| 1. |
- Guo, Yongzhi, et al.
(author)
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Beneficial and detrimental effects of plasmin(ogen) during infection and sepsis in mice
- 2011
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 6:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasmin has been proposed to be an important mediator during inflammation/infection. In this study, by using mice lacking genes for plasminogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and urokinase-type PA (uPA), we have investigated the functional roles of active plasmin in infection and sepsis. Two models were used: an infection model by intravenous injection of 1x10(7) CFU of S. aureus, and a sepsis model by intravenous injection of 1.6x10(8) CFU of S. aureus. We found that in the infection model, wild-type (WT) mice showed significantly higher survival rates than plasminogen-deficient (plg(-/-)) mice. However, in the sepsis model, plg(-/-) or tPA(-/-)/uPA(-/-) mice showed the highest survival rate whereas WT and tPA(+/-)/uPA(+/-) mice showed the lowest survival rate, and plg(+/-), tPA(-/-), and uPA(-/-) mice had an intermediate survival rate. These results indicate that the levels of active plasmin are critical in determining the survival rate in the sepsis, partly through high levels of inflammatory cytokines and enhanced STAT3 activation. We conclude that plasmin is beneficial in infection but promotes the production of inflammatory cytokines in sepsis that may cause tissue destruction, diminished neutrophil function, and an impaired capacity to kill bacteria which eventually causes death of these mice.
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| 2. |
- Hepburn, Lucy, et al.
(author)
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A Spaetzle-like role for nerve growth factor beta in vertebrate immunity to Staphylococcus aureus
- 2014
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 346:6209, s. 641-646
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many key components of innate immunity to infection are shared between Drosophila and humans. However, the fly Toll ligand Spaetzle is not thought to have a vertebrate equivalent. We have found that the structurally related cystine-knot protein, nerve growth factor β (NGFβ), plays an unexpected Spaetzle-like role in immunity to Staphylococcus aureus infection in chordates. Deleterious mutations of either human NGFβ or its high-affinity receptor tropomyosin-related kinase receptor A (TRKA) were associated with severe S. aureus infections. NGFβ was released by macrophages in response to S. aureus exoproteins through activation of the NOD-like receptors NLRP3 and NLRP4 and enhanced phagocytosis and superoxide-dependent killing, stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production, and promoted calcium-dependent neutrophil recruitment. TrkA knockdown in zebrafish increased susceptibility to S. aureus infection, confirming an evolutionarily conserved role for NGFβ-TRKA signaling in pathogen-specific host immunity.
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| 3. |
- Shen, Yue, et al.
(author)
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Mice deficient in urokinase-type plasminogen activator have delayed healing of tympanic membrane perforations
- 2012
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In: PLOS ONE. - : Public library of science. - 1932-6203. ; 7:12, s. e51303-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mice deficient in plasminogen, the precursor of plasmin, show completely arrested healing of tympanic membrane (TM) perforations, indicating that plasmin plays an essential role in TM healing. The activation of plasminogen to plasmin is performed by two plasminogen activators (PAs), urokinase-type PA (uPA) and tissue-type PA (tPA). To elucidate the functional roles of PAs in the healing of TM perforations, we investigated the phenotypes of single gene-deficient mice lacking uPA (uPA(-/-)) or tPA (tPA(-/-)) after TM perforation. Delayed healing of TM perforations was observed in uPA(-/-) mice but not tPA(-/-) mice. The migration of keratinocytes was clearly delayed and seemed to be misoriented in uPA(-/-) mice. Furthermore, fibrin deposition and the inflammatory response were persistent in these mice. Our findings demonstrate that uPA plays a role in the healing of TM perforations. The observed phenotypes in uPA(-/-) mice are most likely due to the reduced generation of plasmin.
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| 4. |
- Shen, Yue, 1981-
(author)
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Plasminogen : a novel inflammatory regulator that promotes wound healing
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The plasminogen activator (PA) system has been shown to be intimately involved in wound healing. However, the role of this system in the initiation and resolution of inflammation during healing process remained to be determined. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between the PA system and the inflammatory system during wound healing and to explore the therapeutic potential of plasminogen in various wound-healing models.The role of plasminogen in the inflammatory phase of the healing process of acute and diabetic wounds was studied first. Our data showed that administration of additional plasminogen to wild-type mice accelerates the healing of acute wounds. After injury, both endogenous and exogenous plasminogen are bound to inflammatory cells and are transported to the wound site, which leads to activation of inflammatory cells. In diabetic db/db mice, wound-specific accumulation of plasminogen does not take place and the inflammatory response is impaired. However, when additional plasminogen is injected, plasminogen accumulates in the wound, the inflammatory response is enhanced, the signal transduction cascade is activated and the healing rate is significantly increased. These results indicate that administration of plasminogen may be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat different types of wounds, especially chronic wounds in diabetes.The role of plasminogen at the later stage of wound healing was also studied in plasminogen-deficient mice. Our data showed that even if re-epithelialization is achieved in these mice, a prolonged inflammatory phase with abundant neutrophil accumulation and persistent fibrin deposition is observed at the wound site. These results indicate that plasminogen is also essential for the later phases of wound healing by clearing fibrin and resolving inflammation.The functional role of two physiological PAs during wound healing was further studied in a tympanic membrane (TM) wound-healing model. Our data showed that the healing process was clearly delayed in urokinase-type PA (uPA)-deficient mice but not in tissue-type PA (tPA)-deficient mice. Less pronounced keratinocyte migration, abundant neutrophil accumulation and persistent fibrin deposition were observed in uPA-deficient mice. These results indicate that uPA plays a central role in the generation of plasmin during the healing of TM perforations.Finally the therapeutic potential of plasminogen in the TM wound-healing model was studied. Our data showed that local injection of plasminogen restores the ability to heal TM perforations in plasminogen-deficient mice in a dose-dependent manner. Plasminogen supplementation also potentiates healing of acute TM perforations in wild-type mice, independent of the administration method used. A single local injection of plasminogen in plasminogen-deficient mice can initiate healing of chronic TM perforations resulting in a closed TM with a continuous but rather thick outer keratinocyte layer. Three plasminogen injections lead to a completely healed TM with a thin keratinizing squamous epithelium covering a connective tissue layer that can start to reorganize and further mature to its normal appearance. In conclusion, our results suggest that plasminogen is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of chronic TM perforations in humans. Taken together, our data indicate that plasminogen is a novel inflammatory regulator that promotes wound healing.
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| 5. |
- Shen, Yue, 1981-, et al.
(author)
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Plasminogen initiates and potentiates the healing of acute and chronic tympanic membrane perforations in mice
- 2014
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In: Journal of Translational Medicine. - : BioMed Central. - 1479-5876. ; 12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Most tympanic membrane (TM) perforations heal spontaneously, but approximately 10-20% remain open as chronic TM perforations. Chronic perforations can lead to an impaired hearing ability and recurrent middle ear infections. Traditionally, these perforations must be surgically closed, which is costly and time consuming. Therefore, there is a need for simpler therapeutic strategies. Previous studies by us have shown that plasminogen (plg) is a potent pro-inflammatory regulator that accelerates cutaneous wound healing in mice. We have also shown that the healing of TM perforations is completely arrested in plg-deficient (plg(-/-)) mice and that these mice develop chronic TM perforations. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of local plg injection in acute and chronic TM perforation mice models. Methods: Plg(-/-) mice and wild-type mice were subjected to standardized TM perforations followed by local injection of plg into the soft tissue surrounding the TM. TM perforations with chronic characteristics were induced by leaving TM perforations in plg(-/-) mice untreated for 9 days before treatment. The healing process was observed through otomicroscope and finally confirmed by immunostaining. The quality of TM healing was evaluated based on the morphology of the TM. Result: Daily local injections of plg into the soft tissue surrounding the TM restored the ability to heal TM perforations in plg(-/-) mice in a dose-dependent manner, and potentiated the healing rate and quality in wild-type mice. A single local injection of plg initiated the healing of the chronic-like TM perforations in these mice, resulting in a closed TM with a continuous but rather thick outer keratinocyte layer. However, three plg injections led to a completely healed TM with a thin keratinizing squamous epithelium covering a connective tissue layer. Conclusion: Our data suggests that plg is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of chronic TM perforations in humans.
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| 6. |
- Shen, Yue, et al.
(author)
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Plasminogen is a key proinflammatory regulator that accelerates the healing of acute and diabetic wounds
- 2012
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In: Blood. - Washington, USA : American society of hematology. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 119:24, s. 5879-5887
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Despite decades of research on wound healing, effective biologic agents for the treatment of chronic wounds, especially diabetic wounds, are still lacking. In the present study, we report that the inert plasma protein plasminogen (plg) acts as a key regulatory molecule that potentiates wound healing in mice. Early in the healing process, plg bound to inflammatory cells is transported to the wound area, where the level of plg is increased locally, leading to the induction of cytokines and intracellular signaling events and to a potentiation of the early inflammatory response. Systemic administration of additional plg not only accelerates the healing of acute burn wounds in wild-type mice, but also improves the healing of chronic diabetic wounds in a mouse model of diabetes. Our results suggest that the administration of plg may be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat many different types of wounds, especially chronic wounds such as those caused by diabetes. (Blood. 2012; 119(24):5879-5887)
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| 7. |
- Sulniute, Rima, et al.
(author)
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Plasmin is essential in preventing periodontitis in mice
- 2011
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In: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9440 .- 1525-2191. ; 179:2, s. 819-828
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Periodontitis involves bacterial infection, inflammation of the periodontium, degradation of gum tissue, and alveolar bone resorption, which eventually leads to loss of teeth. To study the role of the broad-spectrum protease plasmin in periodontitis, we examined the oral health of plasminogen (Plg)-deficient mice. In wild-type mice, the periodontium was unaffected at all time points studied; in Plg-deficient mice, periodontitis progressed rapidly, within 20 weeks. Morphological study results of Plg-deficient mice revealed detachment of gingival tissue, resorption of the cementum layer, formation of necrotic tissue, and severe alveolar bone degradation. IHC staining showed massive infiltration of neutrophils in the periodontal tissues. Interestingly, doubly deficient mice, lacking both tissue- and urokinase-type plasminogen activators, developed periodontal disease similar to that in Pig-deficient mice; however, mice lacking only tissue- or urokinase-type plasminogen activator remained healthy. Supplementation by injection of Pig-deficient mice with human plasminogen for 10 days led to necrotic tissue absorption, inflammation subsidence, and full regeneration of gum tissues. Notably, there was also partial regrowth of degraded alveolar bone. Taken together, our results show that plasminogen is essential for the maintenance of a healthy periodontium and plays an important role in combating the spontaneous development of chronic periodontitis. Moreover, reversal to healthy status after supplementation of Pig-deficient mice with plasminogen suggests the possibility of using plasminogen for therapy of periodontal diseases. (Am J Pathol 2011, 179:819-828; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.05.003)
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| 8. |
- Sulniute, Rima, 1978-
(author)
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Plasminogen in periodontitis and wound repair
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The plasminogen activator (PA) system plays a critical role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as fibrinolysis, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, wound healing, inflammation, and cancer. The key component of the PA system is plasmin, a broad-spectrum serine protease that is derived from its inactive form, plasminogen. The first aim of this thesis research was to determine the role of plasminogen in periodontitis, an inflammatory oral disease. The second aim was to explore the molecular mechanism by which plasminogen contributes to wound healing in the skin. Finally, the third aim was to investigate the possibility of using plasminogen as a treatment for skin wounds, especially for chronic wounds, such as diabetic wounds.Periodontitis is an oral disease that involves a bacterial infection, the inflammation of the periodontium, and the degradation of gum tissue and alveolar bone. This disease is irreversible and, in severe cases, can lead to loss of teeth due to the degradation of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. To study the effects of the PA system on oral health, we monitored the development of periodontitis in plasminogen-deficient mice and plasminogen activator-deficient mice. In control wild-type mice, periodontitis did not occur. However, in plasminogen-deficient mice, periodontitis developed rapidly within 20 weeks after birth. The morphological studies of plasminogen-deficient mice showed the detachment of gingival tissues, resorption of the cementum layer, formation of necrotic tissue, and severe alveolar bone degradation. Immunohistochemical staining showed the massive infiltration of neutrophils into the periodontal tissues. Interestingly, doubly deficient mice lacking both tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type PA (uPA) developed periodontitis at a similar rate as the plasminogen-deficient mice, but mice lacking only tPA or uPA remained healthy. The intravenous injection of human plasminogen for 10 days into plasminogen-deficient mice led to the absorption of necrotic tissue, the diminution of inflammation, and the full regeneration of gum tissues. Notably, there was also partial re-growth of degraded alveolar bone.The wound healing process consists of three overlapping phases: inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling. It has been postulated that the PA system plays an integral role in this process, and a lack of plasminogen leads to delayed wound healing in mice. To study the role of the PA system in wound healing, we monitored the responses of wild-type, plasminogen-deficient and diabetic mice to incision and burn wounds. We found that in addition to being delayed, the wound healing process in plasminogen-deficient mice was only superficial in nature. The plasminogen-deficient mice were unable to clear the provisional matrix after the formation of granulation tissue, and an extensive fibrin deposition. In addition, persistent inflammation was still present subcutaneously in these mice 60 days after introduction of the wound.The essential role of plasminogen in burn and incision wounds healing was further confirmed by reconstitution experiments. Both intravenous and subcutaneous administrations of human plasminogen to plasminogen-deficient mice led to a restored healing rate and wound maturation that was comparable to those of wild-type mice. We also demonstrated that plasminogen supplementation of plasminogen to wild-type and diabetic mice significantly improved the healing of cutaneous wounds. Plasminogen levels were not only temporally increased during the inflammation phase but also spatially concentrated at the site of the wound. The wound-specific accumulation of plasminogen after systemic supplementation is mainly due to the transportation of plasminogen by neutrophils and macrophages. Furthermore, the increased expression of interleukin 6 and the enhanced phosphorylation of STAT3 were observed in the wound after plasminogen treatment. These data indicate that plasminogen acts as a key pro-inflammatory regulator. It enhances pro-inflammatory cytokines and activates intracellular signaling events during wound healing.Taken together, the data obtained during the course of this project indicate that plasminogen is crucial for oral health in mice. We also demonstrate that supplementation of plasminogen to mice with periodontitis results in healing of gum tissues and significant re-growth of alveolar bone. Therefore, plasminogen may be a new drug that will be competitive to currently used oral health-related procedures, such as implantations and surgeries. Furthermore, we demonstrate for the first time that, in addition to its role in extracellular matrix degradation, plasminogen is a key pro-inflammatory factor that accumulates at the wound and potentiates the early inflammatory response during wound healing. Based on our findings, we propose the administration of plasminogen as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of different types of wounds, including chronic diabetic wounds.
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