A Flexible Multidomain Structure Drives the Function of the Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR)

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) provides a rendezvous between proteolytic degradation of the extracellular matrix and integrin-mediated adhesion to vitronectin. These processes are, however, tightly linked because the high affinity binding of urokinase regulates the binding of uPAR to matrix-embedded vitronectin. Although crystal structures exist to define the corresponding static bi- and trimolecular receptor complexes, it is evident that the dynamic property of uPAR plays a decisive role in its function. In the present study, we combine small angle x-ray scattering, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, and surface plasmon resonance to develop a structural model describing the allosteric regulation of uPAR. We show that the flexibility of its N-terminal domain provides the key for understanding this allosteric mechanism. Importantly, our model has direct implications for understanding uPAR-assisted cell adhesion and migration as well as for translational research, including targeted intervention therapy and non-invasive tumor imaging in vivo.     

uPA binding increases UPAR localization to lipid rafts and modifies the receptor microdomain composition

UPAR is a GPI anchored protein, which is found in both lipid rafts and in more fluid regions of the plasma membrane. We have studied the role of the ligand uPA on uPAR localization and on the composition of the lipid membrane microdomains. We have analyzed the glycosphingolipid environment of uPAR in detergent resistant membrane (DRM) fractions prepared by cell lysis with 1% Triton X-100 and fractionated by sucrose gradient centrifugation obtained from HEK293-uPAR cells. The uPAR specific lipid membrane microdomain has been separated from the total DRM fraction by immunoprecipitation with an anti-uPAR specific antibody under conditions that preserve membrane integrity. We have also tested uPA-induced ERK phosphorylation in the presence of methyl-β-cyclodextrin, which is known to disrupt lipid rafts by sequestering cholesterol from such domains. Our results show that uPAR is partially associated with DRM and this association is increased by ligands, is independent of the catalytic activity of uPA, and is required for intracellular signalling. In the absence of ligands, uPAR experiences a lipid environment very similar to that of total DRM, enriched in sphingomyelin and glycosphingolipids. However, after treatment of cells with uPA or ATF the lipid environment is strongly impoverished of neutral glycosphingolipids.     

Fatty acids differentially modify the expression of urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor in monocytes

The urokinase plasminogen activator system with its receptor uPAR contributes to the migratory potential of macrophages, a key event in atherosclerosis. We here investigated whether free fatty acids (FFA) modify the expression for uPAR in the PMA-differentiated human monocyte/macrophage-like cell line U937. Two hundred micromolar palmitate induced a threefold increase of the uPAR mRNA expression. Although the mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids oleate and linoleate also stimulated uPAR expression, oleate had a significantly lower effect than palmitate. The observed effects were time and dose dependent. Inhibition of PKC-and ERK-pathways resulted in a strong down-regulation of basal uPAR expression whereas the FFA induced up-regulation remained unchanged. In contrast, FFA induced uPAR up-regulation was abolished by the specific inhibition of p38 MAPK. In conclusion we demonstrate that uPAR expression in human monocytes/macrophages is differentially stimulated by FFA. These effects are partially mediated by the p38 MAP-kinase signaling pathway.     

Effects of Tripeptides on the Amidolytic Activities of Urokinase, Thrombin, Plasmin and Trypsin

Eight peptides of the general formula X-d-Ser-AA-Arg-Y where X = H, Ac; AA = Ala, Gly and Y = OH, NH₂ were obtained and tested for their effect on the amidolytic activities of urokinase, thrombin, plasmin, and trypsin.     

尿激酶胸腔注入治疗结核包囊性胸腔积液

目的寻求治疗结核包囊性胸腔积液的新方法。方法胸膜活检确诊为结核性胸腔积液并经Ｂ超或胸部Ｘ线证实有粘连包囊的病人１５例,经胸腔内注入尿激酶每次１０万单位,用６０ｍｌ生理盐水稀释,每８～１２ｈ重复,连续５次,每次记录抽取胸水总量,并复查Ｂ超观察粘连包囊情况。对照组为单纯用抗结核治疗及间断抽胸水１５例。结果实验组１３例有效,总有效率８６．７％。对照组２例有效,有效率１３．３％,疗效明显优于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论尿激酶胸腔内注入是治疗结核性粘连包囊性胸腔积液的一种安全可靠的新方法。     

静脉导管留置及胸腔注射尿激酶治疗结核性胸腔积液影响

探讨中心静脉导管胸腔穿刺留置抽液联合胸腔内注入尿激酶(urokinase,UK)治疗结核性渗出性胸膜炎对胸膜肥厚、粘连的预防作用。方法:将52例收治的结核性渗出性胸膜炎所致大量胸腔积液患者随机分为治疗组(27例)和对照组(25例),对照组给于常规抗结核以及传统单纯胸腔穿刺抽液(每周3次)等治疗;全身结核中毒症状严重者,予口服泼尼松30mg．d-1,每周减量5～10mg,疗程约4～6周。在以上药物治疗同时,治疗组第一次穿刺时使用一次性中心静脉导管代替传统胸穿针穿刺置入并保留于胸腔,抽液后从导管注入尿激酶10～20万U,保留24小时后再次抽液;可以再次或多次使用尿激酶10万u注入胸腔;此后不定时抽液,经B超证实抽尽胸水后拔除导管。结果:治疗组住院时间(12．3±6．6)天,住院费用(2219．5±1171．9)元,治疗后第三个月的胸膜厚度(1．00±0．23)mm,无病例发生胸膜增厚、粘连及包裹性胸腔积液。对照组住院时间(20．4±7．9)天,住院费用(2721．9±1711．7)元,治疗后第三个月胸膜厚度(2．1±0．31)mm,另有3例发生胸膜增厚、粘连,2例形成包裹性胸腔积液。各项指标对比差异有显著性。结论:中心静脉导管胸腔穿刺留置抽液及尿激酶胸腔内保留注射治疗结核性胸腔积液具有简便、安全、创伤少、疗效确切;缩短住院时间,降低住院费用;且能有效预防胸膜肥厚和粘连发生。值得临床推广应用。     

前列地尔联合尿激酶治疗糖尿病肾病尿蛋白的临床观察

目的:观察短期应用注前列地尔注射液、前列地尔注射液联合小剂量尿激酶对Ⅳ期糖尿病肾病患者尿蛋白的影响。方法:选取我院2005年1月～2009年12月的Ⅳ期糖尿病肾病住院患者548例,均采取强化控制血糖、血压,低蛋白饮食等基础治疗,分为前列地尔治疗组216例、前列地尔联合尿激酶治疗组332例,给予14天短期输液治疗,测定治疗前后24小时尿蛋白。结果:两组患者治疗前年龄、性别组成、糖尿病病程、血糖、血压、血脂、尿蛋白、肾功能等各项指标无显著差异。两组治疗前后各自比较,单独应用注前列地尔注射液、前列地尔注射液联合小剂量尿激酶,均可有效减少糖尿病肾病24小时尿蛋白排泄,但前列地尔注射液联合小剂量尿激酶改善尿蛋白排泄的效果较单独应用注前列地尔更显著(p<0.05),有效率更高(88.2%vs.75.4%,p<0.05);应用小剂量尿激酶未见眼底、皮肤、黏膜出血等不良反应,无凝血功能异常发生。结论:短期静脉应用前列地尔联合小剂量尿激酶治疗Ⅳ期糖尿病肾病,较单独使用前列地尔可更有效减少尿蛋白排泄,不增加眼底出血、皮肤出血、黏膜出血的风险,是一种降低糖尿病肾病尿蛋白水平的安全有效的治疗方法。     

Inhibitors of Urokinase and Thrombin in Cultured Neural Cells

Recent studies have suggested important roles for certain proteases and protease inhibitors in the growth and development of the CNS. In the present studies, inhibitors of urokinase or thrombin in cultured neural cells and serum-free medium from the cells were identified by screening for components that formed sodium dodecyl sulfate-stable complexes with 125I-urokinase or 125I-thrombin. Rinsed glioblastoma possessed two components that complexed 125I-urokinase. One was type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), because the 125I-urokinase-containing complexes were immunoprecipitated with anti-PAI-1 antibodies. The other component formed complexes with 125I-urokinase that were not recognized by antibodies to PAI-1 or protease nexin-1 (PN-1). Its identity is unknown. In addition to these cell-bound components, the glioblastoma cells also secreted two inhibitors that formed complexes with 125I-urokinase; one was PAI-1, and the other was PN-1. The secreted PN-1 also formed complexes with 125I-thrombin. It was the only thrombin inhibitor detected in these studies. Human neuroblastoma cells did not contain components that formed detectable complexes with either 125I-urokinase or 125I-thrombin. However, human neuroblastoma cells did contain very low levels of PN-1 mRNA and PN-1 protein. Added PN-1 bound to the surface of both glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells. This interaction accelerated the inhibition of thrombin by PN-1 and blocked the ability of PN-1 to form complexes with 125I-urokinase. Thus, cell-bound PN-1 was a specific thrombin inhibitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

尿激酶受体反义RNA抑制人乳腺癌细胞的侵袭作用

将尿激酶受体 u PAR反义 RNA表达质粒 p URAS以脂质体法转染高侵袭性人乳腺癌细胞株 MDA- MB- 2 31 ,G41 8筛选抗性克隆 .Northern印迹法检测 u PAR反义 RNA的表达 ,RT- PCR法检测 u PAR的表达 ,牛奶板法测定细胞培养上清中纤溶活性 .改良 Boyden小室模型和裸小鼠乳房脂肪垫接种试验分别检测肿瘤细胞体外和体内侵袭能力 .反义克隆细胞能表达 u PAR反义RNA,其 u PAR表达水平及培养上清中纤溶活性明显降低 .反义细胞克隆体外侵袭能力比原代细胞 MDA- MB- 2 31和转染载体细胞克隆显著降低 .裸小鼠体内侵袭实验表明 ,反义细胞克隆的成瘤性、生长性和侵袭性均显著受到抑制 .u PAR至少在一部分恶性乳腺癌侵袭行为中发挥重要作用 ,反义 RNA可望成为抗肿瘤侵袭治疗的一种有效手段 .     

肝素修饰尿激酶某些性质的研究

本文对比研究了溴化氰活化及高碘酸活化肝素修饰的两种修饰尿激酶的性质。结果表明尿激酶在溴化氰活化肝素(肝素CN),高碘酸钠活化肝素(肝素I_4)的共价修饰后,其残余自由氨基分别是64％和52％;酶活性分别保留94％和90％;抗胃蛋白酶水解以及抗冻融变性的能力均高于天然酶;在离体血浆中的失活速变低于天然酶。本文还对修饰酶进行了萤光及紫外差光谱的分析,讨论了修饰过程对构象的影响。