title: bcl-2 induction of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor expression in human cancer cells through Sp1 activation: involvement of ERK1/ERK2 activity.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that Bcl-2 overexpression in human breast carcinoma and melanoma cells synergizes with hypoxia to increase angiogenesis through up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor. In this work we demonstrated, for the first time, that Bcl-2 overexpression in cancer cells exposed to hypoxia modulates urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression through Sp1 transcription factor and that the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays a role in Sp1 transcriptional activity. In particular, an increase in uPAR protein and mRNA expression was found in melanoma bcl-2 transfectants grown under hypoxia when compared with control cells, and a decrease of uPAR protein expression was induced by treatment of cells with specific bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotides. Up-regulation of uPAR expression was accompanied by increased Sp1 protein expression, stability, serine phosphorylation, and DNA binding activity. Treatment of cells with mitramycin A, an inhibitor of Sp1 activity, confirmed the role of Sp1 transcriptional activity in uPAR induction by Bcl-2. The contribution of the ERK pathway in Sp1-increased transcriptional activity was demonstrated by the use of chemical inhibition. In fact, ERK kinase activation was induced in Bcl-2-overexpressing cells exposed to hypoxia, and the ERK kinase inhibitor UO126 was able to down-regulate Sp1 phosphorylation and DNA binding activity. Using a human breast carcinoma line, we obtained data supporting our findings with melanoma cells and identified a link between the induction of Sp1 and uPAR expression as a common bcl-2-controlled phenomenon in human tumors. In conclusion, our results strongly indicate that up-regulation of uPAR expression by Bcl-2 in hypoxia is modulated by Sp1 DNA binding activity through the ERK signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Chemotherapy Laboratory, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Via delle Messi d'Oro 156, 00158 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trisciuoglio
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iervolino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candiloro
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fibbi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanciulli
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zangemeister-Wittke
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zupi
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Bufalo
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D008926:Plicamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; C113580:U 0126; D012694:Serine; D004247:DNA; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D008926:Plicamycin