Moesin and merlin regulate urokinase receptor-dependent endothelial cell migration, adhesion and angiogenesis

Abstract The glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol (GPI)-anchored urokinase receptor (uPAR) has no intracellular domain, but nevertheless initiates signalling through proximal interactions with other membrane receptors including integrins. The relationships between uPAR and ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins, moesin and merlin have never been explored. Moesin and merlin are versatile membrane-actin links and regulators of receptors signalling, respectively. We show that uPAR controls moesin and merlin, which propagate uPAR-initiated signals and modulate integrin functions, thereby regulating uPAR activity. uPAR rapidly de-phosphorylates moesin and phosphorylates merlin inactivating both proteins, and enhancing cell migration and angiogenesis. Moesin behaves as a molecular switch turning either on or off uPAR signalling through cycles of de-activation/activation, or sustained activation, respectively. Furthermore, moesin is at the crossroads of uPAR-initiated outside-in and inside-out signalling promoting integrin-dependent cell adhesion suggesting that uPAR also activates integrins distally through moesin. Knocking down merlin expression enhanced cell migration and adhesion through different regulation of fibronectin- and vitronectin-binding integrins.