title: Control of type IV collagenase activity by components of the urokinase-plasmin system: a regulatory mechanism with cell-bound reactants.
abstract: The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and the matrix-degrading metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 (type IV collagenases/gelatinases) have been implicated in a variety of invasive processes, including tumor invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. MMP-2 and MMP-9 are secreted in the form of inactive zymogens that are activated extracellularly, a fundamental process for the control of their activity. The physiological mechanism(s) of gelatinase activation are still poorly understood; their comprehension may provide tools to control cell invasion. The data reported in this paper show multiple roles of the uPA-plasmin system in the control of gelatinase activity: (i) both gelatinases are associated with the cell surface; binding of uPA and plasmin(ogen) to the cell surface results in gelatinase activation without the action of other metallo- or acid proteinases; (ii) inhibition of uPA or plasminogen binding to the cell surface blocks gelatinase activation; (iii) in soluble phase plasmin degrades both gelatinases; and (iv) gelatinase activation and degradation occur in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the presence of physiological plasminogen and uPA concentrations. Thus, the uPA-plasmin system may represent a physiological mechanism for the control of gelatinase activity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Genetica e Microbiologia, Università di Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzieri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masiero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanetta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onisto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbisa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mignatti
mesh_terms: D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D013499:Surface Properties; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C069860:progelatinase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9