| Abstract: | Hypoxia induces angiogenesis in ischemized tissues by means of pro-angiogenic factor expression. The key role in the growth processes and blood vessel functioning belongs to the matrix metalloproteinases, plasminogen, and its activator systems. Effect of hypoxia on expression of the urokinase activating agent plasminogen and its receptor in endothelium was studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cell model. Incubation of the endothelial cells under the conditions of hypoxia proved to reduce both urokinase formation in these cells and its secreting into the culture medium. The hypoxia-induced reduction of urokinase contents was accompanied by enhancement of expression of the urokinase receptor. The hypoxia also entailed reduction of the adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP contents in the endothelial cells. The data obtained suggest that reduction of the adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP contents under the conditions of hypoxia provide basis for suppression of the urokinase expression by the endothelial cells and, consequently, inhibition of blood vessel formation in the ischemized tissue. |
