Tissue plasminogen activator in nervous system function and dysfunction.
The extracellular protease tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) has been implicated in various normal and pathological situations in the mammalian nervous system. The availability of (i) transgenic and knock-out mice in which the expression level of tPA can be widely varied, (ii) in vivo models for studying function and disease, and (iii) culture models for examining cell behavior, has allowed a detailed evaluation of many of these proposed functions. This chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge of possible roles for the tPA/plasminogen system in neuronal function and dysfunction.
Strickland
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Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, USA. strickland@rockefeller.edu
D000818:Animals; D005337:Fibrin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000187:drug effects; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D005337:Fibrin; D010958:Plasminogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator