Role of heparanase in platelet and tumor cell interactions with the subendothelial extracellular matrix

Dissemination of neoplastic cells within the body involves invasion of blood vessels by tumor cells. Since platelets have been shown to contribute to this process, we studied the interaction in vitro of platelets and malignant cells with the vascular endothelium and its underlying basement membrane-like ECM. A metastatic subline (ESb) of the methylcholanthrene-induced DBA/2 T-lymphoma invaded the vascular endothelium at a higher rate than its parental nonmetastatic (Eb) subline. ESb cells also exhibited a much higher ability to degrade the proteoglycan scaffold of the ECM by means of a specific HS degrading endoglycosidase (heparanase). The interaction of platelets with this ECM was associated with platelet activation, aggregation, and degradation of HS by means of the platelet heparanase. Degradation of ECM-HS was facilitated by proteolytic activity that produced a more accessible substrate for further cleavage by heparanase. A similar enhancement was exerted by plasminogen via the activity of the tumor cells or ECM associated PAs. Heparin and chemically modified heparins that lack anticoagulant activity inhibited degradation of the ECM-HS by heparanase. Interaction of platelets and lymphoma cells with ECM covered with vascular endothelial cells was investigated by SEM and by determination of ECM-HS degradation products. SEM studies demonstrated that platelets may adhere to minor gaps between adjacent endothelial cells and degrade the ECM-HS. Platelets were also shown to recruit lymphoma cells into these interendothelial gaps, suggesting that by binding to ECM and release of heparanase, platelets may play an active role in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Our observation that nonanticoagulant heparins may interfere with heparanase-mediated degradation of ECM-HS suggests a potential therapeutic use for such heparins in neoplastic disorders.     

Degranulating mast cells secrete an endoglycosidase that degrades heparan sulfate in subendothelial extracellular matrix.

Mast cells are widely distributed in perivascular connective tissues, especially in areas of active tumor growth and vascular reactivity. Incubation of metabolically [35S]O4 = -labeled subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) with lysates of bone marrow-derived mouse mast cells (BMMC) resulted in extensive degradation of heparan sulfate (HS) into fragments 5 to 6 times smaller than intact HS side chains. A much lower activity (seven- to eightfold) was expressed by intact BMMC incubated in contact with the ECM. These fragments were not produced in the presence of heparin, were sensitive to deamination with nitrous acid, and resistant to further degradation with papain or chondroitinase ABC. These results indicate that an endoglycosidase (heparanase) is involved in BMMC-mediated degradation of HS in the subendothelial ECM. Heparanase activity was not detected in medium conditioned by cultured BMMC, or in lysates of Ableson transformed BMMC and rat basophilic leukemic (RBL) cells. Both heparanase and beta-hexosaminidase, a mast cell granule enzyme, were released on degranulation of BMMC induced by the calcium ionophore A23187, or by exposure to IgE-Ag, suggesting that heparanase is localized in the cell granules. Under these conditions, less than 5% of the cellular content of lactate dehydrogenase were released. Degradation of the ECM-HS by the mast cell heparanase and the associated release of HS-bound endothelial cell growth factors that are stored in ECM (Vlodavsky et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 84:2292, 1987; Bashkin et al, Biochemistry 28:1737, 1989) may play a role in the proposed mast cell-mediated stimulation of neovascularization.     

Chemical derivatization as a strategy to study structure-activity relationships of glycosaminoglycans

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are amenable to a number of chemical modifications that modulate their biological activity. N-sulfate groups can be exposed and N-acylated (usually N-acetylated), specific O-sulfate groups can be removed, and free hydroxyl groups (either preexisting in the original GAG or exposed by desulfation) can be sulfated. Heparin/heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and dermatan sulfate have been variously desulfated or sulfated to afford novel GAGs with protein binding and associated biological properties different from those of the original GAGs. Regiospecific sulfation of N-acetyl heparosan ( E. coli K5 polysaccharide) afforded a number of derivatives, some endowed with antithrombotic activity and others with antimetastatic properties. Most of the activities could be correlated with typical sulfation patterns along each GAG backbone. Glycol splitting of nonsulfated glucuronic residues (including a critical residue in the pentasaccharide sequence of the active site for antithrombin) leads to substantial loss of anticoagulant activity of heparin. Partial removal of sulfate groups at position 2 of iduronic acid residues followed by glycol splitting of all nonsulfated uronic acid residues afforded nonanticoagulant, antiangiogenic heparins.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric studies on the susceptibility of heparin species to cleavage by heparanase

