Endocrinology and paracrinology: Roles of growth factors during peri-implantation development

Several growth factor ligand and receptor gene products havebeen shown to play roles during preimplantation mammalian development.Genes for insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), transforming growthfactors (TGFs), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), platelet-derivedgrowth factor (PDGF) and receptors for insulin, IGF, PDGF, TGFand epidermal growth factor (EGF) are expressed by early embryosof several species including mouse, rat, cow and sheep. Rolesof growth factors during early development have been demonstratedby addition of purified growth factors to culture medium orby molecular genetic techniques that interfere with gene expression.In this way, it has been shown that successful development ofthe blastocyst is dependent on the action of epidermal growthfactor (EGF) and leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Recent experimentsshow that both LIF and EGF stimulate secretion of urokinase-typeplasminogen activator (uPA) and gelatinase B/ matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) in day 7 mouse blastocyst outgrowths. At the same time,tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) are also expressed by embryonic,decidual and uterine tissues during the implantation process.It appears that LIF may act directly or indirectly, by inducingthe expression of other cytokines, to regulate the temporaland spatial production and activity of proteases and proteaseinhibitors to create a favourable environment for implantation.     

Tissue-type plasminogen activator and its inhibitor in human glomerulonephritis.

We carried out an immunohistochemical study of tissue-type plasminogen activator (PA) and urokinase-type PA, and their inhibitors, PA inhibitor-1 and PA inhibitor-2, using renal biopsy specimens obtained from 86 patients with various forms of glomerulonephritis. The controls were four normal renal tissue specimens. On immunofluorescent observation, granular staining for tissue-type PA was found to be distributed along the glomerular capillary walls. The fluorescence was weak in the normal renal tissue and occasionally intense in the tissues of patients with IgA nephritis, minimal change nephrotic syndrome, and lupus nephritis. PA inhibitor-1 was abundant in the glomerular epithelial cells and scarce in the mesangial area and glomerular capillary lumens of the normal renal tissues. This was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy using gold staining. The fluorescence of PA inhibitor-1 was weaker in some specimens of nephritic tissues than in the normal renal tissues. Urokinase-type PA and PA inhibitor-2 were negative within the glomeruli in all the specimens. In the glomerulonephritic tissues which were fibrin deposition-positive, tissue-type PA expression in the glomeruli tended to be strong. An association between fibrin deposition and PA inhibitor-1 staining was not clear. These data suggest that expression of tissue-type PA in the glomeruli increases in association with fibrin deposition.     

PAI-1基因多态性与不孕患者子宫内膜发育不良的遗传易感性研究

目的 探讨纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor-1,PAI-1)基因多态性与不孕患者的子宫内膜发育的相关性.方法 选取经B超测量子宫内膜厚度及子宫内膜病理学检查诊断为子宫内膜发育不良不孕患者105例,有正常生育的健康非妊娠妇女85名,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析技术检测PAI-1基因-675位4G/5G多态性.结果 患者组PAI-1基因4G/4G基因频率(48.6%)和4G等位基因频率(66.2%)显著高于对照组(22.4%和47.1%)(P<0.01)差异有统计学意义,与5G/5G基因型比较4G/4G型患者发生子宫内膜反应不良致不孕的相对风险率的比数比(odds ratio,OR)为4.9,95%的可信区间为2.10-10.12.结论 PAI-1基因4G/5G多态性与不孕患者的子宫内膜发育不良密切相关.     

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 as a measure of vascular remodelling in breast cancer

The generation of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) by tumours is an important pathway for neoplastic cell invasion and metastasis. Indeed in several tumour types, elevated levels of uPA, its receptor (uPAR) or its inhibitor plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is associated with a poorer prognosis. Since endothelial cells also use this proteolytic system to remodel the extracellular matrix during angiogenesis and since angiogenesis, as assessed by microvessel density, is also a predictor of patient survival, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between angiogenesis and the urokinase system in breast tumours. The aims were to assess whether the uPA, uPAR and/or PAI-1 correlates with angiogenic activity and could therefore be a useful objective clinical measure of tumour neovascularization; and to clarify whether the poor outcome associated with high levels of the urokinase system is due to its association with angiogenesis. The study also sought to examine the relationship between the uPA system and vessel remodelling using loss of a basement membrane epitope (LH39) normally associated with established capillaries. The cytosolic levels of uPA, PAI-1 and uPAR were therefore measured by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay, together with tumour vascularity, in 136 well-characterized invasive breast carcinomas. There were significant relationships between uPA and uPAR (Spearman r=0.37, p<0.0001), uPA and PAI-1 (Spearman r=0.19, p=0.03) and between uPAR and PAI-1 (Spearman r=0.23 p=0.01). A significant correlation was also observed between PAI-1 and vessel remodelling (Spearman r=0.34, p=0.04), patient age (p=0.01), nodal status (p=0.047) and tumour grade (p=0.04), but no association between tumour vascularity and PAI (p=0.96), uPA (p=0.69) or uPAR (p=0.81) was present. No significant association was seen between any of the urokinase variables and expression of the angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase. Furthermore, no significant associations were found between any of the studied parameters and overall survival in a univariate analysis of the cancer patients. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model of overall survival showed that uPA (p=0.15), but not uPAR (p=0.52) or PAI-1 (p=0.61), gave no additional prognostic information. These findings show that uPA may work via an independent pathway to angiogenesis and therefore combined blockade of uPA and angiogenesis may have additional therapeutic benefits. It also shows, as recently demonstrated in animal models, that PAI-1 may be a key regulator of vascular remodelling in human cancer.     

慢性肾脏疾病血清和尿液纤溶活性物质的改变及临床意义

目的探讨慢性肾脏疾病血清和尿液纤溶活性物质的改变及其临床意义。方法选择38例慢性肾小球肾炎(CGN),28例肾病综合征(NS),36例非透析治疗的慢性肾功能不全(CRF)和20例正常对照作为研究对象,应用ELISA法检测血清和尿液中组织型纤溶酶原激活剂(t-PA)和纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1(PAI-1)的浓度,同时分析尿中t-PA和PAI-1的水平与血t-PA、PAI-1、血肌酐和24h尿蛋白总量之间相关性。结果慢性肾脏疾病出现血清t-PA、PAI-1升高,尿液t-PA、PAI-1降低,其中尿液t-PA、PAI-1的改变独立于血清,不受血肌酐和24h尿蛋白定量的影响。结论慢性肾脏疾病患者存在纤溶活性物质的异常,其中尿液纤溶活性物质的改变可反应肾脏内皮细胞损伤。     

u—PA和PAI—1在各类肾小球病变中的表达及其意义

目的了解尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物u-PA及其抑制因子PAI-1在各类肾小球病变中的表达及其意义。方法采用免疫组化方法检测了120例人肾穿活检标本中各型肾炎的u-PA、PAI-1、Ⅳ型胶原的表达水平,以及肾小球内PCNA阳性细胞核数,用图像分析方法对其u-PA和PAI-1进行光密度定量。结果各型肾小球肾炎中u-PA和PAI-1均有不同程度的表达,与轻微病变组相比均有显著性差异。但各组中两者表达强度有所不同,PAl-l的阳性强度基本上高于同组的u-PA,两者差异显著(P＜0.05)。u-PA的表达增强与肾小球Ⅳ型胶原的积聚和PCNA阳性细胞核数的增多明显相关(r＝0.761、r＝0.811,P＜0.05);而PAI-1的表达则主要与肾小球内Ⅳ型胶原增多相关(r=0857,P＜0.05)。结论u-PA和PAI-1的异常表达是影响肾小球肾炎发生发展的重要因素。     

Developmental transition in plasticity properties of differentiating astrocytes: age-related biochemical profile of plasminogen activators in astroglial cultures

Plasminogen activator (PA) is a key enzyme in control of the cascade of extracellular proteolytic activities, proteases that degrade the extracellular components. Mammalian cells produce two molecular forms of PA, the urokinase type (u-PA) and the tissue type (t-PA); the u-PA type enzyme regulates cell migration/invasion and related tissue plasticity events. Thus, these plasticity properties of cells are defined by their PAs' biochemical profiles. The capacity of the differentiating glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) to express and regulate the two types of PA activities has been examined as a function of cell age in culture. Results of the study suggest that only the immature astrocyte is endowed with these plasticity properties. Differentiating heterogeneous rat glial cells in culture express PA activity. Astroglia were identified as the primary source for the glial PA activity, as no PA activity was detected in the purified oligodendroglia. Cellular PA activity levels of differentiating rat and mouse astroglia are developmentally regulated. The specific activity of PA reached its highest level in rat astroglia at a cell age corresponding to 20-32 postnatal days (P20-P32) and in mouse astroglia at P8-P14; thereafter, this declined (three- to fourfold decrease) within 2 weeks to a low value. At comparable ages (P0-P35), the magnitudes of the PA specific activities of the differentiating rat astroglia and of the developing cerebrum, the tissue from which these cells were purified, were similar. Differentiating rat astroglia produce u-PA and t-PA, the cellular content of both is developmentally regulated, and the u-PA form is only found in the immature cells. u-PA is the predominant form in the immature astrocyte until age P13. Both forms are found in cells at ages P14-P30, and at later stages u-PA disappears while the t-PA type persists as the sole form. After 3 more weeks neither of the PA types was detected. Astroglia express also PA inhibitory activity; the rat astroglial PA inhibitor (PAI) seemed to be identical to PAI-1, one of the known types of PAIs. Stimulation of astroglial proliferation by their subculturing in contrast to Schwann cells did not lead to an increase; rather, beyond a certain cell age (P13) it resulted in a threefold irreversible decline in the PA specific activity of the daughter cells. It has been established that various biochemical properties of CNS mature glia appear on schedule with cell age in culture, thus defining "mature"glia in vitro.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

原发性高血压患者的纤维蛋白溶解活性变化

目的 观察未经治疗的原发性高血压患者的纤维蛋白溶解活性的变化及临床意义。方法 用发色底物法测定42例原发性高血压患者和40例血压正常者的血浆组织型纤维蛋白溶酶原激活物（t-PA)及其抑制剂（PAI－1）的活性和纤维蛋白溶酶原（Plg)活性。结果 原发性高血压患者血浆t-PA活性明显低于血压正常者,PAI－1和Plg活性明显高于血压正常者。结论 研究结果提示原发性高血压患者确实存在内源性纤溶功能低下。     

EGF对小鼠角质形成细胞中组织型纤溶酶原激活剂表达的调节

目的 探讨小鼠表皮角质形成细胞（KC）中,EGF对组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（tPA)表达的影响。方法 应用免疫组化及原位杂交技术, 结合图像分析,定性及定量检测在EGF作用下的小鼠表皮角质形成细胞中,tPA mRNA/蛋白质的表达。结果 小鼠表皮KC经EGF处理12、24、48、72h后,tPAmRNA/蛋白质的量均增加（P＜0．01）,tPAmRNA的表达的 高峰出现于EGF作用24h时,tPA蛋白质表达的高峰则出现于EGF作用48h时。EGF联合0．5、1．0、1．5mmol/L Ca^2 作用小鼠表皮KC48h,与EGF单独作用小鼠表皮KC48h时,tPAmRNAA／蛋白质的表达,均显著降低（P＜0．001）。结论 小鼠表皮KC中,EGF可以时间依赖方式促进 tPAmRNA／蛋白质的表达,但受Ca^2 浓度的影响。