Fibrinolysis and proteolysis in a cellular context.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Klaus T Preissner.
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Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are serine protease inhibitors that bind to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin (VN) with high affinity. PAI-1 is known to inhibit cell adhesion and migration by binding to VN and inhibiting the interaction with integrins or the urokinase receptor (uPAR). Unexpectedly, PN-1 was found to increase the association between VN and uPAR in the presence of enzymatically active uPA. Through this mechanism PN-1 also stimulated uPAR-dependent cell adhesion to immobilized VN. In contrast to PAI-1, PN-1 did not influence VN binding to integrins or integrin-mediated cell adhesion. Upon adhesion of monocytes to VN there was an accumulation of uPAR and PN-1 at the interface between the cell and the matrix, whereas on fibronectin (FN) both components were distributed evenly over the whole cell as visualized by confocal microscopy. Immunohistochemistry of atherosclerotic vessels indicated that PN-1 was found associated with smooth muscle cells, macrophages and platelets. In some regions of the diseased vessels PN-1 was in close proximity to VN and uPAR, but no PN-1 was present in normal vessels. These results indicate a novel function of PN-1 linked to complex formation with uPA that leads to the regulation of VN-dependent adhesion of leukocytes.
The pattern recognition receptor, RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation endproducts), propagates cellular dysfunction in several inflammatory disorders and diabetes. Here we show that RAGE functions as an endothelial adhesion receptor promoting leukocyte recruitment. In an animal model of thioglycollate-induced acute peritonitis, leukocyte recruitment was significantly impaired in RAGE-deficient mice as opposed to wild-type mice. In diabetic wild-type mice we observed enhanced leukocyte recruitment to the inflamed peritoneum as compared with nondiabetic wild-type mice; this phenomenon was attributed to RAGE as it was abrogated in the presence of soluble RAGE and was absent in diabetic RAGE-deficient mice. In vitro, RAGE-dependent leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells was mediated by a direct interaction of RAGE with the beta2-integrin Mac-1 and, to a lower extent, with p150,95 but not with LFA-1 or with beta1-integrins. The RAGE-Mac-1 interaction was augmented by the proinflammatory RAGE-ligand, S100-protein. These results were corroborated by analysis of cells transfected with different heterodimeric beta2-integrins, by using RAGE-transfected cells, and by using purified proteins. The RAGE-Mac-1 interaction defines a novel pathway of leukocyte recruitment relevant in inflammatory disorders associated with increased RAGE expression, such as in diabetes, and could provide the basis for the development of novel therapeutic applications.
Leukocyte-platelet interaction is important in mediating leukocyte adhesion to a thrombus and leukocyte recruitment to a site of vascular injury. This interaction is mediated at least in part by the beta2-integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) and its counter-receptor on platelets, glycoprotein Ibalpha (GPIbalpha). High molecular weight kininogen (HK) was previously shown to interact with both GPIbalpha and Mac-1 through its domains 3 and 5, respectively. In this study we investigated the ability of HK to interfere with the leukocyte-platelet interaction. In a purified system, HK binding to GPIbalpha was inhibited by HK domain 3 and the monoclonal antibody (mAb) SZ2, directed against the epitope 269-282 of GPIbalpha, whereas mAb AP1, directed to the region 201-268 of GPIbalpha had no effect. In contrast, mAb AP1 inhibited the Mac-1-GPIbalpha interaction. Binding of GPIbalpha to Mac-1 was enhanced 2-fold by HK. This effect of HK was abrogated in the presence of HK domains 3 or 5 or peptides from the 475-497 region of the carboxyl terminus of domain 5 as well as in the presence of mAb SZ2 but not mAb AP1. Whereas no difference in the affinity of the Mac-1-GPIbalpha interaction was observed in the absence or presence of HK, maximal binding of GPIbalpha to Mac-1 doubled in the presence of HK. Moreover, HK/HKa increased the Mac-1-dependent adhesion of myelomonocytic U937 cells and K562 cells transfected with Mac-1 to immobilized GPIbalpha or to GPIbalpha-transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. Finally, Mac-1-dependent adhesion of neutrophils to surface-adherent platelets was enhanced by HK. Thus, HK can bridge leukocytes with platelets by interacting via its domain 3 with GPIbalpha and via its domain 5 with Mac-1 thereby augmenting the Mac-1-GPIbalpha interaction. These distinct molecular interactions of HK with leukocytes and platelets contribute to the regulation of the adhesive behavior of vascular cells and provide novel molecular targets for reducing atherothrombotic pathologies.
The glycolipid-anchored urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is engaged in various signal transduction events related to cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. In this study, using phage display and peptide array techniques, we have identified several intermolecular contact regions of uPAR. Phage-displayed uPAR fragments bound to immobilized soluble uPAR on magnetic beads, revealing that regions uPAR-(7-28) and uPAR-(60-91) in domain I, uPAR-(101-121) in domain II and uPAR-(240-260) in domain III are possible uPAR-uPAR contact sites. Using peptide array, two additional sites could be identified, uPAR-(51-59) in domain I and uPAR-(144-155) in domain II. The putative uPAR-uPAR interaction sites are different from the previously identified uPA-binding sites. Functionally, peptides uPAR-(84-95) and uPAR-(240-248) could partially inhibit differentiated human U937 monocyte adhesion to vitronectin in the presence of uPA, indicating that these two uPAR regions might be involved not only in uPAR-uPAR but also in uPAR-vitronectin interactions. We propose that multiple uPAR-uPAR ectodomain interactions contribute considerably to the regulation of various cellular functions of uPAR.
ADAM15 (named for a disintegrin and metalloprotease 15, metargidin) is a membrane-anchored glycoprotein that has been implicated in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions and in the proteolysis of molecules on the cell surface or extracellular matrix. To characterize the potential roles of ADAM15 during development and in adult mice, we analyzed its expression pattern by mRNA in situ hybridization and generated mice carrying a targeted deletion of ADAM15 (adam15(-/-) mice). A high level of expression of ADAM15 was found in vascular cells, the endocardium, hypertrophic cells in developing bone, and specific areas of the hippocampus and cerebellum. However, despite the pronounced expression of ADAM15 in these tissues, no major developmental defects or pathological phenotypes were evident in adam15(-/-) mice. The elevated levels of ADAM15 in endothelial cells prompted an evaluation of its role in neovascularization. In a mouse model for retinopathy of prematurity, adam15(-/-) mice had a major reduction in neovascularization compared to wild-type controls. Furthermore, the size of tumors resulting from implanted B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was significantly smaller in adam15(-/-) mice than in wild-type controls. Since ADAM15 does not appear to be required for developmental angiogenesis or for adult homeostasis, it may represent a novel target for the design of inhibitors of pathological neovascularization.
Adaptation of the maternal uterine vasculature is essential for normal fetal and placental development in which angiogenesis is considered one of the most critical adaptive changes during pregnancy. Highly expressed in cytotrophoblasts and maternal endothelial cells during pregnancy, IGF-II promotes cell migration and regulates fetal and placental growth. We hypothesized that IGF-II regulates uterine angiogenesis during pregnancy. Both uterine vasculature and isolated uterine microvascular endothelial cells expressed high levels of IGF-II and IGF-II/mannose-6 phosphate receptor mRNA as shown by in situ hybridization. Physiological concentrations of IGF-II significantly increased vessel formation, as shown by a three-dimensional angiogenesis assay in vitro or a chicken chorionallantoic membrane assay in vivo. The angiogenic response of IGF-II could be reversed by the addition of beta-galactosidase or rabbit-antihuman IGF-II/M6P receptor antiserum, whereas blocking antibodies against IGF-I receptor or insulin receptor influenced IGF-II-induced sprout formation. IGF-II promoted migration of endothelial cells (10-250 ng/ml) tested in a modified Boyden chamber, but no stimulating effect on proliferation was observed. The application of several intracellular signal transduction molecules and their inhibitors indicated that protein kinase C and G(i) protein might play a role in the IGF-II-induced angiogenesis. Our results suggest an important angiogenic role of IGF-II in the vascular adaptation to pregnancy.
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are instrumental in cellular activities during inflammation, angiogenesis and tumor metastasis. Recent studies suggest that uPA might exert its function on cell proliferation and migration in a uPAR-independent manner or through an adaptor to the uPA-uPAR system. By applying phage display technology, we have identified a putative uPA-binding consensus sequence BXXSSXXB (where B represents a basic amino acid and X represents any amino acid), which has no apparent sequence correlation to uPAR. This uPA-binding motif apparently recognizes the kringle domain of the protease and has an agonistic effect on uPA binding to immobilized uPAR, thereby possibly serving as part of an adaptor component for uPAR signaling. As a result of protein database searches, this motif was found in the extracellular domain of several cell surface proteins, some of which were proposed to be associated with the uPA-uPAR system. Among these, gp130, a common signal transducer for cytokines, was identified as a uPA-binding protein. The specificity of this interaction was demonstrated by inhibition of uPA binding to immobilized gp130 with soluble gp130. Furthermore, the binding could be partially inhibited by a uPA-binding consensus sequence-containing fusion protein in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 of approximately 1 microM, indicating that the uPA-binding motif is apparently involved in the uPA-gp130 interaction. The association of gp130 with uPA may link the uPA-uPAR system to various signal transduction pathways.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and two-chain high molecular weight kininogen (HKa) exert anti-adhesive properties in vitronectin-dependent cell adhesion. Here, the hypothesis was tested that these anti-adhesive components promote apoptosis in vascular cells. PAI-1 or HKa induced a 2- to 3-fold increase in apoptosis of human umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) adherent to vitronectin, as determined by annexin V-FACS assay, similar to alphav-integrin inhibitor cyclo-(Arg-Gly-Asp-D-Phe-Val)-peptide (cRGDfV). Apoptosis occurred after 12 h incubation and was attributable to caspase 3 activation that in turn induced DNA fragmentation. Induction of apoptosis strongly correlated with the anti-adhesive effect of PAI-1 and HKa on these cells. In contrast, PAI-1 and HKa did not affect fibronectin-dependent adhesion or cell survival. uPA did not influence apoptosis in vitronectin- or fibronectin-adherent cells. In atherosclerotic vessel sections, congruent distribution of vitronectin, PAI-1, HK, and of components of the urokinase plasminogen activator/receptor system with apoptotic cells lining foam cell lesions was demonstrated by immunostaining. These results indicate that inhibition of vitronectin-dependent cell adhesion through PAI-1 and HKa correlates with apoptosis induction in vascular cells mediated through the caspase 3 pathway. Co-distribution of apoptosis with plasminogen activation system components in atherosclerosis exemplifies the significance of anti-adhesive mechanisms and apoptosis for tissue remodeling, such as in neointima development.
Leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation, infection or vascular injury is a complex event, depending on a tightly coordinated sequence of leukocyte-endothelial- and leukocyte-platelet interactions, which are controlled by the expression and activation of various adhesion receptors and protease systems. The present review will focus on novel aspects of the regulation of integrin-dependent leukocyte adhesion by haemostatic factors and bacterial products. In particular, after a short overview of leukocyte recruitment, the review (i) will focus on the crosstalk between haemostatic factors and adhesion molecules with respect to leukocyte extravasation based on the paradigms of the urokinase receptor and high molecular weight kininogen, (ii) will provide information on novel mechanisms for the regulation of leukocyte recruitment by bacterial proteins, on the basis of the anti-inflammatory role of Staphylococcus aureus extracellular adhesive protein and (iii) will draw attention to the junctional adhesion molecules, a novel family of adhesive receptors that are counter-receptors for leukocyte integrins and mediate vascular cell interactions. The better understanding of the interactions between vascular cells and particularly of integrin-dependent leukocyte adhesion may lead to the development of novel therapeutical concepts in inflammatory vascular disorders.
During the past 20 years, the proteins of the "contact system", namely high molecular weight kininogen (HK), kallikrein and Factor XII have been shown to have very little direct impact on hemostasis despite their initial description as initiators of the "intrinsic system". In fact these proteins have rather anticoagulant and profibrinolytic properties. The focus of this review is to summarize the known antithrombotic properties of HK demonstrating its potential application for the novel therapeutic interventions against thromboembolic complications. In particular, HK can inhibit platelet aggregation, as (i) its domain 5 interferes with ligand binding of alphaIIbbeta3-integrins, (ii) its domain 3 blocks thrombin-dependent platelet aggregation by interfering with thrombin binding to the glycoprotein Ib-IX-V complex on platelets, (iii) bradykinin, which is derived upon cleavage of HK, blocks thrombin-induced platelet aggregation, and (iv) HK domain 2 can inhibit the function of platelet calpain. Moreover, HK may have profibrinolytic actions as it can (i) inhibit plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 function and (ii) potentiate prourokinase activation with subsequent pericellular plasmin formation. Indeed, patients lacking circulating HK are at increased risk for thrombosis, and a prothrombotic phenotype was reported for kininogen-deficient rats. All these observations render kininogen antithrombotic, rather than prothrombotic, and the ongoing research aims to develop novel kininogen-related antithrombotic therapies.
The molecular details of leukocyte transmigration through the endothelial barrier (also called diapedesis), which is the final step of leukocyte extravasation from the circulation to a given site of inflammation, are by far not well understood. The present review will focus on the different mechanisms potentially involved in leukocyte trans-endothelial migration. Both homophilic and heterophilic interactions between leukocyte and endothelial cell receptors will be covered, with a particular focus on the growing gene family of junctional adhesion molecules (JAM). Deciphering their mechanisms of interaction will also allow to unravel novel strategies for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory or atherothrombotic diseases.
The recently described junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs) in man and mice are involved in homotypic and heterotypic intercellular interactions. Here, a third member of this family, human JAM-3, was identified and described as a novel counterreceptor on platelets for the leukocyte beta2-integrin Mac-1 (alphaMbeta2, CD11b/CD18). With the help of two monoclonal antibodies, Gi11 and Gi13, against a 43-kD surface glycoprotein on human platelets, a full-length cDNA encoding JAM-3 was identified. JAM-3 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein containing two Ig-like domains. Although JAM-3 did not undergo homophilic interactions, myelo-monocytic cells adhered to immobilized JAM-3 or to JAM-3-transfected cells. This heterophilic interaction was specifically attributed to a direct interaction of JAM-3 with the beta2-integrin Mac-1 and to a lower extent with p150.95 (alphaXbeta2, CD11c/CD18) but not with LFA-1 (alphaLbeta2, CD11a/CD18) or with beta1-integrins. These results were corroborated by analysis of K562 erythroleukemic cells transfected with different heterodimeric beta2-integrins and by using purified proteins. Moreover, purified JAM-3 or antibodies against JAM-3 blocked the platelet-neutrophil interaction, indicating that platelet JAM-3 serves as a counterreceptor for Mac-1 mediating leukocyte-platelet interactions. JAM-3 thereby provides a novel molecular target for antagonizing interactions between vascular cells that promote inflammatory vascular pathologies such as in atherothrombosis.
The urokinase receptor (urokinase plasminogen activator receptor; uPAR) regulates monocyte adhesion by direct binding to vitronectin and by forming complexes with integrins. Therefore, possible up-regulation of uPAR in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may affect monocyte adhesion. In 20 patients with AMI, uPAR surface expression (measured by flow cytometry) was increased compared with that in patients with chronic stable angina (mean +/- SD fluorescence, 179 +/- 96 vs 80 +/- 53; P =.002). Expression of uPAR correlated with activation of beta(2)-integrins lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and macrophage antigen 1 (Mac-1), measured by using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 24 and CBRM1/5. Isolated mononuclear cells (MNCs) from patients with AMI showed enhanced adhesiveness to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), to fibrinogen (Mac-1 ligand), and to vitronectin (uPAR ligand). Excessive adhesion of MNCs to HUVECs was inhibited by mAbs anti-CD18 (84%), anti-CD11a (51%), and anti-CD11b (57%), indicating a major contribution of LFA-1 and Mac-1. The mAb anti-uPAR R3 blocked adhesion of cells from patients with AMI to vitronectin (95%) but also beta(2)-integrin-mediated adhesion to fibrinogen (79%) and HUVECs (66%). Incubation of monocytic MonoMac6 cells with plasma from patients with AMI enhanced uPAR messenger RNA expression and cell adhesion to HUVECs. Thus, released soluble factors may contribute to enhanced monocyte adhesion in AMI. Mouse pre-B lymphocytes (BAF3 cells) transfected with various amounts of uPAR complementary DNA showed a strong correlation of uPAR expression with beta(2)-integrin-dependent adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecule 1, thus providing evidence for the functional relevance of uPAR up-regulation in an isolated in vitro system. In conclusion, we found that uPAR expression is elevated on monocytes in AMI and contributes to enhanced cell adhesion. Thus, uPAR may be a novel target for prevention of unwanted monocyte recruitment as part of inflammatory cardiovascular processes.
Staphylococcus aureus is a human pathogen that secretes proteins that contribute to bacterial colonization. Here we describe the extracellular adherence protein (Eap) as a novel anti-inflammatory factor that inhibits host leukocyte recruitment. Due to its direct interactions with the host adhesive proteins intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), fibrinogen or vitronectin, Eap disrupted beta(2)-integrin and urokinase receptor mediated leukocyte adhesion in vitro. Whereas Eap-expressing S. aureus induced a 2 3-fold lower neutrophil recruitment in bacterial peritonitis in mice as compared with an Eap-negative strain, isolated Eap prevented beta(2)-integrin-dependent neutrophil recruitment in a mouse model of acute thioglycollate-induced peritonitis. Thus, the specific interactions with ICAM-1 and extracellular matrix proteins render Eap a potent anti-inflammatory factor, which may serve as a new therapeutic substance to block leukocyte extravasation in patients with hyperinflammatory pathologies.
The adhesive glycoprotein vitronectin (VN) forms a function-stabilizing complex with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), the major fibrinolysis inhibitor in both plasma and vessel wall connective tissue. VN also interacts with two-chain high molecular weight kininogen (HKa), particularly its His-Gly-Lys-rich domain 5, and both HKa and PAI-1 are antiadhesive factors that have been shown to compete for binding to VN. In this study the influence of HKa and domain 5 on the antifibrinolytic function of PAI-1 was investigated. In a purified system, HKa and particularly domain 5 inhibited the binding of PAI-1 to VN and promoted PAI-1 displacement from both isolated VN as well as subendothelial extracellular matrix-associated VN. The sequence Gly(486)-Lys(502) of HKa domain 5 was identified as responsible for this inhibition. Although having no direct effect on PAI-1 activity itself, HKa domain 5 or the peptide Gly(486)-Lys(502) markedly destabilized the VN.PAI-1 complex interaction, resulting in a significant reduction of PAI-1 inhibitory function on plasminogen activators, resembling the effect of VN antibodies that prevent stabilization of PAI-1. Furthermore, high affinity fibrin binding of PAI-1 in the presence of VN as well as the VN-dependent fibrin clot stabilization by the inhibitor were abrogated in the presence of the kininogen forms mentioned. Taken together, our data indicate that the peptide Gly(486)-Lys(502) derived from domain 5 of HKa serves to interfere with PAI-1 function. Based on these observations potential low molecular weight PAI-1 inhibitors could be designed for the use in therapeutic interventions against thromboembolic complications.
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a potential target for anti-thrombotic and anti-cancer therapy. It circulates in plasma in a complex with vitronectin (VN). We have studied biochemical mechanisms for PAI-1 neutralisation and its modulation by VN, using site-directed mutagenesis and limited proteolysis. We demonstrate that VN, besides delaying conversion of PAI-1 to the inactive latent form, also protects PAI-1 against cold- and detergent-induced substrate behaviour and counteracts conversion of PAI-1 to inert forms by certain amphipathic organochemical compounds. VN protection against cold- and detergent-induced substrate behaviour is associated with inhibition of the proteolytic susceptibility of beta-strand 5A. Alanine substitution of a lysine residue placed centrally in beta-strand 5A implied a VN-induced acceleration of latency transition, instead of the normal delay. This substitution not only protects PAI-1 against neutralisation, but also counteracts VN-induced protection against neutralisation. We conclude that beta-strand 5A plays a crucial role in VN-regulation of PAI-1 activity.
Proteolytic cleavage of single chain high molecular weight kininogen (HK) by kallikrein releases the short-lived vasodilator bradykinin and leaves behind two-chain high molecular weight kininogen (HKa). HKa and particularly its His-Gly-Lys-rich domain 5 have been previously reported to exert anti-adhesive properties by binding to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin (VN). In this study the ability of HKa and domain 5 to interfere with platelet adhesion and aggregation was investigated. In a purified system HKa and particularly domain 5 but not HK inhibited the binding of VN to the alpha(IIb)beta(3) integrin, whereas the binding of fibrinogen to this integrin was not affected. The region Gly-486-Lys-502 from the carboxyl terminus of the domain 5 was identified as responsible for inhibition of the VN-alpha(IIb)beta(3)-integrin interaction, as this portion was also found to mediate kininogen binding to VN. Through these interactions, HKa, the isolated domain 5, and the peptide Gly-486-Lys-502 abrogated the alpha(IIb)beta(3)-integrin-dependent adhesion of human platelets to VN but not to fibrinogen. The codistribution of VN and HKa at sites of ex vivo platelet aggregation was demonstrated by transmission immune electron microscopy, indicating that the described interaction is likely to take place in vivo. Moreover, domain 5 and the peptide Gly-486-Lys-502 dose-dependently blocked platelet aggregation, resembling the inhibitory effect of monoclonal antibody 13H1 against multimeric VN. Finally, treatment of mice with isolated domain 5 resulted in a significantly prolonged tail bleeding time. Taken together, our data emphasize the inhibitory role of HK domain 5 on platelet adhesion and aggregation; new anti-thrombotic compounds may become available on the basis of peptide Gly-486-Lys-502 of HK domain 5.