Ham-Wasserman lecture: role of the plasminogen system in fibrin-homeostasis and tissue remodeling.
Plasminogen can be converted to plasmin either via the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) or via the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA)/u-PA receptor (u-PAR) pathway. A dual role for these pathways is now well established: 1) t-PA is involved in fibrin homeostasis and 2) u-PA is primarily involved in cell migration and tissue remodeling. t-PA mediated activation is used for thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction and some other thromboembolic diseases. The u-PA mediated pathway, in concert with the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system, plays a pleiotropic role in arterial neointima formation, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, tumor growth metastasis, and infarction. However, therapeutic interventions in the u-PA/MMP system remain to be further defined.
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Afdeling Moleculaire & Vasculaire Biologie, K.U. Leuven, O & N Gasthuisberg, Herestr. 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
D000818:Animals; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000502:physiology*; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000502:physiology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000502:physiology
D005337:Fibrin; D010958:Plasminogen; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator