Differential Subcellular Localization Renders HAI-2 a Matriptase Inhibitor in Breast Cancer Cells but Not in Mammary Epithelial Cells

The type 2 transmembrane serine protease matriptase is under tight control primarily by the actions of the integral membrane Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor HAI-1. Growing evidence indicates that HAI-2 might also be involved in matriptase inhibition in some contexts. Here we showed that matriptase inhibition by HAI-2 depends on the subcellular localizations of HAI-2, and is observed in breast cancer cells but not in mammary epithelial cells. HAI-2 is co-expressed with matriptase in 21 out of 26 human epithelial and carcinoma cells examined. HAI-2 is also a potent matriptase inhibitor in solution, but in spite of this, HAI-2 inhibition of matriptase is not observed in all contexts where HAI-2 is expressed, unlike what is seen for HAI-1. Induction of matriptase zymogen activation in mammary epithelial cells results in the formation of matriptase-HAI-1 complexes, but matriptase-HAI-2 complexes are not observed. In breast cancer cells, however, in addition to the appearance of matriptase-HAI-1 complex, three different matriptase-HAI-2 complexes, are formed following the induction of matriptase activation. Immunofluorescent staining reveals that activated matriptase is focused at the cell-cell junctions upon the induction of matriptase zymogen activation in both mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells. HAI-2, in contrast, remains localized in vesicle/granule-like structures during matriptase zymogen activation in human mammary epithelial cells. In breast cancer cells, however, a proportion of the HAI-2 reaches the cell surface where it can gain access to and inhibit active matriptase. Collectively, these data suggest that matriptase inhibition by HAI-2 requires the translocation of HAI-2 to the cell surface, a process which is observed in some breast cancer cells but not in mammary epithelial cells.     

Matriptase is inhibited by extravascular antithrombin in epithelial cells but not in most carcinoma cells

Antithrombin, a major anticoagulant, is robustly transported into extravascular compartments where its target proteases are largely unknown. This serpin was previously detected in human milk as complexes with matriptase, a membrane-bound serine protease broadly expressed in epithelial and carcinoma cells, and under tight regulation by hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)-1, a transmembrane Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor that forms heat-sensitive complexes with active matriptase. In the current study, we detect, in addition to matriptase-HAI-1 complexes, heat-resistant matriptase complexes generated by nontransformed mammary, prostate, and epidermal epithelial cells that we show to be matriptase-antithrombin complexes. These findings suggest that in addition to HAI-1, interstitial antithrombin participates in the regulation of matriptase activity in epithelial cells. This physiological mechanism appears, however, to largely be lost in cancer cells since matriptase-antithrombin complexes were not detected in all but two of a panel of seven breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer cell lines. Using purified active matriptase, we further characterize the formation of matriptase-antithrombin complex and show that heparin can significantly potentiate the inhibitory potency of antithrombin against matriptase. Second-order rate constants for the inhibition were determined to be 3.9 × 10(3) M(-1)s(-1) in the absence of heparin and 1.2 × 10(5) M(-1)s(-1) in the presence of heparin, a 30-fold increase, consistent with the established role of heparin in activating antithrombin function. Taken together these data suggest that normal epithelial cells employ a dual mechanism involving HAI-1 and antithrombin to control matriptase and that the antithrombin-based mechanism appears lost in the majority of carcinoma cells.     

Regulation of the activity of matriptase on epithelial cell surfaces by a blood-derived factor.

Matriptase is an epithelial-derived, integral membrane, trypsin-like serine protease. We have shown previously that matriptase exists both in complexed and noncomplexed forms. We now show that the complexed matriptase is an activated, two-chain form, which is inhibited in an acid-sensitive, reversible manner through binding to its cognate, Kunitz-type inhibitor, HAI-1 (hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1). Conversely, the majority of the noncomplexed matriptase is a single-chain zymogen, which lacks binding affinity to HAI-1, suggesting that matriptase, similar to most other serine proteases, is activated by proteolytic cleavage at a canonical activation motif. We have now generated mAbs specific for the conformational changes associated with the proteolytic activation of matriptase. Using these mAbs, which specifically recognize the two-chain form of matriptase, we demonstrate that matriptase is transiently activated on 184A1N4 human mammary epithelial cell surfaces following their exposure to serum. The ability of serum to activate matriptase is highly conserved across reptilian, avian, and mammalian species. This serum-dependent activation of matriptase on epithelial cell surfaces is followed by ectodomain shedding of both matriptase and its Kunitz-type inhibitor.     

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 has a complex subcellular itinerary

HAI-1 [HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) activator inhibitor-1] is a Kunitz-type transmembrane serine protease inhibitor that forms inhibitor complexes with the trypsin-like serine protease, matriptase. HAI-1 is essential for mouse placental development and embryo survival and together with matriptase it is a key regulator of carcinogenesis. HAI-1 is expressed in polarized epithelial cells, which have the plasma membrane divided by tight junctions into an apical and a basolateral domain. In the present study we show that HAI-1 at steady-state is mainly located on the basolateral membrane of both Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and mammary gland epithelial cells. After biosynthesis, HAI-1 is exocytosed mainly to the basolateral plasma membrane from where 15% of the HAI-1 molecules are proteolytically cleaved and released into the basolateral medium. The remaining membrane-associated HAI-1 is endocytosed and then recycles between the basolateral plasma membrane and endosomes for hours until it is transcytosed to the apical plasma membrane. Minor amounts of HAI-1 present at the apical plasma membrane are proteolytically cleaved and released into the apical medium. Full-length membrane-bound HAI-1 has a half-life of 1.5 h and is eventually degraded in the lysosomes, whereas proteolytically released HAI-1 is more stable. HAI-1 is co-localized with its cognate protease, matriptase, at the basolateral plasma membrane. We suggest that HAI-1, in addition to its protease inhibitory function, plays a role in transporting matriptase as a matriptase-HAI-1 complex from the basolateral plama membrane to the apical plasma membrane, as matriptase is known to interact with prostasin, located at the apical plasma membrane.     

Purification from human milk of matriptase complexes with secreted serpins: mechanism for inhibition of matriptase other than HAI-1

Matriptase, a type 2 transmembrane serine protease, is predominately expressed by epithelial and carcinoma cells in which hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor 1 (HAI-1), a membrane-bound, Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, is also expressed. HAI-1 plays dual roles in the regulation of matriptase, as a conventional protease inhibitor and as a factor required for zymogen activation of matriptase. As a consequence, activation of matriptase is immediately followed by HAI-1-mediated inhibition, with the activated matriptase being sequestered into HAI-1 complexes. Matriptase is also expressed by peripheral blood leukocytes, such as monocytes and macrophages; however, in contrast to epithelial cells, monocytes and macrophages were reported not to express HAI-1, suggesting that these leukocytes possess alternate, HAI-1-independent mechanisms regulating the zymogen activation and protease inhibition of matriptase. In the present study, we characterized matriptase complexes of 110 kDa in human milk, which contained no HAI-1 and resisted dissociation in boiling SDS in the absence of reducing agents. These complexes were further purified and dissociated into 80-kDa and 45-kDa fragments by treatment with reducing agents. Proteomic and immunological methods identified the 45-kDa fragment as the noncatalytic domains of matriptase and the 80-kDa fragment as the matriptase serine protease domain covalently linked to one of three different secreted serpin inhibitors: antithrombin III, 1-antitrypsin, and 2-antiplasmin. Identification of matriptase-serpin inhibitor complexes provides evidence for the first time that the proteolytic activity of matriptase, from those cells that express no or low levels of HAI-1, may be controlled by secreted serpins. protease; type 2 transmembrane serine protease; protease inhibitor; ST-14; hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor 1     

Mechanisms for the control of matriptase activity in the absence of sufficient HAI-1

Matriptase proteolytic activity must be tightly controlled for normal placental development, epidermal function, and epithelial integrity. Although hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) represents the predominant endogenous inhibitor for matriptase and the protein molar ratio of HAI-1 to matriptase is determined to be >10 in epithelial cells and the majority of carcinoma cells, an inverse HAI-1-to-matriptase ratio is seen in some ovarian and hematopoietic cancer cells. In the current study, cells with insufficient HAI-1 are investigated for the mechanisms through which the activity of matriptase is regulated. When matriptase activation is robustly induced in these cells, activated matriptase rapidly forms two complexes of 100- and 140-kDa in addition to the canonical 120-kDa matriptase-HAI-1 complex already described. Both 100- and 140-kDa complexes contain two-chain, cleaved matriptase but are devoid of gelatinolytic activity. Further biochemical characterization shows that the 140-kDa complex is a matriptase homodimer and that the 100-kDa complexes appear to contain reversible, tight binding serine protease inhibitor(s). The formation of the 140-kDa matriptase dimer is strongly associated with matriptase activation, and its levels are inversely correlated with the ratio of HAI-1 to matriptase. Given these observations and the likelihood that autoactivation requires the interaction of two matriptase molecules, it seems plausible that this activated matriptase homodimer may represent a matriptase autoactivation intermediate and that its accumulation may serve as a mechanism to control matriptase activity when protease inhibitor levels are limiting. These data suggest that matriptase activity can be rapidly inhibited by HAI-1 and other HAI-1-like protease inhibitors and "locked" in an inactive autoactivation intermediate, all of which places matriptase under very tight control.     

Matriptase/epithin participates in mammary epithelial cell growth and morphogenesis through HGF activation

The epithelial-derived, type II transmembrane serine protease matriptase, the mouse homologue of which is epithin, has been shown to be involved in epidermal differentiation, hair formation, and thymus function. We show in this study that epithin/matriptase (Epi/MTP) plays a significant role in mammary epithelial cell growth and morphogenesis. Epi/MTP is expressed at low level in the mouse mammary epithelium of young animals and it accumulates at the terminal end-bud of the growing ducts. The level of Epi/MTP is elevated in the mammary glands at stages when epithelial proliferation and modeling occur. It is primarily present in the luminal epithelial cells of mouse mammary ducts and lobules. Using an ex vivo three-dimensional culture system for mammary epithelial functional assays, we show that mammary epithelial growth and morphogenesis in the presence of the latent form hepatocyte growth factor (pro-HGF) are blocked either by an inhibitor of the Epi/MTP protease activity or by siRNA knockdown of the Epi/MTP expression. These studies demonstrate that Epi/MTP participates in mammary epithelial growth and modeling through activation of pro-HGF. Our findings reveal an important pathway in normal mammary epithelial morphogenesis which may participate in breast cancer progression.     

HAI-1 regulates activation and expression of matriptase, a membrane-bound serine protease

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-1 (HAI-1) was initially identified as cognate inhibitor of matriptase, a membrane-bound serine protease. Paradoxically, HAI-1 is also required for matriptase activation, a process that requires sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-mediated translocation of the protease to cell-cell junctions in human mammary epithelial cells. In the present study, we further explored how HAI-1 regulates this protease. First, we observed that after S1P treatment HAI-1 was cotranslocated with matriptase to cell-cell junctions and that the cellular ratio of HAI-1 to matriptase was maintained during this process. However, when this ratio was changed by cell treatment with HAI-1 small interfering RNA or anti-HAI-1 MAb M19, spontaneous activation of matriptase occurred in the absence of S1P-induced translocation; S1P-induced matriptase activation was also enhanced. These results support a role for HAI-1 in protection of cell from uncontrolled matriptase activation. We next expressed matriptase, either alone or with HAI-1 in breast cancer cells that do not endogenously express either protein. A defect in matriptase trafficking to the cell surface occurred if wild-type matriptase was expressed in the absence of HAI-1; this defect appeared to result from matriptase toxicity to cells. Coexpression with matriptase of wild-type HAI-1, but not HAI-1 mutants altered in its Kunitz domain 1, corrected the trafficking defect. In contrast, catalytically defective matriptase mutants were normal in their trafficking in the absence of HAI-1. These results are also consistent with a role for HAI-1 to prevent inappropriate matriptase proteolytic activity during its protein synthesis and trafficking. Taken together, these results support multiple roles for HAI-1 to regulate matriptase, including its proper expression, intracellular trafficking, activation, and inhibition. protease-activated receptor-2; hepatocyte growth factor; urokinase; sphingosine 1-phosphate; Kunitz domain     

Potent inhibition and global co-localization implicate the transmembrane Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor-2 in the regulation of epithelial matriptase activity

Hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors (HAI)-1 and -2 are recently identified and closely related Kunitz-type transmembrane serine protease inhibitors. Whereas HAI-1 is well established as an inhibitor of the serine proteases matriptase and hepatocyte growth factor activator, the physiological targets of HAI-2 are unknown. Here we show that HAI-2 displays potent inhibitory activity toward matriptase, forms SDS-stable complexes with the serine protease, and blocks matriptase-dependent activation of its candidate physiological substrates proprostasin and cell surface-bound pro-urokinase plasminogen activator. To further explore the potential functional relationship between HAI-2 and matriptase, we generated a transgenic mouse strain with a promoterless beta-galactosidase marker gene inserted into the endogenous locus encoding HAI-2 protein and performed a global high resolution mapping of the expression of HAI-2, matriptase, and HAI-1 proteins in all adult tissues. This analysis showed striking co-localization of HAI-2 with matriptase and HAI-1 in epithelial cells of all major organ systems, thus strongly supporting a role of HAI-2 as a physiological regulator of matriptase activity, possibly acting in a redundant or partially redundant manner with HAI-1. Unlike HAI-1 and matriptase, however, HAI-2 expression was also detected in non-epithelial cells of brain and lymph nodes, suggesting that HAI-2 may also be involved in inhibition of serine proteases other than matriptase.     

