Thromb Haemost 1990; 63(02): 251-258
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1645204
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Internalization of Recombinant Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator by Isolated Rat Hepatocytes is via Coated Pits

Authors

  • Gary J Marks

    1   The Department of Experimental Pathology, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Timothy K Hart

    1   The Department of Experimental Pathology, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Glenn F Rush

    2   The Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Sylvia T Hoffstein

    1   The Department of Experimental Pathology, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Kei-Lai L Fong

    3   The Department of Drug Metabolism, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Peter J Bugelski

    1   The Department of Experimental Pathology, Smith Kline and French Laboratories, King of Prussia, PA, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received 15 September 1989

Accepted after revision 07 December 1989

Publication Date:
02 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The uptake and internalization of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) by freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated. Electron microscopic examination of the uptake of t-PA-colloidal gold conjugates (t-PA-gold) by isolated rat hepatocytes showed that t-PA-gold was internalized via coated pits. This was inhibited with excess t-PA. Uptake of 125I-t-PA by isolated rat hepatocytes was a rapid, saturable, and specific process. The initial rate of specific uptake was 0.1 fmol/106 cells per min. The specific uptake plateaued at 1.4 fmol/106 cells by 30 min and declined to 0.8 fmol/106 cells at 2 h. Depletion of cellular ATP by 85-90% did not affect the initial rate of specific uptake. However, specific uptake by ATP-depleted hepatocytes at 30 min was reduced by 37%. By 2 h specific uptake by ATP-depleted hepatocytes was only 5% lower than by untreated hepatocytes, suggesting that processing of t-PA and/or its receptor is ATP-dependent. Uptake of 125I-t-PA was temperature dependent. Specific uptake was reduced by ∼20% at 22° C and by 70% at temperatures below 16° C. Finally, inhibition of coated pit formation by K+-depletion with nigericin decreased the uptake of 125I-t-PA. This inhibition was shown to be K+-specific since treatment with nigericin in the presence of K+ did not inhibit coated pit formation or 125I-t-PA uptake. A threshold K+-depletion level for inhibition of coated pit formation was also demonstrated since treatment under conditions that reduced cellular K+ by only 54% had no effect on coated pit formation or 125I-t-PA uptake. These data support our hypothesis that internalization of t-PA by isolated rat hepatocytes is via coated pits and suggest that uptake of t-PA is a receptor-mediated process.