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Li CZ, Qiang YY, Liu ZJ, Zheng LS, Peng LX, Mei Y, Meng DF, Wei WW, Chen DW, Xu L, Lang YH, Xie P, Peng XS, Wang MD, Guo LL, Shu DT, Ding LY, Lin ST, Luo FF, Wang J, Li SS, Huang BJ, Chen JD, Qian CN. Ulinastatin inhibits the metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by involving uPA/uPAR signaling. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:1468-1481. [PMID: 37534761 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Distant metastasis is the primary reason for treatment failure in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we investigated the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on NPC metastasis and its underlying mechanism. Highly-metastatic NPC cell lines S18 and 58F were treated with UTI and the effect on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by MTS and Transwell assays. S18 cells with luciferase-expressing (S18-1C3) were injected into the left hind footpad of nude mice to establish a model of spontaneous metastasis from the footpad to popliteal lymph node (LN). The luciferase messenger RNA (mRNA) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the metastasis inhibition rate was calculated. Key molecular members of the UTI-related uPA, uPAR, and JAT/STAT3 signaling pathways were detected by qPCR and immunoblotting. UTI suppressed the migration and infiltration of S18 and 5-8F cells and suppressed the metastasis of S18 cells in vivo without affecting cell proliferation. uPAR expression decreased from 24 to 48 h after UTI treatment. The antimetastatic effect of UTI is partly due to the suppression of uPA and uPAR. UTI partially suppresses NPC metastasis by downregulating the expression of uPA and uPAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Medical School, Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Qiang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory for Cerebrocranical Disease, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Sheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Xia Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Fang Meng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Wen-Wen Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dong-Wen Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan-Hong Lang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xing-Si Peng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming-Dian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling-Ling Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di-Tian Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liu-Yan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Si-Ting Lin
- The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, China
| | - Fei-Fei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sha-Sha Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bi-Jun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Chao-Nan Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Concord Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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Alotaibi FT, Sediqi S, Klausen C, Bedaiwy MA, Yong PJ. Interleukin-1β and plasminogen activating system members in endometriotic stromal cell migration/invasion. F&S SCIENCE 2023; 4:47-55. [PMID: 36152991 DOI: 10.1016/j.xfss.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the role of interleukin (IL)-1β and the plasminogen activating (PA) system members in endometriotic stromal cell (ESC) migration/invasion. DESIGN Primary cultures of ESCs. SETTING Tertiary referral center for endometriosis and pelvic pain. PATIENT(S) Patients with surgically excised endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S) Interleukin-1β stimulation of primary cultures of ESCs and knockdown of the PA system members urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Invasion/migration assays. RESULT(S) In primary cultures, IL-1β-stimulated ESC production of the PA system members uPA, uPA receptor, and PAI-1. Interleukin-1β also enhanced ESC migration and invasion, and these effects were inhibited by the IL-1 receptor-1 antagonist anakinra. Knockdown of each of the 3 PA system members also inhibited ESC migration and invasion. Knockdown of these PA system members further attenuated the impact of IL-1β on migration and invasion, suggesting that they mediated the promigration and proinvasion effects of IL-1β. To supplement the cell culture work, immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue sections of endometriotic epithelium/stroma: uPA, PAI-1, and IL-1β histoscores were not found to be correlated with each other. CONCLUSION(S) In primary cultures of ESCs, IL-1β induces migration and invasion, which is mediated by PA system members and inhibited by the drug anakinra. However, the immunohistochemistry expression of IL-1β, urokinase plasminogen inhibitor-1, and PAI-1 were not correlated, suggesting other regulatory mechanisms for PA system members. Inhibition of IL-1β (e.g., with anakinra) may have potential as a novel treatment approach for the migration/invasion of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad T Alotaibi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sadaf Sediqi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christian Klausen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mohamed A Bedaiwy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul J Yong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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Diaz A, Martin-Jimenez C, Woo Y, Merino P, Torre E, Yepes M. Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Triggers Wingless/Int1-Independent Phosphorylation of the Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6 in Cerebral Cortical Neurons. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 89:877-891. [PMID: 35964187 DOI: 10.3233/jad-220320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase found in excitatory synapses located in the II/III and V cortical layers. The synaptic release of uPA promotes the formation of synaptic contacts and the repair of synapses damaged by various forms of injury, and its abundance is decreased in the synapse of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Inactivation of the Wingless/Int1 (Wnt)-β-catenin pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD. Soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) prevents the phosphorylation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-6 (LRP6), and the resultant inactivation of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway prompts the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) and causes synaptic loss. OBJECTIVE To study the role of neuronal uPA in the pathogenesis of AD. METHODS We used in vitro cultures of murine cerebral cortical neurons, a murine neuroblastoma cell line transfected with the APP-695 Swedish mutation (N2asw), and mice deficient on either plasminogen, or uPA, or its receptor (uPAR). RESULTS We show that uPA activates the Wnt-β-catenin pathway in cerebral cortical neurons by triggering the phosphorylation of LRP6 via a plasmin-independent mechanism that does not require binding of Wnt ligands (Wnts). Our data indicate that uPA-induced activation of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway protects the synapse from the harmful effects of soluble Aβ and prevents the amyloidogenic processing of AβPP by inhibiting the expression of β-secretase 1 (BACE1) and the ensuing generation of Aβ 40 and Aβ 42 peptides. CONCLUSION uPA protects the synapse and antagonizes the inhibitory effect of soluble Aβ on the Wnt-β-catenin pathway by providing an alternative pathway for LRP6 phosphorylation and β-catenin stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Diaz
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cynthia Martin-Jimenez
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yena Woo
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Paola Merino
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Enrique Torre
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manuel Yepes
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Qin L, Wang L, Zhang J, Zhou H, Yang Z, Wang Y, Cai W, Wen F, Jiang X, Zhang T, Ye H, Long B, Qin J, Shi W, Guan X, Yu Z, Yang J, Wang Q, Jiao Z. Therapeutic strategies targeting uPAR potentiate anti-PD-1 efficacy in diffuse-type gastric cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn3774. [PMID: 35613265 PMCID: PMC9132454 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn3774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC) is a subtype of gastric cancer (GC) associated with low HER2 positivity rate and insensitivity to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Here, we identify urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) as a potential therapeutic target for DGC. We have developed a novel anti-uPAR monoclonal antibody, which targets the domains II and III of uPAR and blocks the binding of urokinase-type plasminogen activator to uPAR. We show that the combination of anti-uPAR and anti-Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) remarkably inhibits tumor growth and prolongs survival via multiple mechanisms, using cell line-derived xenograft and patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Furthermore, uPAR chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells based on the novel anti-uPAR effectively kill DGC patient-derived organoids and exhibit impressive survival benefit in the established mouse models, especially when combined with PD-1 blockade therapy. Our study provides a new possibility of DGC treatment by targeting uPAR in a unique manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Qin
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Junchang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Huinian Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Zhiliang Yang
- Lanzhou Huazhitiancheng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Lanzhou Huazhitiancheng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Weiwen Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Fei Wen
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Xiangyan Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Tiansheng Zhang
- Lanzhou Huazhitiancheng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Huili Ye
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Bo Long
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Junjie Qin
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Wengui Shi
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Xiaoying Guan
- Department of Pathology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Zeyuan Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
- Corresponding author. (Z.J.); (Q.W.); (J.Y.)
| | - Qi Wang
- Lanzhou Huazhitiancheng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
- Corresponding author. (Z.J.); (Q.W.); (J.Y.)
| | - Zuoyi Jiao
- Cuiying Biomedical Research Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
- Department of General Surgery, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730030, China
- Corresponding author. (Z.J.); (Q.W.); (J.Y.)
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Alfano D, Franco P, Stoppelli MP. Modulation of Cellular Function by the Urokinase Receptor Signalling: A Mechanistic View. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:818616. [PMID: 35493073 PMCID: PMC9045800 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.818616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR or CD87) is a glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol anchored (GPI) membrane protein. The uPAR primary ligand is the serine protease urokinase (uPA), converting plasminogen into plasmin, a broad spectrum protease, active on most extracellular matrix components. Besides uPA, the uPAR binds specifically also to the matrix protein vitronectin and, therefore, is regarded also as an adhesion receptor. Complex formation of the uPAR with diverse transmembrane proteins, including integrins, formyl peptide receptors, G protein-coupled receptors and epidermal growth factor receptor results in intracellular signalling. Thus, the uPAR is a multifunctional receptor coordinating surface-associated pericellular proteolysis and signal transduction, thereby affecting physiological and pathological mechanisms. The uPAR-initiated signalling leads to remarkable cellular effects, that include increased cell migration, adhesion, survival, proliferation and invasion. Although this is beyond the scope of this review, the uPA/uPAR system is of great interest to cancer research, as it is associated to aggressive cancers and poor patient survival. Increasing evidence links the uPA/uPAR axis to epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a highly dynamic process, by which epithelial cells can convert into a mesenchymal phenotype. Furthermore, many reports indicate that the uPAR is involved in the maintenance of the stem-like phenotype and in the differentiation process of different cell types. Moreover, the levels of anchor-less, soluble form of uPAR, respond to a variety of inflammatory stimuli, including tumorigenesis and viral infections. Finally, the role of uPAR in virus infection has received increasing attention, in view of the Covid-19 pandemics and new information is becoming available. In this review, we provide a mechanistic perspective, via the detailed examination of consolidated and recent studies on the cellular responses to the multiple uPAR activities.
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Williamson AJ, Jacobson R, van Praagh J, Gaines S, Koo HY, Lee B, Chan WC, Weichselbaum R, Alverdy JC, Zaborina O, Shogan BD. Enterococcus faecalis promotes a migratory and invasive phenotype in colon cancer cells. Neoplasia 2022; 27:100787. [PMID: 35366466 PMCID: PMC8971311 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2022.100787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Much about the role of intestinal microbes at the site of colon cancer development and tumor progression following curative resection remains to be understood. We have recently shown that collagenolytic bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis predominate within the colon postoperatively, particularly at the site of the colon reconnection (i.e. anastomosis) in the early period of post-surgical recovery. The presence of collagenolytic bacteria at this site correlates with the tumor progression in a mouse model of post-surgical tumor development. In the present study we hypothesized, that collagenolytic bacteria, such as E. faecalis, play an important yet to be discovered role in tumor formation and progression. Therefore the aims of this study were to assess the role of collagenolytic E. faecalis on the migration and invasion of a murine colon cancer cell line. Results demonstrated that both migration and invasion were induced by E. faecalis with collagenolytic activity being required for only invasion. Bidirectional signaling in the E. faecalis-cancer cell interaction was observed by the discovering that the expression of gelE in E. faecalis, the gene required for collagenase production, is expressed in response to exposure to CT26 cells. The mechanism by which migration enhancement via E. faecalis occurs appears to be dependent on its ability to activate pro-uPA, a key element of the urokinase-plasminogen system, a pathway that is well - known to be important in cancer cell invasion and migration. Finally, we demonstrated that collagenase producing microbes preferentially colonize human colon cancer specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J. Williamson
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rick Jacobson
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - J.B. van Praagh
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Sara Gaines
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Hyun Y. Koo
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Brandon Lee
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Wen-Ching Chan
- The University of Chicago, Center for Research Informatics, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Ralph Weichselbaum
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - John C. Alverdy
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Olga Zaborina
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Benjamin D. Shogan
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Department of Surgery, Chicago, IL, United States,Corresponding author at: University of Chicago, Room J557F, MC 5095, Chicago, IL 60637, United States.
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Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Urokinase and Its Receptor in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030498. [PMID: 35158766 PMCID: PMC8833673 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have ascertained that uPA and uPAR do participate in tumor progression and metastasis and are involved in cell adhesion, migration, invasion and survival, as well as angiogenesis. Increased levels of uPA and uPAR in tumor tissues, stroma and biological fluids correlate with adverse clinic-pathologic features and poor patient outcomes. After binding to uPAR, uPA activates plasminogen to plasmin, a broad-spectrum matrix- and fibrin-degrading enzyme able to facilitate tumor cell invasion and dissemination to distant sites. Moreover, uPAR activated by uPA regulates most cancer cell activities by interacting with a broad range of cell membrane receptors. These findings make uPA and uPAR not only promising diagnostic and prognostic markers but also attractive targets for developing anticancer therapies. In this review, we debate the uPA/uPAR structure-function relationship as well as give an update on the molecules that interfere with or inhibit uPA/uPAR functions. Additionally, the possible clinical development of these compounds is discussed.
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Lv T, Zhao Y, Jiang X, Yuan H, Wang H, Cui X, Xu J, Zhao J, Wang J. uPAR: An Essential Factor for Tumor Development. J Cancer 2021; 12:7026-7040. [PMID: 34729105 PMCID: PMC8558663 DOI: 10.7150/jca.62281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is closely related to the loss of control of many genes. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a glycolipid-anchored protein on the cell surface, is controlled by many factors in tumorigenesis and is expressed in many tumor tissues. In this review, we summarize the regulatory effects of the uPAR signaling pathway on processes and factors related to tumor progression, such as tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, metastasis, glycolysis, tumor microenvironment and angiogenesis. Overall, the evidence accumulated to date suggests that uPAR induction by tumor progression may be one of the most important factors affecting therapeutic efficacy. An improved understanding of the interactions between uPAR and its coreceptors in cancer will provide critical biomolecular information that may help to better predict the disease course and response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Lv
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011.,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and Plants on YunGui Plateau, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, China 655011
| | - Ying Zhao
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Xinni Jiang
- School of Biological Sciences and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China 610500
| | - Hemei Yuan
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Haibo Wang
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011.,Key Laboratory of Yunnan Province Universities of the Diversity and Ecological Adaptive Evolution for Animals and Plants on YunGui Plateau, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, China 655011
| | - Xuelin Cui
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jiashun Xu
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jingye Zhao
- College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
| | - Jianlin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan, China 655011
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Metrangolo V, Ploug M, Engelholm LH. The Urokinase Receptor (uPAR) as a "Trojan Horse" in Targeted Cancer Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13215376. [PMID: 34771541 PMCID: PMC8582577 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Discovered more than three decades ago, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has now firmly established itself as a versatile molecular target holding promise for the treatment of aggressive malignancies. The copious abundance of uPAR in virtually all human cancerous tissues versus their healthy counterparts has fostered a gradual shift in the therapeutic landscape targeting this receptor from function inhibition to cytotoxic approaches to selectively eradicate the uPAR-expressing cells by delivering a targeted cytotoxic insult. Multiple avenues are being explored in a preclinical setting, including the more innovative immune- or stroma targeting therapies. This review discusses the current state of these strategies, their potentialities, and challenges, along with future directions in the field of uPAR targeting. Abstract One of the largest challenges to the implementation of precision oncology is identifying and validating selective tumor-driving targets to enhance the therapeutic efficacy while limiting off-target toxicity. In this context, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has progressively emerged as a promising therapeutic target in the management of aggressive malignancies. By focalizing the plasminogen activation cascade and subsequent extracellular proteolysis on the cell surface of migrating cells, uPAR endows malignant cells with a high proteolytic and migratory potential to dissolve the restraining extracellular matrix (ECM) barriers and metastasize to distant sites. uPAR is also assumed to choreograph multiple other neoplastic stages via a complex molecular interplay with distinct cancer-associated signaling pathways. Accordingly, high uPAR expression is observed in virtually all human cancers and is frequently associated with poor patient prognosis and survival. The promising therapeutic potential unveiled by the pleiotropic nature of this receptor has prompted the development of distinct targeted intervention strategies. The present review will focus on recently emerged cytotoxic approaches emphasizing the novel technologies and related limits hindering their application in the clinical setting. Finally, future research directions and emerging opportunities in the field of uPAR targeting are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Metrangolo
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Ploug
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars H. Engelholm
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark; (V.M.); (M.P.)
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), Department of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-31-43-20-77
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Gonias SL. Plasminogen activator receptor assemblies in cell signaling, innate immunity, and inflammation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C721-C734. [PMID: 34406905 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00269.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) are serine proteases and major activators of fibrinolysis in mammalian systems. Because fibrinolysis is an essential component of the response to tissue injury, diverse cells, including cells that participate in the response to injury, have evolved receptor systems to detect tPA and uPA and initiate appropriate cell-signaling responses. Formation of functional receptor systems for the plasminogen activators requires assembly of diverse plasma membrane proteins, including but not limited to: the urokinase receptor (uPAR); integrins; N-formyl peptide receptor-2 (FPR2), receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R), and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1). The cell-signaling responses elicited by tPA and uPA impact diverse aspects of cell physiology. This review describes rapidly evolving knowledge regarding the structure and function of plasminogen activator receptor assemblies. How these receptor assemblies regulate innate immunity and inflammation is then considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Gonias
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, California
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11
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Jaiswal RK, Yadava PK. TGF-β-mediated regulation of plasminogen activators is human telomerase reverse transcriptase dependent in cancer cells. Biofactors 2019; 45:803-817. [PMID: 31317567 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase is a specialized reverse transcriptase/terminal transferase enzyme that adds telomeric repeat sequences at the extreme end of a newly replicated chromosome. Apart from telomere lengthening, telomerase has many extracurricular activities. Telomerase is known to regulate the expression of many genes and helps in cancer progression and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs). We have previously reported that human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) regulates the expression of plasminogen activator such as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) in cancer cells following a genome-wide transcriptomic study. Here, we present data substantiating these results in terms of real-time assays, western blots, and immunofluorescence. Another aim of this study is to find out the possible mechanism by which hTERT regulates the expression of plasminogen activators. We have used some molecular biology techniques such as quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence and some assays such as wound healing assay and colony formation assay to solve this question. In this study, we show a positive association between hTERT and uPA. We also demonstrate that hTERT enhances uPA expression concomitant with EMT. Knocking down of hTERT reduces uPA expression as well as reverses EMT in cancer cells. We have also found that uPA is a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-induced protein. Our observations establish that TGF-β-induced uPA expression is hTERT dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi K Jaiswal
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Pramod K Yadava
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi, India
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12
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Urokinase Receptor Regulates Adhesion of Progenitor Cardiac Cells to Vitronectin. Bull Exp Biol Med 2019; 167:315-319. [PMID: 31346863 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-019-04517-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Vitronectin, extracellular matrix protein, plays an important role in embryonic development and in organ and tissue reparation. A unique characteristic of vitronectin is specific binding of various biological molecules, including urokinase receptor (uPAR), extracellular matrix components, adhesion receptors, growth factors, thus supporting the modulation of cell behavior. Vitronectin is in fact not found in intact myocardium, while after infarction its level increases significantly, which correlates with accumulation of uPAR+ progenitor cardiac cells in the focus. The cells isolated from the heart of wild type mice are characterized by higher adhesion to vitronectin than progenitor cardiac cells from the myocardium of uPAR knockout mice. In addition, inhibition of urokinase receptor with specific antibodies on the surface of the progenitor cardiac cells of wild type mice leads to attenuation of their adhesive activity and flattening on vitronectin matrix, which can be important for their distribution in the postinfarction myocardium and realization of the reparative functions.
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13
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Annis MG, Ouellet V, Rennhack JP, L'Esperance S, Rancourt C, Mes-Masson AM, Andrechek ER, Siegel PM. Integrin-uPAR signaling leads to FRA-1 phosphorylation and enhanced breast cancer invasion. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:9. [PMID: 29382358 PMCID: PMC5791353 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-0936-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Fos-related antigen 1 (FRA-1) transcription factor promotes tumor cell growth, invasion and metastasis. Phosphorylation of FRA-1 increases protein stability and function. We identify a novel signaling axis that leads to increased phosphorylation of FRA-1, increased extracellular matrix (ECM)-induced breast cancer cell invasion and is prognostic of poor outcome in patients with breast cancer. Methods While characterizing five breast cancer cell lines derived from primary human breast tumors, we identified BRC-31 as a novel basal-like cell model that expresses elevated FRA-1 levels. We interrogated the functional contribution of FRA-1 and an upstream signaling axis in breast cancer cell invasion. We extended this analysis to determine the prognostic significance of this signaling axis in samples derived from patients with breast cancer. Results BRC-31 cells display elevated focal adhesion kinase (FAK), SRC and extracellular signal-regulated (ERK2) phosphorylation relative to luminal breast cancer models. Inhibition of this signaling axis, with pharmacological inhibitors, reduces the phosphorylation and stabilization of FRA-1. Elevated integrin αVβ3 and uPAR expression in these cells suggested that integrin receptors might activate this FAK-SRC-ERK2 signaling. Transient knockdown of urokinase/plasminogen activator urokinase receptor (uPAR) in basal-like breast cancer cells grown on vitronectin reduces FRA-1 phosphorylation and stabilization; and uPAR and FRA-1 are required for vitronectin-induced cell invasion. In clinical samples, a molecular component signature consisting of vitronectin-uPAR-uPA-FRA-1 predicts poor overall survival in patients with breast cancer and correlates with an FRA-1 transcriptional signature. Conclusions We have identified a novel signaling axis that leads to phosphorylation and enhanced activity of FRA-1, a transcription factor that is emerging as an important modulator of breast cancer progression and metastasis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-0936-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Annis
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Departments of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Veronique Ouellet
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jonathan P Rennhack
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Sylvain L'Esperance
- Département de Microbiologie et Infectiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Claudine Rancourt
- Département de Microbiologie et Infectiologie, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Mes-Masson
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) and Institut du cancer de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Eran R Andrechek
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Peter M Siegel
- Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. .,Departments of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. .,Departments of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada. .,Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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14
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Jaiswal RK, Varshney AK, Yadava PK. Diversity and functional evolution of the plasminogen activator system. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 98:886-898. [PMID: 29571259 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The urokinase plasminogen activator system is a family of serine proteases which consists of uPA (urokinase plasminogen activator), uPAR (urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor) and PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1). In addition to their significant roles in activation, these proteases act as key regulators of the tumor microenvironment and are involved in the metastatic process in many cancers. High levels of uPA system proteases in many human cancer predicts poor patient prognosis and strongly indicated a key role of uPA system in cancer metastasis. Individual components of uPA system are found to be differentially expressed in cancer cells compared to normal cells and therefore are potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we present the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of uPA system in cancer progression. Epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT) is the main cause of the cancer cell metastasis. We have also attempted to relate the role of uPA signaling in EMT of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishi Kumar Jaiswal
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Akhil Kumar Varshney
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Pramod Kumar Yadava
- Applied Molecular Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
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15
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Hamurcu Z, Delibaşı N, Geçene S, Şener EF, Dönmez-Altuntaş H, Özkul Y, Canatan H, Ozpolat B. Targeting LC3 and Beclin-1 autophagy genes suppresses proliferation, survival, migration and invasion by inhibition of Cyclin-D1 and uPAR/Integrin β1/ Src signaling in triple negative breast cancer cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2017; 144:415-430. [PMID: 29288363 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-017-2557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a catabolic process for degrading dysfunctional proteins and organelles, and closely associated with cancer cell survival under therapeutic, metabolic stress, hypoxia, starvation and lack of growth factors, contributing to resistance to therapies. However, the role of autophagy in breast cancer cells is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of autophagy in highly aggressive and metastatic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and non-metastatic breast cancer cells and demonstrated that the knockdown of autophagy-related genes (LC3 and Beclin-1) inhibited autophagy and significantly suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration/invasion and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 TNBC cells. Knockdown of LC3 and Beclin-1 led to inhibition of multiple proto-oncogenic signaling pathways, including cyclin D1, uPAR/integrin-β1/Src, and PARP1. In conclusion, our study suggests that LC3 and Beclin-1 are required for cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion, and may contribute to tumor growth and progression of highly aggressive and metastatic TNBC cells and therapeutic targeting of autophagy genes may be a potential therapeutic strategy for TNBC in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuhal Hamurcu
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nesrin Delibaşı
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Seda Geçene
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Elif Funda Şener
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Betül-Ziya Eren Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | | | - Yusuf Özkul
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Department of Medical Genetic, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Halit Canatan
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 422, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Center for RNA Interference and Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Involvement of the Urokinase Receptor and Its Endogenous Ligands in the Development of the Brain and the Formation of Cognitive Functions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11055-017-0525-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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17
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van Veen M, Matas-Rico E, van de Wetering K, Leyton-Puig D, Kedziora KM, De Lorenzi V, Stijf-Bultsma Y, van den Broek B, Jalink K, Sidenius N, Perrakis A, Moolenaar WH. Negative regulation of urokinase receptor activity by a GPI-specific phospholipase C in breast cancer cells. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28849762 PMCID: PMC5576486 DOI: 10.7554/elife.23649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that promotes tissue remodeling, tumor cell adhesion, migration and invasion. uPAR mediates degradation of the extracellular matrix through protease recruitment and enhances cell adhesion, migration and signaling through vitronectin binding and interactions with integrins. Full-length uPAR is released from the cell surface, but the mechanism and significance of uPAR shedding remain obscure. Here we identify transmembrane glycerophosphodiesterase GDE3 as a GPI-specific phospholipase C that cleaves and releases uPAR with consequent loss of function, whereas its homologue GDE2 fails to attack uPAR. GDE3 overexpression depletes uPAR from distinct basolateral membrane domains in breast cancer cells, resulting in a less transformed phenotype, it slows tumor growth in a xenograft model and correlates with prolonged survival in patients. Our results establish GDE3 as a negative regulator of the uPAR signaling network and, furthermore, highlight GPI-anchor hydrolysis as a cell-intrinsic mechanism to alter cell behavior. Every process in the body, from how cells divide to how they move around, is tightly regulated. For example, cells only migrate when they receive the correct signals from their environment. These signals are recognised by receptor proteins that sit on the cell surface and connect the outside signal with the cell’s response. However, in cancer cells, these processes are out of control, which is why cancer cells can grow very quickly or spread to many different parts of the body. One important receptor protein is the urokinase receptor, which helps to reorganize the tissue, for example, when wounds heal, but also enables cancer cells to grow and spread. A special feature of urokinase receptor is the way it is connected to the cell surface, namely through a molecule that acts as an anchor, called the GPI anchor. The urokinase receptor and some other GPI-anchored proteins can be released from their anchor. However, until now it was not clear why and how the urokinase receptor is released from cells, or how losing the receptor affects the cell. Now, van Veen, Matas-Rico et al. studied breast cancer cells, and discovered that an enzyme called GDE3 cuts the urokinase receptor off its GPI anchor to release the receptor from the cells. However, when breast cancer cells shed the urokinase receptor, they also lost the receptor from the cell surface in specific areas. As a result, the receptor could not work anymore. When breast cancer cells were experimentally modified to produce high levels of GDE3, the cancer cells became less mobile and aggressive. Van Veen, Matas-Rico et al. then implanted ‘normal’ breast cancer cells, and breast cancer cells with extra GDE3 into mice, and observed that the tumors of mice with additional GDE3 grew less quickly. Moreover, breast cancer patients with high levels of GDE3 tend to live longer than patients with low levels of GDE3. These results suggest that the enzyme GDE3 can suppress tumor growth. These findings uncover a new way how cells can alter their behavior, namely by cleaving GPI anchors at the cell surface. Future experiments will need to address how GDE3 itself is controlled, and if it releases other GPI-anchored proteins from cells. Once we know how to increase GDE3 activity in tumor cells, the new knowledge could one day lead to therapies to help patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel van Veen
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elisa Matas-Rico
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Koen van de Wetering
- Division of Molecular Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daniela Leyton-Puig
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna M Kedziora
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Yvette Stijf-Bultsma
- Division of Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Bram van den Broek
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kees Jalink
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Anastassis Perrakis
- Division of Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wouter H Moolenaar
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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18
