Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.21.73 (urokinase-type plasminogen activator)
 10,685 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family has recently expanded by the identification and cloning of three additional members, namely VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. In this study we demonstrate that VEGF-B binds selectively to VEGF receptor-1/Flt-1. This binding can be blocked by excess VEGF, indicating that the interaction sites on the receptor are at least partially overlapping. Mutating the putative VEGF receptor-1/Flt-1 binding determinants Asp63, Asp64, and Glu67 to alanine residues in VEGF-B reduced the affinity to VEGF receptor-1 but did not abolish binding. Mutational analysis of conserved cysteines contributing to VEGF-B dimer formation suggest a structural conservation with VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor. Proteolytic processing of the 60-kDa VEGF-B186 dimer results in a 34-kDa dimer containing the receptor-binding epitopes. The binding of VEGF-B to its receptor on endothelial cells leads to increased expression and activity of urokinase type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, suggesting a role for VEGF-B in the regulation of extracellular matrix degradation, cell adhesion, and migration.
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PMID:Vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGF-B) binds to VEGF receptor-1 and regulates plasminogen activator activity in endothelial cells. 975 30

It has been admitted that urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR) is overexpressed in many human malignant tumors including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and plays an important role in a variety of cancer key cellular events as a versatile signaling orchestrator. In our study, a retroviral vector expressing u-PAR-specific siRNA was injected into OSCC xenografts of nude mice to observe its inhibitory effects on OSCC. Our data demonstrate that siRNA targeting u-PAR markedly suppressed tumor growth, reduced the expression of proliferation-related gene, Ki-67 and increased cell apoptosis, accompanying with the efficient and specific inhibition of endogenous u-PAR expression in OSCC. More importantly, the mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 that are intimately involved in oral cancer invasion and metastasis, was simultaneously downregulated significantly as determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry; and Gelatin and fibrin zymography showed that MMP-9, MMP-2 and u-PA enzymatic activities were significantly reduced in u-PAR-specific siRNA group, compared to those in control groups. In addition, the expression of MDR-1 gene related to drug resistance was obviously inhibited by silencing of u-PAR. These findings suggest that RNAi targeting u-PAR could effectively inhibit the metastasis and progression of OSCC in vivo. Thus, it may be used as a potent and specific therapy for oral cancer, especially in inhibiting and preventing cancer cell invasion and metastasis.
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PMID:RNAi targeting urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor inhibits metastasis and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vivo. 1939 Nov 33

SummaryThe mammalian oviduct plays a pivotal role in the success of early reproductive events. The urokinase plasminogen activator system (uPAS) is present in the bovine oviduct and is involved in extracellular matrix remodelling through plasmin generation. This system can be regulated by several members of the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) and their receptors. In this study, the VEGF-D effect on the regulation of uPAS was evaluated. First, RT-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were used to evidence the expression of VEGF-D and its receptors in oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC). VEGF-D, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 transcripts were found in ex vivo and in vitro BOEC, while only VEGFR2 mRNA was present after in vitro conditions. VEGF-D showed a regulatory effect on uPAS gene expression in a dose-dependent manner, inducing an increase in the expression of both uPA and its receptor (uPAR) at 24 h post-induction and decreases in the expression of its inhibitor (PAI-1). In addition, the regulation of cell migration induced by VEGF-D and uPA in BOEC monolayer cultures was analyzed. The wound areas of monolayer cultures incubated with VEGF-D 10 ng/ml or uPA 10 nM were modified and significant differences were found at 24 h for both stimulations. These results indicated that uPAS and VEGF-D systems can modify the arrangement of the bovine oviductal epithelium and contribute to the correct maintenance of the oviductal microenvironment.
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PMID:The urokinase plasminogen activator system components are regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor D in bovine oviduct. 2988 66