Bimodal relationship between invasion of the amniotic membrane and plasminogen activator activity

Three human tumor cell lines, Bowes' melanoma, HT1080 and Osmond cells, were characterized for their ability to invade the amniotic membrane and their production of plasminogen activator. Bowes' melanoma cells, which release large amounts of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), were poorly invasive on the amniotic membrane. The addition of plasmin inhibitors, anti-tPA antibody or tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) to the amnion assay enhanced invasiveness. The depletion of plasminogen from the growth medium also enhanced the degree of invasiveness. Similarly, HT1080 cells, which produce high levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), were poorly invasive under standard conditions but invasion was enhanced by plasmin inhibitors or anti-uPA antibodies. Conversely, Osmond cells, which produce low levels of uPA, were very invasive on the amniotic membrane. Invasion by these cells was blocked by the addition of plasmin inhibitors or anti-uPA antibodies to the amnion assay. These results suggest that invasion requires only a minimum level of PA activity and that, as PA production exceeds this optimal level, the degree of invasion decreases. We propose that high levels of plasmin, generated by the tPA or uPA secreted by the cells, may cause uncontrolled matrix degradation and interrupt the interaction of cells and matrix in the early stages of invasion. The inhibition of excessive plasmin activity may stabilize and increase cell matrix contacts and result in an enhancement of invasion.