The urokinase (uPA)-urokinase receptor (uPAR) system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation and neoplasia. Lung epithelial and fibroblasts express uPA and uPAR and influence the course of acute lung injury, alveolar remodeling and lung cancer. Both uPA and UPAR are involved in localization of cell surface proteolytic activity, regulation of cell migration and control of cellular proliferation. Increased expression of uPA and uPAR are associated with invasiveness of lung cancer. Depressed expression of uPA in the lungs of patients with ARDS or interstitial lung diseases potentiates fibrosing alveolitis and uPA is mitogenic for lung fibroblasts. Post-transcriptional mechanisms that control expression of uPA and uPAR in the lungs are, at this time, poorly understood. We recently found that uPA and uPAR expression are predominantly regulated by a post- transcriptional mechanism involving cytokine mediated stabilization of uPA and uPAR mRNA. Post-transcriptional regulation of uPA involves an interaction between a uPA mRNA binding protein (uPA mRNABp) and the 66 nt. 3' untranslated region (3 'UTR) of Upa mRNA. Post-transcriptional regulation of uPAR involves an interaction between a 51 nt. Coding sequence determinant and a uPAR mRNA binding protein (uPAR mRNABp) . The uPAR mRNABp also binds a 46 nt. 3' UTR region of uPAR mRNA, but the role of this interaction in regulation of uPAR and mRNA is currently unknown. Using molecular and biochemical approaches, we will determine the role of these novel uPA and uPAR mRNA binding proteins in the post- transcriptional regulation of uPA and uPAR by human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Using immunohistochemical analyses and in situ hybridization analyses of lung tissues, we will determine how these proteins are expressed in lung inflammation and neoplasia and neoplasia. These studies will provide novel information about the mechanism(s) by which uPA and uPAR expression is regulated at the post-transcriptional level in the lung and how these mechanisms operate in disease. This work may suggest new therapeutic approaches to a variety of inflammatory or neoplastic lung diseases for which current therapy is often unsatisfactory.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL062453-03
Application #
6390318
Study Section
Lung Biology and Pathology Study Section (LBPA)
Program Officer
Musson, Robert
Project Start
1999-09-06
Project End
2003-07-31
Budget Start
2001-08-01
Budget End
2002-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$158,626
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
City
Tyler
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75708
Shetty, Praveenkumar; Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Bhandary, Yashodhar P et al. (2010) Urokinase receptor expression involves tyrosine phosphorylation of phosphoglycerate kinase. Mol Cell Biochem 335:235-47
Bhandary, Yashodhar P; Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Shetty, Praveenkumar et al. (2009) Post-transcriptional regulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor expression in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 179:288-98
Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Shetty, Praveenkumar; Bhandary, Yashodhar P et al. (2008) Posttranscriptional regulation of urokinase receptor expression by heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein C. Biochemistry 47:6508-17
Shetty, Praveenkumar; Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Bhandary, Yashodhar P et al. (2008) Urokinase expression by tumor suppressor protein p53: a novel role in mRNA turnover. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 39:364-72
Shetty, Sreerama; Shetty, Praveenkumar; Idell, Steven et al. (2008) Regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression by tumor suppressor protein p53. J Biol Chem 283:19570-80
Shetty, Sreerama; Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Idell, Steven et al. (2007) Regulation of urokinase receptor expression by p53: novel role in stabilization of uPAR mRNA. Mol Cell Biol 27:5607-18
Shetty, Sreerama; Velusamy, Thirunavukkarasu; Idell, Steven et al. (2007) Regulation of urokinase receptor expression by protein tyrosine phosphatases. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 292:L414-21
Shetty, Sreerama; Rao, Gadiparthi N; Cines, Douglas B et al. (2006) Urokinase induces activation of STAT3 in lung epithelial cells. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 291:L772-80
Shetty, Sreerama (2005) Regulation of urokinase receptor mRNA stability by hnRNP C in lung epithelial cells. Mol Cell Biochem 272:107-18
Shetty, Sreerama; Gyetko, Margaret R; Mazar, Andrew P (2005) Induction of p53 by urokinase in lung epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 280:28133-41

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