Tissue plasminogen activator in central nervous system physiology and pathology.
Although conventionally associated with fibrin clot degradation, recent work has uncovered new functions for the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen cascade in central nervous system physiology and pathology. This extracellular proteolytic cascade has been shown to have roles in learning and memory, stress, neuronal degeneration, addiction and Alzheimer's disease. The current review considers the different ways tPA functions in the brain.
Melchor
Jerry P
JP
Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Strickland
Sidney
S
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator