Nicotine stimulates urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor expression and cell invasiveness through mitogen-activated protein kinase and reactive oxygen species signaling in ECV304 endothelial cells

► Endothelial cells treated with nicotine displayed enhanced invasiveness. ► Nicotine induces uPAR expression and, in turn, stimulates invasiveness. ► MAPK/AP-1 and ROS/NF-κB signals are involved in nicotine-induced uPAR.