Strong expression association between matriptase and its substrate prostasin in breast cancer

Breast cancer tumorigenesis is accompanied by increased levels of extracellular proteases that are capable of remodeling the extracellular matrix as well as cleaving and activating growth factors and signaling receptors that are critically involved in neoplastic progression. Multiple studies implicate the membrane anchored serine protease matriptase (also known as MT-SP1 and epithin) in breast cancer. The pro-form of the GPI-anchored serine protease prostasin has recently been identified as a physiological substrate of matriptase and the two proteases are co-expressed in multiple healthy tissues. In this study, the inter-relationship between the two membrane-anchored serine proteases in breast cancer was investigated using breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer patient samples to delineate the association between matriptase and prostasin. We used Western blotting to determine the expression of matriptase and prostasin proteins in a panel of breast cancer cell lines and immunohistochemistry to assess the expression in serial sections from breast cancer tissue arrays. We demonstrate that the expression of matriptase and prostasin is closely correlated in breast cancer cell lines as well as in breast cancer tissue samples. Furthermore, matriptase and prostasin display a near identical spatial expression pattern in the epithelial compartment of breast cancer tissue. These data suggest that the matriptase-prostasin cascade might play a critical role in breast cancer.     

Activation of hepatocyte growth factor and urokinase/plasminogen activator by matriptase, an epithelial membrane serine protease

Matriptase is an epithelial-derived, integral membrane serine protease. The enzyme was initially isolated from human breast cancer cells and has been implicated in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. In the current study, using active matriptase isolated from human milk, we demonstrate that matriptase is able to cleave various synthetic substrates with arginine or lysine as their P1 sites and prefers small side chain amino acids, such as Ala and Gly, at P2 sites. For the most reactive substrates, N-tert-butoxycarbonyl (N-t-Boc)-gamma-benzyl-Glu-Ala-Arg-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (AMC) and N-t-Boc-Gln-Ala-Arg-AMC, the K(m) values were determined to be 3. 81 and 4.89 microm, respectively. We further demonstrated that matriptase can convert hepatocyte growth factor/scattering factor to its active form, which can induce scatter of Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells and can activate c-Met tyrosine phosphorylation in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. In addition, we noted that matriptase can activate urokinase plasminogen activator but has no affect on plasminogen. These results suggest that matriptase could act as an epithelial, upstream membrane activator to recruit and activate stromal-derived downstream effectors important for extracellular matrix degradation and epithelial migration, two major events of tissue remodeling, cancer invasion, and metastasis.     

Assembly of adherens junctions is required for sphingosine 1-phosphate-induced matriptase accumulation and activation at mammary epithelial cell-cell contacts

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive phospholipid, simultaneously induces actin cytoskeletal rearrangements and activation of matriptase, a membrane-associated serine protease in human mammary epithelial cells. In this study, we used a monoclonal antibody selective for activated, two-chain matriptase to examine the functional relationship between these two S1P-induced events. Ten minutes after exposure of 184 A1N4 mammary epithelial cells to S1P, matriptase was observed to accumulate at cell-cell contacts. Activated matriptase first began to appear as small spots at cell-cell contacts, and then its deposits elongated along cell-cell contacts. Concomitantly, S1P induced assembly of adherens junctions and subcortical actin belts. Matriptase localization was observed to be coincident with markers of adherens junctions at cell-cell contacts but likely not to be incorporated into the tightly bound adhesion plaque. Disruption of subcortical actin belt formation and prevention of adherens junction assembly led to prevention of accumulation and activation of the protease at cell-cell contacts. These data suggest that S1P-induced accumulation and activation of matriptase depend on the S1P-induced adherens junction assembly. Although MAb M32, directed against one of the low-density lipoprotein receptor class A domains of matriptase, blocked S1P-induced activation of the enzyme, the antibody had no effect on S1P-induced actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Together, these data indicate that actin cytoskeletal rearrangement is necessary but not sufficient for S1P-induced activation of matriptase at cell-cell contacts. The coupling of matriptase activation to adherens junction assembly and actin cytoskeletal rearrangement may serve to ensure tight control of matriptase activity, restricted to cell-cell junctions of mammary epithelial cells.     

Expression of the serine protease, matriptase, in breast ductal carcinoma of Chinese women: correlation with clinicopathological parameters

Matriptase is a serine protease expressed by cells of surface epithelial origin, including epithelial breast tumor cells. Matriptase cleaves and activates proteins implicated in the progression of cancer and represents a potential prognostic and therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to examine matriptase expression in breast tumors of Chinese women and to identify its clinicopathological correlations. Immunohistochemical analysis of matriptase was performed in tissue microarrays of 251 breast tumors including 30 fibroadenomas, 59 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), 38 grade I invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC), 79 grade II IDC, and 45 grade III IDC. The matriptase scores were significantly higher in the tumors than their non-tumor counterparts (178+/-12 for fibroadenoma; 275+/-11 for DCIS; 299+/-10 for grade I IDC; 251+/-10 for grade II IDC; and 314+/-11 for grade III IDC). In cases of IDC, matriptase scores were significantly correlated with tumor staging and nodal staging. Our findings demonstrate that matriptase is over-expressed in breast ductal carcinoma of Chinese women. It therefore may be a good biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of malignant breast tumors.     

Detection of Active Matriptase Using a Biotinylated Chloromethyl Ketone Peptide

Matriptase is a member of the family of type II transmembrane serine proteases that is essential for development and maintenance of several epithelial tissues. Matriptase is synthesized as a single-chain zymogen precursor that is processed into a two-chain disulfide-linked form dependent on its own catalytic activity leading to the hypothesis that matriptase functions at the pinnacle of several protease induced signal cascades. Matriptase is usually found in either its zymogen form or in a complex with its cognate inhibitor hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor 1 (HAI-1), whereas the active non-inhibited form has been difficult to detect. In this study, we have developed an assay to detect enzymatically active non-inhibitor-complexed matriptase by using a biotinylated peptide substrate-based chloromethyl ketone (CMK) inhibitor. Covalently CMK peptide-bound matriptase is detected by streptavidin pull-down and subsequent analysis by Western blotting. This study presents a novel assay for detection of enzymatically active matriptase in living human and murine cells. The assay can be applied to a variety of cell systems and species.     

Production of soluble matriptase by human cancer cell lines and cell surface activation of its zymogen by trypsin

The membrane-bound serine proteinase matriptase, which is often released from the plasma membrane of epithelial and carcinoma cells, has been implicated to play important roles in both physiological and pathological conditions. However, the regulatory mechanism of its activity is poorly understood. In the present study, we examined expression and activation state of soluble matriptase in 24 human cancer cell lines. Soluble matriptase was detected in the conditioned media from all of 5 colon and 4 breast carcinoma cell lines and 8 of 10 stomach carcinoma cell lines tested. Only two of five lung cancer cell lines released the matriptase protein into the culture media. Out of the five matriptase-negative cell lines, two cell lines expressed the matriptase mRNA. Among 24 cancer cell lines tested, 13 cell lines secreted trypsin in an active or latent form and all of them released matriptase. Most of the 24 cell lines released a latent, single-chain matriptase of 75 kDa as a major form, as well as low levels of complex forms of an activated two-chain enzyme with its specific inhibitor HAI-1. Thus, these soluble matriptases appeared to have little proteolytic activity. Treatment of stomach and colon cancer cell lines with epidermal growth factor stimulated the release of matripatase/HAI-1 complexes. In cancer cell lines secreting active trypsin, however, matriptase was released mostly as an inhibitor-free, two-chain active form. Trypsin seemed to activate the membrane-bound, latent matriptase on the cell surface. These results suggest that matriptase and trypsin cooperatively function for extracellular proteolysis.     

Mammary radioiodine accumulation due to functional sodium iodide symporter expression in a benign fibroadenoma

The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) has been characterized to mediate the active transport of iodide not only in the thyroid gland but also in various non-thyroidal tissues, including lactating mammary gland and the majority of breast cancers, thereby offering the possibility of diagnostic and therapeutic radioiodine application in breast cancer. In this report, we present a 57-year-old patient with multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, who showed focal radioiodine accumulation in a lesion in the right breast on a posttherapy (131)I scan following radioiodine therapy. CT and MR-mammography showed a focal solid lesion in the right breast suggestive of a fibroadenoma, which was confirmed by histological examination. Immunostaining of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue sections using a human NIS antibody demonstrated NIS-specific immunoreactivity confined to epithelial cells of mammary ducts. In conclusion, in a thyroid cancer patient we identified a benign fibroadenoma of the breast expressing high levels of functionally active NIS protein as underlying cause of focal mammary radioiodine accumulation on a posttherapy (131)I scan. These data show for the first time that functional NIS expression is not restricted to lactating mammary gland and malignant breast tissue, but can also be detected in benign breast lesions, such as fibroadenomata of the breast.     

