Ulex europaeus I lectin induces activation of matrix-metalloproteinase-2 in endothelial cells.
In this report, we show that the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I), which binds to alpha-linked fucose residues on the surface of endothelial cells, mediates activation of the 72-kDa matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). A dose-dependent increase in the active 62-kDa form of MMP-2 was observed in conditioned medium from monkey aortic endothelial cells (MAEC) following incubation with concentrations of UEA I ranging from 2 to 100 micrograms/ml. The increase in the 62-kDa MMP-2 gelatinolytic activity was not reflected by a rise in MMP-2 gene expression. The UEA I-mediated activation of MMP-2 was blocked by L-fucose, which competes with UEA I for binding to alpha-fucose. These findings may suggest that a similar in vivo mechanism exists, whereby adhesive interactions between tumor cell lectins and endothelial cells can mediate MMP-2 activation.
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019793:Fluorescein; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005643:Fucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D000882:Haplorhini; D007700:Kinetics; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D037121:Plant Lectins
D005452:Fluoresceins; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; D005643:Fucose; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D019793:Fluorescein