Expression and localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes.
Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease involved in extracellular matrix remodeling through plasmin generation. uPA usually binds to its receptor, uPAR, which is anchored to the plasma membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. uPA/uPAR binding increases proteolytic activity in the neighborhood of the cells containing uPAR and activates intracellular signaling pathways involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, cell migration and proliferation. The aim of this work was to study the expression of uPA, uPAR and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in immature and in vitro matured bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). uPA is only expressed in the cumulus cells of immature and in vitro matured COCs, while uPAR and PAI-1 are expressed in both the cumulus cells and the immature and in vitro matured oocytes. In addition, uPAR protein was localized by confocal microscopy in the plasma membrane of oocytes and cumulus cells of immature COCs. Results from this research led us to hypothesize that the uPA/uPAR interaction could cause the local production of uPA-mediated plasmin over oocyte and cumulus cell surface; plasmin formation could also be regulated by PAI-1.
Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),CONICET-UNT,San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Daniela C
DC
García
Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),CONICET-UNT,San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Dora C
DC
Miceli
Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),CONICET-UNT,San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Gabriela
G
Rizo
Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO),CONICET-UNT,San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Elina V
EV
García
Instituto de Biología 'Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri',Facultad de Bioquímica,Química y Farmacia,UNT,Chacabuco 461,T4000ILI - San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Pablo A
PA
Valdecantos
Instituto de Biología 'Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri',Facultad de Bioquímica,Química y Farmacia,Universidad Nacional de Tucumán,Chacabuco 461,T4000ILI - San Miguel de Tucumán,Argentina.
Mariela
M
Roldán-Olarte
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054885:Cumulus Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
Bovine; Cumulus Cells; Oocytes; uPA; uPAR