Plasminogen/plasmin affects expression of glycolysis regulator TIGAR and induces autophagy in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Pericellular plasmin generation triggers apoptosis/anoikis in normal adherent cells. However, cancer cells are notoriously resistant to anoikis, enabling metastasis and new tumor growth beyond their original environment. Autophagy can be a major contributor to anoikis resistance in cancer. AIM: To investigate if protective autophagy can be induced in lung adenocarcinoma cells in response to plasminogen treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells were incubated with Glu-plasminogen (0.1-1.0 µM) for 24 h. Pericellular plasmin activity was monitored spectrophotometrically by a cleavage of the specific chromogenic- substrate S-2251. Cell survival was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT)-test. Degradation of fibronectin, levels of autophagy markers (beclin-1 and light chain 3 (LC3)) and glycolysis regulator (TIGAR) were evaluated by western blot. Intracellular localization of LC-3 was visualized by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: It was shown that plasminogen is converted into plasmin on the surface of adenocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Plasmin disrupted cellular adhesive contacts resulting in cell detachment. A549 cells did not loss their viability after plasminogen treatment for 24 h, while 1.0 µM plasminogen was cytotoxic for non-transformed fibroblasts. Plasminogen 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 µM induced 7.08-, 5.18-, and 3.78-fold elevation of TIGAR expression (p < 0.05), respectively. Enhanced TIGAR expression indicates switch on pentose phosphate pathway, protection against oxidative stress to prevent apoptosis, facilitation of DNA repair and the degradation of their own organelles (autophagy). Exposure of adenocarcinoma cells to plasminogen in concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5 µM caused 1.74- and 2.19-fold elevation of beclin-1 expression vs untreated cells (p < 0.05), respectively. Unlike K1-3 fragment, plasminogen treatment (0.1-0.5 µM) resulted in increased expression of LC3-I and stimulated rapid conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. Up-regulation of beclin-1 levels and enhanced LC3-I/II conversion in plasminogen-treated A549 cells are the hallmarks of autophagy induction. According to immunocytochemistry data, increased LC3 puncta and autophagosome formation after exposure to plasminogen could reflect autophagy activation. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we showed stimulation of prosurvival signals and induction of autophagy in plasminogen-treated adenocarcinoma cells rendering them resistant to apoptosis/anoikis. Based on the obtained data, autophagy has a great potential for novel targets that affect cancer cell death, in addition to the current cytotoxic agents.

Effect of fibrin degradation products on fibrinolytic process.

Fibrin clot lysis by plasminogen/plasmin system results in fibrin degradation products formation with subsequent release into bloodstream. The fragments contain specific binding sites for fibrinolytic system components and can interact with them. In this study, we investigated the way in which fibrin fragments effect fibrinolytic process. We have shown that high molecular weight products of fibrin degradation and fibrin fragments of DDE-complex and DD, but not end product Е3, stimulate plasmin formation. Additionally, components of DDE-complex mixture of fragments Е1 and Е2 have potentiation ability. The intermediate fibrin fragments hmFDPs and DDE attenuate clot lysis by plasmin and hmFDPs protect plasmin from α2-antiplasmin inhibition but under further fragmentation to endpoint fibrin fragments loose this ability. The plasma inhibitors reduce fibrinolytic system activity generated by the degradation products. Thus, fibrin fragments formed during the clot lysis can bind and move out fibrinolytic system components from clot volume and in this way result in clot resistance to hydrolysis.

Plasminogen fragments K 1-3 and K 5 bind to different sites in fibrin fragment DD.

Specific plasminogen-binding sites of fibrin molecule are located in Аα148-160 regions of C-terminal domains. Plasminogen interaction with these sites initiates the activation process of proenzyme and subsequent fibrin lysis. In this study we investigated the binding of plasminogen fragments K 1-3 and K 5 with fibrin fragment DD and their effect on Glu-plasminogen interaction with DD. It was shown that the level of Glu-plasminogen binding to fibrin fragment DD is decreased by 50-60% in the presence of K 1-3 and K 5. Fragments K 1-3 and K 5 have high affinity to fibrin fragment DD (Kd is 0.02 for K 1-3 and 0.054 µÐœ for K 5). K 5 interaction is independent and K 1-3 is partly dependent on C-terminal lysine residues. K 1-3 interacts with complex of fragment DD-immobilized K 5 as well as K 5 with complex of fragment DD-immobilized K 1-3. The plasminogen fragments do not displace each other from binding sites located in fibrin fragment DD, but can compete for the interaction. The results indicate that fibrin fragment DD contains different binding sites for plasminogen kringle fragments K 1-3 and K 5, which can be located close to each other. The role of amino acid residues of fibrin molecule Аα148-160 region in interaction with fragments K 1-3 and K 5 is discussed.

[Role of angiostatins in diabetic complications].

Angiogenesis is a process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis is regulated by a number of factors of peptide nature. Disbalance of angiogenic system appears to be the major causative factor contributing vascular abnormalities in diabetes mellitus, resulting in various complications. Angiostatins, which are kringle-containing fragments of plasminogen/plasmin, are known to be powerful physiological inhibitors of neovascularization. In the present review, current literature data on peculiarities of production of angiostatins and their functioning at diabetes mellitus are summarized and analyzed for the first time. Also, role of angiostatins in the pathogenesis of typical diabetic complications, including retinopathies, nephropathies and cardiovascular diseases, is discussed. Data presented in this review may be useful for elaboration of novel effective approaches for diagnostics and therapy of vascular abnormalities in diabetes mellitus.

PLASMINOGEN AND ANGIOSTATIN LEVELS IN FEMALE BENIGN BREAST LESIONS.

It is known that benign breast tissue exhibit relatively low angiogenic capacity. Activation of angiogenesis in mammary pre-malignant lesions could be associated with disease progression and high risk of transformation into the breast cancer. However, insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis regulation in non-cancerous breast pathologies is still poorly defined. The purpose of the present study was to determine levels of plasminogen and its proteolytic fragments (angiostatins) in mammary dysplasia (mastopathy and breast cyst) and benign neoplasms (fibroadenomas). Plasminogen and angiostatins were analyzed using immunoblotting and quantified by densitometric scanning. The significant increase in plasminogen levels was found in fibrocystic, cysts, and non-proliferatious fibroadenoma masses (4.7-, 3.7-, and 3.5-fold, respectively) compared to healthy breast tissues (control). In the same benign lesions, 6.7-, 4-, and 3.7-fold increase in plasminogen 50 kDa fragment (angiostatin) levels as compared with control were also observed. Activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9, which was detected using gelatine zymography, could be responsible for plasminogen cleavage and abundance of angiostatin infibrocystic and cyst masses. In contrast, dramatic decrease of both plasminogen and angiostatin levels (3.8- and 5.3-folds, respectively) was shown in tissues of proliferatious form of fibroadenoma in comparison with that of the dormant type of this neoplasm. Based on the obtained results, we concluded that angiostatin, a potent vessel growth inhibitor and anti-inflammatory molecule, can play a crucial role in pathophysiology of non-cancerous breast diseases. Further studies are needed to evaluate potential diagnostic and clinical implications of these proteins for prediction and therapy of benign breast pathologies.

[THE EFFECTS OF LYS-PLASMINOGEN ON HUMAN PLATELET SECRETION].

The effects of Lys-plasminoge on platelet α-granule secretion were studied. The level of P-selectin exposed on the surface of plasma membranes of washed human platelets was measured by flow cytometry as a market of α-granule secretion. It was shown that Lys-plasminogen facilitates partial release of α-granules, but impedes thrombin-induced platelet exocytosis. It is suggested that Lys-plasminogen may affect platelet secretion rather through interaction of its non-catalytic (kringle) domains with membrane receptors than due to contaminating plasmin activity. In contrast to Lys-form, native proenzyme (Glu-plasminogen) had no effects on α-granule releasing. Here, we provide the first experimental demonstration that Lys-form of plasminogen is able to modulate platelet α-granule secretion, and this effect can be considered as one of the plausible mechanisms of its anti-aggregating activity.

Study of the sites of plasminogen molecule which are responsible for inhibitory effect of Lys-plasminogen on platelet aggregation.

Plasminogen/plasmin system is involved in such important processes as thrombosis, inflammation and cancer. Plasmin and plasminogen mediate their action through plasminogen-binding proteins on the cell surface. Lys-plasminogen, but not Glu-plasminogen, shows inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen and thrombin in preparations of both: platelet-rich plasma and washed platelets. We have shown that the kringle domains of Lys-plasminogen mediate interaction of this proenzyme with platelet- surface proteins. The aim of the work is to study the role of certain kringle domains in the inhibitory effect of Lys-plasminogen and to determine possible plasminogen-binding proteins on the platelet surface. All studied plasminogen fragments (K1-3, K4 and K5) abolished the inhibitory effect of Lys-plasminogen on platelet aggregation. We observed that K5 was more effective than K1-3 and K4. Biotin-labeled Lys-plasminogen, Glu-plasminogen and plasminogen fragment K1-3 possessed the highest affinity for actin, whereas the binding of biotin-labeled mini-plasminogen and K4 to actin was negligible. We have suggested that inhibitory effect of Lys-plasminogen is due to the interaction of kringle domains of this proenzyme with membrane-bound proteins which are exposed on the platelet surface during activation and are involved in thrombus formation.

[Role of plasminogen/plasmin in functional activity of blood cells].

The article deals with the data concerning structural peculiarities of plasminogen/plasmin molecule, which define the specificity of intermolecular interactions and provide the variety of its biological functions. The main principles of the modern classification of plasminogen receptors and factors, which modulate their expression, have been presented. We have considered the mechanisms regulating both plasmin formation and activity on the surface of cells, fibrin and proteins of extracellular matrix. The data of previous investigators and our own results, concerning the influence of plasminogen/plasmin on platelet aggregation induced by different agonists, have been summarized. The participation of plasminogen/plasmin in atherogenesis and angiogenesis mediated by endotheliocyte receptors has been discussed. Special attention was given to plasminogen/plasmin proinflammatory function, which is realized by regulatory processes of activation, secretion, migration and apoptosis of monocytes and macrophages.

[Effect of streptokinase on the interaction of alpha-2-antiplasmin with different sites of plasmin molecule]. / Vliianie streptokinazy na vzaimodeistvie alfa-2-antiplazmina s razlichnymi uchastkami molekuly plazmina.

Interaction of streptokinase and alpha-2-antiplasmin with plasmin and plasminogen fragments was compared. Binding sites on the enzyme become half-saturated, streptokinase and alpha-2-antiplasmin concentration being 8.5 and 30 nM, respectively. 6-Aminohexanoic acid in concentration of 20 mM reduces the adsorption of streptokinase and and alpha-2-antiplasmin by 20 and 60%, respectively. From all the investigated fragments, streptokinase shows the greatest affinity for mini-plasminogen and alpha-2-antiplasmin for kringles 1-3. Both proteins in the presence of 20 mM 6-aminohexanoic acid do not bind with kringle domains. Arginine dose 0.1 M does not influence streptokinase adsorption on mini-plasminogen and decreases the value of alpha-2-antiplasmin binding with mini-plasminogen by 50%. The data obtained indicate that plasminogen molecule has the sites of the highest affinity for streptokinase on the serine-proteinase domain, however for alpha-2-antiplasmin it is in the kringles 1-3. Streptokinase with equimolar quantity in respect of alpha-2-antiplasmin inhibits the adsorption of alpha-2-antiplasmin on the plasmin by 70% and in the presence of 6-aminohexanoic acid it is inhibited completely. Addition of streptokinase also increases the influence of increasing concentration of the acid. Inhibiting influence of streptokinase decreases, and that of 6-aminohexanoic acid increases, when plasmin is modified with diisopropylfluorophosphate in its active centre. At the same time maximum inhibition of streptokinase adsorption on the plasmin at different concentrations of alpha-2-antiplasmin and 6-aminohexanoic acid accounts for only 20%. We suppose that in the process of complex formation streptokinase competes with alpha-2-antiplasmin for the binding sites on the catalytic domain of the plasmin. Partial or complete blocking of the plasmin active centre contact zone by streptokinase effectively protects it from inhibition by alpha-2-antiplasmin.

[Role of lysine binding sites in activation of plasminogen by streptokinase]. / Rol' lizinsviazyvaiushchikh uchastkov v aktivatsii plazminogena streptokinazoi.

The function of lysine-binding sites in kringle domains K1-4 and K5 of plasminogen (Pg) during its activation by streptokinase (SK) was studied. Activation rates of Glu- and Lys-Pg exceed activation rate of mini- and micro-Pg 26 and 40 times, respectively. 6-Animohexanoic acid (6-AHA) in concentrations from 10(-5) to 10(-2) M inhibits activation of Glu-, Lys- and mini-Pg and does not impact the activation of micro-Pg. Complete inhibition of Lys-Pg activation occurs with presence of 10(-3) M 6-AHA while 90% inhibition of mini-Pg activation and 70% inhibition of Glu-Pg activation occur with 10(-2) M 6-AHA. Isolated kringles K1-3 and K4 of Pg inhibit activation of Glu-Pg by SK and concentrations [I]50 are 4.0 and 8.1 x 10(-6) M, respectively. Catalytic activity of Glu-Pg-SK, Lys-Pg-SK and Pm-SK complexes with respect to S 2251 is not inhibited by 6-AHA in concentrations from 10(-5) to 10(-2) M. Activation of substrate Pg by Pm-SK complex is also inhibited by 6-AHA in concentrations from 10(-5) to 10(-2) M; however, this effect of inhibition is significantly weaker than that with activation by SK. Cleavage of C-terminal Lys or chemical modification of NH2-groups of amino acid residues in SK molecule also results in the decrease of the Glu-Pg activation rate. Lysin-binding sites in K1-4 and K5 of Pg molecule are important at different steps of Pg activation process which includes formation of equimolar complex; structural reorganizations resulted in formation of active center in Pg; and binding of substrate Pg with Pg-SK complex. Lysin-binding sites in K1-4 of Pg are necessary for maintenance of high rate of Pg activation by SK.

[Modifying effect of antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c on human plasmin catalytic properties]. / Modifitsiruiushchee deistvie antiplazminogenovogo monoklonal'nogo antitela IV-1c na kataliticheskie svoistva plazmina cheloveka.

Antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody IV-1c (IV-1c) binds to Val 709-Gly 718 site of plasminogen (Pg) protease domain, which is far removed from the active site. Pg-IV-1c complex formation induces catalytic activity in proenzymes active site. Influence of IV-1c binding to plasmin (Pm) on Pm catalytic properties has not been investigated yet. Data on catalytic properties of Pm in equimolar Pm-IV-1c complex are presented. It was found that Pm and mini-Pm amidolytic and caseinolytic activity was twice as high as in Pm-IV-1c and mini-Pm-IV-1c complexes. 20 mM 6-AHA and 100 mM arginine did not influence this rise. The increase of amidolytic activity is connected with reduction of K(m) of S 2251 hydrolysis reaction for Pm and mini-Pm from 0.125 and 0.43 to 0.05 and 0.23 mM, correspondingly. Kcat remains almost the same. Fibrinolytic and fibrinogenolytic activity of Pm in Pm-IV-1c complex decreased to 20% of initial value alpha 2-Antiplasmin inhibited Pm activity in complex Pm-IV-1c by 80%. Pm-IV-1c complex did not activate free Pg, but activated equimolar Pg-IV-1c complex. Affinity of IV-1c to Pm and Pg was the same as C50 approximately 1.5 nM. Binding of Pm with IV-1c in a complex: a) leads to increase of Pm active site affinity to LMW substrates; b) causes steric hindrances for fibrin/fibrinogen access to Pm active site; c) proceeds with the same affinity for Pm and Pg, that indicates to invariable Val 709-Gly 718 site conformation after Pg transition in Pm.

[Methods for studying the fibrinolysis system and its components]. / Metody issledovaniia sistemy fibrinoliza i ee komponentov.

Comparative analysis of the methods of estimation of the state of fibrinolytic system and its components, which are used in clinical practice now is presented in the review. The advantages of the approaches, which are based on the simultaneous determination of several indices of this system were considered. It was shown promising to use these methods in ophthalmology for estimation of both common and local (in liquids and eye tissues) haemostats, as important additional diagnostic and prognostic criteria of development of some ophthalmopathologies.

[Effect of chemical modification of arginine residues of fibrinogen and its DH-fragment on the rate of hydrolysis of these proteins by plasminogen]. / Vliianie khimicheskoi modifikatsii ostatkov arginina fibrinogena i ego DH-fragmenta na skorost' gidroliza étikh belkov plazminom.

Plasminolysis of the fibrinogen arginine and its DH-fragment residues was sufficiently lower in contrast to that of initial proteins. It is supposed that the decrease of the speed of the process is the result of the blocking of centres, adequate to arginyl-binding sites of plasmin molecule.

[Features of the interaction of Glu- and Lys-forms of plasminogen with native and partially hydrolyzed fibrin]. / Osobennosti vzaimodeistviia Glu- i Lys-form plazminogena s nativnym i chastichno gidrolizovannym fibrinom.

Glu- and Lys-plasminogen interaction with native and desAABB-fibrin obtained from fibrinogen partially hydrolyzed by plasmin was studied. It was found that native fibrin adsorbs 6 times more Lys-plasminogen as compared to the native form of the proenzyme. The range of the Lys-plasminogen binding does not change, if part of the fibrinogen molecules hydrolyze down to X-fragments. At the same time, the appearance in the system of 1% Xi-fragments leads to a 6-fold increase in the Glu-plasminogen binding. The amount of adsorbed Glu-plasminogen reaches the level of Lys-plasminogen adsorption both in the native and partially hydrolyzed fibrin. It was found that kringle K 1-3 or 6-aminohexanoic acid at saturating for high-affinity lysine-binding sites concentrations do not influence the Glu-plasminogen binding to native fibrin but inhibit it when the partially purified form is used. It is assumed that the manyfold increase of the Glu-plasminogen binding to partially hydrolyzed fibrin is due to the alteration of the proenzyme conformation at the initial steps of fibrin hydrolysis during the formation of Xi fragments.

[The effect of arginine on hydrolysis of fibrinogen by plasmin and mini-plasmin]. / Vliianie arginina na gidroliz fibrinogena plazminom i mini-plazminom.

The rate of plasmin or Val442-plasmin catalyzed hydrolysis of fibrinogen decreases several times as affected by arginine in high concentrations. The enzyme is shown to be not inhibited by arginine. The observed effect is supposed to depend on saturation of the protein-proteins interaction sites located between 442 and 790 amino acid residues.

[Proteolytic activity of the Glu-plasminogen complex with fibrinogen fragment E]. / Issledovanie proteolitcheskoi aktivnosti kompleksa Glu-plasminogena s fragmentom E fibrinogena.

Glu-plasminogen interaction with fibrinogen fragment E results in the alteration of its adsorptive capacity. During this interaction in the absence of plasmin and tissue activator of plasminogen, Glu-plasminogen is transformed into a partly degraded form. Glu-plasminogen complexes with soluble and immobilized fibrinogen fragment E. contain a serine proteinase-specific activity which is inhibited by diisopropylfluorophosphate. The complexes under study are active towards fibrin and the plasmin-specific tripeptide substrate, D-Val-L-Leu-L-Lys-p-nitroanilide. It is concluded that fibrinogen fragment E induces structural changes in the enzyme molecule which eventually result in the formation of an active center.

[Binding of Glu-plasminogen by fibrinogen and byproducts of its proteolysis]. / Sviazyvanie Glu-plazminogena s fibrinogenom i produktami ego proteoliza.

The ability of the native form of plasminogen (Glu-plasminogen) to form complexes with fibrinogen and its fragments immobilized on CNBr-agarose was studied. It was found that unlike Lys-plasminogen, the native form of the proenzyme does not bind to fibrinogen agarose. Limited proteolysis of fibrinogen by plasmin involving alpha C-domains results in the appearance of Glu-plasminogen binding sites at fibrinogen surface. The X2 fragment of fibrinogen binds to about 0.5 moles of Glu-plasminogen at an equimolar ratio of the interacting proteins. Under these conditions, the amount of bound Glu-plasminogen does not increase as a result of subsequent hydrolysis of fibrinogen down to end products, fragments E and D. It was found that Glu-plasminogen interacts with both E- and D-fragments of fibrinogen. Similar to Lys-plasminogen, Glu-plasminogen exhibits a high affinity for the E-fragment. The maximal quantity of the bound protein under the given experimental conditions is 2 moles per mole of the immobilized E-fragment. The interaction of Glu-plasminogen with the E-fragment is mediated by the lysine-binding sites of the proenzyme with a high and low affinity [Kd = 1.8.10(-6) and 7.5.10(-5) M, respectively]. Glu-plasminogen, unlike Lys-plasminogen, shows a low affinity for the D-fragment (Kd = 2.10(-5) M). Glu-plasminogen cannot be adsorbed by arginine-binding sites at the DH fragment-agarose.

[Binding of K 1-3 and K 4 fragments of plasminogen containing lysine-binding sites with fibrinogen and its fragments]. / Sviazyvanie K 1-3- i K 4-fragmentov plazminogena, soderzhashchikh lizinsviazyvaiushchie uchastki, s fibrinogenom i ego fragmentami.

Interaction of plasminogen K 1-3 and K 4 fragments containing lysine binding sites with fibrinogen and its fragments has been investigated. It has been established that K 1-3 fragment binds to fibrinogen and its E and DL fragments. K 4 fragment does not bind to E and DL fragments, but it interacts with fibrinogen. K 4 fragment does not interact with early fibrinogen proteolysis X2 fragment which differs from the native molecule of fibrinogen in the alpha C domain absence. The results obtained indicate that lysine binding sites located at plasminogen K 1-3 and K 4 fragments correspond to different fibrinogen molecule centres. The centre complementary to K 4 fragment lysine binding sites could be located at the fibrinogen alpha C domain.

[Plasminogen-binding centers of molecules of fibrinogen, fibrin and products of their proteolysis]. / Plazminogensviazyvaiushchie tsentry molekuly fibrinogena, fibrina i produktov ikh proteoliza.

Using affinity chromatography, the binding of Lys-plasminogen to fibrinogen, fibrin and the consecutively formed products of their proteolysis was studied. The optimal conditions for this binding were elaborated, and the quantitative parameters of Lys-plasminogen binding to fibrinogen-Sepharose were determined. It was found that the interaction of Lys-plasminogen with fibrinogen- and fibrin-Sepharose is provided for by the lysine-binding sites of the proenzyme molecule. After partial hydrolysis of fibrinogen by plasmin, the amount of adsorbed plasminogen increases and the type of binding changes; part of the proenzyme molecules bind in the presence of 0.003 M 6-aminohexanoic acid, i.e., when lysine-binding sites appear to be blocked. A comparative study of plasminogen binding to fibrinogen fragments was carried out. The resistance of the complexes formed to the effect of 6-aminohexanoic acid and arginine competing for the binding sites was determined. The data obtained testify to the appearance of additional plasminogen-binding sites in the fibrinogen molecule during proteolysis. These sites are complementary for both lysine-and arginine-binding sites of the plasminogen molecule and are localized in the peripheral domains of the fibrinogen molecule.

Arginyl-binding sites of human plasminogen.

Localization and specific features of lysine- and arginyl-binding sites in Lys-plasminogen, its fragments and domains have been investigated by affinity chromatography on the sorbents containing arginine-like ligands. Lysine-binding sites of Lys-plasminogen, heavy chain and fragment K1-3 interact with the guanidyl-carboxyl pair on homoarginine-agarose. Lysine-binding site in domain K4, interacting with the amine-carboxyl pair on lysine-agarose, does not interact with that of guanidyl-carboxyl. It has been found that plasminogen contained three arginyl-binding sites interacting with guanidyl group in homoarginine-agarose. Two of them correspond to two benzamidine-binding sites in domain K5 and to the plasmin light chain while the third (unknown before) is located in fragment K1-3 and does not interact with benzamidine-agarose.