Influence of fibrin structure on the formation and maintenance of capillary-like tubules by human microvascular endothelial cells.

Fibrin is a temporary matrix which not only covers a wound, but also provides a structure for invading cells during healing. Changes in the polymerization conditions before gelation of the clot affect the structure of fibrin and thus might influence the interaction with invading cells. Therefore we tested whether changes in the fibrin structure influence the formation of capillary-like tubular structures by human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVEC) in an in vitro angiogenesis model. Opaque [125I]fibrin structures prepared at pH 7.0, fibrin matrices at pH 7.4 and transparent [125I]fibrin structures prepared at pH 7.8 were neutralized (pH 7.4) before seeding hMVEC on top of them in confluent density. Endothelial cells were stimulated with a growth factor [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)165] and a cytokine [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] to induce the u-PA/u-PA receptor-dependent formation of capillary-like tubular structures. The formation of these structures was quantified by determining the length of the invasive structures by image analysis and by measuring the accompanying [125I]fibrin degradation. Ingrowth of tubular structures proceeded at a faster rate in opaque matrices consisting of thick fibrin fibers as compared to transparent gels with fine fibrin fibers. The more rapid ingrowth of tubular structures in opaque fibrin gels induced by bFGF/TNF-alpha or VEGF165/TNF-alpha was accompanied by a larger extent of fibrin degradation. Both processes were inhibited by aprotinin and epsilon-aminocaproic acid indicating the involvement of plasmin. They were also inhibited by anti-u-PA or anti-u-PA receptor IgG, but not by anti-t-PA IgG, suggesting the involvement of cell-bound u-PA activity. However, in the opaque fibrin gels, the tubular structures dissolved upon prolonged incubation due to excessive fibrin degradation. Simulation of hMVEC with bFGF alone did not induce tubular structures, but ca used a high degree of t-PA- and plasmin-dependent fibrin lysis, and, after several days, a partial detachment of sheets of cells. Gradual inhibition of the excessive fibrin degradation by a series of aprotinin concentrations did not lead to tube formation in bFGF-treated cells. These data indicate that the formation and stability of tubular structures by hMVEC in fibrin is accompanied by controlled fibrinolysis and depends critically not only on cell-bound u-PA-dependent plasminogen activation, but also on the fibrin structure. Because the fibrin structure is largely influenced by the conditions in which fibrin has been polymerized, these conditions may have considerable impact on angiogenesis during wound healing and vascularization of tumour stroma.