Endogenous plasmin converts Glu-plasminogen to Lys-plasminogen on the monocytoid cell surface.

Recently, we showed that localization of Glu-plasminogen on cell surfaces enhances its conversion to Lys-plasminogen by exogenous plasmin. This leads to stimulation of plasminogen activation because Lys-plasminogen is the preferred substrate on cell surfaces. Here, we show that Glu-plasminogen was converted to Lys-plasminogen on monocytoid cells in the absence of exogenous plasmin. Culture of cells under serum-free conditions did not affect this conversion, suggesting that the enzymatic activity was cell-derived. Therefore, we tested whether endogenous monocytoid plasminogen could provide a source of plasmin to convert cell-associated Glu-plasminogen to Lys-plasminogen because plasmin is the only enzyme known to effect this reaction. We used a recombinant human plasminogen mutant, [D(646)E]Pg, which can be cleaved by plasminogen activators, but cannot catalyze the generation of Lys-plasminogen. Upon incubation with either THP-1 or U937 monocytoid cells, 35 and 38%, respectively, of the cell-bound ligand was converted to Lys-[D(646)E]Pg. Trasylol, alpha2-antiplasmin, and an anticatalytic antiplasminogen monoclonal antibody decreased Lys-[D(646)E]Pg formation to < 5% on monocytoid cells, consistent with a plasmin-dependent mechanism. Plasminogen was detected in these cells by Northern blotting and RT-PCR. Our results suggest that plasmin converts cell-bound Glu-plasminogen to Lys-plasminogen and that this enzyme is produced by activation of monocytoid plasminogen by endogenous monocytoid plasminogen activators to enhance plasminogen activation on the monocytoid cell surface.

Recombinant prostate specific antigen inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a kallikrein family member with serine protease activity commonly used as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. We recently described anti-angiogenic properties of PSA [Fortier et al.: JNCI 91:1635-1640]. METHODS: Two forms of PSA were cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris: one, an intact PSA with an N-terminus of IVGGVS em leader; the second, an N-1 PSA variant. The recombinant proteins were tested for serine protease activity and for anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The rate of substrate hydrolysis by the intact recombinant PSA was similar to that of PSA isolated and purified from human seminal plasma. In contrast, the N-1 PSA variant lacked serine protease activity. In an endothelial cell migration assay, the concentration that resulted in 50% inhibition (IC(50)) was: 0.5 microM for native PSA, 0.5 microM for intact recombinant protein, and 0.1 microM for the N-1 variant PSA. Both the intact recombinant and the N-1 recombinant PSA inhibited angiogenesis in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Purified recombinant PSA inhibits angiogenesis, proving the concept that PSA is an anti-angiogenic, and serine protease activity, as determined by synthetic substrate hydrolysis, is distinct from the anti-angiogenic properties of PSA.

Conversion of Glu-plasminogen to Lys-plasminogen is necessary for optimal stimulation of plasminogen activation on the endothelial cell surface.

When Glu-plasminogen is bound to cells, plasmin (Pm) formation by plasminogen (Pg) activators is markedly enhanced compared with the reaction in solution. It is not known whether the direct activation of Glu-Pg by Pg activators is promoted on the cell surface or whether plasminolytic conversion of Glu-Pg to the more readily activated Lys-Pg is necessary for enhanced Pm formation on the cell surface. To distinguish between these potential mechanisms, we tested whether Pm formation on the cell surface could be stimulated in the absence of conversion of Glu-Pg to Lys-Pg. Rates of activation of Glu-Pg, Lys-Pg, and a mutant Glu-Pg, [D646E]Glu-Pg, by either tissue Pg activator (t-PA) or urokinase (u-PA) were compared when these Pg forms were either bound to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) or in solution. ([D646E]Glu-Pg can be cleaved at the Arg(561)-Val(562) bond by Pg activators but does not possess Pm activity subsequent to this cleavage because of the mutation of Asp(646) of the serine protease catalytic triad.) Glu-Pg activation by t-PA was enhanced on HUVEC compared with the solution phase by 13-fold. In contrast, much less enhancement of Pg activation was observed with [D646E]Glu-Pg ( approximately 2-fold). Although the extent of activation of Lys-Pg on cells was similar to that of Glu-Pg, the cells afforded minimal enhancement of Lys-Pg activation compared with the solution phase (1.3-fold). Similar results were obtained when u-PA was used as activator. When Glu-Pg was bound to the cell in the presence of either t-PA or u-PA, conversion to Lys-Pg was observed, but conversion of ([D646E]Glu-Pg to ([D646E]Lys-Pg was not detected, consistent with the conversion of Glu-Pg to Lys-Pg being necessary for optimal enhancement of Pg activation on cell surfaces. Furthermore, we found that conversion of [D646E]Glu-Pg to [D646E]Lys-Pg by exogenous Pm was markedly enhanced ( approximately 20-fold) on the HUVEC surface, suggesting that the stimulation of the conversion of Glu-Pg to Lys-Pg is a key mechanism by which cells enhance Pg activation.

Large-scale purification of recombinant human angiostatin.

A process for the purification of recombinant human angiostatin (rhAngiostatin), produced by Pichia pastoris fermentation operated at the 2000-L scale, is reported. rhAngiostatin was recovered and purified directly from crude fermentation broth by cation exchange expanded bed adsorption chromatography. Anion exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography were used for further purification. Full-length rhAngiostatin was separated from rhAngiostatin molecules fragmented by endoproteolysis. On average, 140 g of rhAngiostatin was produced per batch, with an overall yield of 59% (n = 9). The purification process was completed in approximately 48 h and used only inexpensive and nontoxic raw materials. Methods development, process synthesis, and process scale-up data are presented and discussed.

Antiangiogenic activity of prostate-specific antigen.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is widely used as a screening tool for prostate cancer. However, PSA is not prostate specific, having been detected in breast, lung, and uterine cancers. In one study, patients whose breast tumors had higher levels of PSA had a better prognosis than patients whose tumors had lower PSA levels. To test the hypothesis that PSA may have antiangiogenic properties, we evaluated the effects of PSA on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which are key steps in angiogenesis, the process by which tumors develop a blood supply. METHODS: To assess the antiproliferative effects of PSA, we treated bovine endothelial cells and human endothelial cell lines (HUVEC and HMVEC-d) with purified human PSA (0.1-10 microM) and then stimulated them with 10 ng/mL fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2). Effects on FGF-2- or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-stimulated endothelial cell migration, invasion, and tube formation were measured by use of one cell line only (HUVEC). PSA was administered to mice at 9 microM for 11 consecutive days after intravenous inoculation of B16BL6 melanoma cells to assess its ability to inhibit the formation of lung colonies (i.e., metastatic tumors). RESULTS: PSA inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion at IC(50) (i. e., the concentration at which inhibition was 50%) values ranging from 0.3-5 microM. In addition, PSA inhibited endothelial cell responses to both angiogenic stimulators tested, FGF-2 and VEGF. In a mouse model of metastatic disease, daily PSA treatment resulted in a 40% reduction in the mean number of lung tumor nodules compared with phosphate-buffered saline treatment (two-sided P =.003). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report that PSA may function in tumors as an endogenous antiangiogenic protein. This function may explain, in part, the naturally slow progression of prostate cancer. Our findings call into question various strategies to inhibit the expression of PSA in the treatment of prostate cancer.

O-Mannosylation of Pichia pastoris cellular and recombinant proteins.

O-linked saccharides were released from a major cell wall glycoprotein and from cellular mannan-protein complexes obtained from Pichia pastoris cells. Analysis by a variety of chromatographic methods and exoglycosidase digestions revealed the presence of mannose and (alpha1-2)-linked dimer, trimer and tetramer saccharides of mannose. The recombinant kringle 1-4 domain of human plasminogen expressed in P. pastoris was subjected to hydrazinolysis of both O- and N-linked saccharides. Only a very small quantity of N-linked oligosaccharides was present on the Asn289 consensus site. The major products were O-linked (alpha1-2)-linked mannans, containing dimeric, trimeric, tetrameric and pentameric oligosaccharides with the major amount of the total saccharides being distributed approximately equally between the dimer and trimer components. These results show that short O-linked saccharides of mannose containing (alpha1-2) glycosidic linkages are present in P. pastoris cells and expressed proteins.

The mechanism of cancer-mediated conversion of plasminogen to the angiogenesis inhibitor angiostatin.

Angiostatin, a potent naturally occurring inhibitor of angiogenesis and growth of tumor metastases, is generated by cancer-mediated proteolysis of plasminogen. Human prostate carcinoma cells (PC-3) release enzymatic activity that converts plasminogen to angiostatin. We have now identified two components released by PC-3 cells, urokinase (uPA) and free sulfhydryl donors (FSDs), that are sufficient for angiostatin generation. Furthermore, in a defined cell-free system, plasminogen activators [uPA, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), or streptokinase], in combination with one of a series of FSDs (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, D-penicillamine, captopril, L-cysteine, or reduced glutathione] generate angiostatin from plasminogen. An essential role of plasmin catalytic activity for angiostatin generation was identified by using recombinant mutant plasminogens as substrates. The wild-type recombinant plasminogen was converted to angiostatin in the setting of uPA/FSD; however, a plasminogen activation site mutant and a catalytically inactive mutant failed to generate angiostatin. Cell-free derived angiostatin inhibited angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and suppressed the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma metastases. These findings define a direct mechanism for cancer-cell-mediated angiostatin generation and permit large-scale production of bioactive angiostatin for investigation and potential therapeutic application.

Activation of human plasminogen by staphylokinase. Direct evidence that preformed plasmin is necessary for activation to occur.

To directly determine whether the mechanism of activation of human plasminogen (HPg) by staphylokinase (Sak) required formation of an active complex of Sak and HPg, recombinant (r) variants of HPg were examined that allowed dissection of the steps involved in this activation. The rate of activation of wild-type (wt) r-HPg by equimolar levels of Sak was enhanced when small amounts of human plasmin (HPm) were included, suggesting that a Sak-HPm complex was a more effective plasminogen activator than a putative Sak-HPg complex. Incubation of equimolar Sak with a cleavage site resistant mutant of HPg (r-[R581 A]HPg) did not result in generation of amidolytic activity of the complex, in contrast to a similar experiment with streptokinase (SK) in place of Sak, where substantial amidolytic activity was generated. This result supplies evidence that an active complex of Sak and HPg does not form, as is the case with SK. Another mutant, r-[D646 E]HPg, which, upon activation, would lead to a form of HPm defective in enzymatic activity, is also not converted to its two-chain form by Sak, but is converted to the inactive two-chain form by urokinase, a direct plasminogen activator, and by equimolar complexes of SK or Sak with wtr-HPm. This shows that the active site of HPm is the functional plasminogen activator entity in the Sak-HPm complex. These results show that the mechanism of activation of HPg by Sak proceeds in a distinctly different manner than the similar activation by SK. Although SK does not require the presence of HPm for this activation, a necessary condition for the activation by Sak is formation of a small amount of HPm generated via another activation pathway. These different mechanisms have significant implications in production of the fibrinolytic state by these two indirect bacterial plasminogen activators.