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Boiko EV, Mal'tsev DS, Polyakova VO. [Effects of urokinase plasminogen activator on cultured human retinal epithelial cells]. Vestn Oftalmol 2017; 133:42-48. [PMID: 28291199 DOI: 10.17116/oftalma2017133142-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AIM to study the effects of urokinase plasminogen activator (UPA) on the human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cell culture. MATERIAL AND METHODS The toxicity of 50 U/ml UPA was studied with the trypan blue exclusion test. Cell migration was assessed by the wound healing and modified Boyden chamber assays. Additionally, cell morphology, trypsin resistance, and Ki67 expression were investigated. RESULTS Trypan exclusion test did not reveal any cytotoxicity of 50 U/ml UPA against hRPE cells. The agent appeared able to induce cellular cluster formation and increase the number of spindle-shaped cells (6.4±2.4 cells/field and 67.3±3.2 cells/field in the controls and in the presence of 50 U/ml UPA, respectively, p<0.001). Cell migration in the Boyden chamber also showed a statistically significant increase (1.75-fold, p=0.012). Monolayer wounds were found to heal at an accelerated rate (p<0.05). This effect was dose-dependent, just like the increase in Ki67-positive cells (from 2.5 to 50 U/ml). Moreover, there was a reduction in trypsin resistance of the hRPE cells (the number of resistant cells in the control and 50 U/ml UPA cultures was 5.2±1.7 cells/field and 0.46±0.32 cells/field, respectively, p<0.001). CONCLUSION UPA, at concentrations of 50 U/ml or less, demonstrates no cytotoxicity against the hRPE cells. The effects of UPA on hRPE include stimulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, proliferation, and intercellular interaction. At that, changes in migratory and proliferative activity are dose-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- E V Boiko
- Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, 5 Klinicheskaya St., Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194044; Saint-Petersburg branch of the Academician S.N. Fyodorov IRTC 'Eye Microsurgery', 21 Yaroslava Gasheka St., Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation, 192283
| | - D S Mal'tsev
- Military Medical Academy named after S.M. Kirov, Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, 5 Klinicheskaya St., Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation, 194044
| | - V O Polyakova
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 3 Mendeleevskaya liniya, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation 199034
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Dande RR, Peev V, Altintas MM, Reiser J. Soluble Urokinase Receptor and the Kidney Response in Diabetes Mellitus. J Diabetes Res 2017; 2017:3232848. [PMID: 28596971 PMCID: PMC5449757 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3232848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. DN typically manifests by glomerular hyperfiltration and microalbuminuria; then, the disease progresses to impaired glomerular filtration rate, which leads to ESRD. Treatment options for DN include the strict control of blood glucose levels and pressure (e.g., intraglomerular hypertension). However, the search for novel therapeutic strategies is ongoing. These include seeking specific molecules that contribute to the development and progression of DN to potentially interfere with these "molecular targets" as well as with the cellular targets within the kidney such as podocytes, which play a major role in the pathogenesis of DN. Recently, podocyte membrane protein urokinase receptor (uPAR) and its circulating form (suPAR) are found to be significantly induced in glomeruli and sera of DN patients, respectively, and elevated suPAR levels predicted diabetic kidney disease years before the occurrence of microalbuminuria. The intent of this review is to summarize the emerging evidence of uPAR and suPAR in the clinical manifestations of DN. The identification of specific pathways that govern DN will help us build a more comprehensive molecular model for the pathogenesis of the disease that can inform new opportunities for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vasil Peev
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Mehmet M. Altintas
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- *Mehmet M. Altintas: and
| | - Jochen Reiser
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
- *Jochen Reiser:
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20
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Merino P, Diaz A, Jeanneret V, Wu F, Torre E, Cheng L, Yepes M. Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) Binding to the uPA Receptor (uPAR) Promotes Axonal Regeneration in the Central Nervous System. J Biol Chem 2016; 292:2741-2753. [PMID: 27986809 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.761650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal injury is a common cause of neurological dysfunction. Unfortunately, in contrast to axons from the peripheral nervous system, the limited capacity of regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) axons is a major obstacle for functional recovery in patients suffering neurological diseases that involve the subcortical white matter. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase that upon binding to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin on the cell surface. uPAR expression increases after an injury, and signaling through uPAR promotes tissue remodeling. However, it is yet unknown whether uPA binding to uPAR has an effect on axonal recovery in the CNS. Here, we used in vitro and in vivo models of CNS axonal injury to test the hypothesis that uPA binding to uPAR promotes axonal regeneration in the CNS. We found that newly formed growth cones from axons re-emerging from an axonal injury express uPAR and that binding of uPA to this uPAR promotes axonal recovery by a mechanism that does not require the generation of plasmin. Our data indicate that the binding of recombinant uPA or endogenous uPA to uPAR induces membrane recruitment and activation of β1 integrin via the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1), which leads to activation of the Rho family small GTPase Rac1 and Rac1-induced axonal regeneration. Our results show that the uPA/uPAR/LRP1 system is a potential target for the development of therapeutic strategies to promote axonal recovery following a CNS injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Merino
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Ariel Diaz
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Valerie Jeanneret
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Fang Wu
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Enrique Torre
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Lihong Cheng
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - Manuel Yepes
- From the Department of Neurology and Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, .,the Division of Neurosciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and.,the Department of Neurology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30033
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21
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Wang S, Jiang L, Han Y, Chew SH, Ohara Y, Akatsuka S, Weng L, Kawaguchi K, Fukui T, Sekido Y, Yokoi K, Toyokuni S. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor promotes proliferation and invasion with reduced cisplatin sensitivity in malignant mesothelioma. Oncotarget 2016; 7:69565-69578. [PMID: 27602956 PMCID: PMC5342498 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare neoplasm associated with asbestos exposure. The prognosis of MM is poor because it is aggressive and highly resistant to chemotherapy. Using a rat model of asbestos-induced MM, we found elevated urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR; Plaur) expression in rat tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis. The proliferation, migration and invasion of MM cells were suppressed by uPAR knockdown and increased by overexpression experiments, irrespective of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA; Plau) levels. More importantly, we found that uPAR expression is associated with sensitivity to cisplatin in MM through the PI3K/AKT pathway, which was demonstrated with specific inhibitors, LY294002 and Akti-1/2. uPAR knockdown significantly increased sensitivity to cisplatin whereas its overexpression significantly decreased cisplatin sensitivity. Furthermore, sera and tissues from MM patients showed significantly high uPAR levels, which suggested the pathogenic role of uPAR in the tumor biology of human MM. In conclusion, our findings indicate that uPAR levels are associated with malignant characteristics and cisplatin sensitivity of MM. In addition to the potential use of uPAR as a prognostic marker, the combination of uPAR abrogation and cisplatin may reveal a promising therapeutic approach for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenqi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Yipeng Han
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Shan Hwu Chew
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Yuuki Ohara
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Shinya Akatsuka
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Liang Weng
- Department of Tumor Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Koji Kawaguchi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Takayuki Fukui
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Sekido
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, 464–8681, Japan
| | - Kohei Yokoi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
| | - Shinya Toyokuni
- Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 466–8550, Japan
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mTORC2 activation is regulated by the urokinase receptor (uPAR) in bladder cancer. Cell Signal 2016; 29:96-106. [PMID: 27777073 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) has been identified as a major regulator of bladder cancer cell migration and invasion. Upstream pathways that mediate mTORC2 activation remain poorly defined. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a GPI-anchored membrane protein and known activator of cell-signaling. We identified increased uPAR expression in 94% of invasive human bladder cancers and in 54-71% of non-invasive bladder cancers, depending on grade. Normal urothelium was uPAR-immunonegative. Analysis of publicly available datasets identified uPAR gene amplification or mRNA upregulation in a subset of bladder cancer patients with reduced overall survival. Using biochemical approaches, we showed that uPAR activates mTORC2 in bladder cancer cells. Highly invasive bladder cancer cell lines, including T24, J82 and UM-UC-3 cells, showed increased uPAR mRNA expression and protein levels compared with the less aggressive cell lines, UROtsa and RT4. uPAR gene-silencing significantly reduced phosphorylation of Serine-473 in Akt, an mTORC2 target. uPAR gene-silencing also reduced bladder cancer cell migration and Matrigel invasion. S473 phosphorylation was observed by immunohistochemistry in human bladder cancers only when the tumors expressed high levels of uPAR. S473 phosphorylation was not controlled by uPAR in bladder cancer cell lines that are PTEN-negative; however, this result probably did not reflect altered mTORC2 regulation. Instead, PTEN deficiency de-repressed alternative kinases that phosphorylate S473. Our results suggest that uPAR and mTORC2 are components of a single cell-signaling pathway. Targeting uPAR or mTORC2 may be beneficial in patients with bladder cancer.
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Winge MCG, Ohyama B, Dey CN, Boxer LM, Li W, Ehsani-Chimeh N, Truong AK, Wu D, Armstrong AW, Makino T, Davidson M, Starcevic D, Kislat A, Nguyen NT, Hashimoto T, Homey B, Khavari PA, Bradley M, Waterman EA, Marinkovich MP. RAC1 activation drives pathologic interactions between the epidermis and immune cells. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:2661-77. [PMID: 27294528 DOI: 10.1172/jci85738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between the epidermis and the immune system govern epidermal tissue homeostasis. These epidermis-immune interactions are altered in the inflammatory disease psoriasis; however, the pathways that underlie this aberrant immune response are not well understood. Here, we determined that Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) is a key mediator of epidermal dysfunction. RAC1 activation was consistently elevated in psoriatic epidermis and primary psoriatic human keratinocytes (PHKCs) exposed to psoriasis-related stimuli, but not in skin from patients with basal or squamous cell carcinoma. Expression of a constitutively active form of RAC1 (RACV12) in mice resulted in the development of lesions similar to those of human psoriasis that required the presence of an intact immune system. RAC1V12-expressing mice and human psoriatic skin showed similar RAC1-dependent signaling as well as transcriptional overlap of differentially expressed epidermal and immune pathways. Coculture of PHKCs with immunocytes resulted in the upregulation of RAC1-dependent proinflammatory cytokines, an effect that was reproduced by overexpressing RAC1 in normal human keratinocytes. In keratinocytes, modulating RAC1 activity altered differentiation, proliferation, and inflammatory pathways, including STAT3, NFκB, and zinc finger protein 750 (ZNF750). Finally, RAC1 inhibition in xenografts composed of human PHKCs and immunocytes abolished psoriasiform hyperplasia and inflammation in vivo. These studies implicate RAC1 as a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis and as a key orchestrator of pathologic epidermis-immune interactions.
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Semina E, Rubina K, Sysoeva V, Rysenkova K, Klimovich P, Plekhanova O, Tkachuk V. Urokinase and urokinase receptor participate in regulation of neuronal migration, axon growth and branching. Eur J Cell Biol 2016; 95:295-310. [PMID: 27324124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2016] [Revised: 05/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Recent findings indicate the significant contribution of urokinase and urokinase receptor (uPA and uPAR) in the processes of nerve regeneration, however, their role in axonal growth and branching is unclear. Using a 3D model of mouse Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) explants, differentiated into neurons Neuro 2a cells and transgenic mice lacking the urokinase gene, we studied the involvement of the uPA/uPAR system in the neural cell migration, neurite outgrowth, elongation and branching. RESULTS uPA and uPAR are expressed in the growth cones of axons. Using an ex vivo model of DRG explants in Matrigel we have found that uPA inhibition attenuates neural cell migration and axonal growth, pointing to an important role of urokinase in these processes. Apparently, uPA mediates its effects through its specific receptor uPAR: anti-uPAR antibody, which blocks the uPA binding to uPAR, stimulates axon branching and attenuates neural cell migration from DRG explants. Simultaneous inhibition of uPA and uPAR almost completely prevents the axonal outgrowth from explants into the Matrigels. Experiments in vitro using Neuro 2a cells differentiated into neurons demonstrate that administration of exogenous uPA increases the neurite growth rate (elongation), most likely via the interaction of uPA with uPAR. Blocking of uPAR stimulates neurite formation and enhances branching of preexisting neurites. The results obtained on DRG explants from transgenic mice lacking uPA gene support the assumption that uPA stimulates neurite growth via uPA/uPAR interaction and uPAR role in axons branching and neural cell migration. CONCLUSIONS The uPA/uPAR system plays an essential role in neural cell migration, axonal growth and branching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Semina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation; Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Russian Cardiology Research Center, 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15a, 12155 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Kseniya Rubina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Veronika Sysoeva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Karina Rysenkova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Polina Klimovich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Plekhanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Russian Cardiology Research Center, 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15a, 12155 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vsevolod Tkachuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lomonosovsky av. 31/5, 119192 Moscow, Russian Federation; Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Russian Cardiology Research Center, 3rd Cherepkovskaya 15a, 12155 Moscow, Russian Federation
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De Lorenzi V, Sarra Ferraris GM, Madsen JB, Lupia M, Andreasen PA, Sidenius N. Urokinase links plasminogen activation and cell adhesion by cleavage of the RGD motif in vitronectin. EMBO Rep 2016; 17:982-98. [PMID: 27189837 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201541681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Components of the plasminogen activation system including urokinase (uPA), its inhibitor (PAI-1) and its cell surface receptor (uPAR) have been implicated in a wide variety of biological processes related to tissue homoeostasis. Firstly, the binding of uPA to uPAR favours extracellular proteolysis by enhancing cell surface plasminogen activation. Secondly, it promotes cell adhesion and signalling through binding of the provisional matrix protein vitronectin. We now report that uPA and plasmin induces a potent negative feedback on cell adhesion through specific cleavage of the RGD motif in vitronectin. Cleavage of vitronectin by uPA displays a remarkable receptor dependence and requires concomitant binding of both uPA and vitronectin to uPAR Moreover, we show that PAI-1 counteracts the negative feedback and behaves as a proteolysis-triggered stabilizer of uPAR-mediated cell adhesion to vitronectin. These findings identify a novel and highly specific function for the plasminogen activation system in the regulation of cell adhesion to vitronectin. The cleavage of vitronectin by uPA and plasmin results in the release of N-terminal vitronectin fragments that can be detected in vivo, underscoring the potential physiological relevance of the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina De Lorenzi
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Jeppe B Madsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Michela Lupia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Peter A Andreasen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicolai Sidenius
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
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26
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Mascia A, Gentile F, Izzo A, Mollo N, De Luca M, Bucci C, Nitsch L, Calì G. Rab7 Regulates CDH1 Endocytosis, Circular Dorsal Ruffles Genesis, and Thyroglobulin Internalization in a Thyroid Cell Line. J Cell Physiol 2015; 231:1695-708. [PMID: 26599499 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Rab7 regulates the biogenesis of late endosomes, lysosomes, and autophagosomes. It has been proposed that a functional and physical interaction exists between Rab7 and Rac1 GTPases in CDH1 endocytosis and ruffled border formation. In FRT cells over-expressing Rab7, increased expression and activity of Rac1 was observed, whereas a reduction of Rab7 expression by RNAi resulted in reduced Rac1 activity, as measured by PAK1 phosphorylation. We found that CDH1 endocytosis was extremely reduced only in Rab7 over-expressing cells but was unchanged in Rab7 silenced cells. In Rab7 under or over-expressing cells, Rab7 and LC3B-II co-localized and co-localization in large circular structures occurred only in Rab7 over-expressing cells. These large circular structures occurred in about 10% of the cell population; some of them (61%) showed co-localization of Rab7 with cortactin and f-actin and were identified as circular dorsal ruffles (CDRs), the others as mature autophagosomes. We propose that the over-expression of Rab7 is sufficient to induce CDRs. Furthermore, in FRT cells, we found that the expression of the insoluble/active form of Rab7, rather than Rab5, or Rab8, was inducible by cAMP and that cAMP-stimulated FRT cells showed increased PAK1 phosphorylation and were no longer able to endocytose CDH1. Finally, we demonstrated that Rab7 over-expressing cells are able to endocytose exogenous thyroglobulin via pinocytosis/CDRs more efficiently than control cells. We propose that the major thyroglobulin endocytosis described in thyroid autonomous adenomas due to Rab7 increased expression, occurs via CDRs. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 1695-1708, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mascia
- IEOS Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", National Council of Research, Napoli, Italy
| | - Flaviana Gentile
- IEOS Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", National Council of Research, Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonella Izzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Nunzia Mollo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Maria De Luca
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento (DiSTeBA), Lecce, Italy
| | - Cecilia Bucci
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento (DiSTeBA), Lecce, Italy
| | - Lucio Nitsch
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University "Federico II", Napoli, Italy
| | - Gaetano Calì
- IEOS Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", National Council of Research, Napoli, Italy
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Gonias SL, Hu J. Urokinase receptor and resistance to targeted anticancer agents. Front Pharmacol 2015; 6:154. [PMID: 26283964 PMCID: PMC4515545 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is a GPI-anchored membrane protein, which regulates protease activity at the cell surface and, in collaboration with a system of co-receptors, triggers cell-signaling and regulates gene expression within the cell. In normal tissues, uPAR gene expression is limited; however, in cancer, uPAR is frequently over-expressed and the gene may be amplified. Hypoxia, which often develops in tumors, further increases uPAR expression by cancer cells. uPAR-initiated cell-signaling promotes cancer cell migration, invasion, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stem cell-like properties, survival, and release from states of dormancy. Newly emerging data suggest that the pro-survival cell-signaling activity of uPAR may allow cancer cells to "escape" from the cytotoxic effects of targeted anticancer drugs. Herein, we review the molecular properties of uPAR that are responsible for its activity in cancer cells and its ability to counteract the activity of anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven L Gonias
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego , San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jingjing Hu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego , San Diego, CA, USA
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28
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Liu D, Zhou D, Wang B, Knabe WE, Meroueh SO. A new class of orthosteric uPAR·uPA small-molecule antagonists are allosteric inhibitors of the uPAR·vitronectin interaction. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:1521-34. [PMID: 25671694 DOI: 10.1021/cb500832q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is a GPI-anchored cell surface receptor that is at the center of an intricate network of protein-protein interactions. Its immediate binding partners are the serine proteinase urokinase (uPA), and vitronectin (VTN), a component of the extracellular matrix. uPA and VTN bind at distinct sites on uPAR to promote extracellular matrix degradation and integrin signaling, respectively. Here, we report the discovery of a new class of pyrrolone small-molecule inhibitors of the tight ∼1 nM uPAR·uPA protein-protein interaction. These compounds were designed to bind to the uPA pocket on uPAR. The highest affinity compound, namely 7, displaced a fluorescently labeled α-helical peptide (AE147-FAM) with an inhibition constant Ki of 0.7 μM and inhibited the tight uPAR·uPAATF interaction with an IC50 of 18 μM. Biophysical studies with surface plasmon resonance showed that VTN binding is highly dependent on uPA. This cooperative binding was confirmed as 7, which binds at the uPAR·uPA interface, also inhibited the distal VTN·uPAR interaction. In cell culture, 7 blocked the uPAR·uPA interaction in uPAR-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells and impaired cell adhesion to VTN, a process that is mediated by integrins. As a result, 7 inhibited integrin signaling in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells as evidenced by a decrease in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation and Rac1 GTPase activation. Consistent with these results, 7 blocked breast MDA-MB-231 cancer cell invasion with IC50 values similar to those observed in ELISA and surface plasmon resonance competition studies. Explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations show that the cooperativity between uPA and VTN is attributed to stabilization of uPAR motion by uPA. In addition, free energy calculations revealed that uPA stabilizes the VTNSMB·uPAR interaction through more favorable electrostatics and entropy. Disruption of the uPAR·VTNSMB interaction by 7 is consistent with the cooperative binding to uPAR by uPA and VTN. Interestingly, the VTNSMB·uPAR interaction was less favorable in the VTNSMB·uPAR·7 complex suggesting potential cooperativity between 7 and VTN. Compound 7 provides an excellent starting point for the development of more potent derivatives to explore uPAR biology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bo Wang
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | | | - Samy O. Meroueh
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
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29
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Urokinase-type plasminogen activator promotes dendritic spine recovery and improves neurological outcome following ischemic stroke. J Neurosci 2015; 34:14219-32. [PMID: 25339736 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5309-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spines are dendritic protrusions that receive most of the excitatory input in the brain. Early after the onset of cerebral ischemia dendritic spines in the peri-infarct cortex are replaced by areas of focal swelling, and their re-emergence from these varicosities is associated with neurological recovery after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase that plays a central role in tissue remodeling via binding to the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). We report that cerebral cortical neurons release uPA during the recovery phase from ischemic stroke in vivo or hypoxia in vitro. Although uPA does not have an effect on ischemia- or hypoxia-induced neuronal death, genetic deficiency of uPA (uPA(-/-)) or uPAR (uPAR(-/-)) abrogates functional recovery after AIS. Treatment with recombinant uPA after ischemic stroke induces neurological recovery in wild-type and uPA(-/-) but not in uPAR(-/-) mice. Diffusion tensor imaging studies indicate that uPA(-/-) mice have increased water diffusivity and decreased anisotropy associated with impaired dendritic spine recovery and decreased length of distal neurites in the peri-infarct cortex. We found that the excitotoxic injury induces the clustering of uPAR in dendritic varicosities, and that the binding of uPA to uPAR promotes the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and re-emergence of dendritic filopodia from uPAR-enriched varicosities. This effect is independent of uPA's proteolytic properties and instead is mediated by Rac-regulated profilin expression and cofilin phosphorylation. Our data indicate that binding of uPA to uPAR promotes dendritic spine recovery and improves functional outcome following AIS.
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30
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Tarighi P, Montazeri H, Khorramizadeh M, sobhani AM, Ostad S, Ghahremani M. uPAR peptide antagonist alters regulation of MAP kinases and Bcl-2 family members in favor of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cell line. Res Pharm Sci 2015; 10:200-5. [PMID: 26600846 PMCID: PMC4621626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and its ligands play a major role in many tumors by mediating extracellular matrix degradation and signaling cascades leading to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Recently we introduced uPAR decapeptide antagonist with cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231 cell line. In this study we assessed the alteration in uPAR downstream signaling following treatment with the peptide antagonist. In this regard, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 from mitogen-activated protein kinase family and Bcl-2, Bim and Bax from Bcl-2 protein family were investigated. Our data revealed that the peptide caused p38 activation and low ERK activation. On the other hand, the peptide induced down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bim without Bax modulation. Changes in target protein expression/activation explain the apoptotic property of the peptide and highlight its potential to be used as a therapeutic agent in cancerous cells expressing high levels of uPAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Tarighi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - H. Montazeri
- Department of Molecular Biology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - M.R. Khorramizadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran,Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular -Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - A. Madadkar sobhani
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Tehran University, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - S.N. Ostad
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran
| | - M.H. Ghahremani
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran,Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R. Iran,Corresponding author: M.H. Ghahremani Tel: 0098 21 66959102, Fax: 0098 21 66959102
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31
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Ashour AA, Gurbuz N, Alpay SN, Abdel-Aziz AAH, Mansour AM, Huo L, Ozpolat B. Elongation factor-2 kinase regulates TG2/β1 integrin/Src/uPAR pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediating pancreatic cancer cells invasion. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 18:2235-51. [PMID: 25215932 PMCID: PMC4224557 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the lethal cancers with extensive local tumour invasion, metastasis, early systemic dissemination and poorest prognosis. Thus, understanding the mechanisms regulating invasion/metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), is the key for developing effective therapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer (PaCa). Eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K) is an atypical kinase that we found to be highly up-regulated in PaCa cells. However, its role in PaCa invasion/progression remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of eEF-2K in cellular invasion, and we found that down-regulation of eEF-2K, by siRNA or rottlerin, displays impairment of PaCa cells invasion/migration, with significant decreases in the expression of tissue transglutaminase (TG2), the multifunctional enzyme implicated in regulation of cell attachment, motility and survival. These events were associated with reductions in β1 integrin/uPAR/MMP-2 expressions as well as decrease in Src activity. Furthermore, inhibition of eEF-2K/TG2 axis suppresses the EMT, as demonstrated by the modulation of the zinc finger transcription factors, ZEB1/Snail, and the tight junction proteins, claudins. Importantly, while eEF-2K silencing recapitulates the rottlerin-induced inhibition of invasion and correlated events, eEF-2K overexpression, by lentivirus-based expression system, suppresses such rottlerin effects and potentiates PaCa cells invasion/migration capability. Collectively, our results show, for the first time, that eEF-2K is involved in regulation of the invasive phenotype of PaCa cells through promoting a new signalling pathway, which is mediated by TG2/β1 integrin/Src/uPAR/MMP-2, and the induction of EMT biomarkers which enhance cancer cell motility and metastatic potential. Thus, eEF-2K could represent a novel potential therapeutic target in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Ashour
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar UniversityCairo, Egypt
| | - Nilgun Gurbuz
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Sultan Neslihan Alpay
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Abdel-Aziz H Abdel-Aziz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar UniversityCairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed M Mansour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar UniversityCairo, Egypt
| | - Longfei Huo
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
- Non-Coding RNA, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, TX, USA
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32
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Hu J, Muller KA, Furnari FB, Cavenee WK, VandenBerg SR, Gonias SL. Neutralizing the EGF receptor in glioblastoma cells stimulates cell migration by activating uPAR-initiated cell signaling. Oncogene 2014; 34:4078-88. [PMID: 25347738 PMCID: PMC4411189 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In glioblastoma (GBM), the EGF receptor (EGFR) and Src family kinases (SFKs) contribute to an aggressive phenotype. EGFR may be targeted therapeutically; however, resistance to EGFR-targeting drugs such as Erlotinib and Gefitinib develops quickly. In many GBMs, a truncated form of the EGFR (EGFRvIII) is expressed. Although EGFRvIII is constitutively active and promotes cancer progression, its activity is attenuated compared with EGF-ligated wild-type EGFR, suggesting that EGFRvIII may function together with other signaling receptors in cancer cells to induce an aggressive phenotype. In this study, we demonstrate that in EGFRvIII-expressing GBM cells, the urokinase receptor (uPAR) functions as a major activator of SFKs, controlling phosphorylation of downstream targets, such as p130Cas and Tyr-845 in the EGFR in vitro and in vivo. When EGFRvIII expression in GBM cells was neutralized, either genetically or by treating the cells with Gefitinib, paradoxically, the cells demonstrated increased cell migration. The increase in cell migration was explained by a compensatory increase in expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, which activates uPAR-dependent cell signaling. GBM cells that were selected for their ability to grow in vivo in the absence of EGFRvIII also demonstrated increased cell migration, due to activation of the uPAR signaling system. The increase in GBM cell migration, induced by genetic or pharmacologic targeting of the EGFR, was blocked by Dasatinib, highlighting the central role of SFKs in uPAR-promoted cell migration. These results suggest that compensatory activation of uPAR-dependent cell signaling, in GBM cells treated with targeted therapeutics, may adversely affect the course of the disease by promoting cell migration, which may be associated with tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - K A Muller
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - F B Furnari
- 1] Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA [2] The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - W K Cavenee
- 1] The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA [2] Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S R VandenBerg
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - S L Gonias
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Hu J, Jo M, Eastman BM, Gilder AS, Bui JD, Gonias SL. uPAR induces expression of transforming growth factor β and interleukin-4 in cancer cells to promote tumor-permissive conditioning of macrophages. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 184:3384-93. [PMID: 25310970 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells condition macrophages and other inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment so that these cells are more permissive for cancer growth and metastasis. Conditioning of inflammatory cells reflects, at least in part, soluble mediators (such as transforming growth factor β and IL-4) that are released by cancer cells and alter the phenotype of cells of the innate immune system. Signaling pathways in cancer cells that potentiate this activity are incompletely understood. The urokinase receptor (uPAR) is a cell-signaling receptor known to promote cancer cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, and cancer stem cell-like properties. The present findings show that uPAR expression in diverse cancer cells, including breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and glioblastoma cells, promotes the ability of these cells to condition co-cultured bone marrow-derived macrophages so that the macrophages express significantly increased levels of arginase 1, a biomarker of the alternatively activated M2 macrophage phenotype. Expression of transforming growth factor β was substantially increased in uPAR-expressing cancer cells via a mechanism that requires uPA-initiated cell signaling. uPAR also controlled expression of IL-4 in cancer cells via a mechanism that involves activation of ERK1/2. The ability of uPAR to induce expression of factors that condition macrophages in the tumor microenvironment may constitute an important mechanism by which uPAR promotes cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Minji Jo
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Boryana M Eastman
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrew S Gilder
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Jack D Bui
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Steven L Gonias
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California.
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Ferraris GMS, Schulte C, Buttiglione V, De Lorenzi V, Piontini A, Galluzzi M, Podestà A, Madsen CD, Sidenius N. The interaction between uPAR and vitronectin triggers ligand-independent adhesion signalling by integrins. EMBO J 2014; 33:2458-72. [PMID: 25168639 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201387611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a non-integrin vitronectin (VN) cell adhesion receptor linked to the plasma membrane by a glycolipid anchor. Through structure-function analyses of uPAR, VN and integrins, we document that uPAR-mediated cell adhesion to VN triggers a novel type of integrin signalling that is independent of integrin-matrix engagement. The signalling is fully active on VN mutants deficient in integrin binding site and is also efficiently transduced by integrins deficient in ligand binding. Although integrin ligation is dispensable, signalling is crucially dependent upon an active conformation of the integrin and its association with intracellular adaptors such as talin. This non-canonical integrin signalling is not restricted to uPAR as it poses no structural constraints to the receptor mediating cell attachment. In contrast to canonical integrin signalling, where integrins form direct mechanical links between the ECM and the cytoskeleton, the molecular mechanism enabling the crosstalk between non-integrin adhesion receptors and integrins is dependent upon membrane tension. This suggests that for this type of signalling, the membrane represents a critical component of the molecular clutch.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carsten Schulte
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (CIMaINa), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Buttiglione
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina De Lorenzi
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Piontini
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Galluzzi
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (CIMaINa), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Podestà
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces (CIMaINa), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chris D Madsen
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicolai Sidenius
- Unit of Cell Matrix Signalling, IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
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Lin L, Jin Y, Mars WM, Reeves WB, Hu K. Myeloid-derived tissue-type plasminogen activator promotes macrophage motility through FAK, Rac1, and NF-κB pathways. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 184:2757-67. [PMID: 25131752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2013] [Revised: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Macrophage accumulation is one of the hallmarks of progressive kidney disease. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is known to promote macrophage infiltration and renal inflammation during chronic kidney injury. However, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. We examined the role of tPA in macrophage motility in vivo by tracking fluorescence-labeled bone marrow-derived macrophages, and found that tPA-deficient mice had markedly fewer infiltrating fluorescence-labeled macrophages than the wild-type (WT) mice. Experiments in bone marrow chimeric mice further demonstrated that myeloid cells are the main source of endogenous tPA that promotes macrophage migration. In vitro studies showed that tPA promoted macrophage motility through its CD11b-mediated protease-independent function; and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Rac-1, and NF-κB were indispensable to tPA-induced macrophage migration as either infection of FAK dominant-negative adenovirus or treatment with a Rac-1-specific inhibitor or NF-κB inhibitor abolished the effect of tPA. Moreover, ectopic FAK mimicked tPA and induced macrophage motility. tPA also activated migratory signaling in vivo. The accumulation of phospho-FAK-positive CD11b macrophages in the obstructed kidneys from WT mice was clearly attenuated in tPA knockout mice, which also displayed lower Rac-1 activity than their WT counterparts. Therefore, our results indicate that myeloid-derived tPA promotes macrophage migration through a novel signaling cascade involving FAK, Rac-1, and NF-κB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Lin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Yang Jin
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wendy M Mars
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - W Brian Reeves
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Kebin Hu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
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Bae YH, Mui KL, Hsu BY, Liu SL, Cretu A, Razinia Z, Xu T, Puré E, Assoian RK. A FAK-Cas-Rac-lamellipodin signaling module transduces extracellular matrix stiffness into mechanosensitive cell cycling. Sci Signal 2014; 7:ra57. [PMID: 24939893 PMCID: PMC4345117 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2004838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Tissue and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is transduced into intracellular stiffness, signaling, and changes in cellular behavior. Integrins and several of their associated focal adhesion proteins have been implicated in sensing ECM stiffness. We investigated how an initial sensing event is translated into intracellular stiffness and a biologically interpretable signal. We found that a pathway consisting of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), the adaptor protein p130Cas (Cas), and the guanosine triphosphatase Rac selectively transduced ECM stiffness into stable intracellular stiffness, increased the abundance of the cell cycle protein cyclin D1, and promoted S-phase entry. Rac-dependent intracellular stiffening involved its binding partner lamellipodin, a protein that transmits Rac signals to the cytoskeleton during cell migration. Our findings establish that mechanotransduction by a FAK-Cas-Rac-lamellipodin signaling module converts the external information encoded by ECM stiffness into stable intracellular stiffness and mechanosensitive cell cycling. Thus, lamellipodin is important not only in controlling cellular migration but also for regulating the cell cycle in response to mechanical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ho Bae
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Keeley L Mui
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bernadette Y Hsu
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexandra Cretu
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ziba Razinia
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tina Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ellen Puré
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Richard K Assoian
- Department of Pharmacology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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37
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Bao YN, Cao X, Luo DH, Sun R, Peng LX, Wang L, Yan YP, Zheng LS, Xie P, Cao Y, Liang YY, Zheng FJ, Huang BJ, Xiang YQ, Lv X, Chen QY, Chen MY, Huang PY, Guo L, Mai HQ, Guo X, Zeng YX, Qian CN. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor signaling is critical in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth and metastasis. Cell Cycle 2014; 13:1958-69. [PMID: 24763226 DOI: 10.4161/cc.28921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common malignancies in southern China and Southeast Asia, with the highest metastasis rate among head and neck cancers. The mechanisms underlying NPC progression remain poorly understood. Genome-wide expression profiling on 18 NPC vs. 18 noncancerous nasopharyngeal tissues together with GeneGo pathway analysis and expression verification in NPC cells and tissues revealed a potential role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in NPC progression, which has not been investigated in NPC. We then observed that uPAR expression is increased in poorly differentiated, highly metastatic NPC cells compared with lowly metastatic cells or differentiated NPC cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that uPAR regulates NPC cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion and promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additional tumor xenograft and spontaneous metastasis experiments revealed that uPAR promotes NPC cell growth and metastasis in vivo. The JAK-STAT pathway is involved in uPAR-regulated signaling in NPC cells as determined by immunoblotting. Moreover, uPAR-mediated growth and motility is partially abolished upon treatment with the Jak1/Jak2 inhibitor INCB018424. We suppressed uPA expression in uPAR-overexpressing NPC cells and found that uPAR-mediated cellular growth and motility is not exclusively dependent on uPA. In summary, uPAR is a significant regulator of NPC progression and could serve as a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Na Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China; Department of Radiotherapy; Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University; Hohhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xue Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Hua Luo
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Li-Xia Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Li-Sheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Ying Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang-Jing Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Bi-Jun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Qun Xiang
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Xing Lv
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiu-Yan Chen
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Yuan Chen
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Yu Huang
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Guo
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Qiang Mai
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Guo
- Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Xin Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao-Nan Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China; Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center; Guangzhou, China
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38
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Yang A, Dai J, Xie Z, Colman RW, Wu Q, Birge RB, Wu Y. High molecular weight kininogen binds phosphatidylserine and opsonizes urokinase plasminogen activator receptor-mediated efferocytosis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:4398-408. [PMID: 24688027 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) is essential for regulation of immune responses and tissue homeostasis and is mediated by phagocytic receptors. In this study, we found that urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) plays an important role in internalization of apoptotic cells and also characterized the underlying mechanisms. In a flow cytometry-based phagocytic assay, uPAR-deficient macrophages displayed significant defect in internalization but not tethering of apoptotic cells. When uPAR-deficient mice were challenged with apoptotic cells, they exhibited pronounced splenomegaly resulting from accumulation of abundant apoptotic cells in spleen. Overexpression of uPAR in HEK-293 cells enhanced efferocytosis, which was inhibited by Annexin V and phosphatidylserine (PS) liposome, suggesting that uPAR-mediated efferocytosis is dependent on PS. In serum lacking high m.w. kininogen (HK), a uPAR ligand, uPAR-mediated efferocytosis was significantly attenuated, which was rescued by replenishment of HK. As detected by flow cytometry, HK selectively bound to apoptotic cells, but not viable cells. In purified systems, HK was specifically associated with PS liposome. HK binding to apoptotic cells induced its rapid cleavage to the two-chain form of HK (HKa) and bradykinin. Both the H chain and L chain of HKa were associated with PS liposome and apoptotic cells. HKa has higher binding affinity than HK to uPAR. Overexpression of Rac1/N17 cDNA inhibited uPAR-mediated efferocytosis. HK plus PS liposome stimulated a complex formation of CrkII with p130Cas and Dock-180 and Rac1 activation in uPAR-293 cells, but not in control HEK-293 cells. Thus, uPAR mediates efferocytosis through HK interaction with PS on apoptotic cells and activation of the Rac1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aizhen Yang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
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Sanchez-Laorden B, Viros A, Girotti MR, Pedersen M, Saturno G, Zambon A, Niculescu-Duvaz D, Turajlic S, Hayes A, Gore M, Larkin J, Lorigan P, Cook M, Springer C, Marais R. BRAF inhibitors induce metastasis in RAS mutant or inhibitor-resistant melanoma cells by reactivating MEK and ERK signaling. Sci Signal 2014; 7:ra30. [PMID: 24667377 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2004815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly metastatic and lethal form of skin cancer. The protein kinase BRAF is mutated in about 40% of melanomas, and BRAF inhibitors improve progression-free and overall survival in these patients. However, after a relatively short period of disease control, most patients develop resistance because of reactivation of the RAF-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway, mediated in many cases by mutations in RAS. We found that BRAF inhibition induces invasion and metastasis in RAS mutant melanoma cells through a mechanism mediated by the reactivation of the MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase)-ERK pathway, increased expression and secretion of interleukin 8, and induction of protease-dependent invasion. These events were accompanied by a cell morphology switch from predominantly rounded to predominantly elongated cells. We also observed similar responses in BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma cells. These data show that BRAF inhibitors can induce melanoma cell invasion and metastasis in tumors that develop resistance to these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Sanchez-Laorden
- 1Molecular Oncology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
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Mekkawy AH, Pourgholami MH, Morris DL. Involvement of urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in cancer: an overview. Med Res Rev 2014; 34:918-56. [PMID: 24549574 DOI: 10.1002/med.21308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there are several studies supporting the role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system in cancer. The association of uPA to its receptor triggers the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. This process is regulated by the uPA inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2). Plasmin promotes degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix (ECM) components as well as activation of ECM latent matrix metalloproteases. Degradation and remodeling of the surrounding tissues is crucial in the early steps of tumor progression by facilitating expansion of the tumor mass, release of tumor growth factors, activation of cytokines as well as induction of tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Hence, many tumors showed a correlation between uPA system component levels and tumor aggressiveness and survival. Therefore, this review summarizes the structure of the uPA system, its contribution to cancer progression, and the clinical relevance of uPA family members in cancer diagnosis. In addition, the review evaluates the significance of uPA system in the development of cancer-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed H Mekkawy
- Department of Surgery, Cancer Research Laboratories, St. George Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia
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41
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Tkachuk VA. Role of multidomain structure of urokinase in regulation of growth and remodeling of vessels. UKRAINIAN BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 2013. [DOI: 10.15407/ubj85.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
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42
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Transforming growth factor-Beta and urokinase-type plasminogen activator: dangerous partners in tumorigenesis-implications in skin cancer. ISRN DERMATOLOGY 2013; 2013:597927. [PMID: 23984088 PMCID: PMC3732602 DOI: 10.1155/2013/597927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic factor, with several different roles in health and disease. TGF-β has been postulated as a dual factor in tumor progression, since it represses epithelial tumor development in early stages, whereas it stimulates tumor progression in advanced stages. During tumorigenesis, cancer cells acquire the capacity to migrate and invade surrounding tissues and to metastasize different organs. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system, comprising uPA, the uPA cell surface receptor, and plasminogen-plasmin, is involved in the proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix and regulates key cellular events by activating intracellular signal pathways, which together allow cancer cells to survive, thus, enhancing cell malignance during tumor progression. Due to their importance, uPA and its receptor are tightly transcriptionally regulated in normal development, but are deregulated in cancer, when their activity and expression are related to further development of cancer. TGF-β regulates uPA expression in cancer cells, while uPA, by plasminogen activation, may activate the secreted latent TGF-β, thus, producing a pernicious cycle which contributes to the enhancement of tumor progression. Here we review the specific roles and the interplay between TGF-β and uPA system in cancer cells and their implication in skin cancer.
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43
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Ploug M. Structure-driven design of radionuclide tracers for non-invasive imaging of uPAR and targeted radiotherapy. The tale of a synthetic peptide antagonist. Theranostics 2013; 3:467-76. [PMID: 23843894 PMCID: PMC3706690 DOI: 10.7150/thno.3791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Research performed during the last two decades has provided a wealth of information to highlight the role of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in the progression and dissemination of invasive and metastatic cancer. In parallel, our perception of the structure-function relationships in uPAR has been refined to such a level that a rational design of uPAR function as well as compounds specifically targeting defined functions of uPAR are now realistic options. This knowledge opens new avenues for developing therapeutic intervention regimens targeting uPAR as well as for monitoring the effects of such treatments by non-invasive imaging using e.g. positron emission tomography. This mini-review will focus on recent advancements in translational research devoted to non-invasive targeting of uPAR, with a view to molecular imaging of its expression in live individuals as well as specific eradication of these cells by targeted radiotherapy.
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Rao JS, Gujrati M, Chetty C. Tumor-associated soluble uPAR-directed endothelial cell motility and tumor angiogenesis. Oncogenesis 2013; 2:e53. [PMID: 23797476 PMCID: PMC3740303 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2013.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) receptor (uPAR) correlates with the malignant phenotype of various cancers. The soluble form of uPAR (s-uPAR) is present in the circulation of cancer patients, but the role of s-uPAR in endothelial cell migration is poorly understood. Therefore, we examined the role of tumor-associated s-uPAR on endothelial cell motility and angiogenesis. Here, we present evidence that tumor-associated s-uPAR augments the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). When grown on tumor-conditioned medium, the membrane fraction of HUVECs had increased localization of s-uPAR onto its cell membrane. Colocalization studies for GM1 ganglioside receptor and uPAR further demonstrated s-uPAR recruitment onto lipid rafts of HUVECs. Immunoblot analysis for uPAR in lipid raft fractions confirmed s-uPAR recruiting onto HUVECs' membrane. Further, s-uPAR induced Rac1-mediated cell migration while either function-blocking uPAR antibodies or dominant-negative mutant Rac1 expression in HUVECs-mitigated s-uPAR-enhanced cell migration. In addition, orthotopic implantation of uPAR-overexpressing cells resulted in a significant increase in circulating s-uPAR in blood serum and invasive nature of tumor and tumor vasculature in mice. Collectively, this data provide insight into tumor-associated s-uPAR-directed migration of endothelial cells and its subsequent influence on tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Rao
- 1] Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA [2] Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL, USA
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Yang W, Han W, Ye S, Liu D, Wu J, Liu H, Li C, Chen H. Fibroblast activation protein-α promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation and invasion via extracellular and intracellular signaling mechanisms. Exp Mol Pathol 2013; 95:105-10. [PMID: 23778090 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAPα) is secreted by activated stromal fibroblasts and can promote ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion. However, the molecular mechanism by which FAPα promotes tumor cell proliferation and invasion is unknown. The role of the non-enzymatic activities of FAPα in tumor migration and invasion and the intracellular and extracellular signaling mechanisms of FAPα were investigated. In this study, we confirm that FAPα promote ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by extracellular and intracellular signaling mechanisms. These results provide evidence that FAPα, together with integrin α3β1 and the uPAR signaling complex, mediate cancer cell migration in the HO-8910PM cell line via the small GTPase Rac1. FAPα-mediated upregulation of p-ERK occurred in a time-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- WeiWei Yang
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
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46
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Rea VEA, Lavecchia A, Di Giovanni C, Rossi FW, Gorrasi A, Pesapane A, de Paulis A, Ragno P, Montuori N. Discovery of new small molecules targeting the vitronectin-binding site of the urokinase receptor that block cancer cell invasion. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:1402-16. [PMID: 23699658 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-12-1249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Besides focusing urokinase (uPA) proteolytic activity on the cell membrane, the uPA receptor (uPAR) is able to bind vitronectin, via a direct binding site. Furthermore, uPAR interacts with other cell surface receptors, such as integrins, receptor tyrosine kinases, and chemotaxis receptors, triggering cell-signaling pathways that promote tumor progression. The ability of uPAR to coordinate binding and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell signaling makes it an attractive therapeutic target in cancer. We used structure-based virtual screening (SB-VS) to search for small molecules targeting the uPAR-binding site for vitronectin. Forty-one compounds were identified and tested on uPAR-negative HEK-293 epithelial cells transfected with uPAR (uPAR-293 cells), using the parental cell line transfected with the empty vector (V-293 cells) as a control. Compounds 6 and 37 selectively inhibited uPAR-293 cell adhesion to vitronectin and the resulting changes in cell morphology and signal transduction, without exerting any effect on V-293 cells. Compounds 6 and 37 inhibited uPAR-293 cell binding to vitronectin with IC50 values of 3.6 and 1.2 μmol/L, respectively. Compounds 6 and 37 targeted S88 and R91, key residues for uPAR binding to vitronectin but also for uPAR interaction with the fMLF family of chemotaxis receptors (fMLF-Rs). As a consequence, compounds 6 and 37 impaired uPAR-293 cell migration toward fetal calf serum (FCS), uPA, and fMLF, likely by inhibiting the interaction between uPAR and FPR1, the high affinity fMLF-R. Both compounds blocked in vitro ECM invasion of several cancer cell types, thus representing new promising leads for pharmaceuticals in cancer.
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Direct evidence of the importance of vitronectin and its interaction with the urokinase receptor in tumor growth. Blood 2013; 121:2316-23. [PMID: 23327926 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-08-451187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive evidence implicates the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Recent studies have substantiated the importance of the interaction between uPAR and the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin (VN) for the signaling activity of the receptor in vitro, however, the possible relevance of this interaction for the activity of uPAR in tumor growth and metastasis has not been assessed. We generated a panel of HEK293 cell lines expressing mouse uPAR (muPAR(WT)), an uPAR mutant specifically deficient in VN binding (muPAR(W32A)), and a truncation variant (muPAR(ΔD1)) deficient in both VN and uPA binding. In vitro cells expressing muPAR(WT) display increased cell adhesion, spreading, migration, and proliferation associated with increased p130Cas and MAPK signaling. Disruption of VN binding or ablation of both VN and uPA binding specifically abrogates these activities of uPAR. When xenografted into SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) mice, the expression of muPAR(WT), but not muPAR(W32A) or muPAR(ΔD1), accelerates tumor development, demonstrating that VN binding is responsible for the tumor-promoting activity of uPAR in vivo. In an orthotopic xenograft model using MDA-MB-231 cells in RAG1(-/-)/VN(-/-) mice, we document that host deficiency in VN strongly impairs tumor formation. These 2 lines of in vivo experimentation independently demonstrate an important role for VN in tumor growth even if the uPAR dependence of the effect in the MDA-MB-231 model remains to be ascertained.
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Sehrawat A, Kim SH, Vogt A, Singh SV. Suppression of FOXQ1 in benzyl isothiocyanate-mediated inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human breast cancer cells. Carcinogenesis 2012; 34:864-73. [PMID: 23276794 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgs397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We showed previously that breast cancer chemoprevention with benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) in MMTV-neu mice was associated with induction of E-cadherin protein in vivo. Loss of E-cadherin expression and induction of mesenchymal markers (e.g. vimentin) are biochemical hallmarks of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a developmental process implicated in progression of cancer to aggressive state. This study offers novel insights into the mechanism by which BITC inhibits EMT. Exposure of MDA-MB-231, SUM159 and MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer cells to BITC (2.5 and 5 µM) resulted in transcriptional repression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) as well as its receptor (uPAR). However, ectopic expression of uPAR in MDA-MB-468 cells failed to confer protection against induction of E-cadherin and inhibition of cell invasion/migration resulting from BITC treatment. The BITC-mediated induction of E-cadherin and inhibition of cell migration was sustained in MDA-MB-231 and SUM159 cells transiently transfected with an uPAR-targeted small interfering RNA. Overexpression of Forkhead Box Q1 (FOXQ1), whose protein and messenger RNA levels were decreased by BITC treatment in cells and MDA-MB-231 xenografts, conferred marked protection against BITC-mediated inhibition of EMT and cell migration. In conclusion, this study implicates FOXQ1 suppression in BITC-mediated inhibition of EMT in human breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Sehrawat
- Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Botkjaer KA, Deryugina EI, Dupont DM, Gårdsvoll H, Bekes EM, Thuesen CK, Chen Z, Chen Z, Ploug M, Quigley JP, Andreasen PA. Targeting tumor cell invasion and dissemination in vivo by an aptamer that inhibits urokinase-type plasminogen activator through a novel multifunctional mechanism. Mol Cancer Res 2012; 10:1532-43. [PMID: 23038812 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-12-0349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Data accumulated over the latest two decades have established that the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a potential therapeutic target in cancer. When designing inhibitors of the proteolytic activity of serine proteases, obtaining sufficient specificity is problematic, because the topology of the proteases' active sites are highly similar. In an effort to generate highly specific uPA inhibitors with new inhibitory modalities, we isolated uPA-binding RNA aptamers by screening a library of 35 nucleotides long 2'-fluoro-pyrimidine RNA molecules using a version of human pro-uPA lacking the epidermal growth factor-like and kringle domains as bait. One pro-uPA-binding aptamer sequence, referred to as upanap-126, proved to be highly specific for human uPA. Upanap-126 delayed the proteolytic conversion of human pro-uPA to active uPA, but did not inhibit plasminogen activation catalyzed by two-chain uPA. The aptamer also inhibited the binding of pro-uPA to uPAR and the binding of vitronectin to the preformed pro-uPA/uPAR complex, both in cell-free systems and on cell surfaces. Furthermore, upanap-126 inhibited human tumor cell invasion in vitro in the Matrigel assay and in vivo in the chick embryo assay of cell escape from microtumors. Finally, upanap-126 significantly reduced the levels of tumor cell intravasation and dissemination in the chick embryo model of spontaneous metastasis. Together, our findings show that usage of upanap-126 represents a novel multifunctional mechanistic modality for inhibition of uPA-dependent processes involved in tumor cell spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth A Botkjaer
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Single amino acid substitutions in the chemotactic sequence of urokinase receptor modulate cell migration and invasion. PLoS One 2012; 7:e44806. [PMID: 23049759 PMCID: PMC3458052 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPAR) plays an important role in controlling cell migration. uPAR binds urokinase and vitronectin extracellular ligands, and signals in complex with transmembrane receptors such as Formyl-peptide Receptors (FPR)s and integrins. Previous work from this laboratory has shown that synthetic peptides, corresponding to the uPAR88–92 chemotactic sequence, when carrying the S90P or S90E substitutions, up- or down-regulate cell migration, respectively. To gain mechanistic insights into these opposite cell responses, the functional consequences of S90P and S90E mutations in full-length uPAR were evaluated. First, (HEK)-293 embryonic kidney cells expressing uPARS90P exhibit enhanced FPR activation, increased random and directional cell migration, long-lasting Akt phosphorylation, and increased adhesion to vitronectin, as well as uPAR/vitronectin receptor association. In contrast, the S90E substitution prevents agonist-triggered FPR activation and internalization, decreases binding and adhesion to vitronectin, and inhibits uPAR/vitronectin receptor association. Also, 293/uPARS90P cells appear quite elongated and their cytoskeleton well organized, whereas 293/uPARS90E cells assume a large flattened morphology, with random orientation of actin filaments. Interestingly, when HT1080 cells co-express wild type uPAR with uPAR S90E, the latter behaves as a dominant-negative, impairing uPAR-mediated signaling and reducing cell wound repair as well as lung metastasis in nude mice. In contrast, signaling, wound repair and in vivo lung metastasis of HT1080 cells bearing wild type uPAR are enhanced when they co-express uPARS90P. In conclusion, our findings indicate that Ser90 is a critical residue for uPAR signaling and that the S90P and S90E exert opposite effects on uPAR activities. These findings may be accommodated in a molecular model, in which uPARS90E and uPARS90P are forced into inactive and active forms, respectively, suggesting important implications for the development of novel drugs targeting uPAR function.
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