Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Protects Mice Against Cardiac Fibrosis by Inhibiting Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator-mediated Plasminogen Activation

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is known to protect mice against cardiac fibrosis. It has been speculated that PAI-1 may regulate cardiac fibrosis by inactivating urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and ultimately plasmin (Pm) generation. However, the in vivo role of PAI-1 in inactivating uPA and limiting the generation of Pm during cardiac fibrosis remains to be established. The objective of this study was to determine if the cardioprotective effect of PAI-1 is mediated through its ability to directly regulate urokinase -mediated activation of plasminogen (Pg). An Angiotensin II (AngII)-aldosterone (Ald) infusion mouse model of hypertension was utilised in this study. Four weeks after AngII-Ald infusion, PAI-1-deficient (PAI-1(−/−)) mice developed severe cardiac fibrosis. However, a marked reduction in cardiac fibrosis was observed in PAI-1(−/−)/uPA(−/−) double knockout mice that was associated with reduced inflammation, lower expression levels of TGF-β and proteases associated with tissue remodeling, and diminished Smad2 signaling. Moreover, total ablation of cardiac fibrosis was observed in PAI-1(−/−) mice that express inactive plasmin (Pm) but normal levels of zymogen Pg (PAI-1(−/−)/Pg(S743A/S743A)). Our findings indicate that PAI-1 protects mice from hypertension-induced cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting the generation of active Pm.