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Expression of urokinase receptor in various stromal‐cell populations in human colon cancer: Immunoelectron microscopical analysis
Author(s) -
Ohtani Haruo,
Pyke Charles,
Dan Ø Keld,
Nagura Hiroshi
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910620608
Subject(s) - urokinase receptor , immunoelectron microscopy , stromal cell , endoplasmic reticulum , cancer cell , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , cell , cancer research , cancer , chemistry , immunology , immunohistochemistry , medicine , biochemistry , genetics
The host reaction is an important factor in the biological behavior of cancers. In human colon adenocarcinoma, stromal cells and some cancer cells express the urokinase receptor (uPAR), a molecule involved in the regulation of extracellular proteolysis. The present study reveals the identity of uPAR‐ expressing cell types and the subcellular localization of this molecule by immunoelectron microscopy in colon cancer. uPAR‐positive cells were most abundant at the invasive margin of colon cancer and were identified as macrophages, fibroblasts, neutrophilic and eosinophilic granulocytes, endothelial cells and cancer cells. Of these, the most numerous were macrophages with uPAR detected along the plasma membrane, in accordance with its function in plasminogen activation on the cell surface. Fibroblasts were labeled in the lumen of rough endoplas‐ mic reticulum, indicating its intracellular synthesis. Some granulocytes and endothelial cells expressed immunoreactivity along the plasma membranes. uPAR‐positive cancer cells were stained along the plasma membrane and in rough endoplasmic reticulum. These findings suggested that a variety of non‐malignant host cells play an important role in the plasmin‐mediated breakdown of the extracellular matrix at the invasive margin. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.