Activation and proliferation signals in murine macrophages. Biochemical signals controlling the regulation of macrophage urokinase-type plasminogen activator activity by colony-stimulating factors and other agents

Abstract

Purified hematopoietic growth factors such as colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) or macrophage CSF, granulocyte-macrophage CSF, and interleukin-3 or multi-CSF, stimulate the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) activity of murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) and resident peritoneal macrophages. Granulocyte-CSF was inactive. The increases in BMM u-PA activity were inhibited by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, and by agents that raise intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels, including prostaglandin E2 and cholera toxin. These changes in u-PA activity were paralleled by corresponding changes in u-PA mRNA levels. Evidence was obtained for protein kinase C and phosph..