Role of Cytokines in the Regulation of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Expression and Secretion in Newly Differentiated Subcutaneous Human Adipocytes

• Published in: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 1682 - 1687
• Main Authors: Birgel, M, Gottschling-Zeller, H, Röhrig, K, Hauner, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Heart Association, Inc 01.06.2000
• Subjects: Adipocytes - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cytokines - pharmacology; Cytokines - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Interleukin-1 - administration & dosage; Interleukin-1 - pharmacology; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - genetics; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 - metabolism; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Transforming Growth Factor beta - administration & dosage; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta - pharmacology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - administration & dosage; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - pharmacology
• ISSN: 1079-5642; 1524-4636
• DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.20.6.1682

Elevated levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are characteristic for obesity and are associated with increased risk of thromboembolic complications. PAI-1 recently was reported to be expressed and secreted by human adipocytes, but little is known about regulation of PAI-1 in human adipose tissue. Therefore, we examined the effects of selected cytokines present in adipose tissue on expression and secretion of PAI-1 in in vitro, differentiated subcutaneous human adipocytes in primary culture. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) increased PAI-1 secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PAI-1 protein increased by 3.2-fold and PAI-1 mRNA by 1.9-fold after a 6-hour exposure to 400 pmol/L TGF-β1. This effect is probably mediated by TGF-β1 type 2 and 3 receptors, which were found to be expressed in cultured human adipocytes. Moreover, TNF-α and interkeukin-1β (IL-1β) also exerted a stimulatory effect on PAI-1 release and increased PAI-1 mRNA levels. As assessed by a semiquantitative reverse transcription—polymerase chain reaction technique, TGF-β1 mRNA is expressed by differentiation of human preadipocytes and is moderately upregulated by TNF-α and IL-1β. In conclusion, our results clearly indicate that TGF-β1 is a potent inducer of PAI-1 production in subcutaneous human adipocytes. In addition, data suggest that TNF-α and IL-1β also have stimulatory effects on PAI-1 protein secretion and may contribute to the elevated PAI-1 levels observed in obesity.