PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S V Pizzo

Publications and source records attributed to S V Pizzo.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Microassay for the photometric quantitation of cell-associated plasminogen activator using a chromogenic tripeptide substrate.

Plasminogen activator (PA), a neutral protease whose primary function is to convert plasminogen to plasmin, is produced by various cells including macrophages, monocytes, endothelial cells, and tumor cells. This study reports the use of the chromogenic tripeptide substrate D-Val-Leu-Lys-p-nitroanilide (S-2251) and an automated microtiter plate reader spectrophotometer for the determination of PA activity in cells and fluids. There was a linear relationship between the time of incubation at 37 degrees C and the square root of the absorbance measured at 405 nm when urokinase was incubated with the substrate in the presence of plasminogen. There was no activity in the absence of plasminogen. The slopes of the lines (square root A 405/time) were directly related to the concentrations of urokinase, up through 0.05 CTA units. Using this assay, we determined the cellular activity of PA in human promyelocytic cells HL-60 (1.33 +/- 0.12 CTA units/mg), human monocytoid cells U937 (1.27 +/- 0.12 CTA units/mg), mouse myeloid leukemia cells RFM/UN (0.70 +/- 0.07 CTA units/mg), freshly isolated normal human monocytes (0.00 +/- 0.00 CTA units/mg), and human monocytes after 7 days in culture (5.66 +/- 0.38 CTA units/mg). There was a variable amount of activity expressed in freshly isolated cells or cell lysates of peritoneal macrophages from normal mice, or mice that had gotten intraperitoneal injections of peptone, thioglycollate, or NaIO4, but after 24 or 48 h of culture, these activities, in general, increased. Using this assay, PA levels in the euglobulin precipitates from human plasma prepared without venous occlusion (0.03 +/- 0.02 CTA units/mg protein) or after 5 min of venous occlusion of the arm (0.18 +/- 0.01 CTA units/mg) were comparable to those reported by others using different assays. Thus, this represents a simple, rapid, accurate assay of PA that should be useful to those in immunology, cell biology, and clinical medicine.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Fluorescent probes as a measure of conformational alterations induced by nucleophilic modification and proteolysis of bovine alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Conformational alterations occurring in bovine alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) resulting from proteolysis and nucleophilic modification have been monitored by UV difference spectra, circular dichroism, and changes in the fluorescence of 6-(p-toluidino)-2-naphthalenesulfonate (TNS) and bis(8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate) (Bis-ANS). The results of this study indicate that these two dyes appear capable of differentiating between conformational changes induced by proteolysis and those induced by methylamine treatment. It appears that TNS is a sensitive probe for monitoring protease-induced but not methylamine-induced conformational changes in bovine alpha 2M. Bis-ANS, on the other hand, appears suitable for monitoring conformational changes induced by methylamine treatment or proteolysis of the molecule and was used as a probe to monitor the kinetics of the conformational change induced by methylamine treatment. It was found that the conformational change did not occur simultaneously with cleavage of the thiol ester bonds by the nucleophile, measured by titration of free sulfhydryl groups with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate). The data are consistent with a model in which initial nucleophilic attack results in exposure of sulfhydryl groups, resulting in a conformational change measured by an increase in fluorescence. This event is followed by a unimolecular step representing a conformational change in the protein that results in a further increase in the fluorescence signal. The second-order rate constant for hydrolysis of the thiol ester bonds was determined to be 3.4 +/- 1.0 M-1 s-1, while the rate constant for the conformational change was (4.4 +/- 0.8) X 10(-4) s-1.

Anilino Naphthalenesulfonates↗
PubMed1984

The effect of zinc and other divalent cations on the structure and function of human alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Zinc binding to human alpha 2-macroglobulin was studied to assess its involvement in the structure and function alpha 2-macroglobulin. Equilibrium dialysis experiments indicated multiple classes of zinc-binding sites, the one of highest affinity having a site number of 20 and a Kd value of 8 X 10(-7) M. Native alpha 2-macroglobulin and alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complexes bound comparable amount of zinc. The proteinase inhibitory activity of alpha 2-macroglobulin was not affected by zinc binding at physiological concentrations nor by the removal of zinc by EDTA. Above 25 microM zinc, alpha 2-macroglobulin activity decreased, although binding of [125I]trypsin was not affected. When nondenaturing gel electrophoresis was performed, the preparation of alpha 2-macroglobulin migrated as half-molecules at increasing zinc concentration. Experiments with other divalent cations correlated decreases in alpha 2-macroglobulin activity with apparent dissociation of the alpha 2-macroglobulin tetramer in the presence of copper and mercury, but not barium, cadmium or nickel. While zinc binding to alpha 2-macroglobulin does not function in proteinase inhibition, it might be involved in zinc transport in vivo. At nonphysiological concentrations, zinc and other divalent cations are useful as probes of protein quaternary structure.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1984

Comparison of the binding of chicken alpha-macroglobulin and ovomacroglobulin to the mammalian alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor.

Chicken alpha-macroglobulin (alpha M) and ovomacroglobulin were purified by Ni+2 chelate chromatography. These proteins had similar subunit structure as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Chicken alpha M bound 1.0 mol and ovomacroglobulin bound 0.8 mol 125I-trypsin per mol inhibitor, respectively. Ovomacroglobulin cleared rapidly from the circulation of mice, and the clearance was inhibited by asialoorosomucoid, but native chicken alpha M cleared slowly (t 1/2 greater than 1 h). After reaction with trypsin, this alpha-macroglobulin cleared rapidly (t 1/2 = 3 min), and this clearance was inhibited by a 1000-fold molar excess of human alpha 2M-methylamine. Ovomacroglobulin-trypsin did not inhibit the binding of 0.2 nM 125I-labeled human alpha 2M-methylamine to mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro, but chicken alpha M reacted with trypsin inhibited the binding by 50% at 1.9 nM. A kappa I of 1.1 nM was calculated for the binding of chicken alpha M-trypsin to the mammalian alpha-macroglobulin receptor. This affinity is comparable to that obtained with human and bovine alpha 2M.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Circular dichroic spectroscopy of non-human alpha-macroglobulins.

Bovine, chicken and frog alpha-macroglobulins and ovomacroglobulin were studied by circular dichroic spectroscopy over the region 205-250 nm. All four spectra exhibited negative ellipticity with minima at about 215 nm similar to that reported for human alpha 2-macroglobulin. On reaction of the alpha-macroglobulins with trypsin, the spectrum of each of the four changed similarly. However, these proteins exhibited different conformational changes when treated with methylamine. These differences were exploited to determine which characteristics of alpha-macroglobulins correlate with changes in circular dichroic spectroscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Vascular plasminogen activator levels and thromboembolic disease in patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Vascular plasminogen activator levels were measured preoperatively in 66 women with gynecologic malignancies. These levels were compared to levels in a matched control group of 84 women and to the incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolic disease in the patient group. Significantly lower levels of plasminogen activator were measured in patients who developed thrombotic complications (p = 0.0014). When results were stratified according to tumor location, patients with ovarian carcinoma had significantly higher activator levels than those found in control subjects (p = 0.0072), and significantly lower levels were associated with endometrial malignancy (p = 0.0140). Measurement of releasable plasminogen activator before operation may be an effective, noninvasive means of identifying patients potentially at risk for venous thromboembolic disease. Postoperative measurement of plasminogen activator may eventually find a role in monitoring tumor therapy and recurrence.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Changes in the binding of "fast"-form alpha 2-macroglobulin to 3T3-L1 cells after differentiation to adipocytes.

Human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M)-CH3NH2 specifically binds to 3T3-L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes with an apparent Kd of 0.3 nM at 4 degrees C. Binding to fibroblasts follows first-order kinetics only for the first 20-30 min of reaction, k1 = 160 microM-1 h-1, and then proceeds in a non-first-order reaction that takes 28 h to reach steady state. Receptor activity is 120 fmol of alpha 2M-CH3NH2/mg of cell protein or 60 000 molecules/cell. Binding is nondissociable. In contrast, binding to adipocytes follows first-order kinetics, k1 = 720 microM-1 h-1, and reaches steady state in 6-8 h. Receptor activity is 35 fmol of alpha 2M-CH3NH2/mg of cell protein or 60 000 molecules/cell. Binding is reversible with a k2 of 0.4 h-1. Control studies with 3T3-C2 cells, which do not differentiate after hormone treatment, indicate that these differences are not due to hormone treatment alone. Binding to both fibroblasts and adipocytes is specific for "fast"-form alpha 2M but not for native alpha 2M. Inhibition studies with neoglycoproteins demonstrate that binding does not occur via any of the known carbohydrate receptors. Some cross-reactivity with antithrombin III-trypsin complexes is demonstrated. Both fibroblasts and adipocytes take up and degrade alpha 2M-CH3NH2 at 37 degrees C. For both cell types, the concentration of alpha 2M-CH3NH2 needed for half-maximal uptake is 65 nM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1984

Identification of "embryonin" as bovine alpha 2-macroglobulin.

Pedersen fetuin contains a contaminant, previously named "embryonin" that exhibits immuno-cross reactivity with human alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2Mh). In the present study, it is demonstrated that this protein coelutes with alpha2Mh in gel filtration chromatography and can be purified to homogeneity by Zn2+ chelate chromatography. By sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), this contaminant exhibited similar subunit size, protease-induced cleavage fragments, and heat fragmentation as alpha2Mh. 125I-trypsin and 125I-chymotrypsin each bound at a ratio of 0.9 mol/mol to this fetuin-derived native alpha2M (alpha2Mf) and at a ratio of less than 0.2 mol/mol to methylamine-treated alpha2Mf. As determined by SDS-PAGE, 1:1 molar ratio of protease to alpha2Mf cleaved each alpha2Mf subunit to fragments of Mr approximately 72,000. At a 0.2:1 molar ratio of trypsin to alpha2Mf-methylamine, every alpha2Mf-methylamine subunit was cleaved to polypeptide chains of Mr approximately 72,000 and 110,000. In native PAGE, alpha2Mf and alpha2Mf-methylamine migrated with the same mobility; after reaction with trypsin their mobilities increased similarly. 125I-alpha2Mf cleared from the circulation of mice with a t1/2 of 30 min. The trypsin or methylamine derivative of 125I-alpha2Mf cleared with t1/2 of less than 5 min and clearance was competable when the ligand was co-injected with a large molar excess of unlabeled alpha2Mh-methylamine. alpha2Mf, 0.3 nM, treated with trypsin or methylamine, inhibited 50% of the binding of 0.1 nM 125I-alpha2Mh-methylamine to specific receptors on mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Native alpha2Mf did not inhibit significantly the binding of the ligand at this concentration. Bovine alpha2M (alpha2Mb) was purified from plasma by Ni2+ chelate chromatography. By SDS-PAGE, amino acid analysis, and cyanogen bromide peptide mapping, it was indistinguishable from the alpha2M purified from fetuin. It is concluded that embryonin is bovine alpha2M.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1984

Hepatocyte receptors for antithrombin III-proteinase complexes.

The in vivo clearance of antithrombin III-proteinase complexes occurs via a specific and saturable pathway located on hepatocytes. We now report studies of the catabolism of antithrombin III-proteinase complexes in vitro using rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Antithrombin III-thrombin and trypsin complexes were prepared and purified to homogeneity. Ligand uptake by hepatocytes was concentration, temperature, and time dependent. Initial rate studies were performed to characterize the maximum rate of uptake, V, and apparent Michaelis constant Kapp. These studies yielded a V of 12.8 fmol/mg cell protein/min and a Kapp of 144 nM for antithrombin-trypsin complexes. Competition experiments with antithrombin III, antithrombin III-proteinase complexes, alpha 2-macroglobulin-methylamine, asialoorosomucoid and the neoglycoproteins, fucosyl-bovine serum albumin (BSA), N-acetylglucosaminyl-BSA, and mannosyl-BSA indicated that only antithrombin III-proteinase complexes were recognized by the hepatocyte receptor. Uptake studies were performed at 37 degrees C with 125I-antithrombin III-trypsin and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in conjunction with autoradiography. These studies demonstrate time-dependent uptake and degradation of the ligand to low molecular weight peptides. In addition, there was a time-dependent accumulation of a high molecular weight complex of ligand and a cellular protein. This complex disappeared when gels were performed under reducing conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Hepatocyte uptake of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin complexes in vitro: evidence for a shared uptake mechanism for proteinase complexes of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and antithrombin III.

In vivo clearance studies have indicated that the clearance of proteinase complexes of the homologous serine proteinase inhibitors alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor and antithrombin III occurs via a specific and saturable pathway located on hepatocytes. In vitro hepatocyte-uptake studies with antithrombin III-proteinase complexes confirmed the hepatocyte uptake and degradation of these complexes, and demonstrated the formation of a disulfide interchange product between the ligand and a cellular protein. We now report the results of in vitro hepatocyte uptake studies with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin complexes. Trypsin complexes of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor were prepared and purified to homogeneity. Uptake of these complexes by hepatocytes was time and concentration-dependent. Competition experiments with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin, and antithrombin III-thrombin indicated that the proteinase complexes of these two inhibitors are recognized by the same uptake mechanism, whereas the native inhibitor is not. Uptake studies were performed at 37 degrees C with 125I-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis in conjunction with autoradiography. These studies demonstrated time-dependent uptake and degradation of the ligand to low molecular weight peptides. In addition, there was a time-dependent accumulation of a high molecular weight complex of ligand and a cellular protein. This complex disappeared when gels were performed under reducing conditions. The sole cysteine residue in alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor was reduced and alkylated with iodoacetamide. Trypsin complexes of the modified inhibitor were prepared and purified to homogeneity. Uptake and degradation studies demonstrated no differences in the results obtained with this modified complex as compared to unmodified alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin complex. In addition, the high molecular weight disulfide interchange product was still present on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized cells. Clearance and clearance competition studies with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin, alkylated alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin, antithrombin III-thrombin, and anti-thrombin III-factor IXa further demonstrated the shared hepatocyte uptake mechanism for all these complexes.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1984

Increased releasable vascular plasminogen activator and a bleeding diathesis.

A 66-year-old man with metastatic prostatic carcinoma treated with high-dose (5 mg) diethylstilbestrol therapy underwent orchiectomy to allow discontinuation of estrogen. An extensive ecchymosis developed postoperatively in an area covered by elastic dressing tape; subsequently, it was learned that the patient had a recent history of frequent ecchymoses with mild trauma that proceeded to vesiculation. His alpha2-antiplasmin level was 132 percent, fibrin split products 4 micrograms/ml, and fibrinogen 293 mg/dl; routine coagulation results were normal. However, the level of releasable vascular plasminogen activator in a specimen drawn prior to surgery was 3.6 CTA units/ml, the highest value ever reported in this laboratory.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Conformation-specific precipitation of human alpha 2-macroglobulin by divalent zinc or calf thymus histone H3.

Highly purified native alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M), alpha 2M-trypsin, and alpha 2M-methylamine were compared in experiments designed to study protein precipitation. Significant turbidity developed within 30 min in solutions containing histone H3 and either alpha 2M-methylamine or alpha 2M-trypsin, as determined by absorbance at lambda = 550 nm. No turbidity was detected in solutions that contained histone H3 and native alpha 2M or histone H3 alone. Experiments with radioiodinated histone H3 or radioiodinated proteinase inhibitor confirmed that both the H3 and the alpha 2M "fast" forms (alpha 2M-methylamine, alpha 2M-trypsin) were present in the precipitates generated. As much as 70% of the 125I-alpha 2M-methylamine was recovered in the precipitate after incubation with a 120-fold molar excess of H3 (concentration of alpha 2M-methylamine, 0.28 microM). The ratio of histone to proteinase inhibitor by weight in the precipitate was approximately two. Under comparable conditions, somewhat less alpha 2M-trypsin precipitated from solutions containing H3 than did alpha 2M-methylamine; however, inactivation of the alpha 2M-trypsin with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride prior to incubation increased the level of precipitation significantly. Solutions containing poly-L-lysine (Mr approximately 13,000) instead of histone did not form precipitates with any of the forms of alpha 2M studied. In a second set of experiments, radioiodinated native alpha 2M, alpha 2M-trypsin, and alpha 2M-methylamine were incubated in solutions containing ZnCl2, BaCl2, CdCl2, CuSO4, MgCl2, or NiCl2 (concentration of divalent cation between 5 microM and 1.0 mM). Native alpha 2M was soluble in all of these salts. By contrast, alpha 2M-methylamine and alpha 2M-trypsin precipitated extensively from solutions containing greater than 100 microM ZnCl2. Precipitation was greater than 90% complete at 1 mM ZnCl2. A similar effect was not observed with any of the other divalent cations.

Cations, Divalent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of methylamine and plasmin on the conformation of human alpha 2-macroglobulin as revealed by differential scanning calorimetric analysis.

Differential scanning calorimetric analysis was used as a probe of the conformational alteration in human alpha 2-macroglobulin (AM) upon its complex formation with methylamine and with the protease, human plasmin. The slow electrophoretic form of AM displayed a single thermal transition, characterized by a temperature midpoint (Tm) of 65.8 +/- 0.3 degrees, a calorimetric enthalpy (delta Hc) of 2,550 +/- 150 kcal/mol and a van't Hoff enthalpy (delta Hvh) of 140 kcal/mol. In the presence of sufficient methylamine to irreversibly disrupt the four thiol ester bonds in AM, a single thermal transition was obtained, characterized by a Tm of 62.8 +/- 0.3 degrees, a delta Hc of 1,700 +/- 100 kcal/mol, and a delta Hvh of 169 kcal/mol. These data suggest that a major conformational alteration is produced in AM upon complex formation with methylamine. When plasmin interacts with AM, the resulting thermogram displays Tm values for AM of 68-69 degrees and 77 degrees, also suggestive of a large conformational alteration in AM. However, this latter alteration appears dissimilar to the change induced by methylamine.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1984

Regulation of factor IXa in vitro in human and mouse plasma and in vivo in the mouse. Role of the endothelium and the plasma proteinase inhibitors.

The regulation of human Factor IXa was studied in vitro in human and mouse plasma and in vivo in the mouse. In human plasma, approximately 60% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to antithrombin III (ATIII) by 2 h, with no binding to alpha 2-macroglobulin or alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, as assessed by gel electrophoresis and IgG- antiproteinase inhibitor-Sepharose beads. In the presence of heparin, virtually 100% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to ATIII by 1 min. The distribution of 125I-Factor IXa in mouse plasma was similar. The clearance of 125I-Factor IXa was rapid (50% clearance in 2 min) and biphasic and was inhibited by large molar excesses of ATIII-thrombin and alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor-trypsin, but not alpha 2-macro-globulin-trypsin; it was also inhibited by large molar excesses of diisopropylphosphoryl - (DIP-) Factor Xa, DIP-thrombin, and Factor IX, but not by prothrombin or Factor X. The clearance of Factor IX was also rapid (50% clearance in 2.5 min) and was inhibited by a large molar excess of Factor IX, but not by large molar excesses of Factor X, prothrombin, DIP-Factor Xa, or DIP-thrombin. Electrophoresis and IgG- antiproteinase inhibitor-Sepharose bead studies confirmed that by 2 min after injection into the murine circulation, 60% of the 125I-Factor IXa was bound to ATIII. Organ distribution studies with 125I-Factor IXa demonstrated that most of the radioactivity was in the liver. These studies suggest that Factor IXa binds to at least two classes of binding sites on endothelial cells. One site apparently recognizes both Factors IX and IXa, but not Factor X, Factor Xa, prothrombin, or thrombin. The other site recognizes thrombin, Factor Xa, and Factor IXa, but not the zymogen forms of these clotting factors. After this binding, Factor IXa is bound to ATIII and the complex is cleared from the circulation by hepatocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Effects of diethyldithiocarbamate and nine other nucleophiles on the intersubunit protein cross-linking and inactivation of purified human alpha 2-macroglobulin by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II).

The cross-linking and inactivation of the plasma protein alpha 2-macroglobulin by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin; Gonias, S. L., and Pizzo, S. V. J. Biol. Chem., 256: 12478-12484, 1981) was used to study platinum(II)-protein binding in the presence of compounds of therapeutic or biochemical significance. Diethyldithiocarbamate, potassium cyanide (KCN), sodium thiocyanate, L-methionine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, 2-aminoethanethiol, L-cysteine, L-lysine, L-histidine, and L-arginine demonstrated variable capacity to inhibit reaction of cisplatin with protein and to reverse bidentate platinum(II)-protein binding in the in vitro model system. alpha 2-Macroglobulin lost 90% of its activity and was completely cross-linked, as determined with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, after reaction with cisplatin (0.6 to 1.0 mM). When diethyldithiocarbamate (4 to 15 mM) was incubated with alpha 2-macroglobulin and cisplatin, protein inactivation and cross-linking were totally prevented. In experiments with alpha 2-macroglobulin-platinum(II) complex, purified by gel filtration chromatography, 1.0 mM diethyldithiocarbamate completely reactivated the protein and eliminated nearly all of the intersubunit cross-links. Only KCN was comparably effective as an inhibitor of the reaction of cisplatin with alpha 2-macroglobulin; however, KCN was significantly less reactive with preformed platinum(II)-protein bonds than was diethyldithiocarbamate. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, 2-aminoethanethiol, and L-cysteine were moderately reactive with free cisplatin. This group of compounds also demonstrated a low level of reactivity with the purified alpha 2-macroglobulin-platinum(II) complex. L-Methionine inhibited reaction of cisplatin with the protein, but was ineffective at reversing the reaction in the concentration range studied. The remaining compounds had little or no effect on the reaction of cisplatin with alpha 2-macroglobulin. The ability of diethyldithiocarbamate to displace nucleophilic protein groups from highly stable bonds with platinum(II) may be critical in its function as a rescue agent, limiting cisplatin toxicity towards nontumor cells.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1983

Conformation and protease binding activity of binary and ternary human alpha 2-macroglobulin-protease complexes.

Human alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) undergoes a conformational change after reaction with proteases. In this report, it is shown that although two trypsin molecules may bind simultaneously to each alpha 2M, only one trypsin is necessary to induce alpha 2M conformational change. Ternary complexes of alpha 2M and either two radioiodinated trypsins or two nonradioiodinated trypsins were purified by gel filtration chromatography. The nonradioactive complex did not bind 125I-trypsin, even after incubation for 24 h with the free protease present at a large molar excess. Under comparable conditions, a large molar excess of nonradioactive trypsin did not cause significant dissociation of the complex prepared with radioiodinated protease. Equations are presented that distinguish between two separate models of protease binding and demonstrate that binary alpha 2M-trypsin complex retains no significant trypsin binding activity despite the presence of a vacant protease binding site. Purified alpha 2M-plasmin complex, with 1.10 mol of plasmin/mol of inhibitor, also retained no trypsin binding activity as assessed with radioiodinated protein binding experiments. These studies suggest that reactions of alpha 2M with proteases are accurately described by the "trap hypothesis" (Barrett, A. J., and Starkey, P. M. (1973) Biochem. J. 133, 709-724) independent of protease size or binding stoichiometry.

Fibrinolysin↗
PubMed1983

Alpha 2-macroglobulin 'fast' forms inhibit superoxide production by activated macrophages.

Mouse peritoneal macrophages activated by bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were incubated with human alpha 2-macroglobulin converted to its 'fast' form with either trypsin or methylamine before being stimulated with phorbol myrystate acetate. Both alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin-methylamine inhibited macrophage production of superoxide anion (O2-) while native alpha 2-macroglobulin had little effect except at high concentration. The alpha 2-macroglobulin 'fast' forms, which bind with a Kd of about 8 nM, inhibited 50% generation of O2- (ID50) at a concentration of 7 nM while alpha 2-macroglobulin inhibited O2- production with an ID50 of 141 nM. The 'fast' forms of alpha 2-macroglobulin may play a role in the feedback regulation of inflammatory reactions.

Animals↗