Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) Binding to the uPA Receptor (uPAR) Promotes Axonal Regeneration in the Central Nervous System.

Axonal injury is a common cause of neurological dysfunction. Unfortunately, in contrast to axons from the peripheral nervous system, the limited capacity of regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) axons is a major obstacle for functional recovery in patients suffering neurological diseases that involve the subcortical white matter. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine proteinase that upon binding to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin on the cell surface. uPAR expression increases after an injury, and signaling through uPAR promotes tissue remodeling. However, it is yet unknown whether uPA binding to uPAR has an effect on axonal recovery in the CNS. Here, we used