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Differential mRNA expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-2 in normal human endometria and endometrial carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Extracellular proteolytic degradation is an essential part of cellular invasive processes. The increased proteolytic activity observed in invasive cancers, mediated through the activitation of components of the plasminogen activation system, has been demonstrated in various human tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the level of mRNA expression for the genes encoding urokinase (uPA), urokinase receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2) in endometrial carcinomas. METHODS: In this study, the expression of uPA, uPAR, and PAI-2 mRNA was examined in normal endometrial tissue (n = 16) and endometrial carcinoma tissues (n = 34) by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, the relative abundance of uPAR was significantly elevated in all of the clinical stages of malignancy examined, with a 33-fold increase in mRNA expression from normal endometria to advanced clinical stage carcinomas (Stage III, P < 0.0001). Similarly, uPA was significantly elevated in all clinical stages examined when compared to the normal group, with a 16-fold increase in mRNA expression in advanced stage carcinomas (P < 0.0005). The expression of both uPA and uPAR mRNA also increased with each progression in clinical stage. Expression of the inhibitor, PAI-2, was significantly up-regulated by 5-fold in only the late stages of endometrial tumor development (P < 0.001), while Stage IB and IC carcinomas did not express high levels of PAI-2 mRNA. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that components of the plasminogen activation cascade are up-regulated in progressive stages of invasive endometrial cancer and are consistent with their role in determining invasive potential of endometrial carcinomas.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗

Basal release of urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and soluble plasminogen activator receptor from separated and cultured endometriotic and endometrial stromal and epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether separated and cultured endometriotic and endometrial stromal and epithelial cells release urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and soluble plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) antigens in vitro. DESIGN: In vitro study. SETTING: University hospital clinic. PATIENT(S): Regularly menstruating women with and without endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Tissue samples were collected at surgery performed for clinical reasons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The antigen concentrations of uPA, PAI-1, and suPAR in culture medium were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULT(S): Both stromal and epithelial cells from endometriotic and endometrial tissue released the three types of antigens, but the release of PAI-1 was significantly higher from stromal cells in the three types of tissue than from epithelial cells. Furthermore, the release of PAI-1 was significantly higher from endometriotic cells than from endometrial stromal cells. CONCLUSION(S): This study has demonstrated the basic capacity of separated epithelial and stromal cells from all three types of tissue to release uPA, PAI-1, and suPAR without any paracrine influence, as in vivo. The higher release of PAI-1 from endometriotic stromal cells might have importance for the invasive growth.

Adult↗

Physiological and pathological changes of plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor levels in healthy females and breast cancer patients.

The plasma urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) levels were measured in healthy volunteers and breast cancer patients. In pre-menopause healthy females, blood was sampled weekly during one menstruation cycle and menstruation phases (follicular, ovulatory, luteal) were determined by FSH/LH levels. uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR levels were at the nadir during ovulatory phase. uPA level was highest at follicular phase while PAI-1 level was highest at luteal phase. In comparison between pre- and post-menopause states, uPA and uPAR levels were higher in post-menopause state while PAI-1 level was higher in pre-menopause state. In breast cancer patients, uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR positive rates were low when we use the menopause-state-unmatched cut-off points. As we adjusted the cut-off points by menopause states, the PAI-1 positivity increased mainly in post-menopause cancer patients. These findings suggest that there is a minor but possible sequential change of these molecules during menstruation cycle which might blur the pathological positivity in pre-menopause cancer patients. The pathological elevation of PAI-1 was well detected in post-menopause cancer patients, but this elevation did not correlate with tumor burden such as number of metastatic sites or metastatic location. In conclusion, adjustment of physiological changes of uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR is required in determining pathological elevation of the plasma levels in cancer patients, especially in females.

Adult↗

Nipple aspirate fluid expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor predicts breast cancer diagnosis and advanced disease.

BACKGROUND: Tumor expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and uPA receptor (uPAR) are breast cancer prognostic factors. Less is known about their usefulness in breast cancer diagnosis. Nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) is secreted into the breast duct and collected noninvasively, making it potentially useful both in breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis. We determined the association of uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR levels in NAF with breast cancer (1) detection and (2) advanced disease. METHODS: A total of 88 NAF specimens were collected from women with or without breast cancer, and uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: uPA and uPAR were independent predictors of cancer presence; uPAR was also an independent predictor of advanced disease stage. Higher PAI-1 expression in breast cancer that was found with univariate analysis was not observed after logistic regression was applied. CONCLUSIONS: NAF evaluation of uPA, uPAR, and, perhaps, PAI-1 (significant only in univariate analysis) may provide useful breast cancer diagnostic and prognostic information.

Adult↗

Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and tissue plasminogen activator/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex as risk factors for the development of a first stroke.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND NAD PURPOSE: Abnormalities in the fibrinolytic system have been associated with an increased risk for stroke in a few studies. This study was designed to test whether plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and tPA/PAI-1 complex could predict a first-ever stroke. METHODS: The study was an incident case-control study nested within the Västerbotten Intervention Program and the Northern Sweden Monitoring Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) cohorts. In this study 108 first-ever stroke cases were defined according to the MONICA classification, and 216 controls from the same cohort were randomly selected and matched for age, sex, sampling time, and geographic region. RESULTS: Stroke occurred on average 30 months after the blood sampling date. The mean plasma concentration of tPA/PAI-1 complex was higher for the stroke cases than for the controls (3.9 versus 3.0 microgram/L). In univariate regression analysis, significantly higher odds ratios were found for the tPA/PAI-1 complex as continuous variable. When divided into quartiles, the odds ratio was 2.74 for the highest quartile compared with the lowest. In the multivariate model, the tPA/PAI-1 complex remained an independent predictor for stroke. Additionally, tPA mass concentration quartiles 3 and 4 showed a significant association with all stroke as outcome. No association was found, however, for PAI-1. In subgroup analysis of cerebral hemorrhage (n=18), the mean tPA/PAI-1 complex level was higher for the cases than for the controls (4.8 versus 3.0 microgram/L), and in multivariate analysis including all controls (n=216), only tPA/PAI-1 complex remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study shows that tPA/PAI-1 complex, a novel fibrinolytic marker, is independently associated with the development of a first-ever stroke, especially hemorrhagic stroke. This finding supports the hypothesis that disturbances in fibrinolysis precede a cerebrovascular event.

Case-Control Studies↗

Temporal expression of urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and gelatinase-B in chronic wound fluid switches from a chronic to acute wound profile with progression to healing.

The plasminogen activator/plasmin system is known to initiate a proteolytic cascade resulting in the activation of matrix metalloproteinases in vitro leading to the degradation of extracellular matrix. To investigate whether or not this cascade is present during delayed wound healing and contributes to the pathophysiological basis of impaired healing we examined the temporal expression of urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and gelatinase-B in fluid collected from chronic venous leg ulcers compared to acute surgical mastectomy wounds. Using a chromogenic substrate assay, levels of active urokinase plasminogen activator in chronic wounds were found to be about five fold higher compared to sera and two fold higher compared to mastectomy wounds. Levels of active plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in chronic wounds were four times higher than those found in sera and two times higher than those found in mastectomy wound fluid. Using a fibrin overlay system and reverse zymography, we found that when the wound was not healing, the expression of urokinase plasminogen activator in chronic wound fluid was initially detected in the active forms (50 and 33 kDa), but that as the wound healed and decreased in size, was detected as an inhibitor- bound urokinase plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex ( congruent with 80-116 kDa). When the expression of active urokinase plasminogen activator was highest, no plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was detectable. In contrast, urokinase plasminogen activator was always detected in the inhibitor bound form as a urokinase plasminogen activator-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex in blood- and plasma-derived serum and mastectomy wound fluid. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was detected in blood-derived serum and mastectomy wound fluid but not in plasma derived serum. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in chronic wound fluids, analyzed by gelatin zymography, showed that when urokinase plasminogen activator was detected in the active forms, matrix metalloproteinase-9 was overexpressed by approximately twice that found in mastectomy wounds and approximately 30 times that detected in blood-derived sera. When urokinase plasminogen activator appeared almost entirely as an enzyme- inhibitor complex, the level of expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was similar to that seen in mastectomy wound fluid. We conclude that the switch in urokinase plasminogen activator expression from an active to inhibitor bound form correlates with the decrease seen in matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression suggesting the presence of a proteolytic cascade initiated by the plasminogen activator/plasmin system during wound healing leading to the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9. In addition, expression of urokinase plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-9 appear to be useful biomarkers to determine clinical wound healing status.

Adult↗

Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor, and other parameters of fibrinolysis in the early stages of taurocholate acute pancreatitis in rats.

It is well known that fibrinolytic activity in the early stages of acute experimental pancreatitis (AEP) as assessed by euglobulin lysis time (ELT) is depressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the fibrinolytic system in the early stages of taurocholate AEP in rats. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) activity, plasminogen, alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1 PI), alpha 2 antiplasmin (alpha 2 AP), antithrombin III (AT III), fibrinogen, and ELT were measured 0.5, 1, 3, and 6 h after the induction of taurocholate AEP in rats, as well as in sham-operated animals and the control group, which was not submitted to any operation. T-PA activity decreased significantly after 3 and 6 h of AEP; PAI activity had a time course reverse to t-PA and was parallel to alpha 1 PI activity. ELT was slightly prolonged after 0.5, 1, and 3 h, whereas alpha 2 AP activity and plasminogen levels increased significantly; AT III activity was increased after 1 h in comparison to control group. Sham operation caused nonsignificant changes in fibrinolysis. Increase of PAI activity and decrease of t-PA could be a reasonable explanation for inhibited plasma euglobulin fibrinolytic activity noted in the early period of AEP.

Acute Disease↗

Localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, 2 and plasminogen in colon cancer.

We examined the localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) and plasminogen (plg) in 26 cases of colon cancer by immunohistochemical staining. The u-PA antigen was detected in the cytoplasm of cancer cells (18/26) and stromal cells adjacent to cancer tissues (9/26). The localization of u-PA mRNA examined by in situ hybridization was consistent with that of u-PA antigen. The PAI-1 antigen was detected in fibroblasts and endothelial cells (22/26), while PAI-2 antigen was found in cancer cells (20/26). The plg antigen was seen in the extracellular matrix of the cancer stroma. The u-PA expression in cancer cells was significantly more frequently detected in cases with lymph node metastasis than in cases without metastasis. In either PAI-1- or PAI-2-expressing cases, lymph node metastasis seemed to be restrained. These findings indicate that cancer cells themselves produce u-PA, and suggest that u-PA converts plg into plasmin, which dissolves the extracellular matrix surrounding cancer cells, resulting in cancer invasion and metastasis. PAI-1 and PAI-2 may have inhibitory actions on cancer invasion and metastasis mediated by u-PA.

Colonic Neoplasms↗

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 activates plasminogen by interaction with tissue plasminogen activator, independently of its ability to bind to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, insulin-like growth factor-I, or heparin.

Transgenic mice expressing IGFBP-5 in the mammary gland exhibit increased cell death and plasmin generation. Because IGFBP-5 has been reported to bind to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), we determined the effects of this interaction in HC11 cells. PAI-1 prevented plasmin generation from plasminogen and inhibited cleavage of focal adhesions, expression of caspase 3, and cell death. IGFBP-5 could in turn prevent the effects of PAI-1. IGFBP-5 mutants with reduced affinity for IGF-I (N-term) or deficient in heparin binding (HEP- and C-term E and F) were also effective. This was surprising because IGFBP-5 reportedly interacts with PAI-1 via its heparin-binding domain. Biosensor analysis confirmed that, although wild-type IGFBP-5 and N-term both bound to PAI-1, the C-term E had greatly decreased interaction with PAI-1. This suggests that IGFBP-5 does not antagonize the actions of PAI-1 by a direct molecular interaction. In a cell-free system, using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) to activate plasminogen, PAI-1 inhibited plasmin generation induced by both activators, whereas IGFBP-5 prevented the effects of PAI-1 on tPA but not uPA. Furthermore, we noted that IGFBP-5 activated plasminogen to a greater extent than could be explained solely by inhibition of PAI-1, suggesting that IGFBP-5 could directly activate tPA. Indeed, IGFBP-5 and the C-term E and F were all able to enhance the activity of tPA but not uPA. These data demonstrate that IGFBP-5 can enhance the activity of tPA and that this can result in cell death induced by cleavage of focal adhesions. Thus IGFBP-5 can induce cell death by both sequestering IGF-I and enhancing plasmin generation.

Animals↗

Purification of an active plasminogen activator inhibitor immunologically related to the endothelial type plasminogen activator inhibitor from the conditioned media of a human melanoma cell line.

24 established melanoma cell cultures were screened for their secretion of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors into the culture medium by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by conventional and reverse fibrin autography. Among the cell lines investigated, 22 cell lines predominantly secreting tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and four cell lines additionally secreting urokinase were found. The conditioned media of two cell lines (KRFM and MJZJ) were found to contain plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity at a Mr position of approximately 50,000. The PAI of one of the two melanoma cell (MJZJ)-conditioned media found to contain PAI activity was purified to apparent homogeneity employing concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-150, chromatography on Affi-Gel blue, and affinity chromatography on a Sepharose 4B immobilized monoclonal anti-t-PA IgG column. The purified melanoma PAI was found to be a single chain protein, acid stable, immunologically related to the endothelial derived PAI. In contrast to endothelial PAI, melanoma PAI presented itself in the conditioned media of the melanoma cells and in the purified preparation to an appreciable extent in its active form.

Cell Line↗

Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitors, and activator-inhibitor complex in liver disease.

AIMS: To identify the relative contribution of plasminogen activators, particularly tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and specific plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAI-1, PAI-2), to the fibrinolytic changes associated with various types of liver disease or severe chemical and physical damage to the liver. METHODS: Platelet rich (PRP) and platelet poor plasma (PFP) from patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, hepatic malignancy, or paracetamol overdose, or who were undergoing partial hepatectomy or liver transplantation, were assayed for t-PA, PAI-1, t-PA-PAI-1 complex and PAI-2 antigen values using specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) developed in this laboratory. RESULTS: Appreciable increases in the plasma concentration of t-PA, PAI-1, and t-PA-PAI-1 were seen in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and hepatic malignancy. Liver damage due to paracetamol overdose and partial hepatectomy both resulted in a striking increase in plasma PAI-1 concentration, although concentrations of t-PA and t-PA-PAI-1 complex were less affected. Concentrations of t-PA, PAI-1, and t-PA-PAI-1 complex returned to near normal values after successful liver transplantation in a patient with chronic active hepatitis. PAI-2 was also detected in several patients with chronic liver disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Haemorrhage due to fibrinolytic bleeding is commonly associated with liver disease. The patients studied here all had appreciable increases in circulating t-PA antigen concentrations. This was associated with increased concentrations of PAI-1 antigen and t-PA-PAI-1 complex and the balance between activator and inhibitor did not result in systemic plasmin generation. Reduced PAI-1 activity in cirrhosis or a critical difference in the ratio of t-PA to PAI-1 concentrations may explain the enhanced plasminogen activator activity previously noted in cirrhosis but not metastatic disease. Reduced hepatic clearance of t-PA and t-PA-PAI-1 complex due to impaired liver function may account for increased concentrations of free and complexed t-PA.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Transplacental effect of lead compounds on tissue plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition.

The transplacental effect of lead compounds (lead acetate and tetraethyl lead) on the tissue plasminogen activator activity (PAA), plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) was studied in the rat. The concentration of lead in organs of the newborn showed a great variation; the distribution of lead in the organs studied depended on the dose and the stage of gestation at injection. In each organ the concentration of lead was dose-dependent. In control specimens no lead could be detected. The tissue response of PAA, PAI and PI to the lead compounds also showed a great variation; however, there was no correlation between lead concentrations and PAA, PAI or PI responses. Changes of one or more of the parameters studied (PAA, PAI or PI) were noticed in lungs, liver, heart, brain and kidneys. The PAA was due to the tissue type plasminogen activator in all organs studied; in kidneys and lungs the urokinase type of plasminogen activator was also detected. Therefore, fetal tissue PAA, PAI and PI can be affected transplacentally by lead compounds.

Animals↗

Prognostic impact of proteolytic factors (urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and cathepsins B, D, and L) in primary breast cancer reflects effects of adjuvant systemic therapy.

PURPOSE: Prognostic and predictive impact of five proteolytic factors associated with tumor invasion and metastasis in primary breast cancer were evaluated after long-term follow-up. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Antigen levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), Cathepsins B, D, and L were determined using immunochemical assays in primary tumor tissue of 276 patients. RESULTS: During follow-up (median 109 months), 119 (43%) patients relapsed, and 117 (42%) died. In the whole collective, lymph node status (P < 0.001; RR 3.8), Cathepsin L (P < 0.001; RR 2.6), and PAI-1 (P = 0.027; RR 1.7) were the only independent significant factors in multivariate analysis for disease-free survival (DFS). For overall survival (OS), lymph node status (P < 0.001; RR 2.9), Cathepsin L (P = 0.017; RR 1.9), PAI-1 (P = 0.01; RR 1.9), and grading (P = 0.026; RR 1.7) were significant. In the node-negative subgroup, PAI-1 was the only significant factor for DFS (P = 0.004; RR 3.7) and the strongest factor (P = 0.004; RR 3.7) for OS next to grading (P = 0.017; RR 3.1). In node-positive patients, Cathepsin L was the only significant factor for both DFS (P < 0.001; RR 3.2) and OS (P = 0.003; RR 2.5). For all proteolytic factors but Cathepsin L, the univariate prognostic impact on DFS was substantial in patients without adjuvant systemic therapy but was diminished if adjuvant therapy had been administered. Cathepsin L maintained its strong prognostic impact on DFS even in patients with adjuvant endocrine therapy (P = 0.01; RR 2.8). CONCLUSIONS: The observed effect of adjuvant systemic therapy on their prognostic strength suggests that the assessed proteolytic factors supply predictive information on therapy response.

Adult↗

[Relationship between plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor and Sertoli cells].

Plasminogen activator(PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI) are involved in many physiological or pathological events. The Sertoli cells, the important elements within the seminiferous epithelium, are thought to play a key role in spermatogenesis. The Sertoli cells secrete PA and PAI. The levels of them are modulated by hormonal and cell-mediated influences. They play a fundamental role in the maintenance of spermatogenesis, sperm motility and fertilization.

Humans↗

Plasminogen activators, plasminogen activator inhibitors and markers of intravascular coagulation in pre-eclampsia.

In pre-eclampsia (PE), reduced levels of plasma urokinase-like plasminogen activator (u-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2), and increased levels of plasma tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen were seen. The majority of moderate and severe pre-eclamptic women (7 out of 10) ended up with pre-term delivery as compared with 2 out of 11 who went on to term. Patients with moderate and severe PE had significantly lower levels (mean +/- SD, ng/ml) of PAI-2 (58.4 +/- 34.9) and u-PA antigen (1.61 +/- 0.62) as compared to those with mild PE (95.6 +/- 39.3 and 1.61 +/- 0.62 and 2.12 +/- 0.61, respectively). Significantly raised t-PA antigen (14.6 +/- 5.7 ng/ml) was seen in moderate and severe PE as compared with mild PE (9.9 +/- 3.4 ng/ml). PAI-1 activity was significantly raised only in moderate and severe PE as compared with normal pregnancy. There were no significant differences in thrombin-antithrombin-III complexes, D-dimer and beta-thromboglobulin levels between the PE group and normal pregnancy, although these parameters were above the non-pregnant levels. Platelets in PE were within the range found in normal pregnancy. It appears that measurements of plasma u-PA and PAI-2 levels in patients with PE may have prognostic value in determining the outcome of pregnancy in this pregnancy disorder.

Antithrombin III↗

Tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and von Willebrand factor in rheumatoid arthritis.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), all of endothelial origin and active in the haemostasis, were analysed in 74 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The concentrations were related to extra-articular disease and to the incidence of thromboembolic events (TE) registered in a 2-year follow-up period. Patients with extra-articular disease had a significant increase in PAI-1 activity and reduced tPA release in the venous occlusion test. von Willebrand factor, PAI-1 and also haptoglobin and triglycerides were significantly increased in the group of patients who later suffered from TE. In a multiple regression model, in which cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) showed significant association with TE, vWF had the strongest additive explanatory value. No distinct acute phase pattern of PAI-1 was found in any patient subgroup.

Adult↗

Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR assay for urokinase plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor type 1 gene expressions in primary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The plasminogen activation system and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a key role in the degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix in tissue remodeling, cancer cell invasion, and metastasis. METHODS: Quantitative real-time reverse-transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays were developed to quantify urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), and tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor type 1 (TIMP-1) mRNA in 54 breast cancer tissues. Gene fragments were amplified in a LightCycler real-time PCR system using gene-specific primers and SYBR Green I. The results were normalized to beta-actin mRNA. We also quantified antigen and functional concentrations of these components. RESULTS: The intra- and interassay variabilities for mRNA quantification showed mean SDs for the crossing point of 0.12 and 0.15 cycles, respectively. PAI-1, uPA, and TIMP-1 mRNA and antigen concentrations and PAI-1 and uPA functional concentrations increased with tumor severity; the increase was statistically significant for PAI-1, uPA, and TIMP-1 mRNA and antigen concentrations and for uPA functional concentrations. Node-positive patients showed significantly higher PAI-1, uPA, and TIMP-1 mRNA and antigen concentrations than those who were node negative. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative real-time RT-PCR is a highly sensitive, reproducible, and fast method for measuring gene expression of PAI-1, uPA, and TIMP-1 in breast cancer. These components may be involved in breast cancer development, and increased mRNA expression may be associated with a worse prognosis.

Adult↗

Variable effect of unilateral or bilateral ovariectomy performed in young or adult animals on tissue plasminogen activator activity, plasminogen activator inhibition and plasmin inhibition.

Unilateral or bilateral ovariectomy was performed in young and adult rats. Mainly bilateral ovariectomy induced variable changes of plasminogen activator activity (PAA), plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) and plasmin inhibition (PI) in key organs (brain, lungs, heart, aorta and kidneys). The most remarkable changes were induced after bilateral ovariectomy performed in young animals and mostly after two and three months of ovariectomy. Therefore, the effect of ovariectomy on tissue PAA, PAI or PI was variable and dependent on the extent of the ovariectomy (unilateral or bilateral), the age of the animal at ovariectomy (young or adult), the time after ovariectomy, and the organ. An additional interesting finding was the dissociation in the response of tissue anti-t-PA and anti-u-PA activities to ovariectomy in some of the organs studied.

Animals↗