Transforming growth factor-beta modulates plasminogen activator activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 expression in human keratinocytes in vitro.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional mediator with effects on cellular growth, differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism. Because TGF-beta stimulates fibronectin expression in cultured human keratinocytes, we wished to determine whether it might also affect ECM degradation through the plasminogen activator (PA)-plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) system. Immunofluorescence of human keratinocytes using a monospecific antiserum to type 1 PAI (PAI-1) showed enhanced cellular and ECM staining when they were cultured in the presence of TGF-beta. The antiserum also identified an Mr 50,000 protein in conditioned media that was markedly enhanced by TGF-beta. A corresponding stimulation of PAI-1 mRNA was demonstrated by quantitative RNA blot analysis. Total plasminogen activating activity of conditioned medium was markedly decreased by TGF-beta. Zymography showed this to be at least partially due to decreased secreted urokinase activity. TGF-beta may play an important role in stabilizing the provisional matrix synthesized by keratinocytes in healing wounds.