Plasmin stimulates expression of endothelin-1 mRNA and endothelin-1 release in vascular endothelial cells

Incubation of cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (ECs) with plasmin resulted in a significant and concentration-dependent increase in endothelin-1 (ET-1) release from the cells. This increasing effect was completely inhibited by aprotinin but not by tranexamic acid, thereby suggesting that the plasmin-induced stimulation of ET-1 release requires the catalytic site but not the lysine binding site, in plasmin molecule. Plasmin stimulated the expression of prepro ET-1 mRNA in ECs. Actinomycin D chase experiments suggested that enhanced stability of ET-1 mRNA could not account for the above plasmin-induced stimulation. It is likely that plasmin potentiates the endothelial ET-1 production, probably by the stimulation of ET-1 gene transcription. It remains to be seen whether the endothelial ET-1 production is enhanced after the thrombolytic therapy.