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Urokinase‐type plasminogen activator up‐regulates the expression of its cellular receptor through a post‐transcriptional mechanism
Author(s) -
Montuori Nunzia,
Mattiello Amalia,
Mancini Alessandro,
Santoli Mariano,
Taglialatela Paola,
Caputi Mario,
Rossi Guido,
Ragno Pia
Publication year - 2001
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(01)03104-0
Subject(s) - urokinase receptor , cycloheximide , plasminogen activator , transfection , messenger rna , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , urokinase , chemistry , biology , protein biosynthesis , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene , genetics
We have recently reported that the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA) up‐regulates the cell surface expression of its own receptor (uPAR) in several cell types, independently of its enzymatic activity. uPA has no effect on kidney 293 cells which do not express uPAR and then cannot bind uPA. Kidney cells, transfected with the coding region of uPAR cDNA, express very large amounts of uPAR and respond to uPA stimulation by regulating uPAR both at mRNA and protein levels. uPA effect occurs also in the presence of the transcriptional inhibitor dichloro‐ribobenzimidazole, whereas it is abolished by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Moreover, uPA‐dependent uPAR up‐regulation correlates with the increase of a complex between the coding region of uPAR mRNA and an unknown cellular factor. We then propose that uPA regulates uPAR expression at a post‐transcriptional level, by promoting the binding of uPAR mRNA to a stabilizing factor.