scholarly journals Hepatocytes buried in the cirrhotic livers of patients with biliary atresia proliferate and function in the livers of urokinase‐type plasminogen activator–NOG mice

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1127-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Suemizu ◽  
Kazuaki Nakamura ◽  
Kenji Kawai ◽  
Yuichiro Higuchi ◽  
Mureo Kasahara ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 295 (2) ◽  
pp. 619-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Merino ◽  
Ariel Diaz ◽  
Enrique R. Torre ◽  
Manuel Yepes

Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) plays a central role in the formation of presynaptic terminals, synaptic plasticity, and axonal growth and regeneration. During development, GAP-43 is found in axonal extensions of most neurons. In contrast, in the mature brain, its expression is restricted to a few presynaptic terminals and scattered axonal growth cones. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase that, upon binding to its receptor (uPAR), catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin and activates signaling pathways that promote cell migration, proliferation, and survival. In the developing brain, uPA induces neuritogenesis and neuronal migration. In contrast, the expression and function of uPA in the mature brain are poorly understood. However, recent evidence reveals that different forms of injury induce release of uPA and expression of uPAR in neurons and that uPA/uPAR binding triggers axonal growth and synapse formation. Here we show that binding of uPA to uPAR induces not only the mobilization of GAP-43 from the axonal shaft to the presynaptic terminal but also its activation in the axonal bouton by PKC-induced calcium-dependent phosphorylation at Ser-41 (pGAP-43). We found that this effect requires open presynaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors but not plasmin generation. Furthermore, our work reveals that, following its activation by uPA/uPAR binding, pGAP-43 colocalizes with presynaptic vesicles and triggers their mobilization to the synaptic release site. Together, these data reveal a novel role of uPA as an activator of the synaptic vesicle cycle in cerebral cortical neurons via its ability to induce presynaptic recruitment and activation of GAP-43.


1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (02) ◽  
pp. 289-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johann Wojta ◽  
Bernd R Binder ◽  
Kurt Huber ◽  
Richard L Hoover

SummaryA combined assay for urokinase type plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity and antigen determination in plasma samples is described. This assay is based on binding of u-PA to an antibody immobilized on a microtiter plate followed by determination of the enzymatic activity of the bound u-PA. Thereafter bound u-PA antigen can be quantified by means of a specific peroxidase labelled monoclonal antibody against u-PA. By use of this assay system u-PA activity and antigen can be determined with lower detection limits of 0.08 IU/ml and 1.0 ng/ml, respectively, and intraassay as well as interassay coefficients of variation of 10% and 12% for activity and 5% and 7% for antigen determinations, respectively. Normal plasma levels of u-PA antigen could be determined to be 1.88 nglml ± 0.61. Furthennore, this assay system allows specific quantification of u-PA antigen and activity during thrombolytic therapy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4380
Author(s):  
Manuel Yepes ◽  
Yena Woo ◽  
Cynthia Martin-Jimenez

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a dynamic structure assembled by endothelial cells surrounded by a basement membrane, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia and neurons. A carefully coordinated interplay between these cellular and non-cellular components is required to maintain normal neuronal function, and in line with these observations, a growing body of evidence has linked NVU dysfunction to neurodegeneration. Plasminogen activators catalyze the conversion of the zymogen plasminogen into the two-chain protease plasmin, which in turn triggers a plethora of physiological events including wound healing, angiogenesis, cell migration and inflammation. The last four decades of research have revealed that the two mammalian plasminogen activators, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), are pivotal regulators of NVU function during physiological and pathological conditions. Here, we will review the most relevant data on their expression and function in the NVU and their role in neurovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A599-A600 ◽  
Author(s):  
L HERSZENYI ◽  
F FARINATI ◽  
G ISTVAN ◽  
M PAOLI ◽  
G ROVERONI ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (01) ◽  
pp. 134-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ueshima ◽  
P Holvoet ◽  
H R Lijnen ◽  
L Nelles ◽  
V Seghers ◽  
...  

SummaryIn an effort to modify the fibrinolytic and/or pharmacokinetic properties of recombinant low M r single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (rscu-PA-32k), mutants were prepared by site-directed mutagenesis of clusters of charged amino acids with the highest solvent accessibility. The following mutants of rscu-PA-32k were prepared: LUK-2 (Lys 212, Glu 213 and Asp 214 to Ala), LUK-3 (Lys 243 and Asp 244 to Ala), LUK-4 (Arg 262, Lys 264, Glu 265 and Arg 267 to Ala), LUK-5 (Lys 300, Glu 301 and Asp 305 to Ala) and LUK-6 (Arg 400, Lys 404, Glu 405 and Glu 406 to Ala).The rscu-PA 32k moictic3 were expressed in High Five Ttichoplasiani cells, and purified to humugciicily from the conditioned cell culture medium, with recoveries of 0.8 to 3.7 mg/1. The specific fibrinolytic activities (220,000 to 300,000 IU/mg), the rates of plasminogen activation by the single-chain moieties and the rates of conversion In lwo chain moieties by plasmin were comparable for mutant and wild-type rscu PA 32k moieties, with the exception of LUK-5 which was virtually inactive. Equi-effective lysis (50% in 2 h) of 60 pi 125I-fibrin labeled plasma clots submerged in 0.5 ml normal human plasma was obtained with 0.7 to 0.8 μg/ml of wild-type or mutant rscu-PA-3?.k, except with LUK-5 (no significant lysis with 16 pg/ml). Following bolus injection in hamsters, all rscu-PA-32k moieties had a comparably rapid plasma clearance (1.3 to 2.7 ml/min), as a result of a short initial half-life (1.4 to 2.5 min). In hamsters with pulmonary embolism, continuous intravenous infusion over 60 min at a dose of 1 mg/kg, resulted in 53 to 72% clot lysis with the mutants, but only 23% with LUK-5, as compared to 36% for wild-type rscu-PA-32k.These data indicate that clustered charge-to-alanine mutants of rscu-PA-32k, designed to eliminate charged regions with the highest solvent accessibility, do not have significantly improved functional, fibrinolytic or pharmacokinetic properties.


1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (02) ◽  
pp. 247-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
H R Lijnen ◽  
L Nelles ◽  
B Van Hoef ◽  
F De Cock ◽  
D Collen

SummaryRecombinant chimaeric molecules between tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and single chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (scu-PA) or two chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator (tcu-PA) have intact enzymatic properties of scu-PA or tcu-PA towards natural and synthetic substrates (Nelles et al., J Biol Chem 1987; 262: 10855-10862). In the present study, we have compared the reactivity with inhibitors of both the single chain and two chain variants of recombinant u-PA and two recombinant chimaeric molecules between t-PA and scu-PA (t-PA/u-PA-s: amino acids 1-263 of t-PA and 144-411 of u-PA; t-PA/u-PA-e: amino acids 1-274 of t-PA and 138-411 of u-PA). Incubation with human plasma in the absence of a fibrin clot for 3 h at 37° C at equipotent concentrations (50% clot lysis in 2 h), resulted in significant fibrinogen breakdown (to about 40% of the normal value) for all two chain molecules, but not for their single chain counterparts. Preincubation of the plasminogen activators with plasma for 3 h at 37° C, resulted in complete inhibition of the fibrinolytic potency of the two chain molecules but did not alter the potency of the single chain molecules. Inhibition of the two chain molecules occurred with a t½ of approximately 45 min. The two chain variants were inhibited by the synthetic urokinase inhibitor Glu-Gly-Arg-CH2CCl with apparent second-order rate constants of 8,000-10,000 M−1s−1, by purified α2-antiplasmin with second-order rate constants of about 300 M−1s−1, and by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) with second-order rate constants of approximately 2 × 107 M−1s−1.It is concluded that the reactivity of single chain and two chain forms of t-PA/u-PA chimaers with inhibitors is very similar to that of the single and two chain forms of intact u-PA.


1991 ◽  
Vol 65 (01) ◽  
pp. 082-086 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Dooijewaard ◽  
A de Boer ◽  
P N C Turion ◽  
A F Cohen ◽  
D D Breimer ◽  
...  

SummaryThe enhancement of the blood fibrinolytic potential by physical exercise is generally attributed to the release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) from the vessel wall. In this study we have investigated the possible contribution of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA).Six healthy male volunteers (age 21–25 years) were screened for their ability to perform maximal exercise for their age-group for 12 min on a bicycle ergometer. Subsequently, on one occasion they were required to remain supine for 2 h (from 8.30 a. m. onwards) and on another they performed maximal exercise (from 9.00 a.m. onwards). During exercise an increase in u-PA antigen and plasmin-activatable pro-urokinase (proUK) activity, concurrent with t-PA antigen and euglobulin t-PA activity, was observed in all six volunteers, while at rest these parameters remained unaffected. Mean u-PA- and t-PA antigen increased, respectively, from 4.2 ± 1.0 ng/ml and 5.8 ± 2.1 ng/ml before exercise to 9.8 ± 3.0 ng/ml and 18.3 ± 3.8 ng/ml (peak). Mean plasminactivatable proUK activity and t-PA activity increased, respectively, from 2.1 ± 0.4 ng/ml and 0.3 ± 0.2 ng/ml before exercise to 4.3 ± 1.7 ng/ml and 7.2 ± 4.0 ng/ml (peak). The increases were statistically significant throughout (paired t-test, pre vs post, antigen P <0.005 and activity P <0.02). After cessation of exercise u-PA and t-PA declined concurrently to normal values with a 50"/" decay in about 5 min. In conclusion, we found that both u-PA antigen and plasmin-activatable proUK activity are, concurrently with t-PA, enhanced upon exercise and, therefore, we consider that u-PA also contributes to – and co-operates in – the enhancement of the blood fibrinolytic potential and activity under these conditions.


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