title: Vascular endothelial growth factor increases urokinase receptor expression in vascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor and endothelial cell-specific mitogen that stimulates urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity in vascular endothelial cells. Here, we report that VEGF increases the high affinity binding of uPA to the same cells and that this binding is prevented by a peptide corresponding to the uPA receptor (uPAR) binding growth factor-like domain of uPA. Ligand cross-linking, ligand blotting, and uPA-Sepharose affinity chromatography revealed an increase in a cell surface uPA binding protein that corresponds to the uPAR on the basis of its affinity for uPA, M(r) of 50,000-55,000, and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C sensitivity. By Scatchard analysis, VEGF increased the number of uPAR molecules by 2.8-3.5-fold and concomitantly decreased their affinity for uPA. By northern blotting uPAR mRNA was increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to VEGF. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that VEGF-induced angiogenesis is accompanied by increased uPAR expression and uPA activity on the endothelial cell surface. These observations are consistent with the notion that the uPA-uPAR interaction facilitates cellular invasion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, University Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mandriota
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Seghezzi
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Vassalli
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wasi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzieri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mignatti
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pepper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000502:physiology*; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D043265:Phosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase