Urokinase receptor

The Urokinase receptor, also known as urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR) or CD87 (Cluster of Differentiation 87), is a protein encoded in humans by the PLAUR gene. It is a multidomain glycoprotein tethered to the cell membrane with a glycosylphosphotidylinositol (GPI) anchor. uPAR was originally identified as a saturable binding site for urokinase (also known as uPA) on the cell surface.

PLAUR
Available structures PDB Ortholog search: PDBe RCSB List of PDB id codes 1YWH, 2FD6, 3BT1, 3BT2, 3U73, 3U74, 2I9B, 4K24, 4QTI
Identifiers
Aliases	PLAUR, CD87, U-PAR, UPAR, URKR, plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor
External IDs	OMIM: 173391; MGI: 97612; HomoloGene: 48120; GeneCards: PLAUR; OMA:PLAUR - orthologs
Gene location (Human) Chr. Chromosome 19 (human)[1] Band 19q13.31 Start 43,646,095 bp[1] End 43,670,547 bp[1]
Gene location (Mouse) Chr. Chromosome 7 (mouse)[2] Band 7|7 A3 Start 24,161,909 bp[2] End 24,175,393 bp[2]
RNA expression pattern Bgee Human Mouse (ortholog) Top expressed in periodontal fiber monocyte stromal cell of endometrium vena cava gallbladder blood bone marrow cells cartilage tissue granulocyte right lung Top expressed in granulocyte decidua endothelial cell of lymphatic vessel tibiofemoral joint right lung lobe bone marrow calvaria stroma of bone marrow mucous cell of stomach spleen More reference expression data BioGPS More reference expression data
Gene ontology Molecular function protein domain specific binding protein binding urokinase plasminogen activator receptor activity enzyme binding signaling receptor binding signaling receptor activity Cellular component integral component of membrane cell projection endoplasmic reticulum lumen endoplasmic reticulum membrane membrane focal adhesion integral component of plasma membrane extracellular region cell junction anchored component of membrane extracellular exosome extrinsic component of membrane plasma membrane specific granule membrane cell surface Biological process positive regulation of protein phosphorylation negative regulation of cysteine-type endopeptidase activity involved in apoptotic signaling pathway fibrinolysis negative regulation of intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway urokinase plasminogen activator signaling pathway negative regulation of apoptotic process blood coagulation attachment of GPI anchor to protein chemotaxis positive regulation of release of cytochrome c from mitochondria positive regulation of DNA binding positive regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathway regulation of proteolysis signal transduction neutrophil degranulation Sources:Amigo / QuickGO
Orthologs Species Human Mouse Entrez 5329 18793 Ensembl ENSG00000011422 ENSMUSG00000046223 UniProt Q03405 P35456 RefSeq (mRNA) NM_001005376 NM_001005377 NM_001301037 NM_002659 NM_011113 RefSeq (protein) NP_001005376 NP_001005377 NP_001287966 NP_002650 NP_035243 Location (UCSC) Chr 19: 43.65 – 43.67 Mb Chr 7: 24.16 – 24.18 Mb PubMed search [3] [4]
Wikidata
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Molecular characteristics

uPAR consists of three tandem LU domains, which are protein domains of the three-finger protein family.^[5] The structure of uPAR has been solved by X-ray crystallography in complex with a peptide antagonist^[6] and with its native ligand, urokinase.^[7] All three three-finger domains are necessary for high affinity binding of the primary ligand, urokinase. In addition, uPAR also interacts with several other proteins, including vitronectin, the uPAR associated protein (uPARAP) and the integrin family of membrane proteins.

It has been possible to express uPAR recombinantly in CHO-cells and S2 cells from Drosophila melanogaster. 4 out of 5 of the possible glycosylation sites are used in vivo giving the protein a molecular weight of 50–60 kDA.

Physiological significance

uPAR is a part of the plasminogen activation system, which in the healthy body is involved in tissue reorganization events such as mammary gland involution and wound healing. In order to be able to reorganize tissue, the old tissue must be able to be degraded. An important mechanism in this degradation is the proteolysis cascade initiated by the plasminogen activation system. uPAR binds urokinase and thus restricts plasminogen activation to the immediate vicinity of the cell membrane. When urokinase is bound to the receptor, there is cleavage between the GPI-anchor and the uPAR, releasing a soluble form of the protein known as suPAR.^[8][9]

Clinical significance

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has been found to be a biomarker of inflammation.^[10] Elevated suPAR is seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, liver failure, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.^[10] Smokers have significantly higher suPAR compared to non-smokers.^[10]

Urokinase receptors have been found to be highly expressed on senescent cells, leading researchers to use chimeric antigen receptor T cells to eliminate senescent cells in mice.^[11][12]

The components of the plasminogen activation system have been found to be highly expressed in many malignant tumors, indicating that tumors are able to hijack the system, and use it in metastasis. Thus inhibitors of the various components of the plasminogen activation system have been sought as possible anticancer drugs.^[13]

uPAR has been involved in various other non-proteolytic processes related to cancer, such as cell migration, cell cycle regulation, and cell adhesion.

Interactions

Urokinase receptor has been shown to interact with LRP1.^[14]

See also

• Cancer
• Cluster of differentiation
• Metastasis
• Plasmin
• suPAR
• Urokinase

References

1. GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000011422 – Ensembl, May 2017
2. GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000046223 – Ensembl, May 2017
3. "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
4. "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
5. Kessler, Pascal; Marchot, Pascale; Silva, Marcela; Servent, Denis (August 2017). "The three-finger toxin fold: a multifunctional structural scaffold able to modulate cholinergic functions". Journal of Neurochemistry. 142: 7–18. doi:10.1111/jnc.13975. PMID 28326549.
6. Llinas P, Le Du MH, Gårdsvoll H, Danø K, Ploug M, Gilquin B, Stura EA, Ménez A (May 2005). "Crystal structure of the human urokinase plasminogen activator receptor bound to an antagonist peptide". The EMBO Journal. 24 (9): 1655–63. doi:10.1038/sj.emboj.7600635. PMC 1142576. PMID 15861141.
7. Huai Q, Mazar AP, Kuo A, Parry GC, Shaw DE, Callahan J, Li Y, Yuan C, Bian C, Chen L, Furie B, Furie BC, Cines DB, Huang M (February 2006). "Structure of human urokinase plasminogen activator in complex with its receptor". Science. 311 (5761): 656–9. Bibcode:2006Sci...311..656H. doi:10.1126/science.1121143. PMID 16456079. S2CID 39521660.
8. ViroGates. "What is suPAR". suPARnostic® by ViroGates. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
9. Thunø M, Macho B, Eugen-Olsen J (2009). "suPAR: the molecular crystal ball". Disease Markers. 27 (3): 157–72. doi:10.1155/2009/504294. PMC 3835059. PMID 19893210.
10. Desmedt S, Desmedt V, Delanghe JR, Speeckaert R, Speeckaert MM (2017). "The Intriguing Role of Soluble Urokinase Receptor in Inflammatory Diseases". Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences. 54 (2): 117–133. doi:10.1080/10408363.2016.1269310. PMID 28084848. S2CID 32624995.
11. Wagner V, Gil J (2020). "T Cells Engineered to Target Senescence". Nature. 583 (7814): 37–38. Bibcode:2020Natur.583...37W. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01759-x. hdl:10044/1/80980. PMID 32601490.
12. Amor C, Feucht J, Lowe SW (2020). "Senolytic CAR T cells reverse senescence-associated pathologies". Nature. 583 (7814): 127–132. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2403-9. PMC 7583560. PMID 32555459.
13. Josip Madunić (2018). "The Urokinase Plasminogen Activator System in Human Cancers: An Overview of Its Prognostic and Predictive Role". Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 118 (12): 2020–2036. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1675399. PMID 30419600.
14. Czekay RP, Kuemmel TA, Orlando RA, Farquhar MG (May 2001). "Direct binding of occupied urokinase receptor (uPAR) to LDL receptor-related protein is required for endocytosis of uPAR and regulation of cell surface urokinase activity". Molecular Biology of the Cell. 12 (5): 1467–79. doi:10.1091/mbc.12.5.1467. PMC 34598. PMID 11359936.

Further reading

• Ploug M (2003). "Structure-function relationships in the interaction between the urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor". Current Pharmaceutical Design. 9 (19): 1499–528. doi:10.2174/1381612033454630. PMID 12871065.
• Kjøller L (January 2002). "The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and cell motility". Biological Chemistry. 383 (1): 5–19. doi:10.1515/BC.2002.002. PMID 11928822. S2CID 6125978.
• Chavakis T, Kanse SM, May AE, Preissner KT (April 2002). "Haemostatic factors occupy new territory: the role of the urokinase receptor system and kininogen in inflammation". Biochemical Society Transactions. 30 (2): 168–73. doi:10.1042/BST0300168. PMID 12023845.
• Ploug M, Gårdsvoll H, Jørgensen TJ, Lønborg Hansen L, Danø K (April 2002). "Structural analysis of the interaction between urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor: a potential target for anti-invasive cancer therapy". Biochemical Society Transactions. 30 (2): 177–83. doi:10.1042/BST0300177. PMID 12023847.
• Alfano M, Sidenius N, Blasi F, Poli G (November 2003). "The role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor in HIV-1 infection". Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 74 (5): 750–6. doi:10.1189/jlb.0403176. PMID 12960238. S2CID 8526093.
• Alfano D, Franco P, Vocca I, Gambi N, Pisa V, Mancini A, Caputi M, Carriero MV, Iaccarino I, Stoppelli MP (February 2005). "The urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor: role in cell growth and apoptosis". Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 93 (2): 205–11. doi:10.1160/TH04-09-0592. PMID 15711734. S2CID 35517406.

External links

• PLAUR+protein,+human at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Overview of all the structural information available in the PDB for UniProt: Q03405 (Human Urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor) at the PDBe-KB.