Characterization of matriptase expression in normal human tissues.

Matriptase is a type II transmembrane serine protease that has been implicated in the progression of epithelium-derived tumors. The role of this protease in the biology of normal epithelial cells remains to be elucidated. Matriptase mRNA has been detected by Northern analysis in tissues rich in epithelial cells, and the protein is expressed in vivo in normal and cancerous breast, ovarian, and colon tissues. However, a systematic analysis of the distribution of matriptase protein and mRNA in normal human tissues rich in epithelium has not been reported. In this study we characterized the expression of the protease in a wide variety of normal human tissues using a tissue microarray and whole tissue specimens. Significant immunoreactivity and mRNA expression were detected in the epithelial components of most epithelium-containing tissues. Matriptase expression was found in all types of epithelium, including columnar, pseudostratified columnar, cuboidal, and squamous. Distinct spatial distributions of reactivity were observed in the microanatomy of certain tissues, however. This suggests that although matriptase is broadly expressed among many types of epithelial cells, its activity within a tissue may be regulated in part at the protein and mRNA levels during the differentiation of selected epithelia.     

Production and characterization of mammary-derived growth factor 1 in mammary epithelial cell lines.

A mammary-derived growth factor, MDGF1, which stimulates collagen synthesis and proliferation in mammary epithelial cells was previously detected and purified from human milk and primary human breast tumors. MDGF1 binds to putative cell-surface receptors of 120-140 kDa and stimulates proliferation of normal and malignant human mammary epithelial cells. Partial protein sequence (N-terminal 18 amino acid sequence) shows that MDGF1 has no homology to any other known growth-promoting peptides. Polyclonal antiserum raised against this synthetic peptide recognizes native milk-derived MDGF1. We hypothesize that MDGF1 might be an autocrine or paracrine factor produced by and acting on normal and malignant human breast epithelial cells possessing MDGF1 receptors. As a first step in testing this possibility, we examined whether human breast epithelial cells in culture produce the growth factor. A protein with the size of MDGF1 was immunologically detected in the concentrated conditioned medium prepared from human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231, the mammary-derived but nontumorigenic HBL-100 line, and the normal reduction mammoplasty-derived, nonimmortalized 184 cell strain. A competitive radioreceptor assay (RRA) was used to estimate the level of MDGF1 in the conditioned medium. MDGF1 was present in the nanogram range per 1 million cells. A 62-kDa protein was detected in the above cell lysates by Western immunoblotting or by immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cell-conditioned media. The polyclonal antisera directed against the 18 amino acid peptide sequence from milk-derived MDGF1 could adsorb MDGF1 biological activity from conditioned medium. In vitro translation of cell mRNA yielded a protein of 55 kDa which was immunoprecipitated by anti-MDGF1 antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The Protease Inhibitor HAI-2, but Not HAI-1, Regulates Matriptase Activation and Shedding through Prostasin

The membrane-anchored serine proteases, matriptase and prostasin, and the membrane-anchored serine protease inhibitors, hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)-1 and HAI-2, are critical effectors of epithelial development and postnatal epithelial homeostasis. Matriptase and prostasin form a reciprocal zymogen activation complex that results in the formation of active matriptase and prostasin that are targets for inhibition by HAI-1 and HAI-2. Conflicting data, however, have accumulated as to the existence of auxiliary functions for both HAI-1 and HAI-2 in regulating the intracellular trafficking and activation of matriptase. In this study, we, therefore, used genetically engineered mice to determine the effect of ablation of endogenous HAI-1 and endogenous HAI-2 on endogenous matriptase expression, subcellular localization, and activation in polarized intestinal epithelial cells. Whereas ablation of HAI-1 did not affect matriptase in epithelial cells of the small or large intestine, ablation of HAI-2 resulted in the loss of matriptase from both tissues. Gene silencing studies in intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers revealed that this loss of cell-associated matriptase was mechanistically linked to accelerated activation and shedding of the protease caused by loss of prostasin regulation by HAI-2. Taken together, these data indicate that HAI-1 regulates the activity of activated matriptase, whereas HAI-2 has an essential role in regulating prostasin-dependent matriptase zymogen activation.