title: Urokinase induces basophil chemotaxis through a urokinase receptor epitope that is an endogenous ligand for formyl peptide receptor-like 1 and -like 2.
abstract: Basophils circulate in the blood and are able to migrate into tissues at sites of inflammation. Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) binds a specific high affinity surface receptor (uPAR). The uPA-uPAR system is crucial for cell adhesion and migration, and tissue repair. We have investigated the presence and function of the uPA-uPAR system in human basophils. The expression of uPAR was found at both mRNA and protein levels. The receptor was expressed on the cell surface of basophils, in the intact and cleaved forms. Basophils did not express uPA at either the protein or mRNA level. uPA (10(-12)-10(-9) M) and its uPAR-binding N-terminal fragment (ATF) were potent chemoattractants for basophils, but did not induce histamine or cytokine release. Inactivation of uPA enzymatic activity by di-isopropyl fluorophosphate did not affect its chemotactic activity. A polyclonal Ab against uPAR inhibited uPA-dependent basophil chemotaxis. The uPAR-derived peptide 84-95 (uPAR84-95) induced basophil chemotaxis. Basophils expressed mRNA for the formyl peptide receptors formyl peptide receptor (FPR), FPR-like 1 (FPRL1), and FPRL2. The FPR antagonist cyclosporin H prevented chemotaxis induced by FMLP, but not that induced by uPA and uPAR84-95. Incubation of basophils with low and high concentrations of FMLP, which desensitize FPR and FPRL1, respectively, but not FPRL2, slightly reduced the chemotactic response to uPA and uPAR84-95. In contrast, desensitization with WKYMVm, which also binds FPRL2, markedly inhibited the response to both molecules. Thus, uPA is a potent chemoattractant for basophils that seems to act through exposure of the chemotactic uPAR epitope uPAR84-95, which is an endogenous ligand for FPRL2 and FPRL1.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Immunologia Clinica ed Allergologia, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Amato
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Paulis
authors.forename: Nunzia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Montuori
authors.forename: Nella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prevete
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.forename: Francesca Wanda
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Visconte
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ragno
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001491:Basophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007531:Isoflurophate / Q000494:pharmacology; D008024:Ligands; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D044067:Receptors, Lipoxin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000939:Epitopes; C105101:FPR2 protein, human; C469985:FPR3 protein, human; D008024:Ligands; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D044067:Receptors, Lipoxin; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D007531:Isoflurophate; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator