title: Evidence of a non-conventional role for the urokinase tripartite complex (uPAR/uPA/PAI-1) in myogenic cell fusion.
abstract: Urokinase can form a tripartite complex binding urokinase receptor (uPAR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), a component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The components of the tripartite complex are modulated throughout the in vitro myogenic differentiation process. A series of experiments aimed at elucidating the role of the urokinase tripartite complex in the fusion of human myogenic cells were performed in vitro. Myogenic cell fusion was associated with increased cell-associated urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity, cell-associated uPAR, and uPAR occupancy. Incubation of cultures with either uPA anticatalytic antibodies, or the amino-terminal fragment of uPA (ATF), which inhibits competitively uPA binding to its receptor, or anti-PAI-1 antibodies, which inhibit uPA binding to PAI-1, resulted in a 30 to 47% decrease in fusion. Incubation of cultures with the plasmin inhibitor aprotinin did not affect fusion. Decreased fusion rates induced by interfering with uPAR/uPA/PAI-1 interactions were not associated with significant changes in mRNA levels of both the myogenic regulatory factor myogenin and its inhibitor of DNA binding, Id. Incubation of cultures with purified uPA resulted in a decrease in fusion, likely due to a competitive inhibition of PAI-1 binding of endogenous uPA. We conclude that muscle cell fusion largely depends on interactions between the members of the urokinase complex (uPAR/uPA/PAI-1), but does not require proteolytic activation of plasmin. Since the intrinsic muscle cell differentiation program appears poorly affected by the state of integrity of the urokinase complex, and since cell migration is a prerequisite for muscle cell fusion in vitro, it is likely that the urokinase system is instrumental in fusion through its connection with the cell migration process. Our results suggest that the urokinase tripartite complex may be involved in cell migration in a non conventional way, playing the role of an adhesion system bridging cell membrane to ECM.
authors.affiliation: Groupe d'Etudes et de Recherches sur le Muscle et le Nerf (GERMEN: ER 269+ 315), Université Paris XII, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonavaud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charrière-Bertrand
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Leibovitch
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frisdal
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Planus
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gherardi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barlovatz-Meimon
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000494:pharmacology; D007611:Aprotinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D018008:Myogenin / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C503799:MYOG protein, human; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D018008:Myogenin; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D010455:Peptides; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007611:Aprotinin; D005341:Fibrinolysin; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator