Importance, localization and functional properties of the cell-associated form of plasminogen activator in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

In inflammatory macrophages, plasminogen activator exists in two active forms, a soluble form released into the extracellular medium and a cell-associated form. This communication describes some properties of the cellular form of plasminogen activator, in intact macrophages and in cell lysates. Cellular plasminogen activator is a membrane protein, associated with the outer face of the plasma membrane; in intact macrophages, it participates in the activation of exogenous plasminogen and, thus, has to be considered as an ectoenzyme. A plasminogen activator activity can be detected in cell lysates (macrophage monolayers lysed in 0.1% Triton X-100) only when plasmin production is followed by the use of small synthetic substrates because a soluble inhibitor, released during extraction, blocks plasmin fibrinolytic activity. In these lysates, plasminogen activator molecules exist as high molecular weight unstable complexes exhibiting a high affinity for plasminogen.