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)

Overexpression of urokinase plasminogen activator system or HER-2 (erbB-2) in breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. HER-2 overexpression is caused by HER-2 gene amplification. The anti-HER-2 antibody trastuzumab significantly improves clinical outcome for HER2-positive breast cancer. Drugs that target the uPA system are in early clinical trials. The aims of this study were to determine whether urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) gene amplification occurs and whether analysis of individual tumor cells (TCs) in the blood or tissue can add information to conventional pathological analysis that could help in diagnosis and treatment. Analysis of individual TCs indicates that uPAR amplification occurs in a significant portion of primary breast cancers and also circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from patients with advanced disease. There was complete concordance between touch preps (TPs) and conventional pathological examination of HER-2 and uPAR gene status in primary tumors. There was also excellent concordance of HER-2 gene status between primary tumors and CTCs provided that acquisition of HER-2 gene amplification in CTCs was taken into account. Unexpectedly, gene amplification of HER-2 and uPAR occurred most frequently in the same TC and patient, suggesting a biological bias and potential advantage for coamplification. Expression of HER-2 and uPAR in primary tumors predicted gene status in 100 and 92% of patients, respectively.
 ...
PMID:uPAR and HER-2 gene status in individual breast cancer cells from blood and tissues. 1709 Jun 87

Progesterone pretreatment of ovariectomized rat uteri increases the number of synchronously proliferating stromal cells in response to estradiol 17-beta. To identify the signals involved in stimulating synchronous proliferation, sexually mature ovariectomized rats were injected with progesterone (2 mg) for 3 consecutive days. Estradiol 17-beta (0.2 microg) was administered to initiate cell cycle entry. Uterine samples were removed at various times after hormone administration and changes in wingless (Wnt) pathway effectors and gene targets were identified by microarray. Progesterone pretreatment decreased glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) and increased expression of T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF). GSK-3beta protein decreased markedly in the uterine stroma of progesterone-pretreated uteri with the concomitant appearance of beta-catenin in these stromal cells. Translocation of beta-catenin from the cytosol to the nuclei in progesterone-pretreated stromal cells was stimulated in response to estradiol. Beta-catenin binding to TCF/LEF increased (P<0.05) in progesterone-pretreated uteri in response to estradiol. Progesterone stimulated the expression of the Wnt target gene urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPA-R) in the periluminal uterine stromal cells. The expression of uPA-R increased in progesterone-pretreated stromal cells in response to estradiol administration. Together, the results indicate that progesterone initiates Wnt signaling in the uterine stroma by down-regulating GSK-3beta. However, nuclear translocation of beta-catenin and sufficient complex formation with TCF/LEF to activate stromal cell cycle entry requires estradiol. Stimulation of a uterine stromal cell line to proliferate and differentiate resulted in beta-catenin accumulation, suggesting that endocrine-dependent Wnt signaling controls proliferation and differentiation (decidualization).
 ...
PMID:Progesterone initiates Wnt-beta-catenin signaling but estradiol is required for nuclear activation and synchronous proliferation of rat uterine stromal cells. 1717 Feb 12

In about 70% of cases, ovarian carcinoma has been diagnosed at an advanced stage. Invasion and metastasis of solid tumors request protease activity resulting in basal membrane destruction and surrounding matrix. In that process, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) play a key role, that via plasmin activation lead to basal membrane and matrix degradation in surrounding of the tumor, enable to its invasion and metastasis. Determination of serum concentration of those tumor markers can be useful in preoperative as well as in postoperative period. Their serum concentrations in ovarian cancer patients may help in good monitoring of remission or progression during chemotherapy treatment. In late 1950s and ear1y 1960s, when it was found out that malignant ovarian tumors were chemosensitive, their chemotherapy treatment has begun. In the beginning it was used only mono-therapy, and by discovering new cytostatics it was replaced by poly-chemotherapy. Now days, in the therapy of advanced stages of ovarian carcinoma combination of cisplatine or carboplatine with paclitaxel is considering as standard treatment. Aim of this study was to determine serum uPA, suPAR and CEA in FIGO II and III patients with different histological type (serous, mucinous, clear cell tumor) before and after PT chemotherapy protocol during following three cycles. In this prospective study we have analyzed 17 patients with ovarian carcinoma, those have been after surgery treated by chemotherapy. Serum levels of uPA and suPAR have been determined by ELISA-test (Imubind uPA, Imubind uPAR, American Diagnostica), and CEA by OPUS Imunoassay method. Results of this study have shown that uPA, suPAR and CEA met criteria for prognostic markers for monitoring of successfulness of platina/taxol chemotherapy protocol for serous, mucinous and clear cell tumor FIGO II and III stage of ovarian carcinoma. In case of PT chemotherapy protocol suPAR was better prognostic marker for monitoring of chemotherapy successfulness (Pearson coefficient 0,9 do 1,0; p<0,00l) than uPA (Pearson coefficient between 0,86 and 0,92; p<0,02) and CEA (Pearson coefficient 0,5 do 0,89; p<0,04).
 ...
PMID:Monitoring of chemotherapy successfulness of platina/taxol chemotherapy protocol by using determination of serum urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in patients with ovarian carcinoma FIGO II and III stage. 1748 44

The urokinase receptor [urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (u-PAR)] promotes invasion and metastasis and is associated with poor patient survival. Recently, it was shown that Src induces u-PAR gene expression via Sp1 bound to the u-PAR promoter region -152/-135. However, u-PAR is regulated by diverse promoter motifs, among them being an essential activator protein-1 (AP-1) motif at -190/-171. Moreover, an in vivo relevance of Src-induced transcriptional regulators of u-PAR-mediated invasion, in particular intravasation, and a relevance in resected patient tumors have not sufficiently been shown. The present study was conducted (a) to investigate if, in particular, AP-1-related transcriptional mediators are required for Src-induced u-PAR-gene expression, (b) to show in vivo relevance of AP-1-mediated Src-induced u-PAR gene expression for invasion/intravasation and for resected tissues from colorectal cancer patients. Src stimulation of the u-PAR promoter deleted for AP-1 region -190/-171 was reduced as compared with the wild-type promoter in cultured colon cancer cells. In gelshifts/chromatin immunoprecipitation, Src-transfected SW480 cells showed an increase of phospho-c-Jun, in addition to JunD and Fra-1, bound to region -190/-171. Src-transfected cells showed a significant increase in c-Jun phosphorylated at Ser(73) and also Ser(63), which was paralleled by increased phospho-c-jun-NH(2)-kinase. Significant decreases of invasion/in vivo intravasation (chorionallantoic membrane model) were observed in Src-overexpressing cells treated with Src inhibitors, u-PAR-small interfering RNA, and dominant negative c-Jun (TAM67). In resected tissues of 20 colorectal cancer patients, a significant correlation between Src activity, AP-1 complexes bound to u-PAR region -190/-171, and advanced pN stage were observed. These data suggest that Src-induced u-PAR gene expression and invasion/intravasation in vivo is also mediated via AP-1 region -190/-171, especially bound with c-Jun phosphorylated at Ser(73/63), and that this pathway is biologically relevant for colorectal cancer patients, suggesting therapeutic potential.
 ...
PMID:Src induces urokinase receptor gene expression and invasion/intravasation via activator protein-1/p-c-Jun in colorectal cancer. 1751 Mar 14

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pattern of regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A (isoforms 121, 165, 189), VEGF receptor tyrosine kinases (VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, MMP-14, MMP-19, tissue-specific inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in time-defined follicle classes before (0 h) and after the application of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Bovine ovaries containing periovulatory follicles or new corpora lutea (CL; Days 1-2) were collected 0, 4, 10, 20 and 25 h (follicles) or 60 h (CL) after the injection of GnRH. Transcripts of VEGF isoforms (VEGF(121), VEGF(165), VEGF(189)) were upregulated 4 h after GnRH injection (during the luteinising hormone (LH) surge) and decreased thereafter to lowest levels around ovulation. All VEGF isoforms and their receptors were upregulated again after ovulation. The VEGF peptide concentration in follicular fluid decreased 20 h after GnRH injection, followed by an increase in follicles 25 h after GnRH. Expression of MMP-1 mRNA increased rapidly 4 h after GnRH injection and remained high during the entire experimental period. In contrast, MMP-19 mRNA increased significantly only after ovulation. Expression of TIMP-1 mRNA increased 4 h after GnRH and again after ovulation. Expression of tPA mRNA increased 4 h after GnRH and remained high during the entire experimental period, whereas expression of uPA transcripts increased significantly only after ovulation. Both uPAR and PAI-1 mRNA levels increased in follicles 4 h after GnRH and again after ovulation. The amount of MMP-1 protein (immunolocalisation) increased in follicles 10 h after GnRH: additional staining was observed in the granulosa cell layer. In conclusion, the temporal and spatial pattern of regulation of VEGF and extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases during periovulation suggests they are important mediators of the LH-dependent rupture of bovine follicles and for early CL formation (angiogenesis).
 ...
PMID:Effect of the luteinising hormone surge on regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor and extracellular matrix-degrading proteinases and their inhibitors in bovine follicles. 1825 15

The IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor (IGF2R) function in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is known to occur as a result of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activation and plasmin in the proteolytic cleavage level caused by the interaction between latent TGF-beta and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) respectively. In one of our previous studies, we found IGF-II and IGF2R dose-dependently correlated with the progression of pathological hypertrophy remodeling following complete abdominal aorta ligation. However, how this IGF2R signaling pathway responds specifically to IGF-II and regulates the myocardial ECM remodeling process is unclear. We found that IGF2R was aberrantly expressed in myocardial infarction scars. The matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) zymographic activity was elevated in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells treated with IGF-II, but not IGF-I. Treatment with Leu27IGF-II, an IGF2R specifically binding IGF-II analog, resulted in significant time-dependent increases in the MMP-9, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA); and a reduction in the tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) protein expression. Furthermore, IGF2R expression inhibition by siRNA blocked the IGF-II-induced MMP-9 activity. We hypothesize that after IGF-II is bound with IGF2R, the resulting signal disrupts the balance in the MMP-9/TIMP-2 expression level and increases plasminogen activator (PAs) expression involved in the development of myocardial remodeling. If so, IGF2R signaling inhibition may have potential use in the development of therapies preventing heart fibrosis progression.
 ...
PMID:IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor activation induces metalloproteinase-9 matrix activity and increases plasminogen activator expression in H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells. 1849 91

Prostate derived ETS factor (PDEF) is an ETS (epithelial-specific E26 transforming sequence) family member that has been identified as a potential tumor suppressor. In multiple invasive breast cancer cells, PDEF expression inhibits cell migration by preventing the acquisition of directional morphological polarity conferred by changes in cytoskeleton organization. In this study, microarray analysis was used to identify >200 human genes that displayed a common differential expression pattern in three invasive breast cancer cell lines after expression of exogenous PDEF protein. Gene ontology associations and data mining analysis identified focal adhesion, adherens junctions, cell adhesion, and actin cytoskeleton regulation as cell migration-associated interaction pathways significantly impacted by PDEF expression. Validation experiments confirmed the differential expression of four cytoskeleton-associated genes with known functional associations with these pathways: uPA, uPAR, LASP1, and VASP. Significantly, chromatin immunoprecipitation studies identified PDEF as a direct negative regulator of the metastasis-associated gene uPA and phenotypic rescue experiments demonstrate that exogenous urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) expression can restore the migratory ability of invasive breast cancer cells expressing PDEF. Furthermore, immunofluorescence studies identify the subcellular relocalization of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), LIM and SH3 protein (LASP1), and vasodilator-stimulated protein (VASP) as a possible mechanism accounting for the loss of morphological polarity observed upon PDEF expression.
 ...
PMID:Global gene expression analysis identifies PDEF transcriptional networks regulating cell migration during cancer progression. 1857 87

We have previously observed that soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) prevents impairment of cerebrovasodilation induced by hypercapnia and hypotension after hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) in the newborn pig. In this study, we investigated the role of low-density lipoprotein-related protein (LRP) receptor and the ERK isoform of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in uPA-mediated impairment of vasodilation after H/I in piglets equipped with a closed cranial window. CSF uPA increased from 9+/-2 to 52+/-8 and 140+/-21 ng/ml at 1 and 4 h after H/I, respectively. The LRP antagonist receptor associated protein (RAP) and anti-LRP antibody blunted the increase in CSF uPA at 1 h (17+/-2 ng/ml) but not 4 h post insult. uPA detectable in sham-treated cortex by immunohistochemistry was markedly elevated 4 h after H/I. Phosphorylation (activation) of CSF ERK MAPK was detected at 1 and 4 h post H/I and blocked by RAP. Exogenous uPA administered at 4 h post H/I further stimulated ERK MAPK phosphorylation, which was blocked by RAP. Pre-treatment of piglets with RAP, anti-LRP, and suPAR completely prevented, and the ERK MAPK antagonist U 0126 partially prevented, impaired responses to hypotension and hypercapnia post H/I, but none of these antagonists affected the response to isoproterenol. These data indicate that uPA is upregulated after H/I through an LRP-dependent process and that the released uPA impairs hypercapnic and hypotensive dilation through an LRP- and ERK MAPK dependent pathway. These data suggest that modulation of uPA upregulation and/or uPA-mediated signal transduction may preserve cerebrohemodynamic control after hypoxia/ischemia.
 ...
PMID:uPA impairs cerebrovasodilation after hypoxia/ischemia through LRP and ERK MAPK. 1865 57

The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a versatile three-domain GPI-anchored protein, which binds urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and thereby focalises plasminogen activation on the cell surface. Generation of a proteolytic potential is essential in both normal physiological and pathological extracellular tissue remodelling processes. uPA can also cleave uPAR, resulting in liberation of the amino-terminal domain I, which encompasses binding sites for both uPA and the adhesion molecule, vitronectin. In order to localise the different uPAR forms on the plasma membrane of murine monocyte macrophage-like P388D.1 cells, we have now generated and characterised two high-affinity murine mAbs, mR3 and mR4, raised against murine uPAR. mR3 was found to recognise an epitope located in domain I of uPAR. Surface plasmon resonance analyses and cell binding studies revealed that this mAb was able to bind preformed complexes of murine pro-uPA and murine uPAR. In contrast, mR4 recognises domains II-III in uPAR and does not bind preformed pro-uPA-uPAR complexes in similar analyses. Immunofluorescence microscopy of P388D.1 cells revealed that mR3 stained the cells equally well in the presence or absence of saturation with the amino-terminal fragment of uPA, ATF. However, the signal intensity obtained using another uPAR domain I specific mAb, mR1, was significantly reduced upon ATF saturation. Furthermore, when adding ATF, mR4 selectively stained the cleaved receptor. Applying these newly generated mAbs, we additionally demonstrated that cleaved and intact uPAR was evenly distributed on the surface of these cells.
 ...
PMID:Discrimination of different forms of the murine urokinase plasminogen activator receptor on the cell surface using monoclonal antibodies. 1876 43

The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) has been implicated in the growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis of several solid and hemotologic malignancies. uPAR is part of a cell surface system that also consists of the serine protease uPA and several specific inhibitors (plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and 2). This system has classically been thought to drive tumor progression by mediating directed extracellular proteolysis on the surface of migrating or invading cells, and intervening with this proteolysis by targeting uPAR has been proposed to represent a novel approach for inhibiting tumor progression. However, despite abundant evidence suggesting the utility of targeting uPAR for the treatment of cancer, there are currently no uPAR-targeted therapies being evaluated in clinical trials. Recent data have provided new insights into the role of uPAR in tumor progression. In addition to mediating proteolysis, this receptor appears to also mediate cell signaling, proliferation, and survival, and these observations have revealed novel ways to target uPAR. How these data have led to a paradigm shift in how the role of uPAR in tumor progression is perceived as well as past and present attempts to therapeutically target a molecule that is generating renewed interest as a cancer target will be discussed in this article.
 ...
PMID:Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor choreographs multiple ligand interactions: implications for tumor progression and therapy. 1879 71


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>