Localization and the possible role of plasminogen activators and inhibitors in early stages of placentation

The distribution of mRNAs of tissue type (t) and urokinase type (u) plasminogen activator (PA) plus their corresponding inhibitors, type-1 (PAI-1) and type-2 (PAI-2) have been studied in the tissues of human first and second trimester placentae by in situ hybridization. The results show that: (ⅰ) All the molecules, tPA, uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2, were identified in the blood vessels, the majority of extravillous trophoblastic cells of the decidual layer between Rohr’s and Nitabuch’s stria and in the trophoblast cells lining the chorionic plate, basal plate, intercotyledonary septae and cytotrophoblast cells of the chorionic villous tree. (ⅱ) No expression of such probes was observed in the basal and chorionic plate, glandular cells of the decidua, the septal tissues or the villous core mesenchyme. The co-distribution of the molecules observed suggests that the co-ordinated expression of the activators and inhibitors in various cells of the placental tissue may play a role in angiogenesis related to conversion of spiral arteries into utero-placental arteries and establishment of a chorio-decidual blood flow during early stages of placentation.     

Role of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in luteolysis—a minireview

This minireview summarized our recent studies on the role of plasminogen activator (PA) and inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in luteolysis. We have demonstrated that (1) both tissue type and urokinase type plasminogen activators (tPA and uPA) and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were present in the corpus luteum of rat and rhesus monkey; (2) decrease in progesterone production in corpus luteum was well correlated with a sharp increase in tPA (but not uPA) and PAI-1 secretion; (3) exogenous tPA decreased luteal progesterone synthesis while monoclonal antibodies increased progesterone production; (4) interferony inhibited luteal progesterone synthesis and stimulated tPA production while LH plus prolactin increased progesterone production and decreased tPA (hut not uPA) activity in cultured luteal cells; (5) increase in proteolysis in the corpus luteum was also correlated with decrease in progesterone production in mouse. These data suggest that local degradation of extracellular matrix controlled by plasminogen activator and inhibitor is involved in the processes of luteolysis.     

Role of plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in luteolysis——a minireview

This minireview summarized our recent studies on the role of plasminogen activator (PA) and inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in luteolysis. We have demonstrated that (1) both tissue type and urokinase type plasminogen activators (tPA and uPA) and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) were present in the corpus luteum of rat and rhesus monkey; (2) decrease in progesterone production in corpus luteum was well correlated with a sharp increase in tPA (but not uPA) and PAI-1 secretion; (3) exogenous tPA decreased luteal progesterone synthesis while monoclonal antibodies increased progesterone production; (4) interferon y inhibited luteal progesterone synthesis and stimulated tPA production while LH plus pro-lactin increased progesterone production and decreased tPA (but not uPA) activity in cultured luteal cells; (5) increase in proteolysis in the corpus luteum was also correlated with decrease in progesterone production in mouse. These data suggest that local degradation of extracellular matrix controlled by plasminogen activator and inhibitor is involved in the processes of luteolysis.     

Localization and possible role of membrane type metallo-proteinase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 in early stages of placentation

Human placental tissues from the first and second trimesters of gestation have been investigated using riboprobein situ hybridisation of mRNA sequences coding for membrane type metalloproteinase (MT-1-MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). Results show that (i) both mRNAs express at a relatively high level in the chorion laeve trophoblast cells and the adjacent decidual cells of fetal membrane; (ii) the most abundant expression of the two mRNAs was found in the extravillous trophoblast between Rohrs and Nitabuch striae of basal plate, trophoblast shell and gland cells of the decidua; (iii) isolated or small groups of cytotrophoblast cells in the chorionic villi and in the cells lining arterioles in decidua and stem villi also expressed both MT-1-MMP and TIMP-1 at defferent extents. The data suggest that the coordinated expression of the MT-MMP and its inhibitor TIMP in defferent cells of the placental tissue may play an essential role in trophoblast invasion and angiogenesis related to placentation in the first two trimesters of gestation. They may also have an ability to effect separation of fetal from material tissue at a favorable junctional site during parturition.     

Structural basis of latency in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.

Human plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the fast-acting inhibitor of tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase and is a member of the serpin family of protease inhibitors. Serpins normally form complexes with their target proteases that dissociate very slowly as cleaved species and then fold into a highly stable inactive state in which the residues that flank the scissile bond (P1 and P1';) are separated by about 70 A. PAI-1 also spontaneously folds into a stable inactive state without cleavage; this state is termed 'latent' because inhibitory activity can be restored through denaturation and renaturation. Here we report the structure of intact latent PAI-1 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to 2.6 A resolution. The three-dimensional structure reveals that residues on the N-terminal side of the primary recognition site are inserted as a central strand of the largest beta sheet, in positions similar to the corresponding residues in the cleaved form of the serpin alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI). Residues C-terminal to the recognition site occupy positions on the surface of the molecule distinct from those of the corresponding residues in cleaved serpins or in the intact inactive serpin homologue, ovalbumin, and its cleavage product, plakalbumin. The structure of latent PAI-1 is similar to one formed after cleavage in other serpins, and the stability of both latent PAI-1 and cleaved serpins may be derived from the same structural features.     

骨关节炎滑膜uPA、uPAR、PAI-1表达及意义

探讨尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物(uPA)及其受体(uPAR)和其抑制剂(PAI-1)在OA的发生发展中的意义。方法:采用免疫组化方法检测OA滑膜组织中uPA,uPAR,PAI-1的表达。结果显示:36例OA滑膜中阳性表达uPA 29例(80.56%)、uPAR 25例(69.44%)P、AI-1 27例(75.00%)。21例对照滑膜中阳性表达uPA 6例(28.57%)、uPAR 6例(28.57%)、PAI-1 3例(14.29%)。实验组与对照组间3种蛋白表达差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);再将实验组按年龄及软骨破坏程度分组,按年龄分组3种蛋白表达差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);按软骨破坏程度分组3种蛋白表达差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。阳性表达主要分布在滑膜衬里层细胞。结论:uPA系统可能参与介导软骨降解、促进OA的发生发展;而PAI-1则通过抑制uPA活性延缓OA的发生发展。     

Mobile reactive centre of serpins and the control of thrombosis

Two protease inhibitors in human plasma play a key part in the control of thrombosis: antithrombin inhibits coagulation and the plasminogen activator inhibitor PAI-1 inhibits fibrinolysis, the dissolving of clots. Both inhibitors are members of the serpin family and both exist in the plasma in latent or inactive forms. We show here that the reactive centre of the serpins can adopt varying conformations and that mobility of the reactive centre is necessary for the function of antithrombin and its binding and activation by heparin; the identification of a new locked conformation explains the latent inactive state of PAI-1. This ability to vary conformation not only allows the modulation of inhibitory activity but also protects the circulating inhibitor against proteolytic attack. Together these findings explain the retention by the serpins of a large and unconstrained reactive centre as compared to the small fixed peptide loop of other families of serine protease inhibitors.     

重组PAI—2基因在NIH3T3细胞中的活性表达

构建了人ＰＡＩ—２ｃＤＮＡ睥达质粒，以ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３为转染宿主细胞，ＮｏｒｔｈｅｒｎＢｌｏｔ，ＷｅｓｔｅｒｎＢｌｏｔ和ＰＡＩ活性扩散试验结果表明人ＰＡＩ—２ｃＤＮＡ可以在ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞中正确表达出ＰＡＩ—２蛋白，且具有抑制ＰＡ的活性，同时未能检测到ＮＩＨ３Ｔ３细胞表达ＰＡＩ—２蛋白质．为探讨ＰＡ—ＰＡＩ—２系统的调控机制打下基础．     

Ⅳ型胶原酶及其抑制剂在抗肿瘤研究中的进展

作为基质金属蛋白酶家族成员的Ⅳ型胶原酶,除参与多种正常的生理功能外,还在肿瘤的发生发展过程中发挥着重要作用,与肿瘤的血管生成,肿瘤的侵袭和转移密切关联.研究发现有一些Ⅳ型胶原酶抑制剂能够通过抑制其酶活性,从而减缓肿瘤发展,这些抑制剂包括天然物质、人工合成物质及抗体类物质.目前,人们正利用抗体抑制剂进行抗肿瘤作用的研究,研发新型抗癌药物.     

蛋白酶抑制剂在肿瘤治疗中的作用研究

蛋白酶及其抑制剂是非常重要的信号分子,涉及多个关键的人体生理代谢途径,在体内受到严格的调控.蛋白酶抑制剂活性的紊乱可导致多种疾病,诸如心血管和炎症疾病、癌症和神经系统障碍等.已知蛋白酶在肿瘤细胞侵袭和转移过程中扮演着重要的角色.细胞外基质和基底膜重塑是癌细胞侵袭转移过程中的关键环节,这个过程需多个蛋白水解酶的表达和激活.蛋白酶抑制剂的应用在一定程度上可减少由蛋白酶水解引起的肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移,且它的抑制作用具有不同程度的特异性,可以减缓肿瘤恶性发展的进程.文章对蛋白酶及其抑制剂的靶向治疗药物及临床应用研究进展进行了综述.     

Inhibitors of protein kinase C

Protein kinase catalyzes the transfer of the γ-phosphoryl group from ATP to the hydroxyl groups o fprotein side chains, which plays critical roles in signal transduction pathways by transmitting extracellular signals across the plasma membrane and nuclear membrane to the destination sites in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a superfamily of phospholipid-dependent Ser/Thr kinase. There are at least 12 isozymes in PKC family.They are distributed in different tissues and play different roles in physiological processes. On account of their concern with a variety of pathophysiologic states, such as cancer,inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorder, and cardiac diseases, the inhibitors, which can inhibit the activity of PKC and the interaction of cytokine with receptor, and interfere signal transduction pathway, may be candidates of therapeutic drugs. Therefore, intense efforts have been made to develop specific protein kinase inhibitors as biological tools and therapeutic agents. This article reviews the recent development of some of PKC inhibitors based on their interaction with different conserved domains and different inhibition mechanisms.     

糖尿病患者血栓前状态研究

采用流式细胞仪、ELISA法、全自动血凝分析仪,检测糖尿病患者血小板表面P-选择素(CD62P)的表达、血浆组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(t-PA)、抑制剂(PAI-1),以及凝血4项,即血浆纤维蛋白原(Fib)水平、活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、凝血酶时间(TT)。结果显示,糖尿病组血小板表面CD62P的表达、血浆PAI-1、Fib 3项指标均较正常组增高(P<0.05),而t-PA水平较正常组降低(P<0.05);糖尿病组APTT、PT及TT时间明显缩短(P<0.05);糖尿病伴血管病变组血小板表面CD62P的表达、血浆PAI-1、Fib 3项指标均较不伴血管病变组增高(P<0.05);糖尿病伴血管病变组APTT及TT较不伴血管病变组明显缩短(P<0.05);糖尿病伴血管病变组血浆t-PA水平、PT与不伴血管病变组指标比较没有显著性差异(P>0.05)。研究表明,糖尿病及糖尿病伴血管病变患者血小板活化、凝血功能增强、纤溶功能减退,存在明显的血栓前状态;测定血小板表面CD62P的表达、血浆t-PA、PAI-1,以及凝血4项,即血浆Fib水平、APTT、PT、TT等有助于早期发现血栓前状态及血管病变,并可以指导临床早期干预治疗。     

Serpin-resistant mutants of human tissue-type plasminogen activator

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) converts the inactive zymogen, plasminogen, into the powerful protease, plasmin, which then degrades the fibrin meshwork of thrombi. To prevent systemic activation of plasminogen, plasma contains several inhibitors of t-PA, the most important of which is plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), a member of the serpin superfamily. As the ability to produce serpin-resistant variants of t-PA could increase the potential of this enzyme as a thrombolytic agent, we have used the known three-dimensional structure of the complex between trypsin and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) to model the interactions between the active site of human t-PA and PAI-1. On the basis of this model we then altered by site-directed mutagenesis those amino acids of t-PA predicted to make contact with PAI-1 but not with the substrate plasminogen. We report here that although the resulting mutants have enzymatic properties similar to those of wild-type t-PA, they display significant resistance to inhibition by PAI-1. For example, following incubation with an amount of the serpin that completely inhibits the wild-type enzyme, one variant retains 95% of its initial activity. This mutant is also resistant to inhibition by the complex mixture of serpins present in human plasma.     

肿瘤血管生成抑制剂临床应用进展

血管生成抑制剂已被证明是一类有效的肿瘤治疗药物.概述了从单靶点、多靶点,到广谱血管生成抑制剂在临床上的应用;介绍了单克隆抗体、小分子和内源性的血管生成抑制剂及其相应靶点,讨论了新的靶点及有前景的新型血管生成抑制剂,希望为未来临床治疗提供切实的帮助.     

Lipoprotein(a) modulation of endothelial cell surface fibrinolysis and its potential role in atherosclerosis

Endothelial cells play a critical role in thromboregulation by virtue of a surface-connected fibrinolytic system. Cultured endothelial cells synthesize and secrete tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) which can bind to at least two discrete sites on the cell surface. These binding sites preserve the catalytic activity of t-PA and protect it from its physiological inhibitor (PAI-1). N-terminal glutamic acid plasminogen (Glu-PLG), the main circulating fibrinolytic zymogen, also interacts specifically with the endothelial cell surface. Binding is associated with a 12-fold increase in catalytic efficiency of plasmin generation by t-PA which may reflect conversion of Glu-PLG to its plasmin-modified form, N-terminal lysine plasminogen (Lys-PLG). Lipoprotein(a) is an atherogenic lipoprotein particle which contains the plasminogen-like apolipoprotein(a) bound to low density lipoprotein. We report here that lipoprotein(a) interferes with endothelial cell fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasminogen binding and hence plasmin generation. In addition, we demonstrate lipoprotein(a) accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions. These findings may provide a link between impaired cell surface fibrinolysis and progressive atherosclerosis.     

