Pregnancy Zone Protein–Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Complexes Bind to Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein (LRP)

Abstract Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), is a serine proteinase that catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting step in the fibrinolytic cascade. Its plasma activity is determined by the rate of release into the bloodstream, the rate of inhibition by plasminogen-activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and the rate of hepatic clearance. Two receptor systems contribute to the clearance of t-PA: the mannose receptor and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) that removes free t-PA as well as t-PA–PAI-1 complexes from the blood. During pregnancy a significant rise in the plasma levels of pregnancy zone protein (PZP) is observed, while α 2 -macroglobulin (α 2 -M) remains constant. Interestingly, the fibrinolytic activity is decreased during this period. In this context, we have recently demonstrated the in vitro formation of PZP–t-PA complexes. Here, we purified LRP from human placenta by affinity chromatography and then analyzed the binding specificity and affinity of PZP–proteinase complexes to the receptor by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Our results clearly established that the binding of PZP–t-PA complexes to LRP was specific, saturable, and with K d = 337 ± 31 nM. Moreover, by using the same EIA, we further observed that this binding was inhibited by receptor-associated protein. These data suggest that PZP, by binding to t-PA and promoting its clearance via LRP, might contribute in vivo to the downregulation of the fibrinolytic activity during pregnancy.