Heparanase is an endo-beta-D-glucuronidase that cleaves the heparan sulfate chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and is implicated in angiogenesis and metastasis. With the aim of establishing a simple and reliable method for studying the susceptibility of heparin/heparan sulfate oligosaccharides to be cleaved by heparanase, an on-line ion pair reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric method was set up. The method works in the micromolar range of concentration and does not require derivatization of the substrate or of the products. It is based on mass identification of oligosaccharide fragments generated by heparanase and their quantification with reference to an internal heparin disaccharide standard. Substrates were (1) the synthetic pentasaccharides GlcN (NS,6S) - GlcA - GlcN (NS,3S,6S) - IdoA (2S) - GlcN (NS,6S) - OMe (AGA*IA (M)) and GlcN (NS,6S) - GlcA - GlcN (NS,6S) - IdoA (2S) - GlcN (NS,6S) - OMe (AGAIA (M)), corresponding to the heparin/heparan sulfate active site for antithrombin, and to the same sequence devoid of the 3- O-sulfate group in the central glucosamine, respectively; and (2) two natural heparin octasaccharides containing the AGA*IA sequence in different locations along the chain. The two pentasaccharides exhibited a higher susceptibility to heparanase cleavage with respect to the octasaccharides. The commercial availability of AGA*IA (M) makes it an ideal substrate to determine the specific activity of heparanase preparations. The present method could also be used for rapid screening of potential heparanase inhibitors.     

A disaccharide that inhibits tumor necrosis factor alpha is formed from the extracellular matrix by the enzyme heparanase.

The activation of T cells by antigens or mitogens leads to the secretion of cytokines and enzymes that shape the inflammatory response. Among these molecular mediators of inflammation is a heparanase enzyme that degrades the heparan sulfate scaffold of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Activated T cells use heparanase to penetrate the ECM and gain access to the tissues. We now report that among the breakdown products of the ECM generated by heparanase is a trisulfated disaccharide that can inhibit delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice. This inhibition of T-cell mediated inflammation in vivo was associated with an inhibitory effect of the disaccharide on the production of biologically active tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by activated T cells in vitro; the trisulfated disaccharide did not affect T-cell viability or responsiveness generally. Both the in vivo and in vitro effects of the disaccharide manifested a bell-shaped dose-response curve. The inhibitory effects of the trisulfated disaccharide were lost if the sulfate groups were removed. Thus, the disaccharide, which may be a natural product of inflammation, can regulate the functional nature of the response by the T cell to activation. Such a feedback control mechanism could enable the T cell to assess the extent of tissue degradation and adjust its behavior accordingly.     

Surfen, a small molecule antagonist of heparan sulfate

In a search for small molecule antagonists of heparan sulfate, we examined the activity of bis-2-methyl-4-amino-quinolyl-6-carbamide, also known as surfen. Fluorescence-based titrations indicated that surfen bound to glycosaminoglycans, and the extent of binding increased according to charge density in the order heparin > dermatan sulfate > heparan sulfate > chondroitin sulfate. All charged groups in heparin (N-sulfates, O-sulfates, and carboxyl groups) contributed to binding, consistent with the idea that surfen interacted electrostatically. Surfen neutralized the anticoagulant activity of both unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins and inhibited enzymatic sulfation and degradation reactions in vitro. Addition of surfen to cultured cells blocked FGF2-binding and signaling that depended on cell surface heparan sulfate and prevented both FGF2- and VEGF₁₆₅-mediated sprouting of endothelial cells in Matrigel. Surfen also blocked heparan sulfate-mediated cell adhesion to the Hep-II domain of fibronectin and prevented infection by HSV-1 that depended on glycoprotein D interaction with heparan sulfate. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of identifying small molecule antagonists of heparan sulfate and raise the possibility of developing pharmacological agents to treat disorders that involve glycosaminoglycan–protein interactions.     

Activation of platelet heparitinase by tumor cell-derived factors

The nature of the cooperation between platelets and tumor cells during the process of blood-borne metastasis is essentially unknown. In previous in vitro studies we showed that platelets participated in the formation of gaps in the endothelial cell lining, and that concomitantly heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans were degraded by the platelet heparitinase, released on activation of platelets. In the current study we show that the ability to degrade proteoheparan sulfate derived from endothelial extracellular matrix is gradually eliminated when the number of human platelets is decreased from 5 x 10(7) to 10(6) cells/mL. When aliquots of conditioned media or lysates of either Eb or heat-inactivated ESb mouse lymphoma cells (both of which showed no heparanase activity) were added to freeze-thawed lysates of 10(6) platelets, a reappearance of platelet heparitinase activity was observed. A similar activation was not elicited by lysates of several normal mammalian cells. These data suggest that in its native form, a fraction of the platelet heparitinase is stored in an inactive form that can be activated by a factor secreted by lymphoma, but not by normal cells. Partial characterization of the heparitinase-activating factor showed that it is a heat-stable polyanionic molecule, devoid of proteolytic activity and resistant to both proteolytic and chondroitinase digestions. Activation of platelet heparitinase was also observed on coincubation with chondroitinases ABC and AC, suggesting that the inactive form of platelet heparitinase could result from a complex formation with a chondroitinase-sensitive proteoglycan. The lymphoma-derived heparitinase activating factor itself is, however, not a chondroitinase, because activity of chondroitinase could not be detected in Eb and ESb cells. A possible mechanism by which tumor cells recruit and regulate the activity of platelet heparitinase, and its relevance to the progression of blood borne metastasis, is discussed.     

Heparanase, tissue factor, and cancer

Heparanase is an endo-beta- D-glucuronidase that is capable of cleaving heparan sulfate side chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix, activity that is strongly implicated in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Evidence was provided that heparanase overexpression in human leukemia, glioma, and breast carcinoma cells results in a marked increase in tissue factor (TF) levels. Likewise, TF was induced by exogenous addition of recombinant heparanase to tumor cells and primary endothelial cells, induction that was mediated by p38 phosphorylation and correlated with enhanced procoagulant activity. TF induction was further confirmed in heparanase-overexpressing transgenic mice and correlated with heparanase expression levels in leukemia patients. Heparanase was also found to be involved in the regulation of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). It was shown that heparanase overexpression or exogenous addition induces two- to threefold increase of TFPI expression. Similarly, heparanase stimulated accumulation of TFPI in the cell culture medium. Extracellular accumulation exceeded, however, the observed increase in TFPI at the protein level and appeared to be independent of heparan sulfate and heparanase enzymatic activity. Instead, a physical interaction between heparanase and TFPI was demonstrated, suggesting a mechanism by which secreted heparanase interacts with TFPI on the cell surface, leading to dissociation of TFPI from the cell membrane and increased coagulation activity, thus further supporting the local prothrombotic function of heparanase. As heparins are strong inhibitors of heparanase, in view of the effect of heparanase on TF/TFPI pathway, the role of heparins' anticoagulant activity may potentially be expanded.     

Protein-bound heparin/heparan sulfates in human adult and umbilical cord plasma

We used thrombin times and a competitive radiometric assay to identify, quantitate and characterize endogenous heparin-like molecules in umbilical cord (n = 58) and normal adult (n = 25) plasma. Thrombin times for cord plasma (29.6+/-3.6 s) were significantly longer (p< or = 0.0005) than those for adult plasma (18. 9+/-2.3 s), suggesting increased endogenous heparins. A radiometric assay based on the displacement of (125)I-heparin from protamine-Sepharose revealed that protease-digested plasma contained heparin/heparan sulfate, and plasma that was not digested with protease appeared not to contain heparin/heparan sulfate. More heparin/heparan sulfate was identified in cord than in adult plasma (p< or =0.05), but heparinase digestion produced significantly (p< or =0.001) reduced concentrations of heparin/heparan sulfate in only 39% of the samples. The lack of heparinase sensitivity in 61% of the protease-digested samples apparently was due to low molecular weight (LMW) heparins, for control heparin fragments of 5 kD that did not extend thrombin times were also less affected by heparinase, but the same LMW heparins were detected by radiometric assay. Despite normal thrombin times in all samples, the amounts of endogenous heparin/heparan sulfate identified in protease-digested samples by radiometric assay were of sufficient concentrations to produce inordinately prolonged thrombin times when compared with the same concentrations of unfractionated heparin. Collectively, these findings suggest the presence of a plasma reservoir of endogenous heparin/heparan sulfates in normal cord and adult plasma. These endogenous heparin/heparan sulfates are bound to plasma proteins, and an as yet undetermined proportion of these bound heparin/heparans are most likely LMW molecules.     

Synergies of Heparin and Second Messengers Pathways Involved in Tissue-Specific Gene Expression in Hepatocytes

We have investigated the effect of soluble or extracellular-matrix (ECM) -bound heparin in conjunction with various second messenger pathways on cell proliferation and tissue-specific gene expression in primary cultures of hepatocytes. None of the combinations of heparin and second messenger stimulators or inhibitors had an effect on hepatocyte proliferation. Soluble heparin enhanced albumin expression in hepatocytes. Activation of protein kinase C, as well as an increase in intracellular cAMP, abolished this increase in albumin expression in the presence of heparin. When hepatocytes were plated on hepatocyte-derived ECM, containing highly sulfated heparan sulfate chains, activation of protein kinase C and an increase in intracellular cAMP strongly reduced albumin expression in hepatocytes. When heparan sulfate chains were removed from the ECM by heparinase treatment, activation of protein kinase C and increased cAMP were less inhibitory for albumin expression in hepatocytes. Inhibition of tyrosine kinases did not affect the induction of albumin mRNA by heparin. We conclude that heparin induces albumin expression in hepatocytes and activation of protein kinase C or increased intracellular cAMP antagonize this effect. ECM-bound heparan sulfates do not act in the same manner as soluble heparin.     

Orgaran (Org 10172): its pharmacological profile in experimental models.

Orgaran is a mixture of glycosaminoglycans extracted from animal mucosa. It consists of heparan, dermatan and chondroitin sulfate; a small proportion of heparan sulfate (4%) has high affinity for antithrombin III (AT III). Orgaran is devoid of heparin or heparin fragments. Orgaran catalyses the inactivation of factor Xa and thrombin. Compared to heparin and most low-molecular-weight heparins, Orgaran has a much higher anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio. The inactivation of factor Xa is mediated by AT III and that of thrombin by both AT III and heparin cofactor II. Compared to heparin, which is a strong inhibitor of thrombin generation, Orgaran has only moderate inhibitory effects on thrombin generation. Orgaran shows minimal or no effects on platelet function in vitro or in vivo. It inhibits the formation of various types of thrombi (clot-like and mixed thrombi) with approximately the same potency as heparin. Both the high- and low-affinity fraction for AT III contribute to the antithrombotic activity. In contrast to heparin, Orgaran does not inhibit platelet deposition in experimental mixed thrombi unless very high doses of the heparinoid are used. Orgaran is more efficacious than heparin in preventing the extension of established venous thrombosis. Orgaran promotes less bleeding-enhancing activity than heparin in various experimental models. In addition, compared to heparin, it has only minimal effects on platelet degranulation during hemostatic plug formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antimetastatic activities of modified heparins: selectin inhibition by heparin attenuates metastasis

Heparin, which is traditionally used as an anticoagulant but has a variety of additional biological activities, was shown in several retrospective and prospective clinical trials to have an effect on cancer survival. Experimental evidence from animal models consistently demonstrates that heparin is an efficient inhibitor of metastasis. To clarify the mechanism of heparin antimetastatic activity, several biological effects are being investigated. Cancer progression and metastasis are associated with enhanced expression of heparanase, which is inhibited efficiently by heparin. Heparin is also a potent inhibitor of selectin-mediated interactions. P- and L-selectin were shown to contribute to the early stages of metastasis, which is associated with platelet-tumor cell thrombi formation. To delineate the biological activities of heparin contributing to metastasis inhibition, modified heparins with specific activities were evaluated. Low anticoagulant heparin preparations still inhibited metastasis efficiently, indicating that anticoagulation is not a necessary component for heparin attenuation of metastasis. Modified heparins characterized for heparanase inhibitory activity are also potential inhibitors of selectins. Selectin inhibition is a clear component of heparin inhibition of metastasis. The contribution of selectin or heparanase inhibition by heparin can provide evidence about its antimetastatic activity.     

Phosphomannopentaose Sulfate (PI‐88): Heparan Sulfate Mimetic with Clinical Potential in Multiple Vascular Pathologies

The sulfated oligosaccharide PI‐88 is a potent antiangiogenic, antitumor and anti‐metastatic agent derived from yeast. It is primarily composed of sulfated phosphomannopentaose and phosphomannotetraose oligosaccharide units and is presently under evaluation in Phase II clinical trials for anticancer efficacy. PI‐88 inhibits the heparan sulfate‐degrading enzyme heparanase, exhibits antiangiogenic activity and has anticoagulant properties mediated by heparin cofactor II. It also inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, kinase signalling and arterial intimal thickening following balloon injury. Many heparan sulfate‐binding growth factors require heparan sulfate as a co‐receptor in order to effectively deliver growth signals to cells. Thus, the antiangiogenic and antirestenotic activity of PI‐88 may be at least partially due to this highly sulfated oligosaccharide competing with the interaction of growth factors, such as FGF‐2 and VEGF, with cell surface heparan sulfate. This heparan sulfate mimetic has, therefore, multiple functions and therapeutic potential in a variety of vascular disorders.     

Connective tissue activation XXXVIII: heparin/heparanase activity of human platelets resides in a high molecular weight protein,not in connective tissue activating peptide III

OBJECTIVE: Connective tissue activating protein-III (CTAP-III), with molecular weight 9278 Da and isoforms including CTAP-III des 1-15 (neutrophil activating peptide-2, NAP-2) and other amino terminal deletion isoforms, has been isolated from human platelets and characterized. Platelets have also been shown to possess significant heparin/heparanase activity. We investigated whether human platelet heparin/heparanase activity derives from CTAP-III. METHODS: Radial immunodiffusion measurement showed substantial amounts of CTAP-III in plasma from outdated platelet packs. A convenient method for measurement of heparin/heparanase activity is described, and with this method platelet associated plasma was investigated for heparin/heparanase activity assayed against 3H-heparin and 35S-heparan sulfate. RESULTS: Removal of CTAP-III from platelet associated plasma with an immunospecific immunoaffinity column did not remove the heparin/heparanase activity from the plasma. Highly purified CTAP-III eluted from an immunospecific affinity column lacked heparin/heparanase activity. CONCLUSION: Human platelet heparin/heparanase activity resides not in CTAP-III but in a protein or proteins with molecular weight >/= 55 kDa.     

In vivo effects of low molecular weight heparins on experimental thrombosis and bleeding

Recent studies with heparin fractions indicate that it is possible to dissociate the antithrombotic and hemorrhagic effects of heparin and so improve its therapeutic potential. Heparin inhibits blood coagulation by 3 independent mechanisms by augmenting the effect of antithrombin III (the major effect), by augmenting the inhibitory effect of thrombin or heparin cofactor II, and by disrupting the activation of blood coagulation on the platelet surface; it has an additional effect on hemostasis through its interaction with blood platelets. Some insight into the mechanism of heparin-induced bleeding has been provided by studies with low molecular weight heparins. These heparins have reduced antithrombin activity but retain anti-Xa activity and have antithrombotic properties in animals with a reduced risk of bleeding. There is evidence that the reduction in the bleeding risk is unrelated to the anticoagulant effect of these low molecular weight heparins, but that it may be related to the observation that they inhibit platelet function less than standard heparin. The very low molecular weight heparins (molecular weight 3,000 daltons), have virtually no anti-IIa activity and are relatively weaker antithrombotic agents than low molecular weight heparins of 5,000 daltons. A minimal amount of anti-IIa activity is required for full expression of the antithrombotic activities of these low molecular weight heparins.     

Heparanase is highly expressed and regulates proliferation in GH-secreting pituitary tumor cells

Pituitary tumorigenesis involves remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Heparanase, an endoglycosidase capable of degrading heparan sulfate, a major polysaccharide constituent of the ECM, is implicated in diverse processes associated with ECM remodeling, such as morphogenesis, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible role of heparanase in pituitary tumorigenesis. Human normal pituitaries and pituitary tumors were examined for heparanase mRNA and protein expression using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Cell proliferation was assessed by colony formation after heparanase overexpression in GH3 and MtT/S cells. Cell viability and cell cycle progression were evaluated after heparanase gene silencing. Higher heparanase mRNA and protein expression was noted in GH tumors as compared with normal pituitaries. Heparanase overexpression in GH3 and MtT/S cells resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in colony number, compared with control cells. Cell viability decreased by 50% after heparanase gene silencing due to induced apoptosis reflected by increased fraction of cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase and sub-G1 events. Notably, exogenously added heparanase enhanced epidermal growth factor receptor, Src, Akt, ERK, and p38 phosphorylation in pituitary tumor cells. Our results indicate that heparanase enhances pituitary cell viability and proliferation and may thus contribute to pituitary tumor development and progression.     

Binding to heparan sulfate or heparin enhances neutrophil responses to interleukin 8.

The interaction of interleukin 8 (IL-8) with heparin was studied by using synthetic IL-8 analogs with C- and N-terminal truncations. Elimination of the N-terminal region preceding the first cysteine, which constitutes the IL-8 receptor binding site, did not affect the affinity to heparin-Sepharose. Affinity, however, decreased with progressive truncation at the C terminus, and no binding was observed when the C-terminal alpha-helix was eliminated. The effect of heparin and other glycosaminoglycans on IL-8 activity was also tested. When IL-8 was applied together with heparan sulfate, neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro was enhanced up to 4-fold, and the stimulus-dependent increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ increased markedly in both rate and peak value. Heparin had a similar effect on the Ca2+ response but did not enhance chemotaxis. The glycosaminoglycans by themselves did not elicit neutrophil responses. Their enhancing effect was restricted to stimulation with IL-8 and was not observed when the unrelated chemoattractant fMet-Ile-Phe-Leu was used as the stimulus. Elastase released from stimulated neutrophils was inhibited by heparin, heparan sulfate, and, to a lesser extent, chondroitin sulfate B, confirming previous observations. Taken together, these results suggest that heparan sulfate, which is present on the endothelial cell surface and in the basement membrane, may have a dual function in diapedesis, promotion of IL-8-dependent transmigration of neutrophils, and protection of the tissue microenvironment from damage by lytic enzymes released from the migrating cells.     

Thrombin-induced release of active basic fibroblast growth factor- heparan sulfate complexes from subendothelial extracellular matrix

The angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), is sequestered and protected by binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in the subendothelial extracellular matrix (ECM). Release of ECM- bound bFGF provides a novel mechanism for regulation of cell proliferation and neovascularization in normal and pathologic situations. Exposure of ECM to thrombin, the final activation product of the clotting cascade, resulted in release of high molecular weight HSPG-bFGF complex, as indicated by its immunoprecipitation with anti- bFGF antibodies, susceptibility to degradation by bacterial heparinase, and inhibition of its mitogenic activity in the presence of neutralizing anti-bFGF antibodies. The ECM-resident bFGF-HSPG complex was not released by thrombin in the presence of hirudin or antithrombin III, or by catalytically blocked thrombin preparations. A threefold to fivefold higher mitogenic activity was released by thrombin from ECM that was preheated (1 hour, 80 degrees C), as compared with native ECM. This difference is attributed to heat stable bFGF-HSPG complexes that are more readily released after heat treatment of the ECM and to activation and release of ECM-resident transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activity. Our results indicate that the large reservoir of proteolytic activity present in plasma in the form of prothrombin may participate in release from the subendothelial ECM of biologically active bFGF and TGF-beta, depending on the accessibility of thrombin. Thrombin may gain access to the subendothelium on clot formation after tissue injury and as a result of the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin induced by the ECM itself.     

Effects of the heparin-mimicking compound RG-13577 on lipoprotein lipase and on lipase mediated binding of LDL to cells.

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) has high affinity for heparin and heparin-like compounds. In vivo the enzyme is attached to heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the endothelium of capillaries and larger blood vessels. The enzyme is released from these sites after intravenous injection of heparin. One has here investigated the effects of RG-13577 on LPL, both after intravenous injection to rats and under cell culture conditions. RG-13577 is a heparin-mimicking compound known to prevent angiogenesis by interference with binding of growth factors to cells. It has therefore been considered for use in cancer therapy as well as for prevention of atherosclerosis and restenosis. It was found that intravenously injected RG-13577 released both LPL and hepatic lipase (HL) to the blood. Binding of LPL in extrahepatic tissues was prevented and clearance of radiolabeled LPL from the circulation was delayed. Furthermore, RG-13577 released LPL from extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by endothelial cells and from THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages. Lipase-mediated binding and uptake of human LDL in these cells was also prevented by RG-13577. Thus, in the test systems RG-13577 had the same effects as heparin, but on a molar basis RG-13577 was in all cases less effective.