Thrombin cleavage of extracellular matrix proteins.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R H Goldfarb.
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In this report we have used highly purified populations of natural killer (NK) cells: large granular lymphocytes (LGL). This study demonstrates that freshly isolated and interleukin 2-cultured LGL produce the specific neutral serine protease, plasminogen activator (PA). We have found that the enzyme is expressed in both an extracellular form as well as in a cell-associated form. Upon subcellular distribution the latter form of the enzyme is associated with a cell-surface membrane-enriched fraction. LGL PA exists in multiple molecular weight forms ranging from 100,000 to 26,000. Interferon (IFN), the major positive regulator of NK cytolytic activity, caused a substantial enhancement of cell-associated, but not extracellular, PA. In contrast, LGL isolated from patients with Chediak-Higashi syndrome, who are known to be defective in NK activity, displayed low PA activity, altered morphology, and low NK killing relative to LGL isolated from normal donors. The possible role of LGL PA in the lysis of tumor cells by NK cells, either directly or indirectly, is discussed.
Seven macrophagelike cell lines, WEHI-3, J774, RAW264, FC-1, P388D-1, PU5-R, and PU5-1.8, commonly used as in vitro models of macrophage function, were studied for their fibrinolytic activity in the presence and absence of purified plasminogen. All cell lines, as well as the freshly harvested peritoneal macrophages, produced plasminogen activator, as indicated by the levels of fibrinolytic activity in the presence of plasminogen. However, fibrinolytic proteolysis was most efficiently measured by direct attachment to 125I-fibrin plates, a method which measures both secreted and cell-membrane-associated plasminogen activator. Other non-plasminogen-dependent fibrinolytic activities were also produced by all cells studied and secreted by WEHI-3, FC-1, RAW-264, and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. Activation of the thioglycollate-elicited macrophages with macrophage activation factor (MAF) induced threefold higher levels of plasminogen activator production but MAF treatment had no effect on the level of activity produced by macrophagelike cell lines. Indeed, the macrophagelike cell lines produced plasminogen activator at levels seen with MAF-activated thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. We conclude that these cell lines constitutively produce activators of plasminogen and, in their failure to respond to MAF, behave as activated macrophages.
Treatment of two nontransformed rat kidney cell lines with either retinoic acid or epidermal growth factor enhances anchorage-dependent cell growth and reduces cell substratum adhesiveness significantly, whereas the cell morphology is only moderately affected. Simultaneous treatment of these cells with these factors results in a dramatic change in cell morphology and increases cell growth and reduces cell substratum adhesiveness even further. Treatment of nontransformed rat kidney cells with certain retinoids enhances the binding of 125I-labeled mouse epidermal growth factor 2- to 3-fold. Addition of epidermal growth factor stimulates anchorage-independent growth of these cells. Retinoids enhance colony-forming ability in soft agar produced by epidermal growth factor, although retinoids by themselves do not affect anchorage-independent growth. Growth in soft agar induced by epidermal growth factor or epidermal growth factor plus retinoic acid treatments appears to be a reversible trait. Addition of epidermal growth factor stimulates secretion of plasminogen activator, whereas this production is not influenced by retinoids. A transformed rat kidney cell line, which exhibits very low epidermal growth factor binding and grows progressively in soft agar, is not significantly affected by retinoid treatment.
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The role of phospholipid methylation and phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) in natural killer (NK) function by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied. Pretreatment of effector cells with a methyltransferase inhibitor, 3-deazaadenosine, in the presence of homocysteine thiolactone, reduced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent fashion. This effect was closely associated with inhibition of methylation of lipids but not of nucleic acids or proteins. The suggestion for a role of phospholipid methylation was supported by the observation that the interaction between NK-susceptible tumor targets and peripheral blood mononuclear cells caused increased phospholipid methylation only when susceptible target cells were used. Phospholipase A2 was also implicated in human NK activity. Inhibitors of the enzyme such as tetracaine, mepacrine, Rosenthal's inhibitor, and corticosteroids impaired NK function. Rosenthal's inhibitor was also shown to exert an inhibitory effect on a purified NK-cell population obtained by the isolation of large granular lymphocytes on Percoll gradients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were also directly shown to display phospholipase A2-like activity, as measured by the decrease in radioactive arachidonate from prelabeled phospholipids, specifically phosphatidylcholine, in effector cells. These data suggest that enhanced phospholipid methylation occurs during the recognition function of NK cells. Consequent activation of phospholipase A2 might be involved in the mechanisms leading to lytic events within the target cell.
