Urokinase-type plasminogen activator enhances invasion of human T cells (Jurkat) into a fibrin matrix.

The receptor for urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA-R) localizes uPA to the cell surface. The receptor-bound uPA converts plasminogen to the trypsin-like endopeptidase plasmin. Thus uPA is involved in the initiation of pericellular proteolysis. Pericellular proteolysis is assumed to facilitate the cellular infiltration into surrounding tissue. The uPA-R has recently been identified as a surface antigen of activated human T lymphocytes. We have characterized the uPA-R of the human CD4 T cell line Jurkat by immunological (flow cytometry), biochemical (ligand blotting), and physico-chemical (Scatchard blotting) methods. The collective data suggest that the human CD4+ T cell line Jurkat expresses a cell surface receptor for uPA similar to that of myelo/monocytes and normal T cells with regard to size, affinity, ligand specificity, and antigenicity. Binding studies using exogenous uPA and subsequent functional assays revealed that receptor-bound uPA retains its enzymatic activity. Saturation of the Jurkat cell uPA-R with exogenous uPA facilitated cellular invasion into fibrin matrices in vitro. uPA-dependent invasion was inhibited in the presence of an anti-catalytic monoclonal anti-uPA antibody. We propose that uPA-R-bound uPA may facilitate the invasiveness of uPA-R-positive T lymphocytes.