uPA, uPAR, PAI-1: key intersection of proteolytic, adhesive and chemotactic highways?

Urokinase Receptor (CD87) Aggregation Triggers Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis and Intracellular Calcium Mobilization in Mononuclear Phagocytes

Leukocytes utilize urokinase receptors (uPAR; CD87) in adhesion, migration, and matrix proteolysis. uPAR aggregate at cell-substratum interfaces and at leading edges of migrating cells, so this study was undertaken to determine whether uPAR aggregation is capable of initiating activation signaling. Monocyte-like U937 cells were labeled with fluo-3-acetoxymethyl ester to quantitate intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) by spectrofluorometry, and uPAR was aggregated by mAb cross-linking. uPAR aggregation induced highly reproducible increases in [Ca2+]i of 103.0 ± 10.9 nM (p < 0.0001) and >3-fold increases in cellular d-myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) levels. Similar increases in [Ca2+]i were also elicited by uPAR aggregation in human monocytes, but cross-linking a control IgG2a had no effect on [Ca2+]i. Selectively cross-linking uPA-occupied uPAR with an anti-uPA mAb produced smaller increases in [Ca2+]i, but fully saturating uPAR with exogenous uPA enhanced the [Ca2+]i response to equal the effect of aggregating uPAR directly. Increased [Ca2+]i was inhibited by thapsigargin, herbimycin A, and U73122, but only partially reduced by low extracellular [Ca2+], indicating that uPAR aggregation increases [Ca2+]i by activating phospholipase C through a tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanism, generating Ins(1,4,5)P3 and releasing Ca2+ from Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive intracellular stores. Cross-linking the β2 integrin CR3 could not duplicate the effect of uPAR cross-linking, and uPAR-triggered Ca2+ mobilization was not blocked by anti-CR3 mAbs. These results indicate that uPAR aggregation initiates phosphoinositide hydrolysis by mechanisms that are not strictly dependent on associated uPA or CR3.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulates tumour invasiveness in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid

The present study has investigated the functional role of the Met receptor in primary cultures of 20 papillary carcinomas and of normal thyroid cells obtained from the same patients. Normal and tumour cells grew as adherent cells, formed a confluent monolayer after 10-20 days, had epithelial morphology, and were immunoreactive for cytokeratin, vimentin, and thyroglobulin. The potential effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on cell invasiveness was investigated in Boyden chambers, using a nucleopore filter coated with Matrigel as the barrier and HGF as the chemoattractant. Tumour cells of five out of seven cases of papillary carcinoma were more responsive to HGF than the corresponding normal cells in terms of the number of migrated cells per mm(2). Involvement of the Met receptor in the HGF-induced migratory response was suggested by the observation that the agonistic anti-Met monoclonal antibody (MAb) DO-24 was equally effective. HGF did not affect the proliferative activity of thyroid cells. Under the same experimental conditions, 10 per cent fetal bovine serum (FBS) induced a two-fold increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation into normal cells and tumour cells. These findings are consistent with the possibility that HGF plays a crucial role in determining the invasiveness of tumour cells in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Leukocyte proteinases in wound healing: roles in physiologic and pathologic processes

Leukocytes express a number of proteinases which play critical roles in physiologic processes during wound healing. However, if the activity of these proteinases is uncontrolled, they can contribute to devastating tissue injury that can affect most organ systems. Until recently, little was known about the mechanisms by which leukocytes retain the activity of their proteinases within the extracellular space which contains highly effective proteinase inhibitors. Studies of the cell biology of leukocyte proteinases have begun to identify the mechanisms by which proteinases can circumvent the effects of physiologic proteinase inhibitors. Herein, we will review the cell biology of leukocyte proteinases, and we will discuss the mechanisms by which leukocyte proteinases can contribute to physiologic processes occurring during wound healing, as well as their roles in pathologic processes.

Urokinase activates calcium-dependent potassium channels in U937 cells via calcium release from intracellular stores

The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is highly expressed in the human promyelocytic cell line U937 and contributes to transmembrane signalling. However, the signalling mechanisms are poorly understood. We used the patch-clamp technique to demonstrate that urokinase (uPA) binds to uPAR and thereby stimulates Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels in U937 cells. uPA transiently increased K+ currents within 30 s. The K+ currents were pertussis toxin-sensitive and were also observed in Ca(2+)-free solution. However, when cells were dialysed with EGTA, uPA did not affect K+ currents. The intracellular Ca2+ response to uPA was independent of extracellular Ca2+, was pertussis toxin-sensitive, and was blocked by both thapsigargin and the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122. The uPA-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was independent of uPA proteolytic activity. Furthermore, uPA initiated a rapid formation of inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3]. The amino-terminal uPA fragment and uPA inactivated with diisopropyl fluorophosphate or with inhibitory antibody, elicited the same Ca2+ signal. On the other hand, Ca2+ signalling required the intact uPAR because the effects were abrogated by PtdIns-specific phospholipase C, which removes the uPAR from the cell surface. The prevention of glycosyl phosphatidylinositol moiety synthesis and interference with uPAR anchoring to the cell surface using mannosamine also abolished Ca2+ signals. Taken together, our findings indicate that uPA binds to uPAR and stimulates the production of Ins(1,4,5)P3 via a G-protein- and phospholipase C-dependent mechanism. Ins(1,4,5)P3 in turn liberates Ca2+ from intracellular stores, which leads to the stimulation of Ca(2+)-activated K+ channels.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator inhibits alpha 4 beta 1 integrin-mediated T lymphocyte adhesion to fibronectin independently of its catalytic activity

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA)/plasmin system plays an important role in promoting cell migration and invasion, an effect which is largely ascribed to the proteolytic activity of these enzymes. We investigated whether u-PA modulates integrin-dependent T lymphocyte migration and adhesion on fibronectin independently of its plasminogen activator function. Here we report that u-PA reduced the spontaneous and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced migration of peripheral blood T lymphocytes on fibronectin by 20-50%, decreased the T lymphocyte and alpha4beta1(+)/alpha5beta1(+) K562 cell adhesion on fibronectin by 30-40%, and completely suppressed integrin alpha4beta1-dependent T lymphocyte and alpha4beta1(+)/alpha5beta1(+) K562 cell adhesion to the LDV-containing 40-kDa fibronectin fragment. The u-PA receptor was not essential for this effect. In contrast, adhesion of alpha4beta1(-)/alpha5beta1(+) K562 cells to an RGD-containing fibronectin fragment was unaffected. A recombinant protein comprising the N-terminal fragment of u-PA, but lacking its proteolytic domain, had the same inhibitory effect. Decreased adhesion was neither associated with a diminished cell surface expression of alpha4beta1 nor with a suppression of alpha4beta1 ligand-binding function. Our results demonstrate that u-PA inhibits alpha4beta1- but not alpha5beta1-mediated lymphocyte/leukocyte adhesion to fibronectin independently of its proteolytic activity. This finding provides additional evidence that matrix proteinases may participate in cell adhesion and migration control independently of their matrix-degrading activity.

Urokinase induces activation and formation of Stat4 and Stat1-Stat2 complexes in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its specific receptor (uPAR) act in concert to stimulate cytoplasmic signaling machinery and transcription factors responsible for cell migration and proliferation. Recently we demonstrated that uPA activates the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat1) signaling in human vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. However, the important question whether other transcription factors of the Stat family, in addition to Stat1, are involved in the uPAR-related signaling has not been addressed. In this study, we demonstrate that Stat4 and Stat2, but not Stat3, Stat5, or Stat6, are rapidly activated in response to uPA. We demonstrate further that Stat4 and Stat2 rapidly and transiently translocate to the cell nucleus where they bind specifically to the regulatory DNA elements. Analysis of Stat complexes formed in response to uPA revealed a Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer, which lacks p48, a DNA-binding protein known to combine with Stat1-Stat2. This new uPA-induced Stat2-Stat1 heterodimer binds to GAS (the interferon-gamma activation site) distinct from the interferon-stimulated response element to which the p48 protein containing complexes generally bind. We conclude that uPA activates a specific and unusual subset of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors in human vascular smooth muscle cells that suggests a critical role of uPA in these cells.

Gene expression in individual cells: analysis using global single cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (GSC RT-PCR)

The determination of the gene expression pattern of single cells has important implications for many areas of cellular and developmental biology including lineage determination, identification of primitive stem cells and temporal gene expression patterns induced by changes in the cellular microenvironment. Global Single Cell Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (GSC RT-PCR) enables the study of single cell gene expression patterns. Initial observations of significant heterogeneity among single cells derived from a population of cells prompted us to determine how much of this observed heterogeneity was due to the intrinsic variation within the method. In this paper we discuss the sensitivity of GSC RT-PCR for analysis of differences in gene expression between single cells and, in particular, detail the amount of variation generated by the method itself. We found that most of the intrinsic variation in the method occurred in the PCR step. The total variation induced by the method was in the range of 5 fold. While we have determined that there is a five fold methodological variation in GSC RT-PCR, any method which use its components (including generation of cDNAs for microarray analysis) is likely to be affected by such experimental variability, which could limit the interpretation of the resulting data.

Src-Dependence and Pertussis-Toxin Sensitivity of Urokinase Receptor-Dependent Chemotaxis and Cytoskeleton Reorganization in Rat Smooth Muscle Cells

The catalytically inactive precursor of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (pro-u-PA) induced a chemotactic response in rat smooth muscle cells (RSMC) through binding to the membrane receptor of urokinase (u-PA receptor [u-PAR]). A soluble form of u-PAR activated by chymotrypsin cleavage as well as a peptide located between domain 1 and 2 of u-PAR reproduced the effect of pro-u-PA on cell migration. The chemotactic pro-u-PA effect correlates with a dramatic reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, of adhesion plaques, and with major cell shape changes in RSMC. Pro-u-PA induced a decrease in stress fiber content, membrane ruffling, actin ring formation, and disruption leading to the characteristic elongated cell shape of motile cells with an actin semi-ring located close to the leading edge of cells. u-PAR effects on both chemotaxis and cytoskeleton were sensitive to pertussis toxin and, hence, possibly require G proteins. u-PAR effects are accompanied by a relocation of u-PAR, vitronectin receptor (VNR) vβ3, β1 integrin subunit, and Src tyrosine kinase to the leading membrane of migrating cells. In conclusion, our data show that pro-u-PA, via binding to u-PAR, controls a signaling pathway, regulated by tyrosine kinases and possibly G proteins, leading to cell cytoskeleton reorganization and cell migration.

Src-Dependence and Pertussis-Toxin Sensitivity of Urokinase Receptor-Dependent Chemotaxis and Cytoskeleton Reorganization in Rat Smooth Muscle Cells

The catalytically inactive precursor of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (pro-u-PA) induced a chemotactic response in rat smooth muscle cells (RSMC) through binding to the membrane receptor of urokinase (u-PA receptor [u-PAR]). A soluble form of u-PAR activated by chymotrypsin cleavage as well as a peptide located between domain 1 and 2 of u-PAR reproduced the effect of pro-u-PA on cell migration. The chemotactic pro-u-PA effect correlates with a dramatic reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, of adhesion plaques, and with major cell shape changes in RSMC. Pro-u-PA induced a decrease in stress fiber content, membrane ruffling, actin ring formation, and disruption leading to the characteristic elongated cell shape of motile cells with an actin semi-ring located close to the leading edge of cells. u-PAR effects on both chemotaxis and cytoskeleton were sensitive to pertussis toxin and, hence, possibly require G proteins. u-PAR effects are accompanied by a relocation of u-PAR, vitronectin receptor (VNR) vβ3, β1 integrin subunit, and Src tyrosine kinase to the leading membrane of migrating cells. In conclusion, our data show that pro-u-PA, via binding to u-PAR, controls a signaling pathway, regulated by tyrosine kinases and possibly G proteins, leading to cell cytoskeleton reorganization and cell migration.

5-Oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid induces important eosinophil transmigration through basement membrane components: comparison of normal and asthmatic eosinophils

Basement membrane transmigration is an important step in tissue recruitment of eosinophils into inflamed tissue. Recent reports showed that this phenomenon is modulated by platelet-activating factor (PAF) in combination with cytokines and proteinases. We investigated the in vitro efficacy of 5-oxo-6,8,11, 14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxo-ETE), a metabolite of arachidonic acid and known as a potent eosinophil chemotactic factor, in promoting the transmigration of blood eosinophils from normal and asthmatic subjects through a Matrigel basement membrane. 5-Oxo-ETE proved to be a more potent (> 10-fold) inducer of eosinophil transmigration than PAF, and this effect was similar in cells from normal and asthmatic subjects (82.0 +/- 3.7% and 88.1 +/- 3.7%, respectively). Moreover, 5-oxo-ETE was active in the absence of interleukin (IL)-5, although this cytokine amplified the effect of 5-oxo-ETE from 61.3 +/- 3.3% to 92.8 +/- 1.8% (p = 0.003). The membrane receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (CD87), a serine protease, was observed on eosinophils, and its expression was increased by IL-5. The inhibition of both metalloproteinases (MMP) and plasmin/plasminogen complex with inhibitor or monoclonal antibodies decreased cell transmigration by about 50%. Combination of an MMP inhibitor with anti-CD87 antibodies had no additive effect. These data show that 5-oxo-ETE is an efficient promoter of eosinophil transmigration in vitro, and is much more potent in this respect than PAF. The data suggest that 5-oxo-ETE could play an important role in eosinophil recruitment in vivo. Moreover, they demonstrate that in addition to MMP, the plasmin/plasminogen system could be involved in eosinophil transmigration.

UVB increases urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression

Keratinocytes synthesize and secrete urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which binds to its specific receptor on keratinocytes. When bound to urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor, urokinase-type plasminogen activator proteolytically converts surface bound plasminogen to plasmin, which in turn cleaves many extracellular components leading to pericellular proteolysis. The activation of the urokinase system has been observed during re-epithelialization of skin wounds and in lesions of the autoimmune blistering skin disease pemphigus. As pemphigus is photoinducible, we investigated the effect of ultraviolet B on urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor expression in the epidermal keratinocyte cell line A431. Ultraviolet B increased cellular and secreted urokinase-type plasminogen activator protein (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor cell surface expression (flow cytometry) 24 h postirradiation. Northern blot analysis indicated that ultraviolet B increased urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor mRNA. Compared with a more rapid mRNA induction by epidermal growth factor (maximal after 4 h) the ultraviolet B response was maximal after 24 h and prolonged up to 36 h. The mRNA induction was not dependent on protein synthesis as judged by cycloheximide incubation. Ultraviolet B did not influence urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor mRNA stability (actinomycin D incubation). A transiently transfected chloramphenicol acetyltransferase-reporter construct containing a -398/+51 urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor promoter fragment was activated when cells were exposed to ultraviolet B. This induction was almost completely abolished by mutating a -182/-176 AP-1 binding sequence. Ultraviolet B increased the binding capacity at this AP-1 motif in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. These data identify a distinct transcriptional mechanism by which ultraviolet B induces urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor. The epidermal induction of components of the proteolytic urokinase system by ultraviolet B may help explain the photoinducibility of pemphigus lesions.

Characterization of Cell-Associated Plasminogen Activation Catalyzed by Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator, but Independent of Urokinase Receptor (uPAR, CD87)

The 55-kD urokinase (uPA) receptor (uPAR, CD87) is capable of binding uPA and may be involved in regulating cell-associated plasminogen activation and pericellular proteolysis. While investigating the relationship between uPAR levels and plasmin generation, we found that uPA-catalyzed plasminogen activation is stimulated by cells which do not express uPAR. This uPAR-independent mechanism appears to be at least as effective in vitro as uPAR-dependent stimulation, such that stimulation on the order of 30-fold was observed, resulting from improvements in both apparent kcat and apparent Km. The mechanism depends on simultaneous binding of both uPA and plasminogen to the cell and requires the presence of the amino-terminal fragment (ATF), available in single chain and two chain high-molecular-weight uPA, but not low-molecular-weight uPA. Stimulation was observed in all leukemic cell lines investigated at similar optimum concentrations of 106to 107 cells/mL and may be more general. A mechanism is proposed whereby uPA can associate with binding sites on the cell surface of lower affinity, but higher capacity than uPAR, but these are sufficient to stimulate plasmin generation even at subphysiologic uPA concentrations. This mechanism is likely to operate under conditions commonly used for in vitro studies and may have some significance in vivo.

Characterization of Cell-Associated Plasminogen Activation Catalyzed by Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator, but Independent of Urokinase Receptor (uPAR, CD87)

The 55-kD urokinase (uPA) receptor (uPAR, CD87) is capable of binding uPA and may be involved in regulating cell-associated plasminogen activation and pericellular proteolysis. While investigating the relationship between uPAR levels and plasmin generation, we found that uPA-catalyzed plasminogen activation is stimulated by cells which do not express uPAR. This uPAR-independent mechanism appears to be at least as effective in vitro as uPAR-dependent stimulation, such that stimulation on the order of 30-fold was observed, resulting from improvements in both apparent kcat and apparent Km. The mechanism depends on simultaneous binding of both uPA and plasminogen to the cell and requires the presence of the amino-terminal fragment (ATF), available in single chain and two chain high-molecular-weight uPA, but not low-molecular-weight uPA. Stimulation was observed in all leukemic cell lines investigated at similar optimum concentrations of 106to 107 cells/mL and may be more general. A mechanism is proposed whereby uPA can associate with binding sites on the cell surface of lower affinity, but higher capacity than uPAR, but these are sufficient to stimulate plasmin generation even at subphysiologic uPA concentrations. This mechanism is likely to operate under conditions commonly used for in vitro studies and may have some significance in vivo.

Urokinase receptor-dependent and -independent p56/59(hck) activation state is a molecular switch between myelomonocytic cell motility and adherence

Anchorage-independent myelomonocytic cells acquire adherence within minutes of differentiation stimuli, such as the proteolytically inactive N-terminal fragment of urokinase binding to its cognate glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored receptor. Here, we report that urokinase-treated differentiating U937 monocyte-like cells exhibit a rapid and transient inhibition of p56/59(hck) and p55(fgr) whereas no changes in the activity of other Src family kinases, such as p53/56(lyn) and p59(fyn) were observed. U937 transfectants expressing a kinase-defective (Lys267 to Met) p56/59(hck) variant exhibit enhanced adhesiveness and a marked F-actin redistribution in thin protruding structures. Conversely, urokinase as well as expression of wild-type or constitutively active (Tyr499 to Phe) p56/59(hck) stimulates the directional migration of uninduced U937 cells. Accordingly, expression of constitutively active or kinase inactive p56/59(hck) selectively prevents urokinase receptor-dependent induction of either adhesion or motility, indicating that a specific activation state of p56/59(hck) is required for each cell response. In conclusion, modulation of the intracellular p56/59(hck) tyrosine kinase activity switches cell motility towards adherence, providing a mutually exclusive mechanism to regulate these properties during monocyte/macrophage differentiation in vivo.

In vivo analysis of the state of the human uPA enhancer following stimulation by TPA

We have analysed in vivo the -2.0 kb enhancer of the human urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene in HepG2 cells, in which gene expression can be induced by phorbol esters. The results reveal that, within the regulatory region, the enhancer, the silencer and the minimal promoter become hypersensitive to deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) upon induction of transcription. The hypersensitivity of the enhancer can be reversed after removal of the inducer. In vivo footprinting analysis indicates that all the cis-acting elements of the enhancer, previously identified in vitro, are occupied in vivo upon 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulation of HepG2 cells. Micrococcal nuclease (MNase) cleavage of this region fails to reveal discrete nucleosomal boundaries in vivo in close proximity of the enhancer, either before or after stimulation. Furthermore, this region does not lose its nucleosomal configuration after TPA induction of transcription. An approximately 600 bp long region around the enhancer becomes more, but not fully, accessible to restriction endonucleases upon stimulation. A time-course experiment shows that this accessibility reaches a plateau after a 1 h TPA treatment suggesting the persistent presence of nucleosomes. These results indicate that TPA induces the binding of transcription factors to the uPA enhancer without chromatin remodelling of this region.

Cytokine-regulated urokinase-type-plasminogen-activator (uPA) production by human breast fibroblasts in vitro

It has been shown that, in breast stroma, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA is predominantly expressed by myofibroblasts located at the invasive areas of the tumor. To examine which factors present in a tumor environment are candidates responsible for the induction of these uPA-producing myofibroblasts, we studied in vitro the capacity of a paired panel of normal and tumor-derived human breast fibroblasts to produce uPA protein and the myofibroblast marker alpha-smooth-muscle-actin (alpha-SMA) in response to various cytokines implicated in the process of tissue-remodeling during malignant transformation. We found that fibroblasts produced increased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to a-FGF, b-FGF, EGF, PDGF-BB, and IFN-gamma, were unaffected in this respect by IL-6, M-CSF, GM-CSF and Oncostatin M, and produced decreased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, IGF-I, and IGF-II. None of these cytokines were able to induce a striking increase in the fraction of alpha-SMA-positive fibroblasts. On the other hand, 25 pM TGFbeta1 increased the fraction of alpha-SMA-positive fibroblasts 5-fold in both normal and tumor-tissue-derived fibroblasts. Nonetheless, the normal-derived fibroblasts were unaffected in their uPA-producing capacity by TGFbeta1, and the tumor-derived fibroblasts produced decreased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to this cytokine, implying that at least in vitro the myofibroblast phenotype is not a prerequisite for the production of uPA by human breast fibroblasts. In addition, we established that the basal-uPA-production of both normal and tumor-derived fibroblasts was increased by autocrinely produced b-FGF-like activity, and that the basal-uPA-production of at least the normal-derived fibroblasts was decreased by autocrinely produced IGF-like activity. Altogether, our data suggest an active role for fibroblasts in the process of uPA-directed breast tumor proteolysis.

Urokinase-type plasminogen-activator and normal thyroid cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPA-R) focuses the proteolytic activity of its ligand, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), on the cell surface, and can also act as an adhesion receptor for vitronectin (VTN). uPA increases uPA-R affinity for VTN and is also able to cleave its receptor. We have previously shown that uPA-R is involved in the adhesion of normal thyroid cells to VTN. In the present report, we have investigated the effect of uPA on normal thyroid cell adhesion to some extracellular matrix (ECM) components. We show that a short-term treatment with uPA does not change normal thyroid cell adhesion to fibronectin (FNT), collagen (CGN), laminin (LMN) and VTN. The prolongation of uPA treatment increases cell adhesion to VTN, and, less efficiently, to other ECM components. Since the short term uPA treatment causes a partial cleavage of uPA-R, that does not increase with time, the observed increase in cell adhesivity cannot be related to the cleavage of uPA-R. We show that the adhesion improvement after the long term uPA treatment is instead due to a strong increase of the cell-surface expression of the integrin beta3 and a moderate increase of the integrin alpha(v). Both alpha(v) beta3 and alpha(v) beta1 are integrinic receptors for VTN.

Stable antisense RNA expression neutralizes the activity of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein and promotes urokinase accumulation in the medium of an astrocytic tumor cell line

Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) binds and internalizes multiple ligands that are structurally and functionally diverse. However, the effects of LRP on cellular phenotype remain unclear. To study LRP in human astrocytic tumor cells, we designed LRP antisense RNA expression constructs in which the antisense cDNA fragment was expressed under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. U-1242 MG astrocytic tumor cells were transfected with the antisense constructs and cloned from single cells to yield multiple cell lines with decreased LRP expression. Further studies were performed with two cell lines in which LRP antigen was completely eliminated (L(alpha)42) or substantially decreased (Lalpha47), as determined by Western blot analysis. Untransfected U-1242 MG cells and cells that were stably transfected with empty vector (pBK-CMV) bound activated alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) in a specific and saturable manner. The Bmax was about 5000 receptors/cell. Lalpha42 cells did not bind alpha2M, and binding was decreased by >60% in Lalpha47 cells. Lalpha42 and Lalpha47 cells also demonstrated reduced susceptibility to the cytotoxin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, and accumulated greatly increased levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in conditioned medium. The accumulation of uPA demonstrates a major role for LRP in the catabolism of this protein in astrocytic tumor cells. The LRP-deficient cell lines, developed using antisense technology, represent a new model system for studying LRP function in astrocytes.

Modulatory proteins and processes in alliance with immune cells, mediators, and extracellular proteins in renal interstitial fibrosis

A synopsis of the many aspects and factors that contribute to renal tubulo-interstitial fibrosis is presented. The role of fibrogenic cytokines and the conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts are described. It is emphasized that oxygen radicals cause fibroblasts to generate collagen. The properties of those accessory modulatory proteins that affect the behavior of cells in the interstitium are considered and how matrix for ensuing fibrosis is laid down. Understanding the extracellular matrix proteins and these modulatory proteins is important because their behavior can now be modified by means of antisense oligonucleotides.

Plasminogen activators and matrix metalloproteases, mediators of extracellular proteolysis in inflammatory demyelination of the central nervous system

The role of extracellular proteolysis in inflammatory demyelination, originally hypothesized as a mechanism for myelin degradation, is increasingly recognized as a pathogenetic step and as a target for therapy in human demyelinating disease. The activation of ubiquitous plasminogen by urokinase (u-PA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), which is associated with various neuropathologies, including multiple sclerosis (MS), is the key initiator of the activation cascade of the four classes of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs): collagenases, stromelysins, membrane-type metalloproteinases and gelatinases. Spatiotemporal protein and mRNA expression of gelatinase B (MMP-9) and matrilysin (MMP-7) have been documented respectively in MS lesions and in the central nervous system (CNS) of animals developing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). A close interaction between disease-promoting cytokines and extracellularly acting proteases is deduced from in vitro experiments. Cytokines regulate the balance between the proteases and their respective specific inhibitors at the transcriptional level, while proteolysis is a reciprocal mechanism to enhance (by activation) or downmodulate (by degradation) the specific activities of cytokines. In acute inflammation the contribution of chemokines is hierarchically organised, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and related CXC-chemokines inducing a rapid influx of neutrophils in the acute lesions and an instantaneous exocytosis of gelatinase B granules. This results in sudden and extensive damage to the CNS. In chronic disease involving autoimmune processes CC-chemokines that act mainly on mononuclear cell types appear to be more strictly regulated. As MMPs modify matrix components, promoting extravasation of lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages and have the potential to generate encephalitogenic peptides from myelin basic protein, novel treatments for demyelinating diseases may be predicted by specific inhibition of these enzymes. Here we review plasminogen activators and the MMP family, in the context of their role in CNS inflammation and demyelination and highlight studies in which intervention in these protease cascades are and may be used to treat demyelinating diseases.

The urokinase receptor. A cell surface, regulated chemokine

Mice deficient for the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) gene are deficient in the recruitment of T cells and macrophages and succumb to bacterial infections. High levels of uPA or of its receptor (uPAR, CD87) are produced in human cancers and are strong prognostic indicators of relapse. Thus uPA and uPAR have a profound influence on cell migration. This set of molecules is known to regulate surface proteolysis, cell adhesion and chemotaxis. We have investigated the mechanism involved in uPAR-dependent chemotaxis. Chemotaxis is induced through an uPA-dependent conformational change in uPAR which uncovers a very potent chemotactic epitope acting through a pertussis-toxin sensitive step and activating intracellular tyrosine kinases. The epitope is located in the linker region between domain D1 and D2 of uPAR. Binding of uPA transforms uPAR from a receptor for uPA into a pleiotropic ligand ("activated uPAR") for other still unidentified surface molecules. Through these "adaptors", uPAR causes cytoskeletal changes, activation of kinases and directional cell migration. The conformational change can be substituted by cleavage between domain D1 and D2, in an area that can be cleaved by uPA itself at high efficiency.

Plasminogen activation in human leukemia and in normal hematopoietic cells

The active process of pericellular proteolysis is central in tumor invasion, and in particular the essential role of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is well established. uPA-mediated plasminogen activation facilitates cell migration and invasion through extracellular matrices by dissolving connective tissue components. uPA, its receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) are enriched in several types of tumors. The importance of proteolysis and especially plasminogen activation is less clear in hematopoietic malignancies than in solid tumors. However, patients with leukemia have an increased tendency to bleeding, not always attributable to thrombocytopenia, and tissue infiltration by leukemic cells, processes in which plasminogen activation may be involved. Several studies have indicated that plasminogen activators (PAs) are highly expressed by cultured leukemia cells. Furthermore, differing from adherent tumor cells, leukemic cells have an enhanced capacity to activate pro-uPA and mainly the active form of uPA is released to culture medium. Ex vivo studies have shown that uPAR, uPA and its inhibitors can be found on the surface of normal blood cells and on the blast cell surfaces from patients with acute leukemia as well as from plasma samples. Elevated levels of PAs and their inhibitors have been detected in leukemic cell lysates. Few studies have tried to demonstrate a correlation between prognosis of leukemia and levels of plasminogen activators. More in vivo studies are needed to show, if any of the factors of the plasminogen activation process can be used as tools in subclassification or as markers for prognosis in leukemia. This review article will focus on the in vivo studies of plasminogen activation in leukemia and will present several in vitro findings on PAs in normal leukocytes and leukemic cell lines.

Proteases in cutaneous melanoma

From a great number of studies there is clear evidence that several extracellular proteolytic enzymes play an important role in various tumour-related processes. This review focusses on proteases in cutaneous melanoma. The current knowledge on and insights into the involvement of proteases in tumour progression are based on in vitro studies, on animal model studies and on investigations using patient material. In the field of melanoma, these three modalities are also applied to the investigation on the impact of proteases. Consequently, the current review summarizes research on both human melanoma cell lines and human melanocytic lesions. In addition, results obtained from animal experiments are included.

IL-2 Induces T Cell Adherence to Extracellular Matrix: Inhibition of Adherence and Migration by IL-2 Peptides Generated by Leukocyte Elastase

Migration of inflammatory cells requires cell adhesion and their subsequent detachment from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Leukocyte activation and migration must be terminated to stop inflammation. Here, we report that IL-2 enhances human T cell adherence to laminin, collagen type IV, and fibronectin (FN). In contrast, neutrophil elastase, an enzyme activated during inflammation, degrades IL-2 to yield IL-2 fractions that inhibit IL-2-induced T cell adhesion to FN. The amino acid composition of two of these IL-2 fractions, which appear to block T cell adherence to FN, were analyzed, and three peptides were consequently synthesized. The three peptides IVL, RMLT, and EFLNRWIT, but not the corresponding inversely synthesized peptides, inhibited T cell adhesion to FN induced by a variety of activators: IL-2, IL-7, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β, and PMA, as well as anti-CD3 and anti-β1 integrin-activating mAb. Moreover, these IL-2 peptides inhibited T cell chemotaxis via FN-coated membranes induced by IL-2 and MIP-1β. Inhibition of T cell adherence and migration apparently involves abrogation of the rearrangement of the T cell actin cytoskeleton. Thus, the migrating immune cells, the cytokines, and the ECM can create a functional relationship in which both inflammation-inducing signals and inhibitory molecules of immune responses can coexist; the enzymatic products of IL-2 may serve as natural feedback inhibitors of inflammation.

A urokinase-sensitive region of the human urokinase receptor is responsible for its chemotactic activity

The role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR/CD87) in cell migration and invasion is well substantiated. Recently, uPA has been shown to be essential in cell migration, since uPA-/- mice are greatly impaired in inflammatory cell recruitment. We have shown previously that the uPA-induced chemotaxis requires interaction with and modification of uPAR/CD87, which is the true chemoattracting molecule acting through an unidentified cell surface component which mediates this cell surface chemokine activity. By expressing and testing several uPAR/CD87 variants, we have located and functionally characterized a potent uPAR/CD87 epitope that mimics the effects of the uPA-uPAR interaction. The chemotactic activity lies in the region linking domains 1 and 2, the only protease-sensitive region of uPAR/CD87, efficiently cleaved by uPA at physiological concentrations. Synthetic peptides carrying this epitope promote chemotaxis and activate p56/p59(hck) tyrosine kinase. Both chemotaxis and kinase activation are pertussis toxin sensitive, involving a Gi/o protein in the pathway.

Through and beyond the wall: late steps in leukocyte transendothelial migration

A combination of approaches has provided firm experimental support for a step-wise model of leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium under hemodynamic shear stress. However, leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium acquires functional significance only if coupled to transmigration and progression into extravascular tissues. As discussed here by Elisabetta Bianchi and colleagues, these latter processes involve the sequential activation of adhesion-dependent functional programs, carried out by structurally diverse multimolecular complexes.