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Tumor cells traverse basement membranes (BM) during the stages of the metastatic process. Penetration of the BM may involve proteolysis by enzymes directly or indirectly associated with tumor cells. This study evaluated the role of the serine proteases urokinase (plasminogen activator), plasmin, and another regulatory protease, alpha-thrombin, in the degradation of the BM. Homogeneously pure enzyme preparations were incubated with isolated components of BM and with whole human amnion BM. The BM components consisted of acid-extracted type IV collagen, pepsin fragments of collagen type IV, laminin, and fibronectin. Collagen type V (alpha A alpha B) associated with the peri-BM zone was also studied. The purity of the enzymes was verified by gel electrophoresis and inhibitor studies. Digestion of the BM components was performed at 25 degrees using matched activity for the different enzymes. Urokinase failed to significantly degrade fibronectin or any of the other BM components. Under the same 25 degrees (native) conditions, plasmin and thrombin cleaved fibronectin and laminin into multiple specific fragments but did not produce a major cleavage of acid-extracted type IV collagen, pepsinized type IV collagen, or alpha A alpha B (type V) collagade fibronectin or any of the other BM components. Under the same 25 degrees (native) conditions, plasmin and thrombin cleaved fibronectin and laminin into multiple specific fragments but did not produce a major cleavage of acid-extracted type IV collagen, pepsinized type IV collagen, or alpha A alpha B (type V) collagade fibronectin or any of the other BM components. Under the same 25 degrees (native) conditions, plasmin and thrombin cleaved fibronectin and laminin into multiple specific fragments but did not produce a major cleavage of acid-extracted type IV collagen, pepsinized type IV collagen, or alpha A alpha B (type V) collagen. alpha-Thrombn selectively degraded only the m.w. 400,000 chain of laminin, whereas plasmin degraded both the laminin chains. Digestion of laminin by the serine proteases was time and concentration dependent, as verified by a new degradation assay using [14C]laminin. A variety of normal and neoplastic cells were tested for the presence of laminin-degrading proteases. macrophages, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and metastatic tumor cells contained a significant laminin-degarding activity. The activity was enhanced by the addition of plasminogen. Type V collagen was cleaved by thrombin and plasmin at 35 degrees but not at temperatures below 33 degrees. Following treatment of whole-amnion BM with any of these enzymes, electron microscopy demonstrated preservation of the lamina densa. Immunohistology studies indicated that laminin, but not type IV collagen, was removed from the whole BM by plasmin treatment. The results suggest that these BM components are poor substrates for plasminogen activators and that plasmin alone is not sufficient to completely degrade the whole BM...
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Studies have been conducted on the enzyme plasminogen activator (PA) in cultures of RSV transformed CEF. The enzyme exists in two forms, a soluble extracellular form (PAex) and a cell-associated form that is firmly bound to specific membranes (PAmem) when cell homogenates are subfractionated. Both forms of the enzyme are induced in a synergistic fashion by treatment of RSVCEF with the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The induction of the enzyme by PMA has allowed for the purification of PAex. In addition, PMA treatment of RSVCEF causes pronounced morphological alterations in culture. The use of protease inhibitors, [3H]-DFP, and a direct fluorometric assay for PA indicate that the morphological changes are due to the direct catalytic action of PA, independent of plasminogen, until now its only known natural substrate. Recent experiments suggest that PAmem is responsible for the morphological changes and that residual amounts of LETS protein are lost from the cell surface and substratum coincident with the morphological changes. The possible role of serine proteases in regulatory cellular behavior in transformed or tumor promoter-treated cells is discussed.
Cultures of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chick embryo fibroblasts (RSVCEF) produce 50-fold more of the protease plasminogen activator (PA), than do normal chick embryo fibroblasts. Treatment of RSVCEF cultures with the tumor promoter phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) further enhances (8- to 12-fold) the level of PA activity. Increased levels of PA activity in RSVCEF are observed as early as 1 to 2 hr after PMA treatment. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrates that the PA produced by PMA-treated cultures has a molecular weight identical to that of the PA produced by untreated cultures. PA induction by PMA cannot be accomplished in cell-free extracts, but requires protein synthesis in intact cells. Under serum-free conditions, PMA-treated RSVCEF secrete high levels of PA for 4 to 6 days and undergo pronounced morphological alterations. Modified culture conditions and the use of PMA to induce PA has allowed for the accumulation of large amounts of RSVCEF culture fluid and the subsequent purification of the enzyme. The sensitivity of transformed CEF to PMA and the generation of enhanced proteolytic activity in the cellular microenvironment may provide a model system to examine the role of both PA in malignant transformation and PMA in tumor promotion.
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BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional peptide that binds to a specific receptor, c-met. Both HGF and c-met have been identified in normal brain and on glial tumors. The purpose of this study is to further define the biologic importance of HGF and c-met on normal and malignant glial cells grown in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine human malignant glioma-derived tumor cell cultures and cultures of astrocytes derived from normal brain were examined for c-met and HGF transcripts using Northern blot or RT-PCR analysis. Cellular invasiveness was quantitated by mechanical assay and mitogenesis was determined by cell count. RESULTS: C-met was expressed in five of seven malignant glioma-derived tumor cell cultures and in both normal astrocyte cultures. HGF transcript was not detected in any of the cell cultures. HGF supplementation enhanced invasiveness in c-met positive cell lines and did not alter cellular mitogenesis in the assayed cultures. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that HGF is a potent stimulator of invasiveness in c-met positive malignant glioma-derived tumor cells and is not an active cytokine with regards to in vitro glial cell proliferation. HGF may therefore stimulate glioma cellular invasion in vivo through binding to its receptor and by activating tyrosine kinase secondary messengers.
We have previously shown that A-NK cells when locoregionally administered accumulate within established cancer metastases and establish direct contact with both tumor cells and microvascular endothelial cells. Nevertheless, the accumulation of adoptively transferred A-NK cells into established cancer metastases is not sufficient for therapeutic efficacy in the B16 melanoma model. We have therefore attempted to enhance the anti-metastatic therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred A-NK cells with standard anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. We have found that chemoimmunotherapy with A-NK cells plus cyclophosphamide to be more effective than A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy alone. We have now built on these findings, by examining the ability of novel biologic response modifiers (low molecular weight benzothiazole compounds) to augment adoptive immunotherapy with A-NK cells. Two compounds KB-R4107 (4-methoxy-2-(4-t-butylphenyl)benzothiazole) and KB-R4250 (4-methoxy-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)benzothiazole) enhanced reduction of B16 melanoma pulmonary metastases mediated by A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy. Both compounds were administered for 5 days prior to administration of A-NK cells at 100 mg/kg p.o. All experimental groups initially contained at least 7 animals and were examined for tumor burden on day 10. With B16 melanoma cells administered on day 0 and A-NK cells administered on Day 4, KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 yielded on average a 64% and 52% reduction in metastatic burden, respectively compared to an average 17% reduction using A-NK cells alone. In contrast these compounds did not diminish metastatic burden when administered alone. KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 are therefore low molecular weight, heterocyclic, biological response modifiers which can augment the anti-metastatic therapeutic effect of adoptively transferred A-NK cells.
Adoptively transferred IL-2 activated NK (A-NK) cells selectively accumulate within tumor metastases which recommends them as vehicles for locoregional drug delivery. Zyn-Linkers are membrane-binding lipophilic dyes which can be coupled by a variety of conjugation chemistries to therapeutic agents. We have previously demonstrated that A-NK cells labeled with PKH26 are able to accumulate within established B16 melanoma pulmonary metastases by 16 h at a concentration of over 600 cells/mm2 of tumor tissue (Basse et al. J. Exp. Med. 174: 479 1991). Zyn-205 is a prodrug in which doxorubicin is attached to a similar Zyn-Linker through an acid-sensitive bond. We have optimized the ex vivo labeling conditions and found that a 10 min incubation with 25 microM Zyn-205 results in the uptake of over 10(8) drug molecules per cell with no effect on either cell viability or cytolytic activity up to 24 h after labeling. Given these parameters, the amount of drug which may be carried to and concentrated in metastatic lesions represents a local concentration of approximately 15 microM. In addition, A-NK cells carrying Zyn-Linked doxorubicin at an equivalent dose of 25 micrograms/kg was therapeutically comparable to a systemic dose of 8 mg/kg (320x more) in the 3LL model of experimental metastasis. These data indicate that A-NK cells bearing Zyn-Linked chemotherapeutic agents represent a unique and feasible method to target chemotherapeutic agents to cancer metastases and that therapeutic doses can be attained without unwanted systemic exposure.
The multicatalytic proteinase complex or proteasome possesses at least 4 distinct proteolytic activities. We have previously reported that the chymotrypsin-like activity of the rat natural killer cell proteasome may play a role in natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity or IL-2 activated NK (A-NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Using a series of novel, Cephalon, Inc, synthetic proteasome inhibitors (CEP-1508, CEP-1612 and CEP-3117) which have been reported to be specific for the chymotrypsin-like activity of the proteasome, we have further investigated the possible role of the proteasome, with emphasis on the chymotryptic activity components, in cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We now report that these compounds can inhibit the rat NK proteasome in a dose dependent manner. Nevertheless, there is only a 50% inhibition of A-NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These results confirm and extend our previous results that the proteasome contributes, at least in part, to cell-mediated cytotoxicity. However, as anticipated, since multiple molecular pathways contribute to cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the proteasome contributes only partially to NK cell-mediated cytolytic reactivity. The exact role of the proteasome in NK cell-mediated killing, and whether single or multiple chymotryptic domains function directly or indirectly, remains to be fully determined.