Abstract.
The main components in plasminogen activation include plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitors-1 and −2 (PAI-1, PAI-2). These components are subject to extensive regulation and interactions with for example, pericellular adhesion molecules. Although uPA and tPA are quite similar in structure and have common inhibitors and physiological substrates, their physiological roles are distinct. Traditionally, the role of tPA has been in fibrinolysis and that of uPA in cell migration, especially in cancer cells. Recently several targets for tPA/plasmin have been found in neuronal tissues. The functional role of the PAIs is no longer simply to inhibit overexpressed plasminogen activators, and PAI-2 has an unidentified role in the regulation of cell death.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Received 2 June 2004; received after revision 30 June 2004; accepted 20 July 2004
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Myöhänen, H., Vaheri, A. Regulation and interactions in the activation of cell-associated plasminogen. CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 61, 2840–2858 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-004-4230-9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-004-4230-9