尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂的研究

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂u-PA(urokinase-type plasminogen activator)属于丝氨酸蛋白酶类,能激活细胞外基质中丰富的纤溶酶原生成纤溶酶,从而催化细胞外基质降解,对纤溶和癌细胞侵染及扩散等一系列生理和病理过程中发生的胞外蛋白水解起重要调节作用。 人u-PA基因位于第10号染色体之上,表达产生一个约54kD的单链糖基化多肽——尿激酶原。尿激酶原经纤溶酶在其158位赖氨酸     

纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物2型抑制细胞凋亡的研究进展

纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物２型（ＰＡＩ－２）是一种多功能蛋白质,除了能有效抑制尿激酶（ｕＰＡ）和双链组织型纤溶酶原激活物（ｔＰＡ）而调节纤溶活性外,还参与了很多其它的生理病理过程,例如组织重建、胚胎发育、感染、免疫系统发育、肿瘤浸润和迁移等。更有研究表明胞内型ＰＡＩ－２在抑制细胞凋亡方面也发挥着重要作用。本文就近年来ＰＡＩ－２抑制细胞凋亡的研究进展作一综述。     

尿激酶与肿瘤转移

尿激酶是一种丝氨酸蛋白水解酶,它能激活纤溶酶原成为纤溶酶,降解胞外基质,从而利于细胞迁移。肿瘤转移是导致肿瘤恶化和肿瘤病人死亡的主要原因之一。以尿激酶为中心,尿激酶受体介导的纤溶酶原激活系统在肿瘤转移过程中扮演了重要角色。     

尿激酶受体研究进展

细胞表面的尿激酶受体是一种高度糖基化的蛋白质,通过糖基磷脂酰肌醇锚定在细胞膜上。尿激酶受体除能与尿激酶或尿激酶原结合外还与玻连蛋白,整合素,α2巨球蛋白受体—低密度脂蛋白相关蛋白等相互作用。细胞表面的尿激酶受体不仅能促进纤溶酶原的激活、细胞外基质的降解,一些生长因子的释放或活化,而又还参与细胞粘附以及尿激酶／纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂复合物的代谢和细胞迁移。在肿瘤患血液中可溶性尿激酶受体含量显高于正常人,因而对尿激酶受体含量的测定可作为临床肿瘤诊断的指标。动物实验结果表明,阻断尿激酶与尿激酶受体的结合或抑制尿激酶受体的表达可显抑制肿瘤的浸润及转移。     

特发性肺纤维化的机制与治疗

组织纤维化会对限制性疾病,如特发性肺纤维化(idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IPF)患者的肺部结构和功能造成不可逆损伤。血管外凝血、纤溶酶与纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1被认为在肺纤维化的发展中发挥作用。凝血激活与纤溶酶激活的蛋白酶可以分别形成和分解纤维蛋白系统,凝血酶、凝血剂和凝血因子Xa可以裂解蛋白酶活化受体促进纤维化;而尿激酶纤溶酶原激活剂的纤溶酶原蛋白酶也能结合受体引发纤维化活化。本综述聚焦IPF并描述了两个纤维蛋白稳态系统参与及促进间质纤维化,认为选择性靶向受体介导的凝血剂和纤溶酶蛋白酶既可以限制肺纤维化发展,又没有与溶栓治疗和常规抗凝血剂相关的出血并发症的危险。     

湛江沿海潮间带产胞外纤溶活性酶类海洋真菌的生物多样性分析

【目的】研究湛江沿海硇洲岛和徐闻珊瑚礁自然保护区潮间带产胞外纤溶酶样酶和纤溶酶原激活物海洋真菌的生物多样性,为发掘新型溶栓药物奠定基础。【方法】采用马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(PDA)和酵母膏蛋白胨葡萄糖(YPD)培养基分离培养海洋真菌,采用真菌r DNA转录间隔区1-5.8S r DNA-转录间隔区2(ITS1-5.8S-ITS2)片段的序列分析及其系统进化树构建的方法鉴定分离培养的海洋真菌,采用脱脂牛奶马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(SM-PDA)培养基培养法筛选产胞外蛋白酶的海洋真菌,采用海水纤维蛋白马铃薯葡萄糖琼脂(FN-PDA)培养基培养法筛选产胞外纤溶酶样酶和/或纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌。【结果】从湛江沿海的硇洲岛和徐闻珊瑚礁自然保护区潮间带分离、培养和鉴定了海洋真菌446株,含真菌的98个种,分布于真菌域子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和担子菌门(Basidiomycota)的6个纲、18个目、46个科、65个属;其中产胞外蛋白酶的海洋真菌有265株,61个种,分布于41个属;产胞外纤溶酶样酶的海洋真菌有67株,22个种,分布于14个属;产胞外纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌有84株,23种,分布于13个属;优势属为曲霉属(Aspergillus),其次为青霉属(Penicillium)。【结论】湛江沿海潮间带可分离培养的产胞外纤溶酶样酶和纤溶酶原激活物的海洋真菌物种丰富多样,是发掘新型溶栓药的丰富资源。     

人精子中尿激酶型纤溶酶元激活因子的免疫组织化学定位观察

本文采用免疫组织化学和免疫电镜对正常人精子中尿激酶型纤溶酶元激活因子（ＵＰＡ）的分布进行了定位观察。结果发现尿激酶型纤溶酶元激活因子分布在精子顶部体内外膜和精子头部浆膜上,且精子尾部浆膜上也有阳性着色,提示尾部浆膜上也有尿激酶型纤溶酶元激活因子的存在。推测精子中尿激酶型纤溶酶元激活因子可能与精子的运行、获能、顶体反应及受精有关联。     

uPA与其抑制剂复合物的受体介导内吞及其应用

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物 (ｕＰＡ)是参与细胞外基质降解的重要成分 ,在肿瘤细胞的侵袭和转移中起着重要作用。人们对ｕＰＡ的结构、功能以及它与纤溶酶原激活抑制物 1 (ＰＡＩ 1 )、ｕＰＡ受体 (ｕＰＡＲ)的相互作用都进行了深入的研究。单链ｕＰＡ是一种糖蛋白 ,含有 41 1个氨基酸。其结构可分为四部分 ,依次为 :上皮生长因子区、环状结构区、连接区和丝氨酸蛋白酶区。纤溶酶可裂解Ｌｙｓ1 5 8 Ｉｌｅ1 5 9之间的肽键 ,使单链ｕＰＡ转变为双链ｕＰＡ。ｕＰＡ与其细胞表面受体结合后激活纤溶酶原 ,自身激活也增强。结合在细胞膜上的ｕＰＡ…     

一株产纤溶酶菌株的分离鉴定及其纤溶组分分析

【目的】筛选性能良好的产纤溶酶菌株,对菌株进行多项分类鉴定,分析其纤溶酶系的组成特征及纤溶能力。【方法】通过酪蛋白培养基初筛,琼脂-纤维蛋白双层平板复筛,从海泥、土壤等环境中筛选纤维蛋白降解菌,以尿激酶为标准测定纤溶酶活性。通过形态学、生理生化特征研究,结合16S rDNA基因序列分析菌株种类及系统分类地位。通过SDS-PAGE和纤维蛋白酶谱法分析胞外纤溶酶系的组成特征。【结果】筛选到一株能降解纤维蛋白的细菌CNY16,鉴定其为沙福芽孢杆菌(Bacillus safensis)。该酶为胞外酶,SDS-PAGE和纤维蛋白酶谱结果表明该纤溶酶系有至少两种分子量大小不同的纤溶酶,分别约33 kD和23 kD。能有效溶解血块中纤维蛋白,并且对红细胞无降解作用。【结论】细菌CNY16是一株新的纤溶酶产生菌,纤溶酶活性及稳定性较好,具有潜在开发价值。为获取新型纤溶酶提供了一种新的菌源。     

尿激酶前体的纯化及其性质的研究

尿激酶前体是与尿激酶具有共同抗原性的一种新的纤溶酶原激活物。我们从人胎肾细胞条件培养液中提纯该物质。首先用抗UKIgG-Sepharose亲和层析得到尿激酶抗原相关蛋白,然后利用苯甲脒-Sepharose柱去除尿激酶获纯化的尿激酶前体。纯化倍数达930倍,得率为18％,所得尿激酶前体为单肽链结构蛋白质,分子量55kD,比活(11389IU/mg)低于尿激酶,二异丙基氟磷酸酯(DFP)不能抑制其活性。体外¹²⁵I-血凝块溶解试验表明尿激酶前体可特异地诱导血凝块溶解,对血浆纤溶系统无明显激活作用,血凝块溶解的时间曲线呈特征性“S”型。所得尿激酶前体是一种新的有别于尿激酶的纤溶酶原激活物。     

Structure and function of plasminogen/plasmin system

The main physiological function of plasmin is blood clot fibrinolysis and restoration of normal blood flow. To date, however, it became apparent that in addition to thrombolysis, the plasminogen/plasmin system plays an important physiological and pathological role in a number of other essential processes: degradation of the extracellular matrix, embryogenesis, cell migration, tissue remodeling, wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tumor cell migration. This review focuses on structural features of plasminogen, regulation of its activation by physiological plasminogen activators, inhibitors of plasmin, and plasminogen activators, and the role of plasminogen binding to fibrin, cellular receptors, and extracellular ligands in various functions performed by plasmin thus formed.     

Vascular smooth muscle cells efficiently activate a new proteinase cascade involving plasminogen and fibronectin

The plasminogen/plasmin system is involved in vascular wall remodeling after injury, through extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and proteinase activation. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) synthesize various components of the plasminogen/plasmin system. We investigated the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin in primary cultured rat VSMCs. VSMCs efficiently converted exogenous plasminogen into plasmin in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We measured plasmin activity by monitoring the hydrolysis of Tosyl-G-P-R-Mca, a fluorogenic substrate of plasmin. Cell-mediated plasmin activation was associated with the degradation of ECM, as revealed by fibronectin proteolysis. Plasmin also activated a proteinase able to hydrolyze Mca-P-L-G-L-Dpa-A-R-NH(2), a fluorogenic substrate of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). However, this proteinase was not inhibited by an MMP inhibitor. Furthermore, this proteinase displayed similar biochemical and pharmacological properties to fibronectin-proteinase, a recently identified zinc-dependent metalloproteinase located in the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin. These results show that VSMCs convert exogenous plasminogen into plasmin in their pericellular environment. By hydrolyzing matrix protein plasmin activates a latent metalloproteinase that differs from MMP, fibronectin-proteinase. This metalloproteinase may participate to vascular wall remodeling, in concert with other proteinases.     

uPA/plasmin system-mediated MMP-9 activation is implicated in bronchial epithelial cell migration

To examine the effects of the uPA/plasmin system on cell migration in relation to the activation of MMP-9, we used ex vivo and in vitro wound-repair models of human bronchial epithelial cells and videomicroscopy techniques that make possible cell tracking and quantification of cell migration speeds. We observed that uPA was only detected in migrating cells at the wound edges and located at crucial sites for cell/extracellular matrix interactions. The implication of uPA in human bronchial epithelial cell migration was studied by incubating cultures with a monoclonal antibody raised against uPA and these experiments led to a 70% reduction in cell velocity. To examine the effects of the plasmin system on cell migration, we incubated cultures with increasing concentrations of plasmin or activated MMP-9. We observed a significant dose-dependent increase in cell migration velocity with plasmin (P < 0.001) and MMP-9 (P < 0.001). Moreover, addition of exogenous plasmin led to a twofold increase of activated MMP-9 in migrating cells. We also demonstrated that the addition of anti-uPA IgG led to an inhibition of 43% of activated MMP-9. In conclusion, these results show that uPA is involved in human bronchial epithelial cells migration. This action is mediated by the generation of plasmin, which in turn activates MMP-9, thus making possible cell migration.     

Proteolytic cleavage of extracellular α-synuclein by plasmin: implications for Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in association with Lewy body inclusions. Gathering evidence indicates that α-synuclein (α-syn), a major component of the Lewy body, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. Although α-syn is considered to be a cytoplasmic protein, it has been detected in extracellular biological fluids, including human cerebrospinal fluid and blood plasma of healthy and diseased individuals. In addition, a prion-like spread of α-syn aggregates has been recently proposed to contribute to the propagation of Lewy bodies throughout the nervous system during progression of PD, suggesting that the metabolism of extracellular α-syn might play a key role in the pathogenesis of PD. In the present study, we found that plasmin cleaved and degraded extracellular α-syn specifically in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Aggregated forms of α-syn as well as monomeric α-syn were also cleaved by plasmin. Plasmin cleaved mainly the N-terminal region of α-syn and also inhibited the translocation of extracellular α-syn into the neighboring cells in addition to the activation of microglia and astrocytes by extracellular α-syn. Further, extracellular α-syn regulated the plasmin system through up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression. These findings help to understand the molecular mechanism of PD and develop new therapeutic targets for PD.     

Binding of protease nexin-1 to the fibroblast surface alters its target proteinase specificity

Protease nexin-1 is a protein proteinase inhibitor that is secreted by a variety of cultured cells and rapidly forms complexes with thrombin, urokinase, and plasmin; the complexes then bind back to the cells and are internalized and degraded. In fibroblast cultures, protease nexin-1 is localized to the extracellular matrix. Here we report that protease nexin-1, which is bound to the surface of fibroblasts, forms complexes with thrombin, but not urokinase or plasmin. Experiments were conducted to determine directly if protease nexin-1 binding to the fibroblast surface alters its proteinase specificity. To do this, cell surface protease nexin-1 was inhibited using anti-protease nexin-1 monoclonal antibodies that stoichiometrically block its ability to form complexes with target proteinases. Then, purified protease nexin-1 was added to these cells; the cell-bound molecule formed complexes with thrombin, but not urokinase or plasmin. Similar experiments showed that protease nexin-1 bound to preparations of fibroblast extracellular matrix also formed complexes with thrombin, but not urokinase or plasmin. Components of the extracellular matrix other than heparin-like glycosaminoglycans are required for this regulation since heparin did not block the formation of complexes between protease nexin-1 and urokinase or plasmin. These results suggest that protease nexin-1 is primarily a thrombin inhibitor in interstitial fluids where much of it would be bound to cell surfaces.     

Binding of plasminogen to extracellular matrix

We have previously demonstrated that plasminogen immobilized on various surfaces forms a substrate for efficient conversion to plasmin by tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) (Silverstein, R. L., Nachman, R. L., Leung, L. L. K., and Harpel, R. C. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 10346-10352). We now report the binding of human plasminogen to the extracellular matrix synthesized in vitro by cultured endothelial cell monolayers. The binding was specific, saturable at plasma plasminogen concentrations, reversible, and lysine-binding site-dependent. Functional studies demonstrated that matrix immobilized plasminogen was a much better substrate for t-PA than was fluid phase plasminogen as shown by a 100-fold decrease in Km. Activation of plasminogen by t-PA and urokinase on the matrix was equally efficient. The plasmin generated on the matrix, in marked contrast to fluid phase, was protected from its fast-acting inhibitor, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor. Matrix-associated plasmin converted bound Glu- into Lys-plasminogen, which in turn is more rapidly activated to plasmin by t-PA. The extracellular matrix not only binds and localizes plasminogen but also improves plasminogen activation kinetics and prolongs plasmin activity in the subendothelial microenvironment.     

Bacterial plasminogen activators and receptors

Invasive bacterial pathogens intervene at various stages and by various mechanisms with the mammalian plasminogen/plasmin system. A vast number of pathogens express plasmin(ogen) receptors that immobilize plasmin(ogen) on the bacterial surface, an event that enhances activation of plasminogen by mammalian plasminogen activators. Bacteria also influence secretion of plasminogen activators and their inhibitors from mammalian cells. The prokaryotic plasminogen activators streptokinase and staphylokinase form a complex with plasmin(ogen) and thus enhance plasminogen activation. The Pla surface protease of Yersinia pestis resembles mammalian activators in function and converts plasminogen to plasmin by limited proteolysis. In essence, plasminogen receptors and activators turn bacteria into proteolytic organisms using a host-derived system. In Gram-negative bacteria, the filamentous surface appendages fimbriae and flagella form a major group of plasminogen receptors. In Gram-positive bacteria, surface-bound enzyme molecules as well as M-protein-related structures have been identified as plasminogen receptors, the former receptor type also occurs on mammalian cells. Plasmin is a broad-spectrum serine protease that degrades fibrin and noncollagenous proteins of extracellular matrices and activates latent procollagenases. Consequently, plasmin generated on or activated by Haemophilus influenzae, Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Y. pestis, and Borrelia burgdorferi has been shown to degrade mammalian extracellular matrices. In a few instances plasminogen activation has been shown to enhance bacterial metastasis in vitro through reconstituted basement membrane or epithelial cell monolayers. In vivo evidence for a role of plasminogen activation in pathogenesis is limited to Y. pestis, Borrelia, and group A streptococci. Bacterial proteases may also directly activate latent procollagenases or inactivate protease inhibitors of human plasma, and thus contribute to tissue damage and bacterial spread across tissue barriers.     

Role of tissue plasminogen activator in the sensitization of methamphetamine-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens

We have previously demonstrated that repeated, but not acute, methamphetamine (METH) treatment increases tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity in the brain, which is associated with the development of behavioral sensitization to METH. In this study, we investigated whether the tPA-plasmin system is involved in the development of sensitization in METH-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). There was no difference in acute METH-induced increase in extracellular dopamine levels in the NAc between wild-type and tPA-deficient (tPA−/−) mice. Repeated METH treatment resulted in a significant enhancement of METH- induced dopamine release in wild-type mice, but not tPA−/− mice. Microinjection of exogenous tPA or plasmin into the NAc of wild-type mice significantly potentiated acute METH- induced dopamine release. Degradation of laminin was evident in brain tissues incubated with tPA plus plasminogen or plasmin in vitro although tPA or plasminogen alone had no effect. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that microinjection of plasmin into the NAc reduced laminin immunoreactivity without neuronal damage. Our findings suggest that the tPA-plasmin system participates in the development of behavioral sensitization induced by repeated METH treatment, by regulating the processes underlying the sensitization of METH-induced dopamine release in the NAc, in which degradation of laminin by plasmin may play a role.     

Cell surface complex of cathepsin B/annexin II tetramer in malignant progression

The cysteine protease cathepsin B is upregulated in a variety of tumors, particularly at the invasive edges. Cathepsin B can degrade extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen IV and laminin, and can activate the precursor form of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), perhaps thereby initiating an extracellular proteolytic cascade. Recently, we demonstrated that procathepsin B interacts with the annexin II heterotetramer (AIIt) on the surface of tumor cells. AIIt had previously been shown to interact with the serine proteases: plasminogen/plasmin and tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). The AIIt binding site for cathepsin B differs from that for either plasminogen/plasmin or tPA. AIIt also interacts with extracellular matrix proteins, e.g., collagen I and tenascin-C, forming a structural link between the tumor cell surface and the extracellular matrix. Interestingly, cathepsin B, plasminogen/plasmin, t-PA and tenascin-C have all been linked to tumor development. We speculate that colocalization through AIIt of proteases and their substrates on the tumor cell surface may facilitate: (1) activation of precursor forms of proteases and initiation of proteolytic cascades; and (2) selective degradation of extracellular matrix proteins. The recruitment of proteases to specific regions on the cell surface, regions where potential substrates are also bound, could well function as a 'proteolytic center' to enhance tumor cell detachment, invasion and motility.