Urokinase-mediated transactivation of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) gene promoter in HT-1080 cells utilises AP-1 binding sites and potentiates phorbol ester-mediated induction of endogenous PAI-2 mRNA.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) bound to its receptor, u-PAR, initiates signal transduction pathways able to induce expression of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) family member c-fos [1]. Since transcription factors bound to AP-1 recognition sequences within the PAI-2 gene promoter play a role in basal and phorbol ester-mediated induction of PAI-2 gene expression, we hypothesised that u-PA/u-PAR-mediated modulation of AP-1 activity would in turn influence constitutive and inducible PAI-2 gene expression. Treatment of HT-1080 or U-937 cells with high molecular weight u-PA (HMW u-PA) resulted in induction of nuclear proteins binding to a functional AP-1 element in the proximal PAI-2 promoter. This increase in AP-1 activity correlated with a transactivation of the PAI-2 gene promoter in transiently transfected HT-1080 cells. We also demonstrate the u-PA treatment potentiated phorbol ester (PMA)-mediated induction of PAI-2 mRNA, indicating that u-PA binding produces a bone fide response in vivo.