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W D Schleuning

Publications and source records attributed to W D Schleuning.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Plasminogen activators from the saliva of Desmodus rotundus (common vampire bat): unique fibrin specificity.

The saliva of D. rotundus contains at least four plasminogen activators (PAs) which all require fibrin as a cofactor. D. rotundus salivary PAs (DSPAs) exhibit a sequential array of structural motifs such as "Finger" (F), "EGF" (E), "Kringle" (K) and "Protease" (P) which was elucidated by cDNA cloning and sequencing. The respective domain organizations are: FEKP (DSPA alpha 1 and DSPA alpha 2), EKP (DSPA beta) and KP (DSPA gamma). In all four forms the plasmin-sensitive site of tPA is obliterated, indicating that they function as single-chain enzymes. DSPA alpha 1 differs from alpha 2 by amino acid substitutions found mainly in the F, E and K domain, 11% of the total sequence. DSPA beta and gamma, while being closely related to alpha 2, still exhibit 2 and 13 amino acid exchanges, respectively. These sequence heterogeneities, together with results of Southern blot hybridization experiments, strongly suggest that the four DSPA mRNA species originate from different genes. All four forms of DSPA have been expressed in animal cell culture and DSPA alpha 1 was chosen for a detailed pharmacological characterization. In vitro DSPA alpha 1 activity is enhanced 50,000-fold in the presence of fibrin, whereas the activity of single chain tPA is only enhanced 100-fold. At equally effective thrombolytic doses DSPA causes lower bleeding incidence in a rat mesenteric vein model and exhibits high potency, clot selectivity, and speed in the dissolution of fibrin embolized into the lung of anesthetized rats. In the copper coil-induced dog coronary heart infarction model, at doses that achieve patency at equal rates, reocclusion is significantly less frequent than with tPA. These results indicate that DSPA alpha 1 may be a safer and more efficacious thrombolytic agent than the PAs currently in clinical use.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

High-level secretion of the four salivary plasminogen activators from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus by stably transfected baby hamster kidney cells.

The cDNAs coding for the four Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activators (DSPAs) were subcloned into the mammalian expression vector, pMPSV/CMV, which carries the myeloproliferative sarcoma virus promoter and the cytomegalovirus enhancer. These constructs were transfected, together with plasmids harbouring Geneticin (G418)-resistance and puromycin-resistance genes, into baby hamster kidney cells. Through the selective pressure of both antibiotics, cell clones constitutively overexpressing the DSPA alpha 1, DSPA alpha 2, DSPA beta or DSPA gamma cDNAs were obtained. Secretion of active DSPAs was confirmed by zymographic analysis and quantified using a fibrin plate assay and ELISA.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cell-specific regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and tissue type plasminogen activator release by human kidney mesangial cells.

Human mesangial cells in culture synthesize and secrete plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a known activator of protein kinase C, induces a three to four-fold increase in t-PA and PAI-1 release over a period of 24 h, whereas cell-associated t-PA and PAI-1 levels remain relatively stable. A similar effect is obtained with oleylacetyl glycerol, a more physiologic protein kinase C activator. The effect of PMA is suppressed in the presence of H7, an inhibitor of cellular protein kinases, and by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, indicating a requirement for de novo protein and RNA synthesis, respectively. Northern blot analysis of PMA-treated cells reveals a rapid and transient increase in PAI-1 mRNA reaching a maximum after 4-8 h, whereas increase in t-PA mRNA levels requires 24 h. Activation of protein kinase A by addition of 8-bromocyclic AMP (8-bromo cAMP) has no significant effect on PAI-1 release but inhibits the PMA-mediated increases in PAI-1 antigen and mRNA. Addition of 8-bromo cAMP alone does not affect t-PA release. When added to PMA-stimulated cells, 8-bromo cAMP inhibits t-PA release in a dose-dependent manner, but causes a superinduction of t-PA mRNA. 8-bromo cAMP also induces a decrease in PMA-stimulated intracellular t-PA release. Similar inhibition is observed after stimulation of endogenous adenylate cyclase with prostaglandin E1 or isoproterenol. This indicates that protein kinase A activation may inhibit PMA-stimulated t-PA release via a post-transcriptional effect, e.g. inhibition of protein synthesis or activation of protein degradation. In conclusion, hormones or mediators which activate protein kinase C can stimulate t-PA and PAI-1 synthesis in human mesangial cells. Protein kinase A activation has no effect on the basal release of PAI-1 and t-PA by human mesangial cells, and, in contrast to endothelial cells, it inhibits both PMA-stimulated PAI-1 and t-PA releases. This cell-specific regulation of t-PA and PAI-1 seems to be mediated by differential transcriptional and post transcriptional mechanisms.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1992

Thrombolytic properties of Desmodus rotundus (vampire bat) salivary plasminogen activator in experimental pulmonary embolism in rats.

rDSPA alpha 1 (recombinant Desmodus salivary plasminogen activator alpha 1) is a recombinant protein corresponding to a natural plasminogen activator from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. The thrombolytic properties of rDSPA alpha 1 and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) were compared in a rat model of pulmonary embolism. Whole blood clots, produced in vitro and labeled with 125I-fibrinogen, were embolized into the lungs of anesthetized rats. Thrombolysis was calculated from the difference between initial clot radioactivity and that remaining in the lungs at 60 minutes. Blood was sampled for gamma counting, measurement of hemostatic factors, and plasminogen activator antigen levels. Thrombolysis at 3, 10, 30, and 100 nmol/kg intravenously (10% bolus, 90% over 60 minutes) amounted to 30% +/- 2%, 51% +/- 4%, 85% +/- 4%, 98% +/- 0% for rDSPA alpha 1 and 30% +/- 3%, 41% +/- 3%, 57% +/- 6%, 93% +/- 2% for t-PA (controls: 29% +/- 2%; mean +/- SEM, n greater than or equal to 6). t-PA at 100 nmol/kg significantly decreased fibrinogen, plasminogen, and alpha 2-antiplasmin levels by 33% +/- 7%, 38% +/- 8%, and 61% +/- 9%, whereas rDSPA alpha 1 at 100 nmol/kg only lowered alpha 2-antiplasmin significantly (by 29% +/- 6%). Compared with t-PA, rDSPA alpha 1 is the more potent and more clot selective (fibrin specific) thrombolytic agent. These results suggest that rDSPA alpha 1 may be safer and more efficacious than currently used thrombolytics.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Allelic dimorphism in the human tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) gene as a result of an Alu insertion/deletion event.

Polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to investigate an amplified DNA fragment containing the suspected polymorphic site of all known intragenic restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) within the human tissue-type plasminogen activator (TPA) gene. Sequence data obtained showed that these RFLPs were all generated by the presence or absence of one of the two Alu sequences located in intron h of the human TPA gene. Furthermore, one of the direct repeats flanking this Alu sequence was absent in the minor allele. In addition to indicating the presence of an Alu insertion in an ancestral human TPA gene, these findings suggest a slip-replication mechanism for the deletion of this Alu repeat, once inserted into the gene. As both alleles have been observed in similar frequencies among different ethnic groups, the insertion or subsequent deletion of this Alu sequence in the human TPA gene must have occurred early in human evolution.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Expression of high levels of human tissue plasminogen activator in yeast under the control of an inducible GAL promoter.

The human tissue plasminogen activator (h-tPA) cDNA was fused either with the leader sequence of the killer toxin of Kluyveromyces lactis or with the Saccharomyces diastaticus glucoamylase leader peptide and cloned in the yeast expression vector under the control of the inducible USAgal/CYC1 promoter. The recombinant tPA is produced in yeast as a single-chain glycosylated polypeptide of 66-72 kDa, which accumulates intracellularly associated with a membrane fraction. Using two-step fed-batch fermentation, a productivity up to 100 mg/l of active intracellular tPA was obtained.

Fermentation↗
PubMed1992

Tumor necrosis factor alpha increases antifibrinolytic activity of cultured human mesangial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) is likely to exert a major influence in the pathogenesis of glomerulopathies. Besides its proinflammatory properties. TNF alpha interacts with cell growth and synthesis of components of the fibrinolytic system. In this study, we report the effects of recombinant human TNF alpha on the synthesis of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) by human mesangial cells in culture. We first demonstrate that TNF alpha binds specifically to a single class of high affinity receptors (Kd 5.10(-11) M; 1500 receptors/cell). TNF alpha has an antimitogenic effect on human mesangial cells since it decreased DNA synthesis, measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation, in a dose-dependent manner. Release of cytosolic LDH and incorporated 51Cr was not increased by 100 ng/ml TNF alpha as compared with control, indicating that this monokine is not cytotoxic for cultured human mesangial cells. Zymographic analysis and reverse fibrin autography disclosed a 120 kD t-PA-PAI-1 complex and a 50 kD free form of PAI-1 in the supernatants of both unstimulated and TNF-stimulated cells; PAI-1 was released in excess and free t-PA was not observed. TNF alpha (0 to 100 ng/ml) had no effect on t-PA synthesis, but enhanced PAI-1 release in a time- and dose-dependent manner (97% increase of PAI-1 synthesis after a 24 hour incubation). This effect was abolished by cycloheximide, suggesting that protein synthesis was required. Northern blot analysis showed that TNF alpha increased the steady-state PAI-1 mRNA levels in a time-dependent manner, with a maximal effect at two hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1992

Molecular cloning of human endothelin (ET) receptors ETA and ETB.

Complementary DNAs coding for two different endothelin (ET) receptors were isolated from a human lung cDNA library. DNA sequencing revealed that they corresponded to either the ET-1-selective receptor subtype originally identified in cows (ETA) or the nonselective subtype first found in rats (ETB). An open reading frame coding for a 427 (ETA) or a 442 (ETB) amino acid-long protein, with a transmembrane topology also found in other G protein-coupled receptors, was determined. Whereas the amino acid identity is about 90% between the characterized members of a given receptor subtype, with the best conserved parts being the hydrophobic transmembrane domains, less than 60% identity was found between the human A and B subtypes. Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA revealed the existence of multiple hybridizing bands when using probes derived from the full-length ETA or ETB cDNAs. However, when shorter fragments were selected as probes, only one band remained detectable, which suggests the existence of a single-copy gene for each subtype of ET receptor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 deposition in the extracellular matrix of cultured human mesangial cells.

Human mesangial cells secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), the latter being secreted in large excess in vitro. We demonstrate that PAI-1 is a major component of the extracellular matrix of cultured human mesangial cells, where its deposition is dependent on cell density. By immunogold silver staining, epipolarization microscopy and dispersive X-ray spectrometry, we have shown that matrix-associated PAI-1 is synthesized by spreading human mesangial cells, as indicated by the time-dependent accumulation of PAI-1 and the inhibitory effect of cycloheximide. Furthermore, by in situ hybridization, PAI-1 mRNA was detected in cultured mesangial cells. t-PA is present inside the cells, or at the cell surface, but is never associated with the extracellular matrix. Exogenous t-PA can remove matrix-associated PAI-1 without affecting cell adhesion. A similar effect was obtained by addition of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) but not with fibrinolysis unrelated enzymes. In conclusion, PAI-1 is synthesized by human cultured mesangial cells and is deposited in the extracellular matrix by nonconfluent cells, whereas less PAI-1 is seen between confluent cells. This can explain the absence of detectable PAI-1 in normal human kidney biopsies. t-PA released by mesangial cells can bind and detach matrix PAI-1.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1991

The plasminogen activator family from the salivary gland of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus: cloning and expression.

Complementary DNAs coding for four Desmodus rotundus salivary plasminogen activators (DSPAs) were isolated and characterized. The predicted amino acid sequences display structural features also found in tissue-type plasminogen activator. The largest forms (DSPA alpha 1 and -alpha 2) contain a signal peptide, a finger (F), an epidermal growth factor (EGF), a kringle, and a serine protease domain, whereas DSPA beta and -gamma lack the F and F-EGF domains, respectively. Additional differences between the four forms suggest that distinct genes code for the members of the DSPA family. Transfection of DSPA-encoding cDNAs, placed under the control of the simian virus 40 late promoter, into COS-1 cells resulted in the secretion of highly fibrin-dependent PAs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Thrombin increases proliferation and decreases fibrinolytic activity of kidney glomerular epithelial cells.

Human glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) in culture synthesize single-chain, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (SC-uPA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and possess specific membrane-binding sites for u-PA. Using purified 125I-alpha thrombin, we demonstrate here the presence of two populations of specific binding sites for thrombin on GECs (1.Kd = 4.3 +/- 1.0 x 10(-10) M, 5.4 +/- 1.4 x 10(4) M sites per cell, 2. Kd = 1.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(-8) M, 7.9 +/- 1.8 x 10(5) sites per cell). Purified human alpha thrombin promoted the proliferation of GECs and induced a time- and dose-dependent increase of SC-uPA, t-PA, and PAI-1 antigens released by GECs. Thrombin-mediated increase in antigen was paralleled by an increase in the levels of corresponding u-PA and PAI-1 messenger RNA. In contrast, thrombin decreased u-PA activity in conditioned medium. This discrepancy between u-PA antigen and u-PA activity was explained by a limited proteolysis of SC-uPA by thrombin, leading to a two-chain form detected by immunoblotting and that could not be activated by plasmin. Thrombin also decreased the number of u-PA binding sites on GECs (p less than 0.05) without changing receptor affinity. Hirudin inhibited the binding and the cellular effects of thrombin, whereas thrombin inactivated by diisopropylfluorophosphate had no effect, indicating that both membrane binding and catalytic activity of thrombin were required. We conclude that thrombin, through specific membrane receptors, stimulates proliferation of GECs and decreases the fibrinolytic activity of GECs both at the cell surface and in the conditioned medium. These results suggest that thrombin could be involved in the pathogenesis of extracapillary proliferation and persistency of fibrin deposits in crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1991

Activation and subsequent degradation of proacrosin is mediated by zona pellucida glycoproteins, negatively charged polysaccharides, and DNA.

Boar proacrosin (E.C. 3.4.21.10, Mw 53 kD) was isolated by a modified method and subjected to autoactivation. Previously described molecular intermediates of 49 and 43 kD and a stable form (beta-acrosin, 35 kD) were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Autoactivation was expedited in the presence of either zona pellucida glycoproteins, fucoidan, or DNA. The end point of this accelerated conversion was the complete degradation of otherwise stable beta-acrosin via the formation of a characteristic active intermediate protein of 30 kD. All intermediate molecular forms observed during proacrosin activation/conversion exhibited the N-terminal sequence of the boar acrosin heavy chain, indicating a C-terminal processing mechanism. Hence zona pellucida glycoproteins stimulate proacrosin activation as well as acrosin degradation. Such a mechanism of proenzyme activation and degradation is to our knowledge described here for the first time and points to a previously unrecognized role of zona pellucida during gamete interaction.

Acrosin↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of human tissue-type plasminogen activator gene transcription by epidermal growth factor and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) biosynthesis in HeLa cells. Based on nuclear run-on transcription assays, t-PA biosynthesis is modulated by EGF on the level of gene transcription. The effect of EGF is slow, requiring 4-8 h to induce t-PA gene transcription and up to 24 h to induce t-PA mRNA and antigen secretion. An additive response is observed when cells are treated with both phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and EGF, suggesting that the two pathways converge and act independently to implement their respective effects. cAMP has previously been shown to potentiate phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-mediated induction of t-PA biosynthesis in HeLa cells and in human endothelial cells. Akin to this observation, cAMP also potentiates the EGF-mediated increase in t-PA mRNA. Maximal levels of t-PA mRNA is seen in the presence of all three agonists. The regulation of t-PA by EGF alone and in the presence of either PMA or cAMP is consistent with a role of t-PA during growth and development, and further indicates a functional interplay between protein kinase C-, tyrosine kinase, - and cAMP-dependent signal transduction pathways during regulation of t-PA gene expression.

Blotting, Northern↗
PubMed1990

A DNA motif related to the cAMP-responsive element and an exon-located activator protein-2 binding site in the human tissue-type plasminogen activator gene promoter cooperate in basal expression and convey activation by phorbol ester and cAMP.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) gene expression is regulated by the tumor-promoting phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), by cyclic AMP analogues, and the cAMP agonist, forskolin. Based on nuclear "run-on" transcription assays, t-PA expression is modulated by PMA on the level of transcription. 8-Bromo-cyclic AMP and forskolin do not induce t-PA gene transcription alone but act synergistically with PMA. These effects are confirmed by transient expression assays in HeLa cells employing deletion mutants of the t-PA gene promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Constitutive expression and most of the PMA-mediated induction requires sequences downstream of position -145. DNase I protection ("footprint") analysis of this region reveals two protein-binding sites: one between position -102 and -115, differing from the consensus sequence of the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) by the substitution of an adenine for a guanine in the middle of the core motif (TGACATCA), and another, located in the first exon (between position +60 and +74), displaying homology to the consensus sequence of the activator protein 2- (AP-2) binding site (CCCCACCCCC). Base substitutions in the core of either the CRE-like element or the AP-2 site suppress constitutive CAT expression by over 80%, whereas the relative PMA- and PMA plus cAMP-mediated responses are retained. CAT expression is below the detection limit when both elements are mutagenized together. Hence, the CRE-like element and the exon-located AP-2-binding site have a cooperative impact on basal transcription, but each element can independently convey the effect of activators of the protein kinase C- and A-dependent pathways of signal transduction. The results of band-shift analysis and competition titration experiments demonstrate that the CRE-like element acts as a low affinity binding site for the same proteins which recognize the authentic CRE.

Amanitins↗
PubMed1990

The human receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence and glycosylation variants.

The receptor for human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) was purified from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated U937 cells by temperature-induced phase separation of detergent extracts, followed by affinity chromatography with immobilized diisopropyl fluorophosphate-treated u-PA. The purified protein shows a single 55-60 kDa band after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. It is a heavily glycosylated protein, the deglycosylated polypeptide chain comprising only 35 kDa. The glycosylated protein contains N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and sialic acid, but no N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. Glycosylation is responsible for substantial heterogeneity in the receptor on phorbol ester-stimulated U937 cells, and also for molecular weight variations among various cell lines. The amino acid composition and the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence are reported. The protein has a high content of cysteine residues. The NH2-terminal sequence is not closely related to any known sequence. The identification of the purified and sequenced protein with the human u-PA receptor is based on the following findings: 1) the ability of the purified protein to bind u-PA and its amino-terminal fragment; 2) the identical electrophoretic mobilities observed for cross-linked conjugates, formed between either the purified protein or the u-PA receptor on intact U937 cells and the above ligands; 3) the identity of the apparent molecular weight of the purified protein to that predicted for the u-PA receptor in the same cross-linking studies; 4) the identical extent of glycosylation of the purified protein and of the u-PA receptor in crude membrane fractions, as detected after cross-linking; 5) the ability of antibodies raised against the purified protein to inhibit cellular binding of the amino-terminal fragment of u-PA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator biosynthesis is induced by the EJ-Ha-ras oncogene in CL26 mouse colon carcinoma cells.

CL26 murine colon carcinoma cells express urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) mRNA and activity after transfection with the activated c-Ha-ras-I (EJ-ras) oncogene cloned from the EJ bladder carcinoma. PA activity and mRNA in control cells transfected with the non-mutated c-Ha-ras-I (CO-ras) gene remained negative. Ras mRNA was detected in EJ-ras- and CO-ras-transfected cells, but not in untransfected or pSV2-neo-transfected cells. These results indicate that u-PA biosynthesis can be modulated by EJ-Ha-ras-dependent pathways of signal transduction.

Animals↗