Regulation of plasmin mediated extracellular matrix degradation by vascular endothelial cells is important in the development of angiogenesis. The aim was to determine whether transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) affected the regulation of components of the plasminogen system by human retinal endothelial cells, in order to define more clearly the role of TGF-beta in retinal angiogenesis in the context of diabetes mellitus.