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
PDBOrtholog search: PDBe RCSB
Identifiers
AliasesPLAUR, CD87, U-PAR, UPAR, URKR, plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor
External IDsOMIM: 173391; MGI: 97612; HomoloGene: 48120; GeneCards: PLAUR; OMA:PLAUR - orthologs
Orthologs
SpeciesHumanMouse
Entrez
Ensembl
UniProt
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 MbChr 7: 24.16 – 24.18 Mb
PubMed search[3][4]
Wikidata
View/Edit HumanView/Edit Mouse

Molecular characteristics

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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

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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

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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

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000011422Ensembl, May 2017
  2. ^ a b c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000046223Ensembl, 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. ^ a b c 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

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