CD44 stimulation by fragmented hyaluronic acid induces upregulation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and its receptor and subsequently facilitates invasion of human chondrosarcoma cells.

Abstract

It has been established that fragmented hyaluronic acid (HA), but not native high molecular weight HA, can induce angiogenesis, cell proliferation and migration. We have studied the outside-in signal transduction pathways responsible for fragmented HA-mediated cancer cell invasion. In our study, we have studied the effects of CD44 stimulation by ligation with HA upon the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 as well as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), its receptor (uPAR) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) and the subsequent induction of invasion of human chondrosarcoma cell line HCS-2/8. Our study indicates that (i) CD44 stimulation by fragmented HA upregulates expression of uPA and uPAR mRNA and protein but does not affect MMPs secretion or PAI-1 mRNA expression; (ii) the effects of HA fragments are critically HA size dependent: high molecular weight HA is inactive, but lower molecular weight fragmented HA (Mr 3.5 kDa) is active; (iii) cells can bind avidly Mr 3.5 kDa fragmented HA through a CD44 molecule, whereas cells do not effectively bind higher Mr HA; (iv) a fragmented HA induces phosphorylation of MAP kinase proteins (MEK1/2, ERK1/2 and c-Jun) within 30 min; (v) CD44 is critical for the response (activation of MAP kinase and upregulation of uPA and uPAR expression); and (vi) cell invasion induced by CD44 stimulation with a fragmented HA is inhibited by anti-CD44 mAb, MAP kinase inhibitors, neutralizing anti-uPAR pAb, anti-catalytic anti-uPA mAb or amiloride. Therefore, our study represents the first report that CD44 stimulation induced by a fragmented HA results in activation of MAP kinase and, subsequently, enhances uPA and uPAR expression and facilitates invasion of human chondrosarcoma cells.

• Authors: Hiroshi Kobayashi, Mika Suzuki, Naohiro Kanayama, Takashi Nishida, Masaharu Takigawa, Toshihiko Terao
• Journal: International journal of cancer (Int J Cancer) Vol. 102 Issue 4 Pg. 379-89 (Dec 01 2002) ISSN: 0020-7136 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12402308 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Hyaluronan Receptors
• PLAUR protein, human
• Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Tyrosine
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
• Matrix Metalloproteinases

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Bone Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
• Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Chondrosarcoma (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism)
• Enzyme Inhibitors (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Hyaluronan Receptors (metabolism)
• Hyaluronic Acid (pharmacology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (physiology)
• Matrix Metalloproteinases (metabolism)
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Phosphorylation
• Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Receptors, Cell Surface (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured (drug effects)
• Tyrosine (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation
• Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator (genetics, metabolism)