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Biomedical subjects

M Presta

Publications and source records attributed to M Presta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator overexpression enhances the invasive capacity of endothelial cells.

Fetal bovine aortic endothelial GM 7373 cells were transfected with a viral expression vector harboring the human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene. The stable transfectant clone uPA-R5 overexpressed and secreted human uPA as shown by Northern blot analysis, immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled proteins, plasmin chromogenic assays, and SDS-PAGE zymography of cell extracts and conditioned media. The uPA-R5 cells were analyzed for their invasive capacity in vitro in the Matrigel chemoinvasion assay in the presence of serine- or metalloprotease inhibitors. uPA overexpression enhanced the invasive capacity of GM 7373 cells through a mechanism which differs from that mediated by metalloproteases. Endothelial cell uPA transfectants may represent an useful experimental model to investigate the role of uPA in angiogenesis and angioproliferative diseases.

Animals

alphavbeta3 integrin mediates the cell-adhesive capacity and biological activity of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) in cultured endothelial cells.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) immobilized on non-tissue culture plastic promotes adhesion and spreading of bovine and human endothelial cells that are inhibited by anti-FGF-2 antibody. Heat-inactivated FGF-2 retains its cell-adhesive activity despite its incapacity to bind to tyrosine-kinase FGF receptors or to cell-surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Recombinant glutathione-S-transferase-FGF-2 chimeras and synthetic FGF-2 fragments identify two cell-adhesive domains in FGF-2 corresponding to amino acid sequences 38-61 and 82-101. Both regions are distinct from the FGF-receptor-binding domain of FGF-2 and contain a DGR sequence that is the inverse of the RGD cell-recognition sequence. Calcium deprivation, RGD-containing eptapeptides, soluble vitronectin (VN), but not fibronectin (FN), inhibit cell adhesion to FGF-2. Conversely, soluble FGF-2 prevents cell adhesion to VN but not FN, thus implicating VN receptor in the cell-adhesive activity of FGF-2. Accordingly, monoclonal and polyclonal anti-alphavbeta3 antibodies prevent cell adhesion to FGF-2. Also, purified human alphavbeta3 binds to immobilized FGF-2 in a cation-dependent manner, and this interaction is competed by soluble VN but not by soluble FN. Finally, anti-alphavbeta3 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies specifically inhibit mitogenesis and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) up-regulation induced by free FGF-2 in endothelial cells adherent to tissue culture plastic. These data demonstrate that FGF-2 interacts with alphavbeta3 integrin and that this interaction mediates the capacity of the angiogenic growth factor to induce cell adhesion, mitogenesis, and uPA up-regulation in endothelial cells.

Amino Acid Motifs

Upregulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator by endogenous and exogenous HIV-1 Tat protein in tumour cell lines derived from BK virus/tat-transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that Tat modulates the plasminogen-dependent proteolytic activity of tumour cell lines derived from BK virus (BKV)/tat-transgenic mice by affecting the production of plasminogen activators (PA) and the PA inhibitor (PAI)-1 and to demonstrate that this occurs through mechanism(s) that are distinct from those responsible for transactivating activity of extracellular Tat. DESIGN AND METHODS: To assess whether endogenous Tat is responsible for PA activity in T53 adenocarcinoma cells, cell cultures were transfected with antisense Tat cDNA and evaluated for cell-associated PA activity by a plasmin chromogenic assay. The assay was also used to evaluate PA activity in T53 cells and T111 leiomyosarcoma cells stimulated by extracellular Tat. The type(s) of PA produced were identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis zymography. The levels of PAI-1 were evaluated by Western blotting. Tat transactivating activity was measured by a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in HL3T1 cells containing integrated copies of an HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-CAT plasmid. RESULTS: Transfection of T53 cells with antisense Tat cDNA results in the decrease of Tat production and PA activity. Exogenously added Tat increases PA levels in T53 and in T111 cells. PA activity was identified as urokinase-type PA (uPA). Tat also increases the production of PAI-1 in T111 but not in T53 cells. Chloroquine and heparin have different affects on the LTR-CAT-transactivating and the PA-inducing activities of Tat. The fusion protein glutathione-S-transferase-Tat and the mutant Tat-1e, lacking the second Tat exon, cause LTR-CAT transactivation without stimulating uPA upregulation. CONCLUSIONS: Tat affects the fibrinolytic activity of tumour cell lines derived from BKV/tat-transgenic mice by modulating the production of both uPA and PAI-1 via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms of action. The capacity of Tat to modulate the plasminogen-dependent proteolytic activity of these tumour cell lines may contribute to their metastatic potential. The uPA-inducing activity of Tat depends upon specific biological and structural features of the Tat protein that are distinct from those responsible for its LTR-CAT-transactivating activity, suggesting distinct mechanisms of induction for the two biological responses.

