Angiostatin diminishes activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK-1 and ERK-2 in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

Angiostatin is an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis that was isolated from tumor-bearing mice. It has been established that angiostatin inhibits endothelial cell proliferation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Here we report that angiostatin reduces transiently the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK-1 and ERK-2 in human dermal microvascular cells, but not in human vascular smooth muscle cells or human dermal fibroblasts. We demonstrate that angiostatin diminishes ERK activation by basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. Dephosphorylation of ERK and other tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins was blocked by pretreatment of the cells with sodium meta-vanadate, an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases, indicating that angiostatin signaling may require the activity of a tyrosine phosphatase. Concentrations of angiostatin that inhibited ERK activation also inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated collagen gel invasion by endothelial cells, but did not affect endothelial cell proliferation. We thus show that angiostatin inhibits primarily the invasion of endothelial cells and exerts minimal (if any) effects on their proliferation. Invasion is a process that involves proteolysis, adhesion and migration, all of which have been linked to ERK signaling.

A novel assay of angiogenesis in the quail chorioallantoic membrane: stimulation by bFGF and inhibition by angiostatin according to fractal dimension and grid intersection

In a novel assay of angiogenesis in the quail chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), we measured vascular pattern and angiogenic rate after homogeneous exposure of the entire vascular tree to recognized modulators of vessel growth. In comparison to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated controls, the vascular stimulator, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2), increased the rate of angiogenesis by a maximum of 72%, whereas a recently discovered angiogenic inhibitor, angiostatin, decreased the rate of vascular growth by a maximum of 68%. The perturbants were applied in PBS to the CAM of 7-day-old embryos (E7) cultured in petri dishes, and the embryos were cultured further until fixation at E8 or E9. For morphometry of the quasi-two-dimensional CAM vasculature, digital images of arterial endpoints from the middle region of the CAM were acquired in grayscale at a magnification of 10x, binarized to black/white, and skeletonized. The pattern of vessel branching was assessed by measurement of the fractal dimension (Df), and vessel density (rhov), with the method of grid intersection. Correlations between these two statistical techniques were linear (r2 ranged from 0.967 to 0.985). For skeletonized images at E9, Df and rhov of bFGF-treated samples were 1.55 +/- 0.01 and 782 +/- 26/cm2, respectively (relative to 1.49 +/- 0.02 and 583 +/- 60/cm2 for controls), and of angiostatin-treated samples, 1.43 +/- 0.02 and 424 +/- 74/cm2 (relative to 1.50 +/- 0.02 and 616 +/- 59/cm2 for controls). To establish normalization values for rates of angiogenesis, we analyzed untreated CAMs of E6 to E12. From E7 to E10 in skeletonized images, Df increased linearly from 1.37 +/- 0.01 to 1.54 +/- 0.01 and rhov from 311 +/- 67 to 746 +/- 124/cm2 (in both cases, r2 = 1.000). Thus, the rates of normal angiogenic growth as measured by Df and rhov were 0.06/day and 138/cm2-day, respectively. From E10 to E12, Df and rhov declined slightly. Differences between the vasculature of untreated and PBS-treated CAMs were statistically insignificant. In conclusion, vascular branching pattern and density in the quail CAM were stimulated by bFGF and inhibited by angiostatin. We quantified these changes with statistical significance by Df and rhov, which are expressed relative to the rates of normal developmental angiogenesis measured for the two parameters in untreated quail embryos.

Inducible carboxypeptidase activity. A role in clot lysis in vivo

BACKGROUND

An inducible carboxypeptidase activity in human plasma delays tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA)-induced clot lysis in vitro. We investigated whether carboxypeptidase activity is induced in vivo during thrombosis and thrombolytic therapy in a canine model of myocardial infarction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

By use of synthetic substrate assays, dog plasma was shown to contain an inducible carboxypeptidase activity that is efficiently inhibited by potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor. This inhibitor accelerates TPA-mediated clot lysis in vitro by an average of 27% (n = 5, P = .046). Analysis of the inducible carboxypeptidase activity in plasma samples of dogs with electrically induced thrombosis of the circumflex coronary artery treated with TPA revealed that (1) inducible carboxypeptidase activity is increased during thrombosis (8.7 +/- 2.0 U/L, P < .013) and thrombolytic therapy (9.9 +/- 1.8 U/L, P < .024) compared with baseline (3.2 +/- 2.0 U/L); (2) thrombosis is a prerequisite of carboxypeptidase induction during and after TPA infusion, since carboxypeptidase levels were lower in dogs without a coronary thrombus; and (3) a significant positive correlation (r = .6, P < .0069) of carboxypeptidase activity with time to restoration of blood flow was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that carboxypeptidase activity is induced in vivo and may influence thrombolysis.

