Trypsin,Tryptase, and Thrombin Polarize Macrophages towards a Pro-Fibrotic M2a Phenotype

For both wound healing and the formation of a fibrotic lesion, circulating monocytes enter the tissue and differentiate into fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes and pro-fibrotic M2a macrophages, which together with fibroblasts form scar tissue. Monocytes can also differentiate into classically activated M1 macrophages and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. The proteases thrombin, which is activated during blood clotting, and tryptase, which is released by activated mast cells, potentiate fibroblast proliferation and fibrocyte differentiation, but their effect on macrophages is unknown. Here we report that thrombin, tryptase, and the protease trypsin bias human macrophage differentiation towards a pro-fibrotic M2a phenotype expressing high levels of galectin-3 from unpolarized monocytes, or from M1 and M2 macrophages, and that these effects appear to operate through protease-activated receptors. These results suggest that proteases can initiate scar tissue formation by affecting fibroblasts, fibrocytes, and macrophages.     

Tristetraprolin Inhibits the Growth of Human Glioma Cells through Downregulation of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator/Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor mRNAs

Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) play a major role in the infiltrative growth of glioblastoma. Downregulatoion of the uPA and uPAR has been reported to inhibit the growth glioblastoma. Here, we demonstrate that tristetraprolin (TTP) inhibits the growth of U87MG human glioma cells through downregulation of uPA and uPAR. Our results show that expression level of TTP is inversely correlated with those of uPA and uPAR in human glioma cells and tissues. TTP binds to the AU-rich elements within the 3′ untranslated regions of uPA and uPAR and overexpression of TTP decreased the expression of uPA and uPAR through enhancing the degradation of their mRNAs. In addition, overexpression of TTP inhibited the growth and invasion of U87MG cells. Our findings implicate that TTP can be used as a promising therapeutic target to treat human glioma.     

The Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor Promotes Efferocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

