1 research outputs found
The urokinase-system - role of cell proliferation and apoptosis
The serine protease urokinase-type
plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) are
involved in the control of extracellular matrix turnover,
cell migration, invasion and cell signalling leading to a
variety of different responses, under both physiological
and pathological conditions. The urokinase receptor,
binding to the growth factor-like domain of uPA, directs
membrane-associated extracellular proteolysis and
signals through transmembrane proteins, thus regulating
tissue regeneration, angiogenesis, cancer growth and
metastasis. Since these physiological and pathophysiological
processes of the uPA-system are known,
less informations concerning uPA-induced cell
proliferation and anti-apoptotic effects of the uPAsystem
are available. Recent studies show a close
relationship of the uPA-system and cell proliferation/
apoptosis. uPA is responsible for the activation and
release of different growth factors and modulates the cell
proliferation/apoptosis ratio through the dynamic control
of cell-matrix interactions. This article focuses on the
important role of the uPA/uPAR-system for cell
proliferation and apoptosis