Plasma carboxypeptidases as regulators of the plasminogen system

Carboxy-terminal lysine residues on the surface of cells and fibrin bind plasminogen and control its activation. Since plasma contains basic carboxypeptidases, which remove carboxy-terminal lysines from protein substrates, we investigated if these enzymes are involved in the regulation of plasminogen binding sites. Plasma reduced plasminogen binding to cells, and this effect could be ascribed to the activity of the plasma carboxypeptidases. Purified carboxypeptidase N, which is constitutively active, and plasma carboxypeptidase B, which circulates as a zymogen, were both capable of significantly reducing plasminogen binding to cells. Dose titration experiments verified that plasma concentrations of either carboxypeptidase were sufficient to maximally affect plasminogen binding to cells. Furthermore, plasma carboxypeptidase B, but not carboxypeptidase N, reduced the rate of whole blood clot lysis induced by tissue-type plasminogen activator. These findings establish that plasma carboxypeptidases can modulate plasminogen binding to cells and control the rate of fibrinolysis. These functions delineate a novel role for the plasma carboxypeptidases in the regulation of the plasminogen system.

The cell biology of the plasminogen system

The plasminogen system plays a pivotal role in maintaining vascular patency and in cell migration. Binding of plasminogen to surfaces (i.e., fibrin or cells) is of crucial importance in regulating the function of this system. Plasmin(ogen) binds to cells with low affinity and high capacity via its lysine binding sites, which are associated with its kringle domains and recognize carboxy-terminal lysines of cell surface proteins. Upon binding to cellular receptors, plasminogen is more readily activated; bound plasmin has increased enzymatic activity and is protected from inactivation by inhibitors. Plasminogen receptors are modulated by numerous factors, including proteases, steroid hormones, cytokines and the adhesive state of the cells. The apoprotein(a) moiety of lipoprotein(a) is remarkably similar in amino acid sequence to plasminogen. Shared binding sites for lipoprotein(a) and plasmin(ogen) on cell surfaces and in the subendothelial matrix may contribute to the pathogenetic risks associated with elevated levels of lipoprotein(a).

Receptors for plasminogen and t-PA: an update

Over the past decade, the existence of cell-surface receptors for components of the plasminogen system, t-PA, u-PA, plasminogen and plasmin, has been demonstrated. Plasminogen receptors have been detected on virtually all cell types tested, and occupancy has also been demonstrated in biological settings. Characteristic features of plasminogen receptors include their relatively low affinity and their extraordinarily high density on many cells. These receptors recognize the lysine binding sites associated with the kringles of plasminogen. Plasminogen receptors include proteins with carboxyl-terminal lysine residues (enolase and annexin II are representatives) and nonproteins, such as gangliosides. Plasminogen binding to cells enhances plasmin activity by augmenting plasminogen activation, increasing the enzymatic activity of plasmin, and protecting plasmin for inactivation by inhibitors. t-PA receptors serve two major functions, clearance and cell-surface localization. The liver is the main organ for t-PA clearance; parenchymal, endothelial and Kupffer cells are all capable of t-PA uptake. Clearance receptors on these cells are heterogeneous and include ones which recognize the carbohydrate side chains of t-PA and ones which take up t-PA: PAI-1 complexes. Receptors which recognize free t-PA also mediate liver clearance, and alpha 2-MR/LRP is a representative of this latter category. Receptors that localize t-PA on cell surfaces serve a profibrinolytic function. Vascular endothelial cells are rich in such receptors, and annexin II is a representative of these t-PA binding sites. Circulating blood cells also bind t-PA, and some of the sites on these cells are shared with plasminogen. Cells of neuronal origin are capable of binding t-PA with high affinity; and amphoterin, a protein involved in neurite outgrowth, may be a neuronal t-PA receptor. Overall, the plasminogen system is one of the most widely distributed and versatile of the cell surface-proteinase systems. By activating bound plasminogen by cell-bound plasminogen activators, the cell harnesses the broad proteolytic activity of plasmin. Cells can then utilize this activity to perform functions such as assisting in cell migration.

The role of an enolase-related molecule in plasminogen binding to cells

The alpha isoform of enolase is a candidate plasminogen receptor on U937 monocytoid cells [Miles, L. A., Dahlberg, C. L., Plescia, J., Felez, J., Kato, K. & Plow, E. F. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 1682-1691]. In the present study, an enolase-related molecule was detected on the surfaces of peripheral blood monocytes and neutrophils by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. A mRNA transcript encoding a unique membrane form of an enolase-related molecule was not detected by Northern-blotting and primer-extension analyses, consistent with the cell-surface protein being authentic alpha-enolase. Both the alpha and beta isoforms of purified enolase, bound plasminogen with an affinity similar to that of the cell surface. Moreover, immunopurified alpha-enolase enhanced plasminogen activation by tissue plasminogen activator and blocked the binding of plasminogen to alpha 2-antiplasmin, mimicking functions arising from the association of plasminogen with cells. The interaction of the enolase isoforms with plasminogen was dependent upon recognition of the C-terminal lysyl residue of the enolases by the lysine-binding sites of plasminogen, as the interaction was blocked by (a) peptides with C-terminal lysine residues and (b) an antibody to the C-terminal aspect of enolase. A monoclonal antibody was developed, characterized and utilized to quantify the enolase molecules present on the surface of U937 cells. A substantial number of molecules, 1.8 x 10(6)/cell, was present, accounting for approximately 10% of the plasminogen-binding capacity of these cells. These studies clearly establish the role of enolase as a cell-surface plasminogen-binding site with profibrinolytic functions.