The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system, which may be activated via the plasminogen (Plg)/plasmin system, is claimed to play a role in matrix degradation and smooth muscle cell migration. To test the role of both systems, expression of fibrinolytic and gelatinolytic activity was quantified after vascular injury in mice with targeted inactivation of tissue-type Plg activator (tPA-/-), urokinas...

Despite decades of research on wound healing, effective biologic agents for the treatment of chronic wounds, especially diabetic wounds, are still lacking. In the present study, we report that the inert plasma protein plasminogen (plg) acts as a key regulatory molecule that potentiates wound healing in mice. Early in the healing process, plg bound to inflammatory cells is transported to the wou...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the diagnostic value and measure interreader agreement of the pancreaticolienal gap (PLG) in the assessment of imaging features of pancreatic carcinoma (PC) on contrast-enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (CE-MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS CE-MDCT studies in the portal venous phase were retrospectively reviewed for 66 patient...

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is common in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may contribute to cerebral hemorrhage. We previously demonstrated that tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen (PLG) accumulated at the periphery of compact amyloid-cored plaques and in the walls of CAA-containing blood vessels in the brains of Tg2576 mice, a widely used AD mouse model. We had a...

The mechanism of action subserving the potential anti-Parkinsonian properties of L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG) was investigated in behavioural and neurochemical models of dopaminergic function in the rat. Acute administration of PLG (20 and 40 mg kg-1 SC) failed to alter appreciably the intensity of the cataleptic response elicited by haloperidol (3 mg kg-1 IP). By contrast, chronic PLG t...

A variety of stable, small-molecule peptidomimetic ligands have been developed to elucidate the mechanism by which the neuropeptide Pro-Leu-Gly-NH(2) (PLG) modulates dopaminergic neurotransmission. Photoaffinity labeling ligands based upon PLG peptidomimetics have been used to establish that PLG binds to the D(2) dopamine receptor at a site that is different from the orthosteric site, thus maki...

Implants formed of metals, bioceramics, or polymers may provide an alternative to autografts for treating large bone defects. However, limitations to each material motivate the examination of composites to capitalize on the beneficial aspects of individual components and to address the need for conferring bioactive behavior to the polymer matrix. We hypothesized that the inclusion of different ...

The fibrinolytic system plays a pivotal role in the regulation of hemostasis; however, it remains unclear how and when the system is triggered to induce thrombolysis. Using intra-vital confocal fluorescence microscopy, we investigated the process of plasminogen binding to laser-induced platelet-rich microthrombi generated in the mesenteric vein of transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent pr...

An animal model of tardive dyskinesia was used to evaluate the potential antidyskinetic properties of the neuropeptide L-prolyl-L-leucyl-glycinamide (PLG). In rats, PLG administered concurrently with the neuroleptic drug haloperidol or chlorpromazine antagonized the enhancement of specific [3H]spiroperidol binding in the striatum that is associated with long-term neuroleptic treatment. The resu...