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.

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 phospholipase C-mediated stimulation of BMM u-PA activity and mRNA levels; however, no evidence was found for an involvement of Na+/H+ exchange or Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity, Ca2+ fluxes, or pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins. Several findings point to a dissociation between macrophage u-PA expression and DNA synthesis.