The urokinase receptor (uPAR), expressed on the surface of many cell types, coordinates plasmin-mediated cell surface proteolysis for matrix remodeling and promotes cell adhesion by acting as a binding protein for vitronectin. There is great clinical interest in uPAR in the cancer field as numerous reports have demonstrated that up-regulation of the uPA system is correlated with malignancy of various carcinomas. Using both stable cell lines overexpressing uPAR and transient gene transfer, here we provide evidence for a non-reported role of uPAR in the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, a process that has recently been termed efferocytosis. When uPAR was expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, hamster melanoma cells, or breast cancer cells (BCCs), there was a robust enhancement in the efferocytosis of apoptotic cells. uPAR-expressing cells failed to stimulate engulfment of viable cells, suggesting that uPAR enhances recognition of one or more determinant on the surface of the apoptotic cell. uPAR-mediated engulfment was not inhibited by expression of mutant β5 integrin, nor was αvβ5 integrin-mediated engulfment modulated by cleavage of uPAR by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Further, we found that the more aggressive BCCs had a higher phagocytic capacity that correlated with uPAR expression and cleavage of membrane-associated uPAR in MDA-MB231 BCCs significantly impaired phagocytic activity. Because efferocytosis is critical for the resolution of inflammation and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, overexpression of uPAR in tumor cells may promote a tolerogenic microenvironment that favors tumor progression.The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR³ or CD87) is a multidomain glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein (1) implicated in many cellular processes, ranging from wound repair, inflammation, motility, tumor invasion, to metastasis (2–6). Although the best understood functions of uPAR lie in its ability to act as a saturable receptor for urokinase (uPA) resulting in plasminogen activation and subsequent pericellular proteolysis and matrix remodeling (7, 8), its ability to regulate cell adhesion and migration acting as a vitronectin (VN) receptor is likely equally important (9, 10). The human uPAR cDNA encodes a 335-amino acid polypeptide that undergoes extensive post-translational glycosylation upon cell sorting through the secretory pathways, and the mature protein is covalently attached to the plasma membrane via a C-terminally modified GPI anchor (11, 12). Because uPAR lacks a trans-membrane domain, the signal transduction originating from this receptor, at least at the plasma membrane, requires lateral interactions with co-receptors. In this capacity, a wide range of surface proteins have been implicated as uPAR co-receptors, including integrins (13, 14), receptor tyrosine kinases (15), G-protein-coupled receptors (16), chemokine receptors (17, 18), and low density lipoprotein receptors (19). This not only allows for increased signal complexity, but also co-localizes uPAR with a number of diverse extracellular ligands within the extracellular environment (20, 21).In addition to the physiological roles in tissue remodeling, numerous studies have reported up-regulation of both uPAR and uPA/tissue plasminogen activator in malignant carcinomas (22–26). In both knockout and transgenic mouse models, overexpression of either uPAR or uPA is associated with enhanced metastasis and poor survival, and efforts aimed at inhibiting the protease activation of uPA are considered promising therapeutic strategies (27). Paradoxically, however, expression of the primary inhibitors of endogenous uPA, the type-1 plasminogen activator inhibitors (28), also correlate with poor prognoses in cancer patients (29, 30), suggesting there may be non-proteolysis-mediated uPAR activation events (31). Indeed, uPAR is a saturable receptor for VN, which binds this ligand in an RGD-independent manner via the somatomedin-B domain (14). The structures of the extracellular domains of uPAR in complexes with peptide substrates of either uPA or VN reveal these proteins bind to overlapping but clearly distinct domains in uPAR (32, 33), although all three domains in uPAR (D1, D2, and D3) are required for binding. Binding of VN to uPAR induces alterations in the actin cytoskeleton, cell shape changes, and activation of signaling pathways (ERK, FAK, and Rac1) that favor cell migration (34). These data suggest that uPAR can modify integrin function that lead to enhanced matrix binding, adhesion and migration, and cell signaling.In the present study, we have found that uPAR has a strong ability to promote efferocytosis of apoptotic cells. This was demonstrated using transient overexpression and creation of stable cell lines, as well as inhibitors of uPAR function. Expression of uPAR promoted engulfment of apoptotic T cells (CEM-1 and Jurkat cell lines), but not viable T cells, and this effect was abrogated using phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C to cleave the GPI anchor of uPAR. Because uPAR and β5-integrin cooperate to promote migration and metastasis in breast cancer cells (BCCs), and both uPAR and β5-integrin are often elevated in metastatic cancers, we also investigated whether BCCs might have acquired greater phagocytic ability and investigated whether uPAR might regulate the process of β5-integrin-mediated phagocytosis. Interestingly, we found that BCCs that natively overexpress uPAR had significantly increased phagocytic capacity compared with less transformed or non-transformed epithelial cells. Surprisingly, although uPAR expression modified the expression and distribution of αvβ5 integrins, we discovered that uPAR apparently mediates phagocytosis independently of αvβ5 or αvβ3 integrins. The studies presented here reveal a novel function of uPAR in the uptake of apoptotic cells.     

重组尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体在酵母系统中的表达及鉴定

构建截断型可溶性尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（ｕ－ＰＡＲ）的原核及酵母表达质粒并分别在大肠杆菌和Ｐｉｃｈｉａｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母中高效表达．利用ＰＣＲ扩增截断型可溶性ｕ－ＰＡＲｃＤＮＡ片段,并分别连入酵母及原核表达载体中,构建成表达质粒．后者经诱导表达的蛋白被用于免疫家兔,获得抗ｕ－ＰＡＲ的抗血清,用于对酵母表达产物的鉴定．前者在甲醇的诱导下表达,产物分泌至培养液中．结果表明,原核表达的ｕ－ＰＡＲ蛋白免疫家兔后获得高效价的抗血清,利用此抗血清所作Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ证实酵母表达蛋白具有ｕ－ＰＡＲ的免疫原性,表观分子量４０ｋＤ左右．Ｍｕｔ－表型在第５ｄ为最高（２．５μｇ／ｍｌ）,Ｍｕｔ＋表型在第４ｄ为最高（７．５μｇ／ｍｌ）．因此,构建的可溶性ｕ－ＰＡＲ表达质粒在Ｐｉｃｈｉａｐａｓｔｏｒｉｓ酵母细胞获得表达,为进一步竞争拮抗受体功能的研究奠定了基础．     

Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor as a Marker for Use of Antidepressants

Objectives

Inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of depression. A few cross-sectional population-based studies have found that depression is associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activation receptor (suPAR) is known to be a stable marker for inflammation. We investigated the bidirectional association between suPAR levels and use of antidepressants.

Methods

suPAR level was measured in 9305 blood donors and analysed in relation to 5-years follow-up data on purchase of antidepressants and hospital diagnoses of depression from a nationwide Danish register.

Results

For men and women without prior use of antidepressants we found a significantly higher risk for incident use of antidepressants with higher suPAR values. For men, the risk of first use of antidepressants increased by 72% from the 1^st to the 4^th quartile (HR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.11–2.69). For women, it increased by 108% from the 1^st to the 4^th quartile (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.45–2.98). Previous use of antidepressants was also significantly associated with higher suPAR levels (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

High suPAR levels are associated with an increased risk for both previous and future use of antidepressants in healthy men and women. High suPAR are also associated with increased risk for a hospital diagnosis of depression.     

Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Induces BV-2 Microglial Cell Migration Through Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9

In response to brain injury, microglia migrate and accumulate in the affected sites, which is an important step in the regulation of inflammation and neuronal degeneration/regeneration. In this study, we investigated the effect of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on the BV-2 microglial cell migration. At resting state, BV-2 microglial cells secreted uPA and the release of uPA was increased by ATP, a chemoattractant released from injured neuron. The migration of BV-2 cell was significantly induced by uPA and inhibited by uPA inhibitors. In this condition, uPA increased the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) and the inhibition of MMP activity with pharmacological inhibitors against either uPA (amiloride) or MMP (phenanthrolene and SB-3CT) effectively prevented BV2 cell migration. Interestingly, the level of MMP-9 protein and mRNA in the cell were not changed by uPA. These results suggest that the increase of MMP-9 activity by uPA is regulated at the post-translational level, possibly via increased activation of the enzyme. Unlike the uPA inhibitor, plasmin inhibitor PAI-1 only partially inhibited uPA-induced cell migration and MMP-9 activation. The incubation of recombinant MMP-9 with uPA resulted in the activation of MMP-9. These results suggest that uPA plays a critical role in BV-2 microglial cell migration by activating pro-MMP-9, in part by its direct action on MMP-9 and also in part by the activation of plasminogen/plasmin cascade.     

NADPH Oxidase 4 Induces Cardiac Arrhythmic Phenotype in Zebrafish

Oxidative stress has been implicated in cardiac arrhythmia, although a causal relationship remains undefined. We have recently demonstrated a marked up-regulation of NADPH oxidase isoform 4 (NOX4) in patients with atrial fibrillation, which is accompanied by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated the impact on the cardiac phenotype of NOX4 overexpression in zebrafish. One-cell stage embryos were injected with NOX4 RNA prior to video recording of a GFP-labeled (myl7:GFP zebrafish line) beating heart in real time at 24–31 h post-fertilization. Intriguingly, NOX4 embryos developed cardiac arrhythmia that is characterized by irregular heartbeats. When quantitatively analyzed by an established LQ-1 program, the NOX4 embryos displayed much more variable beat-to-beat intervals (mean S.D. of beat-to-beat intervals was 0.027 s/beat in control embryos versus 0.038 s/beat in NOX4 embryos). Both the phenotype and the increased ROS in NOX4 embryos were attenuated by NOX4 morpholino co-injection, treatments of the embryos with polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase, or NOX4 inhibitors fulvene-5, 6-dimethylamino-fulvene, and proton sponge blue. Injection of NOX4-P437H mutant RNA had no effect on the cardiac phenotype or ROS production. In addition, phosphorylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II was increased in NOX4 embryos but diminished by polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase, whereas its inhibitor KN93 or AIP abolished the arrhythmic phenotype. Taken together, our data for the first time uncover a novel pathway that underlies the development of cardiac arrhythmia, namely NOX4 activation, subsequent NOX4-specific NADPH-driven ROS production, and redox-sensitive CaMKII activation. These findings may ultimately lead to novel therapeutics targeting cardiac arrhythmia.     

Immobilized Heavy Chain-Hyaluronic Acid Polarizes Lipopolysaccharide-activated Macrophages toward M2 Phenotype

Despite the known anti-inflammatory effect of amniotic membrane, its action mechanism remains largely unknown. HC-HA complex (HC-HA) purified from human amniotic membrane consists of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) covalently linked to the heavy chain (HC) 1 of inter-α-trypsin inhibitor. In this study, we show that soluble HC-HA also contained pentraxin 3 and induced the apoptosis of both formyl-Met-Leu-Phe or LPS-activated neutrophils and LPS-activated macrophages while not affecting the resting cells. This enhanced apoptosis was caused by the inhibition of cell adhesion, spreading, and proliferation caused by HC-HA binding of LPS-activated macrophages and preventing adhesion to the plastic surface. Preferentially, soluble HC-HA promoted phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils in resting macrophages, whereas immobilized HC-HA promoted phagocytosis in LPS-activated macrophages. Upon concomitant LPS stimulation, immobilized HC-HA but not HA polarized macrophages toward the M2 phenotype by down-regulating IRF5 protein and preventing its nuclear localization and by down-regulating IL-12, TNF-α, and NO synthase 2. Additionally, IL-10, TGF-β1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, LIGHT (TNF superfamily 14), and sphingosine kinase-1 were up-regulated, and such M2 polarization was dependent on TLR ligation. Collectively, these data suggest that HC-HA is a unique matrix component different from HA and uses multiple mechanisms to suppress M1 while promoting M2 phenotype. This anti-inflammatory action of HC-HA is highly desirable to promote wound healing in diseases heightened by unsuccessful transition from M1 to M2 phenotypes.     

Extracellular Mycobacterial DnaK Polarizes Macrophages to the M2-Like Phenotype

Macrophages are myeloid cells that play an essential role in inflammation and host defense, regulating immune responses and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Depending on the microenvironment, macrophages can polarize to two distinct phenotypes. The M1 phenotype is activated by IFN-γ and bacterial products, and displays an inflammatory profile, while M2 macrophages are activated by IL-4 and tend to be anti-inflammatory or immunosupressive. It was observed that DnaK from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has immunosuppressive properties, inducing a tolerogenic phenotype in dendritic cells and MDSCs, contributing to graft acceptance and tumor growth. However, its role in macrophage polarization remains to be elucidated. We asked whether DnaK was able to modulate macrophage phenotype. Murine macrophages, derived from bone marrow, or from the peritoneum, were incubated with DnaK and their phenotype compared to M1 or M2 polarized macrophages. Treatment with DnaK leads macrophages to present higher arginase I activity, IL-10 production and FIZZ1 and Ym1 expression. Furthermore, DnaK increased surface levels of CD206. Importantly, DnaK-treated macrophages were able to promote tumor growth in an allogeneic melanoma model. Our results suggest that DnaK polarizes macrophages to the M2-like phenotype and could constitute a virulence factor and is an important immunomodulator of macrophage responses.     

