title: Malignant transformation of human fibroblasts correlates with increased activity of receptor-bound plasminogen activator.
abstract: To determine whether a relationship exists among urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity, and the malignant transformation of human fibroblasts, we measured receptor-bound and secreted u-PAs and t-PA activity in fibroblast cell strains of a unique cell lineage and compared the results with the values obtained in human fibrosarcoma-derived cell lines and control cell lines. The lineage consists of four nonmalignant, infinite life span cell strains, clonally derived from a finite life span, neonatal foreskin-derived cell line or one of its derivatives and 10 malignant cell strains clonally derived from that same derivative. Seven of the latter were malignantly transformed by K-, H-, or N-ras oncogene transfection, two were obtained following carcinogen treatment, and one arose spontaneously. All 10 malignant strains in this lineage exhibited significantly higher levels of activity of receptor-bound u-PA than was found in the cell strain from which they arose or the nonmalignant cell strains derived from it. The ras oncogene-transformed malignant strains also exhibited significantly higher levels of activity of receptor-bound t-PA than their cell strain of origin. The other three malignant strains showed undetectable levels, consistent with their attaining the malignant state by an alternate process. The five fully malignant fibrosarcoma-derived cell lines tested also showed high levels of receptor-bound u-PA and t-PA. The majority (greater than or equal to 80%) of the nonmalignant control cell lines did not do so. The 10 malignant cell strains in the lineage also exhibited higher levels of activity of secreted high molecular weight u-PA or t-PA than did their cell strain of origin and the nonmalignant cell strains derived from it, as did the malignant fibrosarcoma-derived cell lines. The data suggest that the malignant state of human fibroblasts is always associated with high levels of activity of receptor-bound u-PA, and in addition cells transformed to the malignant state are very likely to exhibit high levels of receptor-bound t-PA and secreted forms of plasminogen activators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1316.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jankun
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McCormick
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator