Endoluminal arterial injury in plasminogen-deficient mice

A guide to murine fibrinolytic factor structure, function, assays, and genetic alterations

The components and functions of the murine fibrinolytic system are quite similar to those of humans. Because of these similarities and the adaptability of mice to genetic manipulation, murine fibrinolysis has been studied extensively. These studies have yielded important information regarding the function of the several components of fibrinolysis. This review presents information on the structure, function and assay of mouse fibrinolytic parameters and it discusses the results of the extensive studies of genetically modified mice. It is intended to be a convenient reference resource for investigators of fibrinolysis.

Plasminogen inhibits TNFalpha-induced apoptosis in monocytes

Monocytes are major mediators of inflammation, and apoptosis provides a mechanism for regulating the inflammatory response by eliminating activated macrophages. Furthermore, as a consequence of apoptosis, plasminogen binding is markedly increased on monocytoid cells. Therefore, we investigated the ability of plasminogen to modulate monocyte apoptosis. Apoptosis of monocytoid cells (human monocytes and U937 cells) was induced with either TNFalpha or cycloheximide. When apoptosis was induced in the presence of increasing concentrations of plasminogen, apoptosis was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner with full inhibition achieved at 2 microM plasminogen. Plasminogen treatment also markedly reduced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and reduced levels of active caspase 3, caspase 8, and caspase 9 induced by TNFalpha or by cycloheximide. We examined the requirement for plasmin proteolytic activity in the cytoprotective function of plasminogen. A plasminogen active site mutant, [D(646)E]-Plg, failed to recapitulate the cytoprotective effect of wild-type plasminogen. Furthermore, antibodies against PAR1 blocked the antiapoptotic effect of plasminogen. Our results suggest that plasminogen inhibits monocyte apoptosis. The cytoprotective effect of plasminogen requires plasmin proteolytic activity and requires PAR1. Because apoptosis of monocytes plays a key role in inflammation and atherosclerosis, these results provide insight into a novel role of plasminogen in these processes.

The functions of plasminogen in cardiovascular disease

Plasminogen (Plg) and its derivative serine protease, plasmin, together with the activators, inhibitors, modulators, and substrates of the Plg network, are postulated to regulate a wide variety of biologic responses that could influence cardiovascular disease. The development of Plg-deficient mice has provided an incisive approach to test these proposed functions in vivo. Several different models of atherosclerosis, restenosis, aneurysm, and thrombosis have been analyzed in these mice and have demonstrated profound effects of Plg on these events as well as on the inflammatory response, which contributes to these cardiovascular diseases. Plasmin (ogen) may influence the progression of cardiovascular diseases through its degradation of matrix proteins, including fibrin; its activation of matrix metalloproteinases; its regulation of growth factor and chemokine pathways; or its influence on directed cell migration. Dissection of these mechanisms represents a future challenge toward understanding the roles of Plg in vivo.

Delayed Recovery of Receptor-Mediated Functional Responses to Acetylcholine in Mouse Isolated Carotid Arteries following Endothelial Denudation in vivo

The time-course of endothelial regrowth and functional recovery following polytetrafluoroethylene filament-induced endothelial denudation in vivo was studied in the left common carotid artery of the mouse. This technique does not result in any intimal hyperplasia, enabling the investigation of endothelial function without any confounding effect of intimal thickening. Endothelial coverage was assessed histologically, and functional recovery was assessed as restoration of receptor-mediated, endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine in vitro. Re-endothelialization of the carotid artery was complete within 8 days of denudation. However, relaxations to acetylcholine, which are mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide, were only partially restored 10 days after the procedure. At this time point, arterial responses to either phenylephrine, the receptor-independent endothelium-dependent dilator cyclopiazonic acid, or the nitric oxide donor diethylamine NONOate, were not significantly different to controls. At 25 days after denudation, acetylcholine-evoked responses remained significantly depressed compared to controls but at 90 days full recovery was observed. These data indicate that following mechanical denudation of the mouse carotid artery, although endothelial re-growth is complete within 8 days, recovery of endothelial cell function - assessed as the ability of the regenerated endothelium to mediate acetylcholine-stimulated relaxation - remains impaired for a prolonged period.

Increased plasmin and serine proteinase activity during flow-induced intimal atrophy in baboon PTFE grafts

High blood flow causes intimal atrophy and loss of extracellular matrix in PTFE aortoiliac grafts. We have investigated whether matrix-degrading proteinases are altered in this baboon model of atrophy using zymography, western analysis, and a versican degradation assay. After four days of high flow, urokinase was increased and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was decreased in the intima. Plasminogen was increased after seven days. Pro-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, activated MMP-2, and proMMP-9 levels were modestly increased by high flow at 7 days, whereas MMP-3 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 were not altered. Extracts of 4-day high-flow intimas degraded more 35S-methionine-labeled versican than low-flow intimal extracts, and this activity was inhibited by AEBSF, a serine proteinase inhibitor, and a plasmin antibody. In contrast, this activity was not inhibited by the MMP inhibitor, BB-94 (Batimastat). These data suggest that serine proteinases, including plasmin, may be largely responsible for extracellular matrix degradation in this primate model of flow-induced intimal atrophy.

Laser-induced noninvasive vascular injury models in mice generate platelet- and coagulation-dependent thrombi

A minimally invasive laser-induced injury model is described to study thrombus development in mice in vivo. The protocol involves focusing the beam of an argon-ion laser through a compound microscope on the vasculature of a mouse ear that is sufficiently thin such that blood flow can be visualized by intravital microscopy. Two distinct injury models have been established. The first involves direct laser illumination with a short, high-intensity pulse. In this case, thrombus formation is inhibited by the GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, G4120. However, the anticoagulants, hirulog, PPACK, and NapC2 have minimal effect. This indicates that thrombus development induced by this model mainly involves platelet interactions. The second model involves low-intensity laser illumination of mice injected with Rose Bengal dye to induce photochemical injury in the region of laser illumination. Thrombi generated by this latter procedure have a slower development and are inhibited by both anticoagulant and anti-platelet compounds.