Distribution and lateral mobility of the urokinase-receptor complex at the cell surface

Abstract

Pro-urokinase (pro-uPA) and activated uPA are confined to focal adhesions and cell-cell contacts. We studied the distribution of the uPA receptor (uPAR) on human fibroblasts (HES) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Two monoclonal antibodies (MAb) utilized were against uPAR: MAb R4, which reacts with occupied and unoccupied uPAR, was concentrated at focal adhesions; MAb R3 reacting with unoccupied receptor stained cell surfaces diffusely. MAb R4 stained cell- cell contacts, tips of microspikes, and co-localized with vinculin. Of the matrix and integrin components tested, α(v)β3 integrin was found at focal adhesions but more centrally than uPAR. Since uPAR is anchored to the plasma membrane through a GPI lipid, we studied its mobility by antibody-induced clustering. This revealed that unoccupied uPAR was relatively mobile; MAb R3 redistributed it to clusters. In contrast, uPAR R4 and uPA antibodies at the focal contact sites remained mostly within focal contacts. Addition of exogenous uPA resulted in loss of R3 staining and increase of uPA in focal adhesions. These results suggest that occupancy of the receptor with uPA is associated with localization to cell contact sites and restricted lateral mobility.