Animals

Basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenic phenotype in mouse endothelium. A study of aortic and microvascular endothelial cell lines.

The mouse is the most commonly used species for in vivo studies on angiogenesis related to tumor development. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, very few reports on the in vitro interaction of the angiogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) with mouse endothelial cells are available. Three mouse endothelial cell lines originated from aorta (MAECs), brain capillaries (MBECs), and heart capillaries (MHECs) were characterized for endothelial phenotypic markers, in vivo tumorigenic activity, and the capacity to respond in vitro to bFGF. These cells express angiotensin-converting enzyme, acetylated LDL receptor, constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and bind Griffonia simplicifolia-I lectin. When injected subcutaneously in nude mice, MAECs induced the appearance of slow-growing vascular lesions reminiscent of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, whereas MBEC xenografts grew rapidly, showing Kaposi's sarcoma-like morphological features. No lesions were induced by injection of MHECs. MAECs, MBECs, and MHECs expressed both low-affinity heparan sulfate bFGF-binding sites and high-affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs) on their surfaces. In particular, MAECs expressed FGFR-2/bek mRNA, whereas microvascular MBECs and MHECs expressed FGFR-1/flg mRNA. Accordingly, bFGF induced a mitogenic response and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 in all the cell lines. In contrast, upregulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression was observed in bFGF-treated microvascular MBECs and MHECs but not in MAECs. Also, bFGF-treated MBECs and MHECs but not MAECs invaded a three-dimensional fibrin gel and formed hollow, capillary-like structures. The relevance of the modifications of the fibrinolytic balance of mouse microvascular endothelium in bFGF-induced angiogenesis was validated in vivo by a gelatin-sponge assay in which the plasmin inhibitors tranexamic acid and epsilon-aminocaproic acid given to mice in the drinking water inhibited neovascularization induced by the growth factor. In conclusion, differences in response to bFGF exist between large-vessel MAECs and microvascular MBECs and MHECs. Both in vitro and in vivo data point to a role of the profibrinolytic phenotype induced by bFGF in microvascular endothelial cells during mouse angiogenesis. Our observations make these endothelial cell lines suitable for further studies on mouse endothelium during angiogenesis and in angioproliferative diseases.

Animals

Nitric oxide promotes proliferation and plasminogen activator production by coronary venular endothelium through endogenous bFGF.

We reported previously that NO is responsible for the angiogenesis produced by endothelium-dependent vasodilating peptides. To investigate the mechanisms by which NO controls angiogenesis, NO was assessed for the ability to affect cell proliferation and upregulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) when added exogenously to or when produced endogenously by coronary venular endothelial cells (CVECs). The treatment of the cells with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (NaNp) induced uPA upregulation and cell proliferation, which were prevented by anti-bFGF antibodies. Similarly, the NO-dependent mitogenic activity of the vasodilating peptide substance P (SP) was blocked by anti-bFGF antibodies, thus implicating endogenous bFGF in the NO-induced response. NaNp and SP induced bFGF expression as measured by Western blot analysis of CVEC extracts and by differential reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of bFGF mRNA. SP-induced upregulation of bFGF was prevented by the NO synthase inhibitor N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine. We conclude that NO promotes cell proliferation and uPA upregulation in CVECs by inducing endogenous bFGF and that this pathway mediates the angiogenetic response to the vasoactive neuropeptide SP. This signaling paradigm may provide an important link between shear rate, NO, bFGF, and coronary angiogenesis.

Cell Division

The 140-kilodalton antiangiogenic fragment of thrombospondin-1 binds to basic fibroblast growth factor.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP) inhibits the angiogenic activity of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Here we address the hypothesis of a direct interaction between TSP and bFGF. Gel permeation chromatography and cross-linking experiments demonstrated that bFGF binds to TSP in solution. bFGF also bound to immobilized TSP in a solid-phase assay. Binding was dose-dependent, with a Kd in the nanomolar range, and was inhibited by anti-TSP antibodies. The 140-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment of TSP, but not the 25-kDa heparin-binding fragment, fully retained the bFGF binding capacity. Accordingly, binding was inhibited by monoclonal antibodies directed against this fragment. Heparin completely blocked bFGF binding to TSP and to the 140-kDa fragment. TSP and its 140-kDa fragment inhibited the binding of bFGF to endothelial cells at concentrations (> or = 100 nM) that inhibited endothelial cell proliferation but not motility. Low-affinity binding was inhibited more than high-affinity binding (up to 76 and 41% inhibition, respectively), and the inhibition was reversed by anti-TSP antibodies. Vitronectin and transforming growth factor beta, potentially associated with TSP, did not affect bFGF binding to endothelial cells. Although TSP did not affect the activation of the high-affinity receptors, it reduced the long-term internalization of bFGF. We conclude that TSP binds to bFGF through a domain within its 140-kDa fragment, a mechanism that might affect bFGF interaction with endothelial cells, activity, and association with the extracellular matrix.

Animals

Basic fibroblast growth factor modulates in vitro differentiation of human fetal microglia.

The effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on differentiation of human fetal microglial cells were investigated. Human ramified microglial cells treated with human recombinant bFGF underwent a morphological change which resulted in a round-shape phenotype. bFGF was also able to induce a dose- and time-dependent increase in cell proliferation and enhanced phagocytic and non-specific esterase activity. These results indicate that ramified microglia, when properly stimulated, are regulated in their physiological and proliferative activities and are transformed into amoeboid forms. Growth factors, such as bFGF, are likely to play a key role in microglial transformation in both normal developing brain and in central nervous system injury.

Brain

HIV-tat protein is a heparin-binding angiogenic growth factor.

Transgenic animal studies have linked the expression of the HIV-1 tat gene to the appearance of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-like lesions. We have recently shown that recombinant tat is angiogenic in vivo, and that tat angiogenic response is enhanced by heparin. Also in the rabbit cornea model, recombinant HIV-1 tat alone is poorly angiogenic, but gives a good response when combined with heparin. Like many angiogenic growth factors, tat has a basic domain similar to that of several heparin binding angiogenic factors, including FGF, VEGF and HGF, suggesting that this region is important in endothelial cell activation. We show that tat binds heparin sepharose with a high affinity, similar to bFGF. Binding of tat to the cell surface is also modulated by heparin. Biological activities of tat, such as induction of endothelial cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro are all enhanced by low concentrations and inhibited by high concentrations of heparin, as has been shown for other heparin-binding angiogenic factors. Heparan sulfate is also effective, whereas the unsulfated polysaccharide K5 does not enhance tat activity. Furthermore, a peptide encompassing the tat basic domain is able to induce growth and migration of endothelial cells, while an adjacent peptide is not. Our data indicate that the tat basic domain plays a key role in its vascular cell activation properties, and strongly suggest that extracellular HIV-tat is essentially a 'new' heparin-binding angiogenic factor.

Amino Acid Sequence

Interaction of angiogenic basic fibroblast growth factor with endothelial cell heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Biological implications in neovascularization.

Basic fibroblast growth factor is an angiogenic molecule involved in several physiological and pathological processes, including wound repair, embryonic development, and tumor growth. In vitro, basic fibroblast growth factor induces an "angiogenic phenotype" in endothelial cells, which includes chemotaxis, mitogenesis, protease production, beta-integrin expression, and tube formation in three-dimensional gels. It acts by binding to specific tyrosine kinase receptors and to cell-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans. The physiological significance of the interaction with cell-associated and soluble heparan sulfate proteoglycans is manyfold. Heparan sulfate proteoglycans protect basic fibroblast growth factor from inactivation in the extracellular environment and modulate its bioavailability. At the cell surface, soluble and cell-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycans may play different roles in modulating the dimerization of the growth factor and its interaction with tyrosine kinase receptors. Finally, they affect the internalization and the intracellular fate of basic fibroblast growth factor, suggesting that growth factor slash proteoglycan complexes are involved in intracellular delivery. The bioavailability and the biological activity of basic fibroblast growth factor on endothelial cells strictly depend on the glycosaminoglycan milieu of the extracellular environment. Hence the angiogenic activity of the growth factor in vivo might be modulated by using exogenous glycosaminoglycans. The capacity of glycosaminoglycans to bind to and to influence the biological activity of basic fibroblast growth factor depends on size, degree of sulfation, and disaccharide composition. In the present paper we discuss the physiological significance and the biochemical bases of the interaction of the growth factor with heparan sulfate proteoglycans and exogenous glycosaminoglycans with a view to the possible therapeutic use of heparin-related oligosaccharides as basic fibroblast growth factor agonists or antagonists in angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Animals

Up-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in squamous cell carcinoma of human larynx.

The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the human larynx. For this purpose, tissue extracts from 25 matched samples of normal mucosa and neoplastic larynx were compared for the levels of uPA activity as evaluated by a chromogenic PA assay and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) zymography. Also, uPA antigen was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 19 cases. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the levels of uPA activity and protein in tumour tissue extracts, more pronounced in tumours with lymph node metastases. Immunohistochemistry performed on 70 biopsies showed that uPA positivity is present both in neoplastic cells and in fibroblast-like cells and macrophages. However, depending on the histological grading and invasive capacity of the tumour, a pronounced intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity in uPA staining was observed. In situ hybridisation confirmed the presence of uPA mRNA in both tumour and stromal cells. The present study provides experimental evidence for a role of uPA in the invasive growth of human laryngeal carcinoma.

Antigens, Neoplasm

A distinct basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2)/FGF receptor interaction distinguishes urokinase-type plasminogen activator induction from mitogenicity in endothelial cells.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) induces cell proliferation and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) production in fetal bovine aortic endothelial GM 7373 cells. In the present paper we investigated the role of the interaction of FGF-2 with tyrosine-kinase (TK) FGF receptors (FGFRs) in mediating uPA up-regulation in these cells. The results show that FGF-2 antagonists suramin, protamine, heparin, the synthetic peptide FGF-2(112-155), and a soluble form of FGFR-1 do not inhibit FGF-2-mediated uPA up-regulation at concentrations that affect growth factor binding to cell surface receptors and mitogenic activity. In contrast, tyrosine phosphorylation inhibitors and overexpression of a dominant negative TK- mutant of FGFR-1 abolish the uPA-inducing activity of FGF-2, indicating that FGFR and its TK activity are essential in mediating uPA induction. Accordingly, FGF-2 induces uPA up-regulation in Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with wild-type FGFR-1, -2, -3, or -4 but not with TK- FGFR-1 mutant. Small unilamellar phosphatidyl choline:cholesterol vesicles loaded with FGF-2 increased uPA production in GM 7373 cells in the absence of a mitogenic response. Liposome-encapsulated FGF-2 showed a limited but significant capacity, relative to free FGF-2, to interact with FGFR both at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C and to be internalized within the cell. uPA up-regulation by liposome-encapsulated FGF-2 was quenched by neutralizing anti-FGF-2 antibodies, indicating that the activity of liposome-delivered FGF-2 is mediated by an extracellular action of the growth factor. Taken together, the data indicate that a distinct interaction of FGF-2 with FGFR, quantitatively and/or qualitatively different from the one that leads to mitogenicity, is responsible for the uPA-inducing activity of the growth factor.

Animals

Promotion of tumour metastases and induction of angiogenesis by native HIV-1 Tat protein from BK virus/tat transgenic mice.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the T53 cell line and its clones derived from an adenocarcinoma of BK virus (BKV)/tat transgenic mice and to establish the role of native Tat in tumorigenicity, induction of metastases and angiogenesis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Tat was quantified by flow cytometry and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) assays. Tumorigenicity and metastatic ability of cell lines were assayed in nude mice. Production of proteases was evaluated by a plasmin chromogenic assay and gelatinase zymography. The angiogenic effect was studied in vivo with conditioned medium from tumour cell lines. RESULTS: Tat protein was detected in tumour cell lines in amounts from 600-7000 molecules/cell. Conditioned medium from tumour cell lines was able to transactivate an LTR-CAT in HL3T1 cells, indicating release of extracellular Tat. Tumour cell lines, inoculated into nude mice induced angiogenic tumours with remarkable recruitment of host endothelial cells. Metastases were detected in lymph nodes, lungs, kidneys, and heart. Cell lines produced relevant amounts of proteases. Conditioned medium implanted in mice with matrigel induced an angiogenic response, enhanced by addition of heparin. Preincubation with an anti-Tat antibody abolished the angiogenic effect. CONCLUSIONS: Tat from cells from BKV/tat transgenic mice promotes tumorigenesis and formation of metastases and induces angiogenic activity. Angiogenesis occurs at physiological concentrations of Tat lower than 20 ng/ml. The effects of Tat on induction of metastases and angiogenesis appear to be mediated by activation of proteases.

