A previous study has shown that Fc gamma RIIIB (CD16), an extensively glycosylated glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked neutrophil membrane protein, specifically co-caps with the iC3b R (CR3; CD11b/CD18). This study tests the possible physical interactions of another extensively glycosylated glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked protein, the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), with CR3. Receptors were labeled using fluorochrome-conjugated F(ab')2 fragments of an anti-CR3 mAb. In some cases cells were capped using second step F(ab')2 fragments of an anti-mouse F(ab')2 antiserum. After 30 min at 37 degrees C, 65 +/- 4% of the cells exhibited CR3 caps whereas 61 +/- 2% demonstrated uPAR caps. When CR3-capped cells were probed with F(ab')2 fragments of anti-uPAR conjugated to a distinct fluorochrome, 45 +/- 3% of the cells co-capped uPAR. When uPAR was capped, 48 +/- 2% of the cells co-capped CR3. Similar levels of co-capping were observed using a DNP-conjugated anti-CR3 F(ab')2 and an anti-DNP second step F(ab')2 reagent for capping or using FITC-uPA as a probing reagent. Furthermore, CR3-uPAR co-capping and/or co-clustering was also observed using anti-CR3 IgM and Mn2+ as integrin aggregation stimuli. Significant co-capping of anti-CD14, anti-CD59, anti-Mo5, anti-HLA, or NBD-PE (a lipid probe) was not observed. Moreover, CR3 and uPAR co-capping was blocked by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, but not by six other saccharides, suggesting that a lectin-like site may participate in co-capping. This suggests that CR3 may regulate adhesive events by several mechanisms, including the regulation of the spatial distribution of uPAR.