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)

Knee laxity has been shown to increase during human pregnancy, and the laxity of the rabbit medial collateral ligament also increases during pregnancy. To determine whether the changes in tissue function could be related to alterations in the regulation of gene expression for a subset of relevant molecules in ligaments, RNA was isolated from the medial collateral(MCL) and anterior cruciate(ACL) ligaments of first time pregnant adolescent rabbits. Levels of mRNA for matrix molecules (collagen types I and III and the proteoglycans biglycan, decorin, versican and lumican), proteinases and inhibitors (collagenase, urokinase, PAI-1 and TIMP-1, -2 and -3), growth factors (bFGF, IGF-I, TGF-beta1 and ET-1), cytokines (IL-1beta and TNF) and enzymes responsible for important tissue mediators (COX-2 and iNOS) were assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In the MCL, levels of transcripts for all of the matrix molecules, growth factors and TIMPs 1 and 2 were significantly depressed at 29 days of pregnancy compared to age-matched non-pregnant controls. In contrast, transcripts for PAI-1 were elevated during pregnancy, while those for collagenase (MMP-1), urokinase, TIMP-3, IL-1beta, TNF, COX-2 and iNOS were not statistically altered. mRNA transcript levels rebounded by 7 days post-partum for most genes studied, indicating that the changes were rapidly reversible. For some molecules, transcript levels were again depressed at 18 days post-partum, indicating that regulatory mechanisms were still not stabilized. Analysis of mRNA from the ACL also revealed changes in the pattern of gene expression, with some similarities and differences from the MCL noted. These results indicate that pregnancy induces reversible changes in mRNA for matrix molecules in ligaments, but differences in responsiveness exist between different ligaments. The complexity of the changes observed indicates that there is probably no simple cause and effect relationship between laxity changes and the molecular alterations during pregnancy.
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PMID:Pregnancy induces complex changes in the the pattern of mRNA expression in knee ligaments of the adolescent rabbit. 962 50

It has been shown that, in breast stroma, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) mRNA is predominantly expressed by myofibroblasts located at the invasive areas of the tumor. To examine which factors present in a tumor environment are candidates responsible for the induction of these uPA-producing myofibroblasts, we studied in vitro the capacity of a paired panel of normal and tumor-derived human breast fibroblasts to produce uPA protein and the myofibroblast marker alpha-smooth-muscle-actin (alpha-SMA) in response to various cytokines implicated in the process of tissue-remodeling during malignant transformation. We found that fibroblasts produced increased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to a-FGF, b-FGF, EGF, PDGF-BB, and IFN-gamma, were unaffected in this respect by IL-6, M-CSF, GM-CSF and Oncostatin M, and produced decreased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to IL-1alpha, TNF-alpha, IGF-I, and IGF-II. None of these cytokines were able to induce a striking increase in the fraction of alpha-SMA-positive fibroblasts. On the other hand, 25 pM TGFbeta1 increased the fraction of alpha-SMA-positive fibroblasts 5-fold in both normal and tumor-tissue-derived fibroblasts. Nonetheless, the normal-derived fibroblasts were unaffected in their uPA-producing capacity by TGFbeta1, and the tumor-derived fibroblasts produced decreased amounts of uPA protein after exposure to this cytokine, implying that at least in vitro the myofibroblast phenotype is not a prerequisite for the production of uPA by human breast fibroblasts. In addition, we established that the basal-uPA-production of both normal and tumor-derived fibroblasts was increased by autocrinely produced b-FGF-like activity, and that the basal-uPA-production of at least the normal-derived fibroblasts was decreased by autocrinely produced IGF-like activity. Altogether, our data suggest an active role for fibroblasts in the process of uPA-directed breast tumor proteolysis.
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PMID:Cytokine-regulated urokinase-type-plasminogen-activator (uPA) production by human breast fibroblasts in vitro. 1047 75

The Fenretinide (4-HPR) Breast Cancer Study is a randomized multicenter clinical trial designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the synthetic retinoid 4-HPR, at a dose of 200 mg per os every day for 5 years, in reducing the incidence of contralateral breast cancer in patients previously operated on for T1-T2 N-M0 breast cancer. During the trial, blood samples were collected at baseline and on a yearly basis from most of the patients. Evaluation of drug and retinol concentrations by HPLC assay has been performed for all the samples to obtain 4-HPR pharmacokinetic information as well as information on the effect of 4-HPR in lowering retinol plasma levels. The most important criteria for validation and quality control of the HPLC assay are summarized in order to provide a guide and practical recommendations for analytical procedures to be performed during prevention trials. Studies have been performed on subsets of patients participating in the trial in order to identify circulating biomarkers predictive of breast cancer. Evidence has been obtained on a lowering effect of 4-HPR on biologically active IGF-I only in premenopausal women. This was due to a decrease of IGF-I, associated with a trend to an increase in IGF-I binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). An interim analysis of the ongoing trial indicates that 4-HPR reduces the incidence of contralateral breast cancer only in premenopausal women. Analyses of total and unbound IGF-I are being performed on plasma samples collected at baseline and during intervention from women < or = 50 years old. The relationship between the incidence of a second breast cancer and the changes in IGF-I plasma levels will be assessed in order to validate IGF-I as a surrogate end point of contralateral breast cancer. The preliminary results of other studies on the effects of 4-HPR on tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and urokinase plasminogen activator (uk-PA) and on the relevance of circulating p53 antibodies with relapse will be also presented.
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PMID:Quality control for HPLC assay and surrogate end point biomarkers from the fenretinide (4-HPR) breast cancer prevention trial. 1076 18

Understanding the regulation of endothelial cell (EC) gene expression has important implications for angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. The transcription factor runt-related gene 2 (RUNX2)/core binding factoralpha-1/acute myeloid leukemia 3/polyoma enhancer-binding protein 2alphaA/osteoblast-specific transcription factor 2 regulates osteoblast differentiation, increases lymphomagenesis in transgenic mice, and is expressed in murine ECs. Here, we report on RUNX2 expression in human bone marrow EC (HBME-1) and its role in EC differentiation. Expression of RUNX2 occurred in HBME-1 cultured on extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates that stimulate in vitro differentiation (tube formation). Neutralizing anti-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I-receptor antibody inhibited tube formation as well as activation of RUNX2 expression in HBME-1 cultured on ECM. IGF-I treatment also increased both RUNX2 mRNA and protein expression. HBME-1 transfectants expressing dominant-negative (DN) RUNX were established to address the role of RUNX2 in these processes. HBME/DN cells exhibited reduced tube formation activity relative to control transfectants and less ability to growth arrest and differentiate on ECM. DNRUNX expression also inhibited HBME-1 migration and invasion, which are necessary for tube formation. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator and membrane-type MMP-1 genes were consistently down-regulated in DNRUNX transfectants. The results suggest that RUNX2 is important in IGF-I and ECM-regulated EC migration and differentiation. RUNX2 effects on HBME-1 migration and invasion may occur through activation of protease expression, events that regulate angiogenesis, and tumor growth.
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PMID:Runt-related gene 2 in endothelial cells: inducible expression and specific regulation of cell migration and invasion. 1143 32

A Kunitz-type protease inhibitor, bikunin, downregulates expression of uPA and its receptor uPAR at the mRNA and protein levels in several types of tumor cells. Our recent work showed that, using a cDNA microarray analysis, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is a candidate bikunin target gene. To clarify how reduced levels of PAPP-A may confer repressed invasiveness, we transfected human ovarian cancer cell line HRA with antisense (AS)-PAPP-A cDNA and compared the properties of the transfected cells to those of parental HRA cells. Here, we show that regulation of uPA mRNA and protein by IGF-I depends on the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways and phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 is required for IGF-I-mediated cell invasion; that IGFBP-4 protease in HRA cells is identified as PAPP-A; that reduced PAPP-A expression is associated with the upregulation of IGFBP-4 expression; that higher intact IGFBP-4 levels were associated with low invasive potential and growth rate in AS-PAPP-A cells in response to IGF-I; that IGF-I stimulates Akt and ERK1/2 activation of both the control and antisense cells, but the relative potency and efficacy of IGF-I were lower in the antisense cells compared to the control; and that genetic downregulation of PAPP-A reduces the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of HRA cells. In conclusion, our data identify a novel role for PAPP-A as a bikunin target gene. IGF-I-induced IGFBP-4 proteolysis by PAPP-A may enhance cell growth and invasion through IGF-I-dependent Akt and ERK1/2 activation and subsequently upregulation of uPA.
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PMID:Genetic downregulation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) by bikunin reduces IGF-I-dependent Akt and ERK1/2 activation and subsequently reduces ovarian cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis. 1496 70

We earlier demonstrated that oral infusion of green tea polyphenols inhibits development and progression of prostate cancer in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. Evidence indicates that elevated levels of IGF-I with concomitant lowering of IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 are associated with increased risk for prostate cancer development and progression. In this study, we examined the role of IGF/IGFBP-3 signaling and its downstream and other associated events during chemoprevention of prostate cancer by green tea polyphenols in TRAMP mice. Our data demonstrated an increase in the levels of IGF-I, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, phosphorylated Akt (Thr-308), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 with concomitant decrease in IGFBP-3 in dorso-lateral prostate of TRAMP mice during the course of cancer progression, i.e., as a function of age. Continuous green tea polyphenol infusion for 24 weeks to these mice resulted in substantial reduction in the levels of IGF-I and significant increase in the levels of IGFBP-3 in the dorso-lateral prostate. This modulation of IGF/IGFBP-3 was found to be associated with an inhibition of protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, phosphorylated forms of Akt (Thr-308) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. Furthermore, green tea polyphenol infusion resulted in marked inhibition of markers of angiogenesis and metastasis most notably vascular endothelial growth factor, urokinase plasminogen activator, and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9. Based on our data, we suggest that IGF-I/IGFBP-3 signaling pathway is a prime pathway for green tea polyphenol-mediated inhibition of prostate cancer that limits the progression of cancer through inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis.
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PMID:Oral consumption of green tea polyphenols inhibits insulin-like growth factor-I-induced signaling in an autochthonous mouse model of prostate cancer. 1557 82

The expression of syndecan-1 generally appears down-regulated in human cancers and experimental models, whereas transfectional expression of syndecan-1 in cancer cells has been shown to inhibit aspects of their malignant behavior. To clarify how reduced levels of syndecan-1 may confer enhanced invasiveness, we transfected human ovarian cancer cell line HRA with antisense (AS) syndecan-1 oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) and compared the properties of transfected cells to those of parental cells or sense (S) syndecan-1 cells. Here, we show: 1) there was lower proliferation in the AS syndecan-1 cells compared to controls (parental HRA cells and S syndecan-1 cells) when cells were incubated with HB-GFs (HB-EGF, HGF, or FGF2); 2) transfection of HRA cells with a syndecan-1 AS ODN enhanced the increase in HB-GF-dependent invasiveness; 3) in contrast, IGF-I stimulated cell proliferation and invasion, irrespective of whether cells were transfected with the AS syndecan-1 gene; 4) IGF-I stimulated ERK1/2 activation and uPA expression in both the control and AS cells, whereas the net effect of the reduction of syndecan-1 is to shift the HB-GF dose-response curve to the right; 5) the AS cells reduced activation and up-regulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and uPA expression, respectively, in response to HB-GFs; and 6) in comparison with early stage ovarian cancer tissues, there was a 3-fold decrease in syndecan-1 mRNA levels in advanced stage tissues. Taken together, these data suggest that decreased syndecan-1 expression may be associated with enhanced cell invasion possibly through the uPA-independent mechanism.
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PMID:Reduced syndecan-1 expression stimulates heparin-binding growth factor-mediated invasion in ovarian cancer cells in a urokinase-independent mechanism. 1601 29

Transgenic mice expressing IGFBP-5 in the mammary gland exhibit increased cell death and plasmin generation. Because IGFBP-5 has been reported to bind to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), we determined the effects of this interaction in HC11 cells. PAI-1 prevented plasmin generation from plasminogen and inhibited cleavage of focal adhesions, expression of caspase 3, and cell death. IGFBP-5 could in turn prevent the effects of PAI-1. IGFBP-5 mutants with reduced affinity for IGF-I (N-term) or deficient in heparin binding (HEP- and C-term E and F) were also effective. This was surprising because IGFBP-5 reportedly interacts with PAI-1 via its heparin-binding domain. Biosensor analysis confirmed that, although wild-type IGFBP-5 and N-term both bound to PAI-1, the C-term E had greatly decreased interaction with PAI-1. This suggests that IGFBP-5 does not antagonize the actions of PAI-1 by a direct molecular interaction. In a cell-free system, using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) to activate plasminogen, PAI-1 inhibited plasmin generation induced by both activators, whereas IGFBP-5 prevented the effects of PAI-1 on tPA but not uPA. Furthermore, we noted that IGFBP-5 activated plasminogen to a greater extent than could be explained solely by inhibition of PAI-1, suggesting that IGFBP-5 could directly activate tPA. Indeed, IGFBP-5 and the C-term E and F were all able to enhance the activity of tPA but not uPA. These data demonstrate that IGFBP-5 can enhance the activity of tPA and that this can result in cell death induced by cleavage of focal adhesions. Thus IGFBP-5 can induce cell death by both sequestering IGF-I and enhancing plasmin generation.
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PMID:Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 activates plasminogen by interaction with tissue plasminogen activator, independently of its ability to bind to plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, insulin-like growth factor-I, or heparin. 1650 91

It was shown previously that Ea4-peptide of trout pro-IGF-I exerted mitogenic activity in non-transformed cells and inhibited colony formation in a soft agar medium of established human cancer cells. Here we report that the same peptide inhibits the invasion of human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) through a matrigel membrane in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1) genes in MDA-MB-231 cells were downregulated by treatment with rtEa4-peptide. The inhibition of expression of these genes in response to rtEa4-peptide treatment was reduced to the control level when inhibitors for c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), mitogen activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (Mek1/2), p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and phosphokinase C (PKC) were used. These results suggest that inhibition of invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by rtEa4-peptide may be mediated via the suppression of uPA, tPA, and PAI1 gene activities through signal transduction pathways.
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PMID:Inhibition of human breast cancer cell (MBA-MD-231) invasion by the Ea4-peptide of rainbow trout pro-IGF-I. 1679 42

Adult skeletal muscle possesses remarkable potential for growth in response to mechanical loading; however, many of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remain undefined. The hypothesis of this study was that the extracellular serine protease, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), is required for muscle hypertrophy, in part by promoting macrophage accumulation in muscle subjected to increased mechanical loading. Compensatory muscle hypertrophy was induced in mouse plantaris (PLT) muscles by surgical ablation of synergist muscles. Following synergist ablation, PLT muscles in wild-type mice demonstrated edema and infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages but an absence of overt muscle fiber damage. Sham procedures resulted in no edema or accumulation of inflammatory cells. In addition, synergist ablation was associated with a large increase in activity of uPA in the PLT muscle. uPA-null mice demonstrated complete abrogation of compensatory hypertrophy associated with reduced macrophage accumulation, indicating that uPA is required for hypertrophy. Macrophages isolated from wild-type PLT muscle during compensatory hypertrophy expressed uPA and IGF-I, both of which may contribute to hypertrophy. To determine whether macrophages are required for muscle hypertrophy, clodronate liposomes were administered to deplete macrophages in wild-type mice; this resulted in reduced muscle hypertrophy. Decreased macrophage accumulation was associated with reduced cell proliferation but did not alter signaling through the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. These data indicate that uPA and macrophages are required for muscle hypertrophy following synergist ablation.
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PMID:Urokinase-type plasminogen activator and macrophages are required for skeletal muscle hypertrophy in mice. 1765 28


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