Animals

Basic fibroblast growth factor overexpression in endothelial cells: an autocrine mechanism for angiogenesis and angioproliferative diseases.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is expressed in vascular endothelium during tumor neovascularization and angioproliferative diseases. The ultimate significance of this observation is poorly understood. We have investigated the biological consequences of endothelial cell activation by endogenous bFGF in a mouse aortic endothelial cell line stably transfected with a retroviral expression vector harboring a human bFGF cDNA. Selected clones expressing M(r) 24,000, M(r) 22,000, and/or M(r) 18,000 bFGF isoforms were characterized by a transformed morphology and an increased saturation density. bFGF transfectants showed invasive behavior and sprouting activity in three-dimensional fibrin gels and formed a complex network of branching cord-like structures connecting foci of infiltrating cells when seeded on laminin-rich basement membrane matrix (Matrigel). The invasive and morphogenetic behavior was prevented by anti-bFGF antibody, revealing the autocrine modality of the process. The biological consequences of this autocrine activation were investigated in vivo. bFGF-transfected cells gave rise to highly vascularized lesions resembling Kaposi's sarcoma when injected in nude mice and induced angiogenesis in avascular rabbit cornea. When injected into the allantoic sac of the chick embryo, they caused an increase in vascular density and formation of hemangiomas in the chorioallantoic membrane. In conclusion, bFGF-overexpressing endothelial cells acquired an angiogenic phenotype and recruit quiescent endothelium originating angioproliferative lesions in vivo. These findings demonstrate that bFGF overexpression exerts an autocrine role for endothelial cells and support the notion that tumor neovascularization and angioproliferative diseases can be triggered by stimuli that induce vascular endothelium to produce its own autocrine factor(s).

3T3 Cells

Growth advantage and vascularization induced by basic fibroblast growth factor overexpression in endometrial HEC-1-B cells: an export-dependent mechanism of action.

The human endometrial adenocarcinoma HEC-1-B cell line was transfected with an expression vector harboring the human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) cDNA under the control of the human beta-actin gene promoter. Stable transfectants were obtained in which a constitutive, limited overexpression of M(r) 24,000, 22,000, and 18,000 bFGF isoforms was observed. When transfectants were screened for the capacity to release the growth factor, significant amounts of bFGF were present in the conditioned medium and extracellular matrix of the bFGF-B9 clone but not of the bFGF-A8 clone, even though both cell lines produced similar levels of intracellular bFGF. When compared to parental cells, bFGF-B9 cells showed down-regulation of tyrosine kinase fibroblast growth factor receptors along with up-regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression which was abolished by incubation of the cell cultures with neutralizing anti-bFGF antibody. In vivo, bFGF-B9 cells formed highly vascularized tumors growing faster than parental cells when injected s.c. in nude mice. Also, they were more potent than nontransfected cells in inducing an angiogenic response in the rabbit cornea assay. In contrast, the bFGF-A8 cell phenotype was indistinguishable from parental cells both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, clonal differences exist within the HEC-1-B cell line in the capacity to release bFGF. bFGF export by human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells results in autocrine and paracrine effects that confer a growth advantage in vivo associated with increased neovascularization.

Adenocarcinoma, Papillary

Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression by basic fibroblast growth factor in human microglial cells.

The effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression in human cultured ramified microglial cells was investigated. Using RT-PCR and Southern blot analysis, we found that bFGF prevented the iNOS gene expression as induced by LPS/TNF alpha. Also, bFGF dose-dependently inhibited nitrite levels in treated cell supernatants. That the early presence of bFGF during LPS/TNF alpha induction was essential indicates that iNOS gene expression can be transcriptionally regulated.

Blotting, Southern

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression in endothelial cells by basic fibroblast growth factor.

The mechanism of induction of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was explored in fetal bovine aortic endothelial GM 7373 cells. A three- to four-fold increase in the steady-state levels of uPA mRNA was observed after 6 h of incubation of the cell cultures with bFGF. Accordingly, nuclear run-on experiments showed a 2-2.4-fold increase in the rate of uPA gene transcription during the first 4 h of treatment with the growth factor. bFGF did not affect uPA mRNA stability, as evaluated by chase experiments with the mRNA synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D. Upregulation of uPA mRNA was followed by a delayed increase in uPA protein synthesis paralleled by an increase in secreted and cell-associated uPA activity. Twelve h were required before accumulated uPA mRNA was translated into the corresponding protein. During this time interval, the continuous presence of biologically active bFGF in the extracellular environment represented an absolute requirement for uPA mRNA translation. Substitution of residues Lys-27, Lys-30, and Arg-31 to glutamine residues in the bFGF molecule resulted in a mutant (M1Q-bFGF) that caused uPA mRNA accumulation in the absence of a significant increase in cell-associated uPA activity. M1Q-bFGF also induced an increase in cell-associated uPA activity only when added to the cell cultures in the presence of soluble heparin. These results provide evidence that bFGF can affect uPA expression in endothelial GM 7373 cells both at transcriptional and posttranscriptional translational levels. They also show the possibility to dissociate upregulation of uPA mRNA from upregulation of uPA activity by mutagenesis of the bFGF molecule.

Animals