Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.21.73 (urokinase-type plasminogen activator)
 10,685 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The plasminogen activator activity (PAA) in extracts of the intima, media, and adventitia of the normal human aorta and other large arteries (carotid artery, renal artery and iliac artery) was studied with a sensitive, quantitative spectrophotometric assay using plasminogen and the chromogenic plasmin substrate S-2251. All layers of the arteries showed PAA which was highest in the adventitia, lowest in the media, while in the intima (aorta) PAA was intermediate, but much closer to that of the media. Plasminogen activator inhibition (PAI) was at the same level in all layers of the arteries studied. Plasmin inhibition (PI) was higher in adventitia than in intima (aorta), while in media the PI was intermediate. The PAA was due to the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), but not to the urokinase-type (u-PA), as judged by addition of respective antibodies. The relatively low PAA found in the intima of large arteries is therefore due to a low plasminogen activator and not a high plasminogen activator inhibitor activity or plasmin inhibitor level.
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PMID:Demonstration of plasminogen activator activity in the intima and media of the normal human aorta and other large arteries: immunological identification of the plasminogen activator(s). 252 44

After incubation of confluent monolayer cultures of human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells with purified native human plasminogen in plasminogen-depleted serum-containing medium, bound plasmin activity could be specifically eluted from the cells with tranexamic acid, an analogue of lysine. Dexamethasone reduced the amount of recoverable bound plasmin activity in a dose-dependent manner. Dexamethasone was also found to induce a time- and dose-dependent decrease in the ability of the cells to bind added plasmin. Untreated HT-1080 cells bound added plasmin with a high capacity (600,000 molecules bound per cell), and this decreased to an undetectable level after treatment with 100 nM dexamethasone. The kinetics of the loss of plasmin binding by the dexamethasone-treated sarcoma cells, a clear decrease after 4 h, correlated with those for the loss of cell-bound urokinase (u-PA) activity. Plasmin was not, however, bound to the active site of u-PA: an anti-catalytic monoclonal antibody to u-PA had no effect on plasmin binding. Other glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone and corticosterone, had a similar effect to dexamethasone on plasmin binding to HT-1080 cells. The effect of glucocorticoids on the plasmin receptor seemed to occur at least partly via a decrease in the affinity for plasmin, since the Kd for plasmin with untreated cells was 5.4 x 10(-9) M, and with cells treated with 5 nM dexamethasone, the Kd value for plasmin was 1.2 x 10(-7) M. These results show that glucocorticoids induce down-regulation of plasmin receptors on the surface of HT-1080 cells: a novel mechanism, in addition to the known effects of glucocorticoids on u-PA and PA inhibitors, by which human tumor cells may be disarmed of their pericellular proteolytic activity.
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PMID:Down-regulation of plasmin receptors on human sarcoma cells by glucocorticoids. 253 25

Certain group A streptococci are known to possess a receptor for the human enzyme plasmin. Plasmin is a member of a super gene family that includes other serine proteases and kringle containing proteins. In this study we have examined the interaction of a group A streptococcus with structurally related proteins, including plasmin, glu-plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, kallikrein, factor XII, prothrombin, thrombin, trypsin, and urokinase. Our studies indicate that only the key fibrinolytic enzyme, plasmin, demonstrates significant binding activity to the group A streptococcus.
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PMID:Group A streptococci bind human plasmin but not other structurally related proteins. 255 Oct 62

In the breakdown of fluid phase C3 in plasma, the process of conversion of iC3b to C3c and 'C3d' has not been elucidated. Using fluorescent labeled iC3b as a substrate, urokinase (UK) treated but not normal plasma was found to exhibit effective 'C3d' production. To address the relationship between the fibrinolytic activity specific for UK-activated plasma and this 'C3d' production, an assay system was developed that permitted the simultaneous determination of both activities. This method indicated that 'C3d' generation paralleled that of plasmin-dependent fibrinogen degradation. A Km of iC3b for plasmin was 3.0 X 10(-6) mol/l which is similar to the Km of fibrinogen. Plasmin cleavage of iC3b gave rise to C3d1 (Mr 42,000) and C3d2 (Mr 28,000). Purified plasmin C3d1 showed the same Mr and pI as C3d,g prepared from iC3b, by H and I. C3d2 was derived from C3d1. From these in vitro experiments with urokinase-treated plasma, we conclude that in parallel with fibrinolysis efficient cleavage of fluid phase iC3b to C3c + C3d,g and C3d occurs and we hypothesize that this is one mechanism for the generation of C3d in vivo.
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PMID:Generation of C3d,g and C3d by urokinase-treated plasma in association with fibrinolysis. 293 60

Plasmin and kallikrein but not thrombin cleave purified histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), and heparin binding inhibits the proteolysis of HRG. To assess the proteolysis of HRG in plasma, immunoaffinity chromatography was used to isolate HRG from human plasma samples and the extent of protein cleavage was determined after electrophoresis under reduced, denaturing conditions. In blood drawn into streptokinase or into urokinase, HRG (78 kDa) was degraded producing peptides ranging in apparent molecular weight from 67 to 9 kDa. In patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy almost no intact HRG remains after 30 minutes, but the levels of circulating HRG are unchanged, indicating that cleaved HRG is not quickly or extensively removed from the circulation.
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PMID:Proteolysis of histidine-rich glycoprotein in plasma and in patients undergoing thrombolytic therapy. 293 71

The capacity of cells to interact with the plasminogen activator, urokinase, and the zymogen, plasminogen, was assessed using the promyeloid leukemic U937 cell line and the diploid fetal lung GM1380 fibroblast cell line. Urokinase bound to both cell lines in a time-dependent, specific, and saturable manner (Kd = 0.8-2.0 nM). An active catalytic site was not required for urokinase binding to the cells, and 55,000-mol-wt urokinase was selectively recognized. Plasminogen also bound to the two cell lines in a specific and saturable manner. This interaction occurred with a Kd of 0.8-0.9 microM and was of very high capacity (1.6-3.1 X 10(7) molecules bound/cell). The interaction of plasminogen with both cell types was partially sensitive to trypsinization of the cells and required an unoccupied high affinity lysine-binding site in the ligand. When plasminogen was added to the GM1380 cells, a line with high intrinsic plasminogen activator activity, the bound ligand was comprised of both plasminogen and plasmin. Urokinase, in catalytically active or inactive form, enhanced plasminogen binding to the two cell lines by 1.4-3.3-fold. Plasmin was the predominant form of the bound ligand when active urokinase was added, and preformed plasmin can also bind directly to the cells. Plasmin on the cell surface was also protected from its primary inhibitor, alpha 2-antiplasmin. These results indicate that the two cell lines possess specific binding sites for plasminogen and urokinase, and a family of widely distributed cellular receptors for these components may be considered. Endogenous or exogenous plasminogen activators can generate plasmin on cell surfaces, and such activation may provide a mechanism for arming cell surfaces with the broad proteolytic activity of this enzyme.
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PMID:The plasminogen system and cell surfaces: evidence for plasminogen and urokinase receptors on the same cell type. 302

When human plasma was activated by urokinase (UK) in the presence of thrombin, thrombin plus Ca++, Ca++ or in their absence and the plasmin activity was measured by the hydrolysis of S-2251, plasmin activity was higher in the presence of cross-linked or non cross-linked plasma clot. The results of similar experiments utilizing plasma after severe exercise indicated that the hydrolysis of S-2251 by plasma containing tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) was also higher in cross-linked or non cross-linked plasma clot. Fibrinolysis was faster in thrombin-induced plasma clot, but was later shown significantly in plasma clot induced by thrombin and Ca++, whereas practically no fibrinogenolysis was shown in plasma. When Glu-plasminogen (Glu-plg) was activated by UK in the presence of cross-linked or non cross-linked fibrin and alpha 2 antiplasmin (alpha 2AP), fibrinolysis was faster in cross-linked fibrin than non cross-linked fibrin in the presence of alpha 2AP. No fibrinogenolysis was shown either. Plasmin activity measured by the hydrolysis of S-2251 was also higher in cross-linked or non cross-linked fibrin than in fibrinogen in the presence of alpha 2AP. These results indicate that enhanced activation of Glu-plg by UK or t-PA in the presence of fibrin was a more significant event than the inactivation of plasmin in the plasma clot or purified clot by alpha 2AP cross-linked to fibrin.
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PMID:Effects of fibrin on the enhanced activation of plasminogen by urokinase and tissue plasminogen activator: role of cross-link. 308 29

A crucial step in the transition from adenomatous polyp to invasive colorectal cancer is the degradation of the epithelial basement membrane. Plasminogen activators may play a part in regulating the extracellular protease environment necessary for this to occur. Both functional and antigenic activity of the two principal activators of plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator and urokinase, were measured in 30 colorectal cancers, matched samples of mucosa, and eight adenomatous polyps. Both polyps (p less than 0.01) and carcinomas (p less than 0.001) had raised urokinase activities compared with normal mucosa, the activity being highest in the carcinomas. Activity of tissue plasminogen activator, however, was diminished in both polyps (p less than 0.01) and carcinomas (p less than 0.001) compared with normal mucosa, the values being lowest in carcinomas. Plasmin generation by urokinase--in contrast with tissue plasminogen activator--is fibrin independent and thus less subject to physiological control.
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PMID:Plasminogen activators in human colorectal neoplasia. 309 28

A single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (A431sc-uPA) was purified approximately 18,000-fold from A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell supernatants by monoclonal antibody immunoaffinity chromatography on 5B4-agarose and ion-exchange FPLC (overall yield 63%). More than 100 micrograms of A431sc-uPA can be recovered per liter of supernatant. The product is homogeneous by SDS-PAGE and reverse phase FPLC analysis while two main isoelectric forms of pI 9.05 and pI 9.20 were observed by IEF. SDS-PAGE in reducing and non-reducing conditions, Western blot analysis and zymography showed that A431sc-uPA is a single-chain protein of about 50,000 Mr immunologically related to urokinase (uPA) and distinct from tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The N-terminal aminoacid sequence of A431sc-uPA (27 residues) is identical to that of human kidney single-chain uPA. A431sc-uPA does not incorporate 3H-diisopropylfluorophosphate and is virtually inactive on the synthetic substrate S-2444. Plasmin treatment converts A431sc-uPA into a two-chain active form with a fibrinolytic specific activity of 123,000 I. U./mg.
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PMID:Purification and characterization of single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (pro-urokinase) from human A431 cells. 310 Dec 22

After wound healing the protective fibrin clot is removed by the fibrinolytic system. In addition fibrinolysis is one of the most important counter-reactions of blood coagulation. Fibrinolysis is controlled by activation and inhibition processes. Tissue type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and Pro-urokinase (single chain urokinase; scu-PA) hold a key position in physiological plasminogen activation. Plasmin itself is a rather unspecific protease capable of degrading a great variety of proteins besides fibrin. In vivo however--except for certain pathological situations--the fibrinolytic process is restricted to its actual target the fibrin clot. This surprising situation in terms of structure function interrelation is physiologically managed by N-terminal modules in the protein structure of the essential factors providing fibrin affinity. Free plasmin will be immediately inactivated by alpha 2-antiplasmin. Therefore fibrin plays a central role as cofactor in the fibrinolytic system in determining initiation and localization of the fibrinolytic process. Because of the superior properties of t-PA and scu-PA with respect to fibrin specificity both activators must be regarded as the future thrombolytic agents for therapy.
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PMID:[Biochemical and physiologic principles of tissue-type plasminogen activator]. 312 Apr 29


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