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Urokinase‐type plasminogen activator up‐regulates the expression of its cellular receptor
Author(s) -
Montuori Nunzia,
Salzano Salvatore,
Rossi Guido,
Ragno Pia
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01713-0
Subject(s) - urokinase receptor , receptor , plasminogen activator , urokinase , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cell surface receptor , cell , activator (genetics) , biology , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics
The expression of the receptor for the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPAR) can be regulated by several hormones, cytokines, tumor promoters, etc. Recently, it has been reported that uPAR is capable of transducing signals, even though it is lacking a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmatic tail. We now report that uPAR cell surface expression can be positively regulated by its ligand, uPA, in thyroid cells. The effect of uPA is independent of its proteolytic activity, since inactivated uPA or its aminoterminal fragment have the same effects of the active enzyme. The increase of uPAR on the cell surface correlates with an increase of specific uPAR mRNA. Finally, uPA up‐regulates uPAR expression also in other cell lines of different type and origin, thus suggesting that the regulatory role of uPA on uPAR expression is not restricted to thyroid cells, but it occurs in different tissues, both normal and tumoral.