Isolation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) from human placenta. Evidence for vitronectin/PAI-2 complexes in human placenta extract

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2: still an enigmatic serpin but a model for gene regulation

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2; SERPINB2) is an atypical member of the Ov-serpin family of serine protease inhibitors. While it is an undisputed inhibitor of urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator in the extracellular space and on the cell surface, the weight of circumstantial evidence suggests that PAI-2 also fulfills an intracellular role which is independent of plasminogen activator inhibition and indeed may not even involve protease inhibition at all. More and more data continue to implicate a role for PAI-2 in many settings, the most recent associating it as a modulator of the innate immune response. Further to the debates concerning its physiological role, there are few genes, if any, that display the regulation profile of the PAI-2 gene: PAI-2 protein and mRNA levels can be induced in the order of, not hundred-, but thousand-folds in a process that is controlled at many levels including gene transcription and mRNA stability while an epigenetic component is also likely. The ability of some cells, including monocytes, fibroblasts, and neurons to have the capacity to increase PAI-2 synthesis to such high levels is intriguing enough. So why do these cells have the capacity to synthesize so much of this protein? While tantalizing clues continue to be revealed to the field, an understanding of how this gene is regulated so profoundly has provided insights into the broader mechanics of gene expression and regulation.

Protein composition of microparticles shed from human placenta during placental perfusion: Potential role in angiogenesis and fibrinolysis in preeclampsia

Shedding of syncytiotrophoblast microparticles (MPs) from placenta to maternal blood occurs in normal pregnancy and is enhanced during preeclampsia (PE). The syncytiotrophoblast synthesizes plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) which regulate fibrinolysis, as well as soluble forms of the fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and endoglin, which exert anti-angiogenic actions. An increase in the ratio of PAI-1/PAI-2 and elevated levels of sFlt-1 and sEng in maternal serum are linked to placental damage and maternal endothelial cell dysfunction in PE. The goal of the current study was to determine whether MPs released to maternal perfusate during dual perfusion contain these factors associated with placental pathophysiology in PE. Initially, high levels of alkaline phosphatase activity and Annexin V binding were found in MPs isolated by sequential centrifugation of maternal perfusates at 10,000 and 150,000×g(10 K and 150 K MPs), indicating their plasma membrane origin. ELISA revealed the presence of these factors at the following relative levels: Eng>PAI-2⋙PAI-1>sFlt-1. Based on comparisons of their concentration in perfusates, MPs, and MP-free 150 K supernatants, we determined that MPs constitute a significant portion of Eng released by placenta. Flow cytometric analysis of 10 K MPs supported the levels of expression found by ELISA and indicated that Eng and PAI-2 were almost exclusively localized to the surface of MPs, a site with biological potential. These results indicate that MPs shed from the syncytial surface express factors which may alter the fibrinolytic and angiogenic balance at the maternal-fetal interface and play a role in the pathophysiology of PE.

Role of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors 1alpha and 2alpha in the regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression in a human trophoblast cell line

The plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) play critical roles in regulating hemostatic and invasive functions of trophoblasts through suppression of plasmin-dependent fibrinolysis and extracellular matrix degradation. The expression of PAI-1 is increased under hypoxic conditions, although the mechanism remains incompletely understood. In the current study we used HTR-8/SVneo cells, a first trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line, and siRNA technology to examine the role of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs)-1alpha and -2alpha in the regulation of PAI-1 expression. Using serum-containing and serum-free media culture media it was initially noted that levels of PAI-1, but not PAI-2 protein, were markedly induced by hypoxic (2-3% oxygen) treatment. Under hypoxic conditions, Western blotting revealed that the presence of siRNAs to HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha suppressed expression of their respective proteins, whereas treatment with non-targeting and cyclophilin B siRNAs did not. Importantly, incubation with siRNA to HIF-1alpha or HIF-2alpha alone reduced PAI-1 protein levels to a similar extent, with the combined treatment inducing a more profound effect. The presence of HIF siRNAs reduced levels of PAI-1 mRNA as measured by quantitative real-time PCR, indicating that HIF-1alpha and HIF-2 alpha regulate PAI-1 expression at a transcriptional level. These results indicate that both HIF-1alpha and HIF-2alpha play important and similar roles in hypoxia-mediated stimulation of PAI-1 expression in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Our findings provide insight into the physiological regulation of trophoblast PAI-1 expression in early pregnancy when placental oxygen levels are low, as well as a mechanism for over-expression of placental PAI-1 noted in pregnancies with preeclampsia.

Differential Release of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors (PAIs) During Dual Perfusion of Human Placenta: Implications in Preeclampsia

Plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs) play critical roles in regulating cellular invasion and fibrinolysis. An increase in the ratio of PAI-1/PAI-2 in placenta and maternal serum is suggested to result in excessive intervillous fibrin deposition and placental infarction in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In the current study we used dual (maternal and fetal) perfusion of human term placentas to examine the release of PAIs to the intervillous space. ELISA revealed a significant time-dependent increase in total PAI-1 levels in maternal perfusate (MP) between 1 and 7h of perfusion. Conversely, PAI-2 levels decreased resulting in a 3-fold increase in the PAI-1/PAI-2 ratio in MP. Levels of PAI-1, but not PAI-2, in placental tissue extracts increased during perfusion. In perfusions carried out with xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X + XO), compounds used to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), no time-dependent increase in total PAI-1 levels was observed. In addition, X + XO treatment promoted a 3-fold reduction in active PAI-1 levels in MP, indicating that ROS decrease PAI-1 release to MP. The finding of a time-dependent change in patterns of PAI expression and response to ROS indicates the utility of dual perfusion as a model to dissect mechanism(s) promoting aberrant fibrinolysis in pregnancies complicated by PE and IUGR.

The undecided serpin

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2) is a nonconventional serine protease inhibitor (serpin) with unique and tantalizing properties that is generally considered to be an authentic and physiological inhibitor of urokinase. However, the fact that only a small percentage of PAI-2 is secreted has been a long-standing argument for alternative roles for this serpin. Indeed, PAI-2 has been shown to have a number of intracellular roles: it can alter gene expression, influence the rate of cell proliferation and differentiation, and inhibit apoptosis in a manner independent of urokinase inhibition. Despite these recent advances in defining the intracellular function of PAI-2, it still remains one of the most mysterious and enigmatic members of the serpin superfamily.

The exon 3 encoded sequence of the intracellular serine proteinase inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 is a protein binding domain

We have used a combination of biochemical and immunological methods to probe for proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic form of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) and to identify the structure in PAI-2 that mediates the binding. By affinity chromatography on immobilized PAI-2, we purified a collection of PAI-2-binding proteins. These proteins bound 125I-labeled PAI-2 in vitro (IC50, approximately 10-100 nM) in a calcium-independent reaction that did not abrogate the proteinase inhibitory function of PAI-2. Annexin I was identified among the eluted proteins, and purified annexins I, II, IV, and V, but not III and VI, possessed 125I-labeled PAI-2 binding activity. Immune precipitation by anti-PAI-2 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies of metabolically labeled melanoma cells treated with a cleavable cross-linker prior to analysis revealed three prominent proteins with apparent masses of 100, 70, and 50 kDa. We localized the protein binding domain in PAI-2 between amino acid residues 66 and 98, as determined by using a PAI-2 mutant lacking this domain and a synthetic peptide spanning this region. This region of PAI-2 corresponds to exon 3 of the gene sequence thought to be critical for PAI-2 functions.

Plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is a spontaneously polymerising SERPIN. Biochemical characterisation of the recombinant intracellular and extracellular forms

Plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) is a specific inhibitor of plasminogen activators (PA) that exists in an intracellular, low-molecular-mass form and a secreted, high-molecular-mass form that varies with respect to glycosylation. Here we have developed expression systems for both forms of PAI-2 and biochemically characterised the purified proteins. In order to obtain efficient secretion, we constructed an artificial signal sequence and fused it to the coding region of PAI-2. With this construct, more than 90% of PAI-2 was secreted as a glycosylated, 60-kDa molecular-mass form, but the level of expression was low and unstable. To obtain higher expression of secreted PAI-2, a novel expression vector based on the Semliki-forest-virus replicon was used. Secreted PAI-2 was purified to homogeneity and N-terminal sequence analysis showed that the artificial signal peptide was correctly removed. The intracellular, non-glycosylated form of PAI-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Both the secreted and the intracellular forms of PAI-2 were found to inhibit plasminogen activators by forming SDS-resistant complexes and the second-order rate constants were similar for both forms, ranging over 2.4-2.7 x 10(6) M-1s-1 for urokinase-type PA, 2.5-2.7 x 10(5) M-1s-1 for two-chain tissue-type PA and 0.8-1.2 x 10(4) M-1s-1 for single-chain tissue-type PA. None of the purified PAI-2 forms bound to vitronectin. Circular-dichroism spectral analysis revealed that PAI-2 has a CD spectrum that resembles ovalbumin more than PA-inhibitor type 1, confirming the greater similarity between these two members of the serine-protease inhibitor family. Similar to what has been described for the Z-form of alpha 1-antitrypsin, purified PAI-2 was found to spontaneously form polymers during incubation at room temperature. Attempts to convert PAI-2 to a stable locked conformation resembling the conformation of latent PAI-1 by treatment with diluted guanidinium chloride were unsuccessful. Instead, this treatment enhanced the formation of PAI-2 polymers, possibly by the loop-sheet polymerisation mechanism described for alpha 1-antitrypsin.

Type-2 plasminogen-activator inhibitor is a substrate for trophoblast transglutaminase and factor XIIIa. Transglutaminase-catalyzed cross-linking to cellular and extracellular structures

Plasminogen-activator inhibitor type-2 (PAI-2), a serine-proteinase inhibitor, suppresses fibrinolysis by blocking both urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activators. The 43-kDa PAI-2 molecule is an abundant cytosolic protein in certain cell types, but can upon appropriate stimulation be secreted as an approximately 60-70-kDa glycoprotein. However, in trophoblast membranes PAI-2 activity is associated with large covalent complexes (Jensen, P. H., Nykjaer, P., Andreasen P. A., Lund, L., Astedt, B. Lecander, I & Gliemann, J. (1989) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 986, 135-140). This study shows that PAI-2 can act as a substrate for both tissue transglutaminase and activated plasma factor XIII. In the presence of Ca2+, either of these will catalyze the incorporation of primary amines, such as putrescine, into PAI-2. Moreover, in reactions with tissue transglutaminase, PAI-2 homopolymers and, in conjunction with other biological substrates, heteropolymers were observed. As judged by the test of incorporating 125I-urokinase into SDS-resistant 125I-urokinase/PAI-2 complexes, polymerized PAI-2 retained its inhibitory activity. Furthermore, syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membranes and trophoblast detergent extracts incorporated 125I-PAI-2 into large structures in a reaction inhibited by putrescine and a synthetic inhibitor of transglutaminase. Trophoblast transglutaminase was identified as a tissue transglutaminase by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis and dansylcadaverine activity staining, fibronectin binding and Western blotting with a specific antibody. The transglutaminase-catalyzed and Ca(2+)-dependent anchoring of PAI-2 to extracellular membrane structures might have the purpose of focally regulating fibrinolysis.