction between these two macromolecules that may be important in lesion development in these two diseases.

Plasminogen activators and their inhibitors in the neuromuscular system: II. Serpins and serpin: protease complex receptors increase during in vitro myogenesis

In the course of studies on the regulation of plasminogen activator-mediated extracellular matrix degradation in muscle we found the presence of a factor, a cellular inhibitor of serine proteases having features similar to the serpin protease nexin I (PNI). This factor was present in the medium and at maximum concentration following fusion of skeletal muscle cells in culture. The ability of the PNI homologue in mouse muscle to inhibit ECM degradation by urokinase in myoblast medium was compared to that of human PNI purified from human fibroblasts. Stable (to SDS) 1:1 molar ratio complex formation between PNI and proteases, the proposed means by which these enzymes are regulated and removed, was also detected. Cell surface receptors for protease:PNI complexes, the specific binding sites for inactive complex internalization, were found on multinucleated myotubes, while little or no receptor activity was detected on myoblasts. These data suggest that developmental regulation of a) increased PNI proteolytic inhibitory activity expression and b) the appearance of protease:inhibitor complex receptors on muscle cell surfaces during myogenesis may constitute important regulatory features of muscle surface proteolytic activity. They complement previous studies of proteoglycan metabolism in muscle, which itself contains molecules capable of regulating the activity of myotube surface proteases.

Neurite outgrowth activity of protease nexin-1 on neuroblastoma cells requires thrombin inhibition

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a protein proteinase inhibitor recently shown to be identical with the glial-derived neurite-promoting factor or glial-derived nexin. It has been shown to promote neurite outgrowth in neuroblastoma cells and in sympathetic neurons. The present experiments were designed to further test the hypothesis that this activity on neuroblastoma cells is due to its ability to complex and inhibit thrombin. It has been suggested that PN-1:thrombin complexes might mediate the neurite outgrowth activity of PN-1. However, the present studies showed that such complexes, unlike free PN-1, did not promote neurite outgrowth. The neurite outgrowth activity of PN-1 was only detected in the presence of thrombin or serum (which contains thrombin). PN-1 did not affect the rate or extent of neurite outgrowth that occurred when neuroblastoma cells were placed in serum-free medium. Retraction of neurites by thrombin was indistinguishable in cells whose neurites had been extended in the presence or absence of PN-1. The neurite-promoting activity of PN-1 was inhibited by an anti-PN-1 monoclonal antibody, which blocks its capacity to complex serine proteinases. The plasma thrombin inhibitor, antithrombin III, stimulated neurite outgrowth but only when its thrombin inhibitory activity was accelerated by heparin. The neurite outgrowth activity of both antithrombin III and PN-1 corresponded to their inhibition of thrombin. Together, these observations show that PN-1 promotes neurite outgrowth from neuroblastoma cells by inhibiting thrombin and suggest that this depends on the ability of thrombin to retract neurites.

Protease nexin-1, an antithrombin with neurite outgrowth activity, is reduced in Alzheimer disease

Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a cell-secreted protein that inhibits certain proteases, particularly thrombin, by forming SDS-stable complexes with the catalytic site serine of the protease. PN-1 was recently shown to be identical to a glial-derived neurite-promoting factor/glial-derived nexin present in rat brain. Its neurite outgrowth activity depends on inhibition of thrombin, presumably because thrombin brings about neurite retraction. Here we show that human brain contains PN-1 and that PN-1 activity in brains of individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD) was only 14% of control values (total of 14 AD patients and 7 control individuals). PN-1 activity in the hippocampus, a region with marked neuropathology in AD, was 15% of control values (10 AD patients and 4 control individuals). Western blot analysis indicated a large decrease in free PN-1 protein and an increase in PN-1-containing complexes that comigrated with PN-1-thrombin complexes. Northern blot analysis indicated that PN-1 mRNA levels were about equal in brains from AD patients and control individuals. Thus these results suggest that the decreases in PN-1 activity and free PN-1 protein are due to formation of PN-1-protease complexes.

The interaction of thrombin with platelet protease nexin

Thrombin interacts with a platelet protein which is immunologically related to fibroblast protease nexin and has been termed platelet protease nexin I (PNI). Conflicting hypotheses about the relationship of the thrombin-PNI complex formation to platelet activation have been proposed. The studies presented here demonstrate that the platelet-associated and supernatant complexes with added 125I-thrombin are formed only under conditions which produce platelet activation in normal and chymotrypsin-modified platelets. The platelet-associated complex is formed prior to the appearance of complexes in supernatants. Appearance of the supernatant complex coincides with the appearance of thrombospondin in the reaction supernatants. Excess native thrombin, dansylarginine N-(3-ethyl-1,5-pentanediyl) amide or hirudin can prevent radiolabeled platelet-associated complex formation if added before 125I-thrombin. DAPA or hirudin can prevent or dissociate complex formation if added up to one minute after thrombin but not at later time points. The surface associated complex is accessible to trypsin although a portion remains with the cytoskeletal proteins when thrombin-activated platelets are solubilized with Triton X 100. The surface-associated complex formation parallels many aspects of the specific measurable thrombin binding, yet it does not appear to involve other identified surface glycoprotein thrombin receptors or substrates. Although the time course of appearance of the complexes in supernatants is consistent with other data which suggest that PNI may be released from platelet granules during platelet activation, other explanations for the appearance of PNI on the platelet surface and in supernatants during platelet activation are possible.

Protease nexin-1 complexes and inhibits T cell serine proteinase-1

The T cell serine proteinase-1 (TSP-1) which most probably is involved in cell killing by cytotoxic T cells is inhibited by protease nexin-1 (PN-1), an extravascular serine protease inhibitor. The inhibition is irreversible and correlates with formation of SDS-stable complexes between the two proteins. Two distinct species of complexes (91 and 122 kDa) are observed upon SDS-PAGE analysis of the reacted proteins, indicating that PN-1 is capable of complexing and inhibiting both subunits of the homodimeric TSP-1 molecule. Heparin (2 micrograms/ml) increases the association rate constant from 4.2 x 10(4) M-1 sec-1 to 4.8 x 10(5) M-1 sec-1. These observations suggest that PN-1 may function as a major extravascular inhibitor of TSP-1 released from cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Proteolytic regulation of neurite outgrowth from neuroblastoma cells by thrombin and protease nexin-1

This review summarizes studies on the reciprocal regulation of neuroblastoma neurite outgrowth by thrombin and protease nexin-1 (PN-1). PN-1 recently was shown to possess the same deduced amino acid sequence as the glial-derived neurite-promoting factor. The neurite outgrowth activity of PN-1 depends on its ability to inhibit thrombin. Thrombin not only blocks the neurite outgrowth activity of PN-1, but it also brings about neurite retraction in the presence of PN-1. Thrombin also produces neurite retraction in the absence of PN-1 and other regulatory factors. This suggests that its activity is due to a direct action on cells. The neurite retraction by thrombin depends on its proteolytic activity. It does not occur with the other serine proteases that have been tested, indicating that it is a specific effect and is not due to a general proteolytic effect that could detach neurites from the culture dish. Serum brings about neurite retraction in certain neuroblastoma cells and primary neuronal cultures; most of this activity is due to residual thrombin in the serum. Together, these results suggest that PN-1 and thrombin (or a thrombin-like protease) play a role in regulation of neurite outgrowth.

Monoclonal antibodies to protease nexin 1 that differentially block its inhibition of target proteases

Protease nexin 1 (PN-1) is a protease inhibitor secreted by cultured fibroblasts that forms complexes with certain serine proteases; the complexes bind back to the cells and are internalized and degraded. In the present studies, a panel of PN-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was isolated; none showed detectable cross-reactivity with four related plasma protease inhibitors. Four purified mAbs (mAbp1, mAbp6, mAbp9, and mAbp18) were tested for their ability to block the formation of complexes between PN-1 and target proteases. mAbp1, as well as a rabbit polyclonal anti-PN-1 IgG preparation, did not block formation of 125I-thrombin-PN-1 complexes. mAbp6, mAbp9, and mAbp18 blocked the formation of 125I-thrombin-PN-1 and 125I-urokinase-PN-1 complexes at stoichiometric concentrations of mAb and PN-1. Studies on their ability to block formation of 125I-trypsin-PN-1 complexes showed that mAbp18 also blocked this reaction at stoichiometric concentrations with PN-1 whereas mAbp6 and mAbp9 blocked less effectively. Thus, mAbp18 appears to bind at or close to the reactive center of PN-1. The blocking mAbs should be useful in studies to probe physiological functions of PN-1.

Purification of a form of protease nexin 1 that binds heparin with a low affinity

A form of protease nexin 1 (PN-1) that binds heparin with a low affinity (L-PN-1) was purified and studies since altered interactions with glycosaminoglycans could affect its inhibition of certain serine proteases. Purification of L-PN-1 and PN-1 was achieved by fractionating serum-free conditioned culture medium from human fibroblasts over dextran sulfate-Sepharose followed by immunoaffinity fractionation over a PN-1 monoclonal antibody-Sepharose column. The first step separated L-PN-1 from PN-1, and the second step resulted in apparently homogeneous L-PN-1 and PN-1. Comparisons of the two proteins showed that they could not be distinguished by the following properties: (a) molecular weight; (b) proteases complexed; (c) molecular weights of protease-L-PN-1 and protease-PN-1 complexes; (d) CNBr peptide maps; and (e) immunological cross-reactivity. Studies on activities that depend on the heparin binding domain revealed that heparin equally accelerated the rate of formation of 125I-thrombin-L-PN-1 and 125I-thrombin-PN-1 complexes even when the ratio of heparin to L-PN-1 or PN-1 was varied from 0.01 to 100. A functional difference, however, between L-PN-1 and PN-1 was observed in studies on the ability of the fibroblast surface to accelerate their reactions. Fixed fibroblasts accelerated the formation of 125I-thrombin-L-PN-1 complexes 2-fold, whereas they accelerated the formation of 125I-thrombin-PN-1 complexes 5-fold. The availability of purified L-PN-1 will permit studies on its functional relationship to PN-1.

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.