Two conserved regions within the tissue-type plasminogen activator gene promoter mediate regulation by brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) has recently been identified as a modulator of neuronal plasticity and can initiate conversion of the pro-form of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) into its mature form. BDNF also increases t-PA gene expression implicating t-PA as a downstream effector of BDNF function. Here we demonstrate that BDNF-mediated induction of t-PA mRNA requires an increase in t-PA gene transcription. Reporter constructs harboring 9.5 kb of the human t-PA promoter conferred BDNF-responsiveness in transfected mouse primary cortical neurons. This regulation was recapitulated in HEK 293 cells coexpressing the TrkB neurotrophin receptor. t-PA promoter-deletion analysis revealed the presence of two BDNF-responsive domains, one located between -3.07 and -2.5 kb and the other within the proximal promoter. The upstream region was shown to confer BDNF responsiveness in a TrkB-dependent manner when attached to a heterologous promoter. We also identify homologous regions within the murine and bovine t-PA gene promoters and demonstrate that the equivalent upstream murine sequence functions as a BDNF-responsive enhancer when inserted 5' of the human proximal t-PA promoter. Hence, BDNF-mediated induction of t-PA transcription relies on conserved modular promoter elements including a novel upstream BDNF-responsive domain and the proximal t-PA gene promoter.

Tissue specificity of 8-prenylnaringenin: protection from ovariectomy induced bone loss with minimal trophic effects on the uterus.

Plant secondary metabolites with estrogenic activity (phyto-estrogens) have been studied in the past as a potential alternative to classical hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal women. No final verdict on the efficacy of soy or red clover based pharmaceutical preparations has been reached despite numerous clinical studies. We have studied the novel and most potent phyto-estrogen 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) in adult ovariectomized rats, an established animal model to mimic hormone dependent osteoporosis in menopausal women. Our results demonstrate that 8-PN can completely protect from ovariectomy induced bone-loss while exhibiting minimal, (dose independent) trophic effects on uterus and endometrium. It is estimated that at equivalent bone protective doses of 17beta-estradiol and 8-PN, the phyto-estrogen has a 10-fold lower stimulatory effect on uterus and endometrium. The bone tissue specific effect of 8-PN was confirmed in a transgenic reporter mouse model (ERE-Luc mice). Here we also found pronounced estrogenic activity in prostate. Present results add important aspects to the pharmacological profile of 8-PN and position this compound as an interesting alternative new candidate for treatment of peri- and postmenopausal symptoms.

Vampire bat salivary plasminogen activator (desmoteplase) inhibits tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced potentiation of excitotoxic injury.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In contrast to tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) salivary plasminogen activator (desmoteplase [DSPA]) does not promote excitotoxic injury when injected directly into the brain. We have compared the excitotoxic effects of intravenously delivered tPA and DSPA and determined whether DSPA can antagonize the neurotoxic and calcium enhancing effects of tPA. METHODS: The brain striatal region of wild-type c57 Black 6 mice was stereotaxically injected with N-methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA); 24 hour later, mice received an intravenous injection of tPA or DSPA (10 mg/kg) and lesion size was assessed after 24 hours. Cell death and calcium mobilization studies were performed using cultures of primary murine cortical neurons. RESULTS: NMDA-mediated injury was increased after intravenous administration of tPA, whereas no additional toxicity was seen after administration of DSPA. Unlike DSPA, tPA enhanced NMDA-induced cell death and the NMDA-mediated increase in intracellular calcium levels in vitro. Moreover, the enhancing effects of tPA were blocked by DSPA. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous administration of tPA promotes excitotoxic injury, raising the possibility that leakage of tPA from the vasculature into the parenchyma contributes to brain damage. The lack of such toxicity by DSPA further encourages its use as a thrombolytic agent in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Development of a radioimmunoassay for the quantitative determination of 8-prenylnaringenin in biological matrices.

Seven carboxylic acid haptens of 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) were synthesized, coupled to cationized bovine serum albumin, and employed to raise specific antisera in rabbits. Two linkers of different lengths (C3H6COOH and C6H12COOH) were coupled to the C7-OH group and separated into their respective enantiomers yielding the first four haptens. Racemic derivatives with C4'-OH coupled linkers C5H10COOH and C9H18COOH were synthesized carrying a methylated C7-OH. Another racemic C4'-OH hapten (CH2COOH) was prepared starting from naringenin. The haptens elicited variable antibody titers dependent on linker lengths, with short linkers giving the best results. Three antisera were characterized in detail: anti-C7-carboxy-propyloxy-2S-(-)-8-PN (anti-H-11), anti-C7-carboxy-propyloxy-2R-(+)-8-PN (anti-H-10), and anti-C4'-carboxy-methoxy-rac-8-PN (anti-H-25). anti-H-10 and anti-H-11 showed about 9% enantiomeric cross-reactivity, and anti-H-11 did not discriminate between isoxanthohumol (IX) and 8-PN (84% cross-reactivity). For anti-H-10, cross-reactivities in the range of 2-5% were found for xanthohumol, IX, and 6-prenylnaringenin. Respective numbers for anti-H-25 were 0.02, 0.1, and 0.2%. Tritiated 8-PN was synthesized yielding a 3H-tracer of high specific radioactivity (2.22 GBq/mg). A radioimmunoassay using anti-H-25 and 3H-8-PN was established and used for the quantitative determination of 8-PN in various beer brands and in the urine of six men after the consumption of three different brands of beer. Furthermore, the dose-dependent excretion of 8-PN was tested after the consumption of a higher volume of a single beer brand with and without spiking with 8-PN and a small oral dose of authentic 8-PN, respectively. Conflicting results led to a pilot test on the in vivo conversion (demethylation) of IX into 8-PN in two men. Conversion rates of 1.9 and 4.4% were estimated. Thus, the total 8-PN dose in beer brands spiced with natural hop or hop products seems to be the sum of the 8-PN amount in a consumed volume and the amount arising from the conversion of IX.

A comparative study of amyloid-beta (1-42) as a cofactor for plasminogen activation by vampire bat plasminogen activator and recombinant human tissue-type plasminogen activator.

The activity of both human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and the PA from the saliva of the vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, (DSPA) is critically dependent on the presence of a cofactor. The most efficient cofactor for both PAs is fibrin, but fibrinogen and amyloid beta peptides also have cofactor activities for human t-PA. Compared to t-PA, DSPA has a more stringent requirement for fibrin as a cofactor. The present study was undertaken to compare cofactor activities of amyloid beta 1-42 (Abeta1-42) for plasminogen activation by DSPA-alpha1 or by t-PA. The two PAs were incubated with different concentrations of glu-plasminogen, a chromogenic substrate for plasmin and 100 micro g mL (-1) of Abeta1-42, fibrinogen or fibrin as cofactor. Using the kinetic parameters directly determined from the chromogenic substrate conversion curves, we derived the relative efficacies of DSPA or t-PA in the presence of cofactor at the physiological plasminogen concentration of 2 micro M. In the presence of fibrin, the activity of DSPA was comparable to that of t-PA and 23,270-fold higher than its activity without cofactor, whereas fibrin induced only a 248-fold increase in t-PA activity. The activity of DSPA with Abeta1-42 or fibrinogen as cofactor was 485-fold lower than its activity in the presence of fibrin, while for t-PA this difference was only 26-fold. The much lower activity of DSPA as compared to t-PA with Abeta1-42 or fibrinogen might lead to fewer side effects when used for the thrombolytic therapy of stroke.

Prion protein stimulates tissue-type plasminogen activator-mediated plasmin generation via a lysine-binding site on kringle 2.

Recombinant human prion-protein (PrP23-231) stimulates plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The stimulatory activity is conserved in the N-terminal fragment (PrP23-110). It has further been shown by others that PrP(c) binds to kringle-domains of plasminogen. We compared the stimulatory activity of recombinant PrP23-231 and PrP23-110 on plasminogen activation catalyzed by t-PA, urokinase (u-PA), streptokinase and Desmodus salivary plasminogen activator (DSPAalpha1). As these plasminogen activators are distinct, with respect to their kringle domains we studied their binding to immobilized PrP23-110. Plasminogen activation was measured in a chromogenic assay in vitro and binding studies were carried out using surface plasmon resonance technology. We found that recombinant full-length prion protein, PrP23-231, and PrP23-110 specifically stimulate t-PA mediated plasminogen activation. Two hundred nanomoles per liter of PrP23-110 stimulated 1.8 nmol L(-1) t-PA 48-fold, 180 nmol L(-1) DSPA(alpha1) 2.5-fold, 1.8 nmol L(-1) u-PA 1.1-fold, and 1.8 nmol L(-1) streptokinase 1.8-fold. Our data show no specific binding for streptokinase. In contrast all plasminogen activators carrying a kringle domain bound to PrP23-110. We further studied the effect of lysine on binding to PrP23-110 and on plasminogen activation by DSPA(alpha1) or t-PA. Lysine decreased both the binding of t-PA to PrP23-110 and the stimulation of plasmin generation by t-PA. Both binding and plasminogen activation of DSPA(alpha1) were not influenced by the presence of lysine. All plasminogen activators tested bearing kringle domains bind to PrP23-110. Binding to PrP23-110 is not sufficient for stimulation of plasmin generation. Thus the lysine-binding site of kringle 2 that is unique to t-PA appears to mediate the specific stimulation of plasminogen activation by the cellular prion protein.

Both lysine-clusters of the NH2-terminal prion-protein fragment PrP23-110 are essential for t-PA mediated plasminogen activation.

We have recently shown that the NH(2)-terminal fragment (PrP23-110) of the human cellular prion protein (PrP(c) ) stimulates t-PA mediated plasminogen activation. PrP23-110 contains an N-terminal lysine cluster (LC1; K(23),K(24), K(27)) and a C-terminal one (LC2; K(101),K(104),K(106),K(110)). To study their biological function we have substituted all lysine residues of each cluster by alanine and generated the recombinant PrP proteins PrP23-110sLC1 and PrP23-110sLC2. The ability of the mutant proteins to stimulate plasminogen activation was assayed. We found that both lysine clusters are essential for t-PA mediated plasminogen activation. We further studied the binding of soluble PrP23-110 to immobilized t-PA or plasminogen using surface plasmon resonance. The recorded binding curves could not be modeled by classical 1:1 binding kinetics suggesting oligomerisation of PrP23-110. Further plasmon resonance studies show that indeed PrP23-110 binds to itself and that glycosaminoglycans modify this interaction. Binding of t-PA or plasminogen to PrP23-110 was no longer influenced by glycosaminoglycans when PrP23-110 was immobilized on the chip surface. Thus a possible role of heparin as a cofactor in the stimulation of plasminogen activation by t-PA could be the generation of a PrP23-110 form with both lysine clusters accessible for binding of t-PA and plasminogen.

8-prenylnaringenin, a novel phytoestrogen, inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

8-Prenylnaringenin is a recently discovered phytoestrogen. Using an in vitro model of angiogenesis in which endothelial cells can be induced to invade a three-dimensional collagen gel within which they form capillary-like tubes, we demonstrate that 8-prenylnaringenin inhibits angiogenesis induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or the synergistic effect of the two cytokines in combination, with an IC(50) of between 3 and 10 microM. This effect was seen with bovine microvascular endothelial cells derived from the adrenal cortex (BME cells) and with endothelial cells from the bovine thoracic aorta (BAE cells). The inhibitory effects of 8-prenylnaringenin were found to be roughly equipotent to those of genistein that has previously been shown to inhibit angiogenesis in vitro. Early chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay results showed reductions in both vessel lengths and vein diameters, with similar potency in the 8-prenylnaringenin and genistein groups. Similar effects on the CAM vessels were seen when the two substances were co-added. These findings suggest that 8-prenylnaringenin has potential therapeutic applications for diseases in which angiogenesis is an important component.

Stimulation of plasminogen activation by recombinant cellular prion protein is conserved in the NH2-terminal fragment PrP23-110.

The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen are expressed in synaptic membranes in vivo. In the central nervous system the fibrinolytic system is associated with excitotoxin-mediated neurotoxicity and Alzheimer's disease. Recently binding of the disease associated isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)) to plasminogen and stimulation of t-PA activity have been reported. In this study the interaction of PrP(c) and plasminogen was investigated using chromogenic assays in vitro. We found that plasmin is able to cleave recombinant PrP(c) at lysine residue 110 generating an NH(2)-terminal truncated molecule that has previously been described as a major product of PrP(c) metabolism. We further characterized the proteolytic fragments with respect to their ability to stimulate plasminogen activation in vitro. Our results show that the NH(2)-terminal part of PrP(c) spanning amino acids 23-110 (PrP23-110) together with low molecular weight heparin stimulates t-PA mediated plasminogen activation in vitro. The apparent rate constant was increased 57 fold in the presence of 800 nM PrP23-110. Furthermore, we compared the stimulation of t-PA activity by PrP(c) and beta-amyloid peptide (1-42). While the activity of the beta-amyloid was independent of low molecular weight heparin, PrP23-110 was approximately 4- and 37 fold more active than beta-amyloid in the absence or presence of low molecular weight heparin. In summary, plasmin cleaves PrP(c) in vitro and the liberated NH(2)-terminal fragment accelerates plasminogen activation. Cleavage of PrP c has previously been reported. Thus cleavage of PrP(c) enhancing plasminogen activation at the cell surface could constitute a regulatory mechanism of pericellular proteolysis.

Vampire bat salivary plasminogen activator (desmoteplase): a unique fibrinolytic enzyme that does not promote neurodegeneration.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) promotes excitotoxic and ischemic injury within the brain. These findings have implications for the use of tPA in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The plasminogen activator from vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) saliva (D rotundus salivary plasminogen activator [DSPA]; desmoteplase) is an effective plasminogen activator but, in contrast to tPA, is nearly inactive in the absence of a fibrin cofactor. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of DSPA and tPA to promote kainate- and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced neurodegeneration in tPA-/- mice and wild-type mice, respectively. METHODS: tPA-/- mice were infused intracerebrally with either tPA or DSPA. The degree of neuronal survival after hippocampal injection of kainate was assessed histochemically. Wild-type mice were used to assess the extent of neuronal damage after intrastriatal injection of NMDA in the presence of tPA or DSPA. Immunohistochemistry and fibrin zymography were used to evaluate DSPA and tPA antigen or activity. RESULTS: Infusion of tPA into tPA-/- mice restored sensitivity to kainate-mediated neurotoxicity and activation of microglia. DSPA was incapable of conferring sensitivity to kainate treatment, even when infused at 10-fold higher molar concentration than tPA. The presence of tPA also increased the lesion volume induced by NMDA injection into the striatum of wild-type mice, whereas DSPA had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: DSPA does not promote kainate- or NMDA-mediated neurotoxicity in vivo. These results provide significant impetus to evaluate DSPA in patients with ischemic stroke.

OTEX, an androgen-regulated human member of the paired-like class of homeobox genes.

paired genes emerged early in evolution and code for homeobox transcription factors, having fundamental roles in various biological processes. We identified a novel human member of the paired-like class, which we named OTEX. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that OTEX belonged to the recently defined PEPP subfamily of paired-like homeobox genes. It was organized into three introns and, like the other PEPP genes, it was mapped to chromosome X. Its transcripts were detected mainly in the ovary, testis and epididymis, but also in the prostate and mammary gland. In the PC-3/ARwt prostate cell line, OTEX expression was stimulated dramatically following androgen treatment. Immunofluorescence studies revealed an exclusively nuclear localization of the OTEX protein. Mutation of the RARCRRHQRE amino acid sequence present at the C-terminus of the OTEX homeodomain resulted in a mainly cytoplasmic localization, indicating that this motif harboured the nuclear localization signal. No inherent transactivation function was seen for OTEX using the one-hybrid assay, and no homodimer formation was observed in the two-hybrid assay, suggesting that additional partners were needed for this activity. Taken together, the data show that OTEX represents a novel, androgen-regulated, paired-like homeobox protein, with possibly an important role in human reproduction.