Oncogene
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Vitronectin (VN) and pro-urokinase (pro-uPA) stimulated migration of rat smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent and additive way, and induced motile-type changes in cell morphology together with a complete reorganization of the actin filaments and of the microtubules. All these effects were inhibited by pertussis toxin, or by antibodies directed against the urokinase receptor (uPAR) or against the VN receptor alpha(v)beta(3) suggesting that an association between the two receptors is required to mediate both signals. ⋯ Phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Erk by pro-uPA was directly observed. We conclude that the signaling pathways of pro-uPA and VN must be at least in part different.