An amino-terminal fragment of urokinase isolated from a prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) is mitogenic for osteoblast-like cells

Shafast A. Rabbani, Johanne Desjardins, Alexander W. Bell, Denis Banville, Andrew Mazar, Jack Henkin, David Goltzman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

176 Scopus citations

Abstract

A peptide mitogen for cultured osteoblast-like cells was purified from aerum-free conditioned culture medium of a human prostatic cancer cell line, PC-3. Based on amino acid sequencing and estimated molecular weight, this peptide was identified as an NH2-terminal fragment of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). Recombinant high molecular weight (HMW) uPA and the NH2-terminal growth factor domain (GFD) of uPA, but not low molecular weight (LMW) uPA (lacking the NH2-terminal region) stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation and proliferation in osteoblast-like cells, and specific, competitive binding sites for HMW, but not LMW, uPA were demonstrable. These studies demonstrate the production of a mitogenic NH2-terminal fragment of uPA by a human prostatic cancer cell line which may be of importance in the pathogenesis of osteoblastic metastases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1058-1064
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
Volume173
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 31 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An amino-terminal fragment of urokinase isolated from a prostate cancer cell line (PC-3) is mitogenic for osteoblast-like cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this