ANDROGEN INDUCTION OF UROKINASE GENE-EXPRESSION IN LNCAP CELLS IS DEPENDENT ON THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) plays a central role in tis sue remodeling and cell invasion. In the present study, we examined th e expression of uPA in the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, DU-145 an d PC-3. In contrast to DU-145 and PC-3, the androgen-responsive cell l ine LNCaP does not express uPA. However, seeding LNCaP cells on fibron ectin-coated plates stimulated a low level of uPA expression which was further induced upon exposure of the cells to dihydrotestosterone (DH T). Concomitant with the expression of uPA, an androgen-regulated expr ession of uPA receptor (uPAR) was induced. These results suggest that the interaction of LNCaP cells with the extracellular matrix plays a d ominant role in the androgen control of uPA and uPAR gene expression. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.