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Stimulation of cell surface plasminogen activation by membrane-bound melanotransferrin: a key phenomenon for cell

Jonathan Michaud-Levesque1, Michel Demeule, Richard Béliveau

  • 1Laboratoire de Médecine Moléculaire, Service d'Hémato-Oncologie, Hôpital Ste-Justine-Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), C.P. 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3P8.

Experimental Cell Research
|June 7, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Membrane-bound melanotransferrin (mMTf) acts as a cell surface receptor, enhancing plasminogen binding and activation. This process significantly increases cell migration and invasion, highlighting mMTf

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Cell surface plasminogen activation is vital for cell migration and invasion.
  • Melanotransferrin (MTf), also known as human melanoma antigen p97, is implicated in cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of membrane-bound melanotransferrin (mMTf) in cell surface plasminogen binding and activation.
  • To determine the impact of mMTf on cell migration, motility, and invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells transfected with MTf cDNA and SK-MeL-28 melanoma cells.
  • Assessed plasminogen binding and activation on cell surfaces.
  • Evaluated cell motility, migration, and invasion rates.
  • Employed monoclonal antibody L235 and soluble MTf (sMTf) to inhibit mMTf function.

Main Results:

  • mMTf expression in CHO cells increased cell surface plasminogen binding approximately 2-fold.
  • mMTf expression stimulated cell surface plasminogen activation by about 2.5-fold.
  • CHO cells expressing mMTf exhibited a 3-fold increase in motility, migration, and invasion.
  • Monoclonal antibody L235 and sMTf inhibited mMTf-mediated increases in cell migration and invasion.

Conclusions:

  • mMTf functions as a cell surface receptor for plasminogen.
  • mMTf plays a key role in regulating plasminogen activation at the cell surface.
  • mMTf significantly contributes to cell migration, invasion, and motility, suggesting its involvement in cancer progression.

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