Plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor gene expression in human saphenous vein organ culture.

We describe the expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in saphenous vein culture. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are quiescent in fresh tissue, whereas these cells acquire a proliferating phenotype when venous segments are cultured in the presence of serum. t-PA and PAI-1 were localized immunohistochemically and quantified using biochemical techniques. t-PA and PAI-1 mRNA was quantified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Immunostaining showed an increase in the positivity of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) from 10-day tissue culture. Tissue sections from fresh vein showed minimal t-PA and maximal PAI-1 immunostaining. In contrast, 10-day cultures showed an increase in t-PA and a decline in PAI-1 staining. Biochemical analysis revealed a 118% increase in t-PA and a 50% decrease in PAI-1 antigen levels from 10-day tissue cultures. RT-PCR demonstrated that the mRNA encoding t-PA increased, while PAI-1 decreased after 10 days of culture. In conclusion, venous culture showed an up-regulation of t-PA and a repression of PAI-1 gene expression during SMC proliferation in the vessel wall. The PAI-1 repression observed in venous culture is in contrast to the situation observed in human atheroma. A shift in the t-PA/PAI-1 balance may have a role in vascular remodeling.