Prognostic relevance of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitors PAI-1 and PAI-2 in gastric cancer

Expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) was evaluated in 125 surgically resected gastric cancers by immunohistochemical analysis. Tissue was stained immunohistochemically with a monoclonal antibody against human uPA and monoclonal antibodies against human PAI-1 and PAI-2. In addition, DNA ploidy patterns were determined by cytofluorometer after staining with propidium iodide. We found that 82 (66%) of the 125 gastric cancers expressed uPA as diffuse cytoplasmic staining, as intensely outlined luminal borders. PAI-1 expression was observed in 62 (50%) of 125 gastric cancer as a fine, diffuse and granular pattern in the cytoplasm. PAI-2 expression was observed in 65 (52%) of the 125 gastric cancers as a diffuse cytoplasmic staining. uPA-positive tumours showed a higher incidence of infiltration, lymph node metastasis and peritoneal dissemination than uPA-negative ones. Patients with uPA-positive tumours proved to have a significantly poorer prognosis than those with negative ones. PAI-1-negative tumours showed a higher incidence of liver metastasis and carried a poorer prognosis than PAI-1-positive ones. There was no significant correlation between uPA or PAI-1 expression and DNA ploidy patterns. Conversely, there was no significant relationship between PAI-2 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. According to the expression of uPA and PAI-1 status, groups of 19 uPA(–)/PAI-1(–), 44 uPA(+)/PAI-1(–), 23 uPA(–)/PAI-1(+) and 39 uPA(+)/PAI-1(+) were subdivided. Tumours with UPA(+)/PAI-1(–) had a significantly higher incidence of liver metastasis, lymph node metastasis and serosal invasion than the other groups of tumours. Patients with uPA(+)/PAI-1(–) tumours had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with uPA(–)/PAI-1(+) tumours. These results indicate that uPA expression is a useful biological prognostic indicator, and that uPA and PAI-1 may play an important part in the tumour progression and metastasis in gastric cancer.     

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator and inhibitors in resectable lung adenocarcinoma

BackgroundThe urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system is closely related to the occurrence and progression of cancer in many aspects. Previous studies demonstrated that the conclusions about the prognosis value of uPA, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) in lung cancer are controversial, so this study was performed for the exploration of the predictive effect of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 on the overall survival (OS) of resectable pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients.MethodsUPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 expression levels were assayed by immunohistochemical staining based on tissue microarray (TMA) that is composed of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from 84 resectable lung adenocarcinoma patients from July 2004 to June 2009. The relationship of IHC, mRNA expression levels of three molecules were investigated respectively. The three molecules’ relationship with clinicopathologic parameters and OS was explored by Chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression analyses. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze differential gene expressions of RNA-sequencing data of pulmonary adenocarcinoma and normal tissues, and Kaplan-Meier methods were adopted to confirm the prognostic value of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 in resectable lung adenocarcinoma in TCGA database and the R package MethylMix was used to conduct an analysis integrating methylation data and gene expression of RNA-sequencing data based on TCGA.ResultsUPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 had much higher IHC expression levels in tumor than those in the normal tissues (uPA, Z = -10.511; PAI-1, Z = -4.836; PAI-2, Z = -6.794; all P < 0.0001). High DNA methylation level of gene uPA resulted in the decrease of its expression. In addition, expression level of PAI-2 was positively associated with tumor size (χ² = 8.372, P = 0.004). Multivariate analyses showed TNM stage III was an independent adverse prognostic factor (hazard ratio = 3.736, 95 % confidence interval = 1.097–12.72, P = 0.035). Kaplan-Meier method revealed that uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 expression levels were not related to the OS for 84 resectable lung adenocarcinoma patients. According to TCGA data, PAI-1 expression level was identified as a potential adverse predictor for prognosis of resectable lung adenocarcinoma (Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon test, P = 0.025).ConclusionsOur data show that, the expression levels of uPA, PAI-1 and PAI-2 are significantly up-regulated in resectable lung adenocarcinoma. Besides, this study highlights PAI-1 as a latent adverse prognostic factor in resectable adenocarcinoma of lung.     

胃癌组织中尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂及其受体基因表达和临床意义

目的：研究尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活剂（ｕＰＡ）及其特异受体（ｕＰＡＲ）与胃癌的关系及其在胃癌浸润转移中的作用。方法：采用ｃＤＮＡ－ｍＲＡＮ原位分子杂交技术,分别检测了６４例胃癌及其癌旁组织中ｕＰＡ和ｕＰＡＲｍＲＮＡ表达情况,同时结合病人的临床生物学指征进行分析。结果：癌与癌周比较,ｕＰＡ和ｕＰＡＲｍＲＮＡ阳性表达率明显升高,Ｐ〈０．００１。在伴有淋巴结转移的病例中,ｕＰＡ和ｕＰＡＲ阳性例数分别为１９／２９和２４／２９,与无转移的１０／３５和１３／３５相比,Ｐ分别〈０．０１和〈０．００１。在浸润到肌层、浆膜层的病例中ｕＰＡ和ｕＰＡＲ阳性例数分别为２５／３８和３０／３８,与浸润到粘膜和粘膜下层的４／２６例和７／２６相比,Ｐ均〈０．００１。在ｕＰＡ和ｕＰＡＲ同时阳性的病例中,伴有淋巴结转移和浸润到肌层以下的分别占１５／２     

Expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor is increased during epileptogenesis in the rat hippocampus

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is functionally a pleiotropic mediator involved in cell adhesion, proliferation, differentiation and migration as well as in matrix degradation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in cancer tissue. Comparable cellular alterations occur in the brain during post-injury tissue repair. As the first step to assess the role of uPAR in brain tissue remodeling, we tested a hypothesis that uPAR expression is altered in the hippocampus during epilepsy-related circuitry reorganization. Epileptogenesis was triggered by inducing status epilepticus (SE) with electrical stimulation of the amygdala in rats. To monitor the development of SE and the occurrence of spontaneous seizures animals were continuously video-EEG monitored until sacrificed (1, 2, 4 or 14 days after SE). The hippocampal expression of uPAR was studied with real time qPCR and immunohistochemistry. Double-immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to investigate the expression of uPAR in astrocytes, microglia and neurons. We show that in the normal hippocampus the expression of uPAR was low and confined to small population of astrocytes and interneurons. In animals undergoing SE, uPAR expression increased dramatically, peaking at 1 and 4 days after SE. According to double-immunohistochemistry, uPAR was highly expressed in parvalbumin positive interneurons in the hippocampus and dentate gyrus, and in a subgroup of somatostatin and neuropeptide Y positive hilar interneurons. Increased uPAR expression during post-injury phase supports its contribution to tissue remodeling in the brain. Surviving hilar interneurons that are known to be denervated due to loss of afferent inputs in post-SE brain provide a target for future studies to investigate the contribution of uPAR in reinnervation of these cells, and to identify the signaling cascades that mediate the effects of uPAR.     

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体及可溶性尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体与炎症相关的研究进展

尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（urokinase plasminogen activator receptor,uPAR）与尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物（urokinase plasminogen activator,uPA）同为纤溶酶原激活系统的主要成员,是一种协调多种信号转导途径的多功能分子,可溶性尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor,suPAR）是其可溶形式。除凝血-纤溶以外,uPAR参与了肿瘤侵袭及炎症等多种疾病过程,而suPAR可能是一种良好的炎性标志物。本文就uPAR及suPAR在炎症中的作用进行简要综述。     

Immunolocalization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in adenomas and carcinomas of the colorectum

Carcinogenesis in the human colon is associated with a marked increase in the tissue content of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). This study was performed to determine the type of cells responsible for the u-PA increase in carcinomas of the colon and in their precursor lesions, the adenomas, by immunohistological evaluation applying monoclonal antibody 3689 directed to the beta-chain of u-PA. Normal intestinal mucosa (n = 17) showed hardly any staining of u-PA, but some lamina propria cells were faintly positive. Carcinomas (n = 17) and adenomas (n = 16) showed a considerable and comparable staining intensity of u-PA in neoplastic columnar epithelial cells, and this staining was found to be diffuse and cytoplasmic. In a majority of the neoplastic tissues the u-PA staining was found to be patchy and not related to known risk markers of malignancy such as dysplasia in the adenomas, or to prognostic determinants such as Dukes' classification or differentiation in the carcinomas. The observation of strong u-PA positive lamina propria cells in adenomas but infrequently observed in normal mucosa and carcinomas was noteworthy. u-PA staining intensity of the tissue sections was found to correlate well with the u-PA antigen level in the tissue extracts determined by ELISA (r = 0.52, P = 0.0001) but poorly with the u-PA activity determined enzymatically (r = 0.28, P = 0.05). In conclusion, the u-PA increase in neoplasia of the human colon can be attributed to an increased diffuse cytoplasmic content of u-PA in neoplastic columnar epithelial cells.     

Protein C inhibitor (plasminogen activator inhibitor-3) expression in the CWR22 prostate cancer xenograft

The serine protease inhibitor (serpin) protein C inhibitor (PCI) has been found in the prostate and possibly is a marker to distinguish normal prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and prostate cancer. In this study, we assessed PCI expression in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant prostatic tissues, prostate cancer cell lines, and the CWR22 prostate cancer xenograft model that allowed us to study PCI expression and its regulation in response to androgens. By Northern blot, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization, we found that PCI was expressed in both benign and malignant prostate tissues. Protein C inhibitor was expressed in both androgen-independent (PC-3) and androgen-dependent (LNCaP) prostate cancer cell lines. Furthermore, PCI was detected in all CWR22 tumor samples (androgen dependent, 6 days post-castration, 12 days post-castration followed by 72 h of testosterone treatment, and recurrent CWR22 tumor), although expression of the mature forms of both prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and its homolog, kallikrein 2 (hK2), was clearly androgen-dependent. These results suggest that PCI expression is not regulated by androgens and that PCI is unlikely to be a tumor suppressor gene, but also that PCI may be involved in regulating key serine proteases involved in metastatic prostate disease.     

Effects of suramin on metastatic ability,proliferation, and production of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 in human renal cell carcinoma cell line SN12C-PM6

Effects of suramin, a polysulfonated naphthylurea compound, on metastatic ability, proliferation, and production of plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors were studied using the highly metastatic human renal cell carcinoma cell line, SN12C-PM6. After renal subscapular implantation of tumor cells in nude mice, suramin significantly inhibited metastasis of tumor cells to the lungs and liver. In vitro growth of tumour cells was inhibited by suramin in a dose-dependent manner, at relatively low doses (ID₅₀ = 105 µg/ml). Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2) production by tumor cells was enhanced by suramin (100 µg/ml), whereas urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) production was suppressed. Thus, the increase in PAI-2 and the decrease in uPA production correlated with the inhibitory effects on tumour growth and metastasis by suramin. Therefore suramin may be beneficial for the treatment of patients with an early stage of renal cancer with potential risk of metastasis.     

脂肪酸对人血管内皮细胞纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1表达的影响

为探讨不同种类脂肪酸对血管内皮细胞(ECs)纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1(PAI-1)表达的直接影响及影响水平，以不同浓度的亚麻酸、亚油酸、油酸、硬脂酸诱导培养ECs，逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和酶联免疫吸附法。（ELISA)检测PAI-1的mRNA和蛋白表达，随后以上述脂肪酸诱导转染了由PAI-1启动子控制表达的报告基因的ECs，ELISA检测PAI-1启动子转录活性，结果ECs中亚麻酸、亚油酸和油酸均浓度依赖地诱导PAI-1 mRNA和蛋白表达，硬脂酸无影响，而它们对PAI-1启动子转录活性的影响与上述作用一致，提示不饱和脂肪酸通过提高PAI-1转录活性诱导其在ECs的表达。     

Cellular distribution and clinical value of urokinase-type plasminogen activator, its receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

To assess the participation of the plasminogen activation system in the invasiveness of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we performed immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to study the distribution of a urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA), u-PA receptor (u-PAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2). u-PA and PAI-2 were expressed heterogeneously in cancer cells, and restricted expression was found in stromal cells, especially fibroblasts, that were located in the immediate proximity of the cancerous cells. u-PAR was found only in cancer cells located at the periphery of tumors. Compared with patients with u-PA-negative cancer cells, patients with u-PA-positive cancer cells more frequently showed a neoplastic invasion beyond the muscularis propria and lymph node metastases. They also showed a significantly shorter 5-year overall survival. Patients with PAI-2-positive fibroblasts showed significantly lower levels of local invasiveness, represented by a neoplastic invasion beyond the muscularis propria, than those who were PAI-2 negative. Our results suggest that the expression of u-PA in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is predictive of poor survival, whereas the expression of PAI-2 in the fibroblasts surrounding them is protective. An analysis of u-PA and PAI-2 expression in cancer cells and their surrounding fibroblasts may be useful for predicting the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.     

Endocrinology and Paracrinology: Hormonal regulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 in cultured monkey Sertoli cells

Sertoli cells play a central role in the control and maintenanceof spermatogenesis. Isolated Sertoli cells of mouse and rattestes have been shown to secrete plasminogen activator (PA)and a plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in culture.In this study, we have investigated the hormonal regulationof PA and PAI-1 activities in cultured monkey Sertoli cells.Sertoli cells (5x105 cells/well) isolated from infant rhesusmonkey testes were preincubated at 35°C for 16 h in 24-wellplates precoated with poly(D-lysine) (5 µg/cm²) in 0.5ml McCoy's 5a medium containing 5% of fetal calf serum and furtherincubated for 48 h in 0.5 ml serum-free medium with or withoutvarious hormones or other compounds. PA as well as PAI-1 activitiesin the conditioned media were assayed by fibrin overlay andreverse fibrin autography techniques respectively. The Sertolicells in vitro secreted only tissue-type PA (tPA), no detectableamount of urokinase-type PA (uPA) could be observed. MonkeySertoli cells were also capable of secreting PAI-1. Immunocytochemicalstudies indicated that both tPA and PAI-1 positive staininglocalized in the Sertoli cells, spermatids and residual bodiesof the seminiferous epithelium; Northern blot analysis furtherconfirmed the presence of both tPA and PAI-1 mRNA in monkeySertoli cells. Addition of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)or cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) derivatives or cAMP-generatingagents and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist orphorbol ester (PMA) to the cell culture significantly increasedtPA activity. PAI-1 activity in the culture was also enhancedby these reagents except 8-bromo-dibutyryl-cAMP, forskolin and3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthin (MIX) which greatly stimulated tPAactivity, whereas decreased PAI-1 activity, implying that neutralizationof PAI-1 activity by the high level of tPA in the conditionedmedia may occur. These data suggest that increased intracellularsignals which activate protein kinase A (PKA), or protein kinaseC (PKC) can modulate Sertoli cell tPA and PAI-1 activities.The concomitant induction of PA and PAI-1 by the same reagentsin the Sertoli cells may reflect a finely tuned regulatory mechanismin which PAI-1 could limit the excession of the proteolysis.     

Localization of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production in inflamed appendix by in situ mRNA hybridization

The peritoneum has been shown to possess fibrinolytic activity which is thought to play a role in the prevention of intra-abdominal adhesion formation. Recently inflamed peritoneal tissue has been shown to have reduced fibrinolytic activity secondary to increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). The aim of this study was to localize the production of PAI-1 in appendix tissue using in situ mRNA hybridization. Sections of normal and inflamed appendix were hybridized with a digoxigenin-labelled cDNA probe. PAI-1 production was localized to both mcsothelium and serosal blood vessel endothelium in all inflamed appendix samples. Cell identities were confirmed using immunohistochemistry directed against mesothelial and endothlial cell markers. Staining was not seen on sections of normal appendix or on negative control slides of inflamed appendix (hybridization with plasmid DNA, PAI-1 probe following ribonuclease digestion). The identification of the cells expressing the PAI-1 gene in peritoneum increases our understanding of the pathophysiological changes in fibrinolytic activity which occur in inflammation and may lead to adhesion formation.     

Cellular localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator,its inhibitors,and their mRNAs in breast cancer tissues

The plasminogen activation (PA) system may participate in cancer invasion and metastasis. A series of breast cancer tissue specimens was analysed using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) mRNA was detected in cancer cells and fibroblasts adjacent to them and its expression was found to be more intense in invasive than in intraductal regions. In invasive but not in intraductal regions, especially those with abundant stroma, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNA was observed in cancer cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and endothelial cells, and PAI-2 mRNA was present in cancer cells, and fibroblasts, macrophages, and lymphocytes around them. These PAI-1- and PAI-2-positive cancer cells were localized at the periphery of the invasive front. Immunohistochemistry yielded basically similar results. A retrospective study of surgically resected breast cancers from 73 patients revealed significant clinical differences associated with u-PA and PAI-2 expression in cancer cells, associated with a poor and a good prognosis, respectively. These findings indicate that breast cancer cells and fibroblasts express u-PA initially and then its inhibitors, and that this process is related to invasion. Expression of u-PA and PAI-2 in cancer cells themselves may serve to up-regulate and limit PA-mediated invasion and metastasis, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PAI-1基因多态性与不孕患者子宫内膜发育不良的遗传易感性研究

目的 探讨纤溶酶原激活剂抑制物-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor-1,PAI-1)基因多态性与不孕患者的子宫内膜发育的相关性.方法 选取经B超测量子宫内膜厚度及子宫内膜病理学检查诊断为子宫内膜发育不良不孕患者105例,有正常生育的健康非妊娠妇女85名,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析技术检测PAI-1基因-675位4G/5G多态性.结果 患者组PAI-1基因4G/4G基因频率(48.6%)和4G等位基因频率(66.2%)显著高于对照组(22.4%和47.1%)(P<0.01)差异有统计学意义,与5G/5G基因型比较4G/4G型患者发生子宫内膜反应不良致不孕的相对风险率的比数比(odds ratio,OR)为4.9,95%的可信区间为2.10-10.12.结论 PAI-1基因4G/5G多态性与不孕患者的子宫内膜发育不良密切相关.     

基质金属蛋白酶3和尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体在2型糖尿病大血管病变中的变化

目的： 探讨基质金属蛋白酶3（MMP-3）和尿激酶型纤溶酶原激活物受体（uPAR）在2型糖尿病大血管病变中的变化。方法: 用ELISA双抗体夹心法测定26例正常对照和39例2型糖尿病患者（其中单纯2型糖尿病15例、合并大血管病变24例）的血浆MMP-3和uPAR水平。结果: 单纯糖尿病组uPAR高于正常对照（P<0.05）而MMP-3无显著差异；合并大血管病变组MMP-3显著高于正常对照和单纯糖尿病组（P<0.01，P<0.01），而uPAR亦高于正常对照及单纯病变组（P<0.01，P<0.05）。2型糖尿病血浆MMP-3水平和uPAR水平呈正相关， LDL-C与uPAR呈正相关且是uPAR主要影响因素。 结论: MMP-3和uPAR与2型糖尿病大血管病变发生密切相关，MMP-3可作为2型糖尿病血管病变的循环标志物。     

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in gastric cancer: tissue expression and prognostic role

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA) and its inhibitor PAI-1 are thought to play an important part in gastric cancer (GC) invasion and metastasis. Little is known about the behavior and prognostic impact of the receptor for UPA (UPAR). The aims of the present study were: (1) to measure UPAR, UPA and PAI-1 levels in GC and in non-malignant tissue distant from the tumor (NORM); (2) to evaluate their relationship with histomorphological parameters; and (3) to determine their prognostic value. UPAR, UPA and PAI-1 levels were determined by ELISA in GC and NORM samples from 20 patients with GC undergoing surgery. The GC was also examined in terms of the presence (n=10) or absence (n=10) of metastasis, differentiation (five differentiated, 15 undifferentiated) and histotype. Survival was analysed using life table analysis. UPAR, UPA and PAI-1 were significantly higher in GC vs NORM, in the presence of metastasis (UPAR, UPA) and in undifferentiated GC (UPAR, PAI-1). UPAR significantly correlated with UPA and PAI-1. Low levels of UPAR (P=0.04), UPA (P=0.007) and PAI-1 (P=0.02) were associated with a better survival. Our results demonstrate a sharp increase in UPAR in GC and suggest a prognostic role for it. The concomitant activation of UPAR, UPA and PAI-1 in GC confirm the important role of the plasminogen activator system in the process of invasion and metastasis.     

纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1在SD大鼠胰腺的表达

目的研究纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1(plasminogen activator inhibitor 1,PAI-1)在大鼠胰腺组织中的表达,为临床上对重症急性胰腺炎(severe acute pancreatitis,SAP)患者使用抗凝剂及抗血小板药物治疗提供理论依据,并为进一步研究应用PAI-1抑制剂治疗胰腺炎提供形态学依据。方法应用免疫荧光组织化学双重标记技术,在激光共聚焦显微镜观察PAI-1在大鼠胰腺组织中的分布。结果 PAI-1免疫反应阳性细胞分布在SD大鼠胰腺的外分泌腺腺泡细胞,以及内分泌腺D细胞及PP细胞,阳性物质分布于细胞质。结论 PAI-1可能在胰腺起着非常重要的作用,为进一步研究应用PAI-1抑制剂治疗胰腺炎提供了形态学依据。     

Role of hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met signaling in regulating urokinase plasminogen activator on invasiveness in human hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential therapeutic target

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), its transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor (c-Met), and urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a key protein in the plasminogen activation system, which plays a proteolytically important role in the invasion and metastasis of various types of cancers. However, the mechanisms by which HGF/c-Met signaling mediates cancer progression and metastasis are unclear. This study was designed to investigate the roles of HGF/c-Met in tumor progression and metastasis in HepG2 and Hep3B hepatoma cell lines. Treatment with HGF increased c-Met phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Activity of c-Met phosphorylation peaked 1–3 min after HGF treatment and then declined. HGF enhanced the protein level and the activity of uPA in HepG2 and Hep3B cells, and the uPAR protein level also increased in a HGF dose-dependent manner. HGF increased cell invasion through the Matrigel. A monoclonal antibody against human uPA receptor, mAb 3936, inhibited HGF-mediated tumor cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Down-regulation of uPA using uPA-shRNA induced a decrease in in vitro cell invasion. These results suggest that hepatoma cells express functional c-Met, which may provide a target for a therapeutic basis to interfere with metastases of cancer cells by inhibiting uPA system-mediated proteolysis.