Soluble urokinase receptor (uPAR, CD 87) is present in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with neurologic diseases.
BACKGROUND
The receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR) promotes invasion by neoplastic or inflammatory cells by focusing proteolysis of urokinase to the cell surface. In pathologic conditions, soluble forms of the receptor (suPAR) are released, and activate cell receptors to promote chemotaxis. In the CNS, suPAR and other components of the plasminogen activation system (PAS) could be associated with an increase of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and subsequent neural damage.


OBJECTIVE
To detect suPAR in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with diverse neurologic conditions.


METHODS
Serum and CSF from 121 patients with cancer, bacterial and viral infection, stroke, demyelinating disease and peripheral neuropathy were examined for the presence of suPAR.


RESULTS
suPAR was elevated in the serum of patients with paraneoplastic syndromes, and carcinomatous meningitis and infections, but less in stroke and demyelinating disease patients. CSF suPAR was present in the cancer and CNS infection groups, but not in the other groups. The levels of serum and CSF suPAR were correlated, and CSF suPAR correlated with the albumin index.


CONCLUSIONS
suPAR is present in serum and CSF of patients with carcinomatous meningitis, paraneoplastic disorders and bacterial and viral infection of the CNS. suPAR could be associated with BBB disruption and with promotion of CNS invasion by chemotactically active cells, macromolecules, and microbes.
Garcia-Monco
Juan Carlos
JC
Department of Neurology, Hospital de Galdacano, Vizcaya, Spain. hospit05@sarenet.es
Coleman
James L
JL
Benach
Jorge L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000418:Albumins / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000201:enzymology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D000418:Albumins; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002556:Cerebrospinal Fluid Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C524898:PLAUR protein, human; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D055293:Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator