At the interface of fibrinolysis and inflammation: the role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the leukocyte extravasation cascade.
Leukocyte recruitment to the site of inflammation is a key event in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. This highly regulated process is tightly controlled by a variety of adhesion/signaling molecules, chemokines, and proteases specifically mediating the sequential steps in the leukocyte extravasation cascade. In addition to its prominent role in the fibrinolytic system, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) has been implicated in different physiological and pathophysiological processes, including cell adhesion and migration. This review focuses on the emerging role of uPA in the leukocyte recruitment process.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, D-81366 Munich, Germany. christoph.reichel@med.uni-muenchen.de
Christoph A
CA
Reichel
Sandip M
SM
Kanse
Fritz
F
Krombach
D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D036904:Leukocyte Rolling / Q000502:physiology*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000502:physiology*
D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator