UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN-ACTIVATOR IN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS DURING ACUTE-INFLAMMATION OF THE APPENDIX

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  • 1 October 1989
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 135  (4) , 631-636
Abstract
Urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators (u-PA and t-PA) were identified immunohistochemically in normal and inflamed human appendices by means of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. In addition, extracts of the tissues were analyzed for u-PA and t-PA by ELISA. Twelve appendices (five normal and seven with acute inflammation) were analyzed. In the normal appendices, there was a strong staining of the endothelial cells for t-PA, whereas there was negative staining for u-PA. In contrast, the endothelial cells in the inflammed appendices showed u-PA immunoreactivity, and negative or very weak reactions for t-PA. In the inflammed appendix, there was also a labeling of u-PA in fibroblast-like cells and in interstitial areas. The specificity of the staining was supported by a variety of staining controls and also by analysis of tissue extracts with ELISA, showing that on the average the inflamed appendices contained more than twice as much u-PA per mg of protein as the normal appendices and less than one third of the amount of t-PA.