The kringle domain of tissue-type plasminogen activator inhibits extracellular matrix-induced adhesion and migration of endothelial cells

The recombinant two-kringle domain of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (TK1-2) was found to inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth. Recently, we found that TK1-2 inhibits adhesive differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells, and its contribution to tumor angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of TK1-2 on extracellular matrix-induced adhesion, signaling, and migration in order to understand the mechanism of action of TK1-2. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells were pretreated with TK1-2 and then allowed to adhere to immobilized fibronectin, vitronectin, or gelatin, cell adhesion to all the tested matrices decreased dose-dependently upon TK1-2 treatment. TK1-2 also inhibited the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions upon attachment to each matrix. Moreover, fibronectin- and vitronectin-induced endothelial cell migration was dose-dependently inhibited by TK1-2. TK1-2 also suppressed fibronectin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Hence the results suggest that disturbance of extracellular matrix-induced adhesion, signaling, and migration of endothelial cells is involved in the anti-angiogenic activity of TK1-2.