Fucoidan is a sulfated poly(L-fucopyranose) present in brown marine algae. In this study, we examined the effect of native and chemically oversulfated fucoidans (NF and OSF) on the tube structure formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) on the basement membrane preparation, Matrigel. Unlike NF, OSF significantly decreased the tube formation: maximal inhibition (50% of control) was obtained with 25 micrograms/ml. The OSF effect was mediated, at least in part, through the inhibition of HUVEC migration, as determined by the ability to block chemotaxis in a Transwell chamber assay. Quantitative immunoreactive assays for tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the culture media indicated that OSF (25 micrograms/ml) increased the accumulation of PAI-1 antigen, but not of t-PA antigen, 2.7-fold compared with control. The release of both antigens by HUVEC was slightly affected by the addition of NF. Determination of the media levels of type IV collagenase activity and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) antigen showed that OSF (25 micrograms/ml) decreased the collagenolytic activity by 50% compared to the control, without alteration of the TIMP antigen level. However, the collagenase inhibition by OSF was not observed in an assay system using purified enzyme. NF had no effect on collagenase activity or TIMP-1 antigen levels. These results indicate that the introduction of sulfate groups into NF enables it to effectively inhibit the formation of capillary-like structures by HUVEC on Matrigel by reducing the basement membrane destruction and cell migration. It is involved as at least one of the mechanisms by which the OSF-induced increase in HUVEC PAI-1 decreases plasmin formation and suppresses the following pro-collagenase activation.