Identification of orally bioavailable,non-amidine inhibitors of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA)

In this Letter we report the synthesis and evaluation of a series of non-amidine inhibitors of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA). Starting from compound 1, a significant change provided compounds in which the amidine, binding in the S1 pocket, was replaced with a primary amine. Further modifications led to the identification of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable uPA inhibitors.     

Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR) Ligation Induces a Raft-localized Integrin Signaling Switch That Mediates the Hypermotile Phenotype of Fibrotic Fibroblasts

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked membrane protein with no cytosolic domain that localizes to lipid raft microdomains. Our laboratory and others have documented that lung fibroblasts from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) exhibit a hypermotile phenotype. This study was undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanism whereby uPAR ligation with its cognate ligand, urokinase, induces a motile phenotype in human lung fibroblasts. We found that uPAR ligation with the urokinase receptor binding domain (amino-terminal fragment) leads to enhanced migration of fibroblasts on fibronectin in a protease-independent, lipid raft-dependent manner. Ligation of uPAR with the amino-terminal fragment recruited α5β1 integrin and the acylated form of the Src family kinase, Fyn, to lipid rafts. The biological consequences of this translocation were an increase in fibroblast motility and a switch of the integrin-initiated signal pathway for migration away from the lipid raft-independent focal adhesion kinase pathway and toward a lipid raft-dependent caveolin-Fyn-Shc pathway. Furthermore, an integrin homologous peptide as well as an antibody that competes with β1 for uPAR binding have the ability to block this effect. In addition, its relative insensitivity to cholesterol depletion suggests that the interactions of α5β1 integrin and uPAR drive the translocation of α5β1 integrin-acylated Fyn signaling complexes into lipid rafts upon uPAR ligation through protein-protein interactions. This signal switch is a novel pathway leading to the hypermotile phenotype of IPF patient-derived fibroblasts, seen with uPAR ligation. This uPAR dependent, fibrotic matrix-selective, and profibrotic fibroblast phenotype may be amenable to targeted therapeutics designed to ameliorate IPF.     

Plasminogen Activator and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor in Mouse Ovaries during Periovulatory Periods

Changes of ovarian tPA,uPA and PA inhibitor activities were examined in PMSG-and hCG-treatedimmature mice during periovulatory periods.The results show that 15% of the gonadotropin-treatedanimals ovulated 8 hrs after hCG administration,about 6-8 hrs earlier than in rat.It is also shownthat not only tPA activity,but also uPA activity,was regulated by gonadotropins in ovarianhomogenates and granulosa cells,and they reached maximum prior to ovulation.No measurableamount of PAI-1 activity could be detected in mouse granulosa cell conditioned medium andfollicular fluid,but considerable amount of α_2-antiplasmin,a specific inhibitor for plasmin,wasfound in follicular fluid.Cumulus-oocyte complexes contain mainly tPA.Since the ovulated eggsstill have high tPA activity,it is thought that the enzyme in the oocyte may play an important rolein implantation.     

Localization of Urokinase Type Plasminogen Activator to Focal Adhesions Requires Ligation of Vitronectin Integrin Receptors

Previous studies have shown that the adhesion protein, vitronectin, directs the localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to areas of cell-substrate adhesion, where uPA is thought to regulate cell migration as well as pericellular proteolysis. In the present study, HT-1080 cell lines expressing either wild-type vitronectin or vitronectin containing a single amino-acid substitution in the integrin binding domain were used to assess whether ligation of the α_vβT₅ integrin was required for uPA localization to focal adhesions. The synthesis of wild-type vitronectin by HT-1080 cells adherent to either collagen or fibronectin resulted in the redistribution of both the α_vβT₅ integrin as well as uPA to focal adhesion structures. In contrast, cells synthesizing mutant vitronectin, containing the amino-acid substitution in the integrin binding domain, were unable to direct the redistribution of either α_vβT₅ or uPA to focal adhesions. Recombinant forms of wild-type and mutant vitronectin were prepared in a baculovirus system and compared for their ability to direct the redistribution of vitronectin integrin receptors as well as uPA on human skin fibroblasts. In the absence of vitronectin, fibroblast cells adherent to fibronectin assemble focal adhesions which contain the βT₁ integrin but do not contain uPA. Addition of recombinant wild-type, but not mutant, vitronectin to fibroblasts adherent to fibronectin resulted in the redistribution of α_vβT₃, α_vβT₅, and uPA into focal adhesions. However, when cells were plated directly onto antibodies directed against either the α_vβT₃ or α_vβT₅ integrins, uPA was not localized on the cell surface. These data indicate that ligation of vitronectin integrin receptors is necessary but not sufficient for the localization of uPA to areas of cell-matrix adhesion, and suggest that vitronectin may promote cell migration by recruiting vitronectin integrin receptors and components of the plasminogen activator system to areas of cell matrix contact.     

导向性纤溶酶原激活剂的研究

溶栓疗法是血栓治疗中的一种重要措施.研制具有高选择性的导向性纤溶酶原激活剂有着重大的理论意义和实用价值.采用血栓特异的单克隆抗体及其片段来介导溶栓剂已展示出较好的应用前景.双功能抗体以及同时具有抗栓,抗凝活性的小肽正逐渐拓宽人们有关导向分子研制的视野.所有这一切都将随着分子生物学技术的不断完善而付诸实现.     

A Key Role for the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA) in Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection

Recruitment of the serine protease plasmin is central to the pathogenesis of many bacterial species, including Group A streptococcus (GAS), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. A key process in invasive GAS disease is the ability to accumulate plasmin at the cell surface, however the role of host activators of plasminogen in this process is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) contributes to plasmin recruitment and subsequent invasive disease initiation in vivo. In the absence of a source of host plasminogen activators, streptokinase (Ska) was required to facilitate cell surface plasmin acquisition by GAS. However, in the absence of Ska, host activators were sufficient to promote cell surface plasmin acquisition by GAS strain 5448 during incubation with plasminogen or human plasma. Furthermore, GAS were able mediate a significant increase in the activation of zymogen pro-uPA in human plasma. In order to assess the contribution of uPA to invasive GAS disease, a previously undescribed transgenic mouse model of infection was employed. Both C57/black 6J, and AlbPLG1 mice expressing the human plasminogen transgene, were significantly more susceptible to invasive GAS disease than uPA−/− mice. The observed decrease in virulence in uPA−/−mice was found to correlate directly with a decrease in bacterial dissemination and reduced cell surface plasmin accumulation by GAS. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of GAS pathogenesis, and research aimed at therapeutic targeting of plasminogen activation in invasive bacterial infections.     

可调控小鼠尿激酶原激活剂真核表达载体的构建及其在Huh7细胞中的表达

目的：建立基于Tet-on系统的可调控真核细胞表达小鼠尿激酶原激活剂（uPA）的诱导表达系统。方法：提取C57小鼠肾组织总RNA,RT-PCR扩增uPAcDNA序列;提取基因组DNA,扩增uPA编码区后最后一个外显子序列,构建pTRE2-uPAcDNA-700载体,将其与pTet-on瞬时共转染Huh7细胞系,24h后用强力霉素诱导表达,诱导后36h分别收集细胞和培养上清（诱导组）,提取细胞总RNA并进行细胞uPA转录水平的检测;采用溶圈法对细胞分泌至培养上清中uPA的生物活性进行检测,同时以转染但未诱导Hun7（未诱导组）和正常培养Huh7（正常对照组）细胞及培养上清作为对照。结果：与未诱导组和正常对照组相比较,仅诱导组在转录水平上扩增出目的条带;溶圈法证实转染的细胞不仅表达uPA,而且表达的蛋白具有一定的生物活性。结论：构建了可调控的uPA真核诱导表达系统,为进一步制备可调控肝细胞表达uPA转基因小鼠及进一步揭示uPA肝损伤机理奠定了基础。