Lipoproteins inhibit the secretion of tissue plasminogen activator from human endothelial cells.

We studied the effect of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) secretion from human endothelial cells. At 1 mumol/L, Lp(a) inhibited constitutive TPA secretion by 50% and phorbol myristate acetate- and histamine-enhanced TPA secretion by 40%. LDL and HDL also depressed TPA secretion by 45% and 35% (constitutive) and 40% to 60% (stimulated). TPA mRNA levels were also examined and found to change in parallel with antigen secretion. In contrast to TPA, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 secretion and mRNA levels were not affected by any of the three lipoproteins. These results suggest that the interaction of lipoproteins with certain cell-surface binding sites may interfere with the proper production and/or secretion of TPA.