Development of venous occlusions in mice transgenic for the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene

The fibrinolytic potential of the vasculature is modulated primarily by the availability and activity of plasminogen activators, which convert the zymogen plasminogen into the active fibrin-degrading enzyme plasmin. The activities of these key regulatory enzymes are directly neutralized by their primary endogenous inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Although some individuals with a tendency to develop thrombotic disorders exhibit elevated levels of PAI-1 in their plasma, the cause-and-effect relationship between increased PAI-1 and thrombosis is still unclear. Specifically, it is not known whether chronic depression of fibrinolytic activity results in the development of thrombosis. To address this question we developed transgenic mice in which the contribution of PAI-1 to thrombus formation could be evaluated. The results presented in this report indicate that elevated levels of PAI-1 contribute to the development of venous but not arterial occlusions.     

Increase in electron transfer activity in photosystem Ⅱ of spinach thylakoids caused by conversion of phosphatidyl- glycerol to phosphatidic acid molecules

The techniques of oxygen electrode polarography, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were employed to investigate the effect of phospholipase D treatment on physiological function of spinach thylakoids. It was shown that the phospholipase D treatment on thylakoid resuited in the degradation of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and occurrence of phosphatidic acid (PA). The changes of PG to PA molecules caused an increase in oxygen evolution in photosystem Ⅱ (PS Ⅱ), which was accompanied by an uncoupling effect on thylakoid membrane. It was revealed that the head-groups of PG molecules play an important role in themaintenance of the appropriate physiological activity of thylakoid membrane.     

Cephalosporin antibiotics can be modified to inhibit human leukocyte elastase

Several laboratories, including our own have reported the synthesis and activity of certain low relative molecular mass inhibitors of mammalian serine proteases, especially human leukocyte elastase (HLE, EC 3.4.21.37), an enzyme whose degradative activity on lung elastin has been implicated as a major causative factor in the induction of pulmonary emphysema, and which is present in the azurophil granules of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). Normally, these granules fuse with phagosomes containing engulfed foreign material (such as bacteria), and HLE, in combination with other lysosomal enzymes, catabolizes the particles. Under certain pathological conditions, however, PMN become attached to host protein (elastin fibres, basement membrane, connective tissue, immune complexes), and in response to this adherence, the granules may fuse with the PMN outer membrane and release their contents, including HLE, directly onto the tissue. Besides emphysema, HLE may also contribute to the pathogenesis of disease states such as adult respiratory distress syndrome, and its potential involvement in rheumatoid arthritis makes HLE inhibitors of considerable interest. It is known that cephalosporin antibiotics (for example, cephalothin (compound I, Table 2)) are acylating inhibitors of bacterial serine proteases which help synthesize the cell wall by performing a transpeptidation reaction on a peptidyl substrate bearing a D-Ala-D-Ala terminus. We now report that neutral cephalosporins (that is, compounds not bearing a free carboxyl at position C-4) can be modified to become potent time-dependent inhibitors of HLE.     

Voltage-dependent calcium and potassium channels in retinal glial cells

Glial cells, which outnumber neurones in the central nervous system, have traditionally been considered to be electrically inexcitable and to play only a passive role in the electrical activity of the brain. Recent reports have demonstrated, however, that certain glial cells, when maintained in primary culture, possess voltage-dependent ion channels. It remains to be demonstrated whether these channels are also present in glial cells in vivo. I show here that Müller cells, the principal glial cells of the vertebrate retina, can generate 'Ca2+ spikes' in freshly excised slices of retinal tissue. In addition, voltage-clamp studies of enzymatically dissociated Müller cells demonstrate the presence of four types of voltage-dependent ion channels: a Ca2+ channel, a Ca2+-activated K+ channel, a fast-inactivating (type A) K+ channel and an inward-rectifying K+ channel. Currents generated by these voltage-dependent channels may enhance the ability of Müller cells to regulate extracellular K+ levels in the retina and may be involved in the generation of the electroretinogram.     

Innovation for ascertaining genomic islands in PAO1 and PA14 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Based on three distinct traits of genomic islands, a novel approach was developed to search for and determine genomic islands in special strains. Two genomic islands in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and 7 genomic islands in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 were defined with this method. Among the 9 genomic islands, 4 islands had been characterized before, while the other 5 islands were initially determined. The insert sites of 6 genomic islands are tRNA sequences, direct repeats of PA14GI-3 are relative to tRNA^Leu, and direct repeats of PA14GI-2 are at the 3＇ end of bifunctional GMP synthase/ glutamine amidotransferase. Only direct repeats of PA14GI-4 are not clear. Among the 5 newly-found genomic islands, it was supposed that PA14GI-2 is a genomic island related to Hg^2＋ uptake, PA14GI-3 is a secretory activity genomic island, PA14GI-6 is a pathogenicity island, and functions of PA14GI-1 and PA14GI-5 are not clear. Finally, the tyrosine type integrases in PAOIGI-1, PA14GI-5 and PA14GI-7 were analyzed, and their binding and restriction sites were predicted.