Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Expression and Glioblastoma Invasion via C-SRC/MAPK/AP-1 Signaling Pathways
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2010
Journal Title
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology
ISSN
0022-3069
Volume
69
Issue
6
First Page
582
Last Page
592
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/nen.0b013e3181e008fe
PubMed ID
20467333
Abstract
One of the major pathophysiological features of malignant astrocytomas is their ability to infiltrate surrounding brain tissue. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and proteases are known to be overexpressed in glioblastomas (GBMs), but the interaction between the activation of the EGFR and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in promoting astrocytic tumor invasion has not been fully elucidated. Here, we characterized the signal transduction pathway(s) by which EGF regulates uPA expression and promotes astrocytoma invasion. We show that EGFR activation and constitutively active EGFR vIII in GBM cell lines upregulate uPA expression. Small-molecule inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase, tyrosine kinase, and small interfering RNA targeting c-Src blocked uPA upregulation. Similarly, mutations in the activator protein 1 binding site of the uPA promoter reduced EGF-induced increases in uPA promoter activity. Treatment of GBM cells with EGF increased in vitro cell invasion, and the invasive phenotype was attenuated by gene silencing of uPA using small interfering RNA and short hairpin RNA. In addition, uPA knockdown clones formed smaller well-circumscribed tumors than nontarget U1242 control cells in a xenograft GBM mouse model in vivo. In summary, these results suggest that c-Src, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and a composite activator protein 1 on the uPA promoter are responsible for EGF-induced uPA expression and GBM invasion.
Keywords
Malignant, astrocytomas, brain issues, epidermal growth factor, glioblastoma
Recommended Citation
Amos, Samson; Redpath, Gerard T.; diPierro, Charles G.; Carpenter, Joan E.; and Hussaini, Isa M., "Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mediated Regulation of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Expression and Glioblastoma Invasion via C-SRC/MAPK/AP-1 Signaling Pathways" (2010). Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications. 102.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/pharmaceutical_sciences_publications/102
