Thromb Haemost 2014; 112(02): 243-254
DOI: 10.1160/TH13-06-0517
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Human tissue-type plasminogen activator

Egbert K. O. Kruithof
1   Division of Angiology and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
,
Sylvie Dunoyer-Geindre
1   Division of Angiology and Hemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 26 June 2013

Accepted after minor revision: 07 March 2014

Publication Date:
04 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA ) plays an important role in the removal of intravascular fibrin deposits and has several physiological roles and pathological activities in the brain. Its production by many other cell types suggests that t-PA has additional functions outside the vascular and central nervous system. Activity of t-PA is regulated at the level of its gene transcription, its mRNA stability and translation, its storage and regulated release, its interaction with cofactors that enhance its activity, its inhibition by inhibitors such as plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 or neuroserpin, and its removal by clearance receptors. Gene transcription of t-PA is modulated by a large number of hormones, growth factors, cytokines or drugs and t-PA gene responses may be tissue-specific. The aim of this review is to summarise current knowledge on t-PA function and regulation of its pericellular activity, with an emphasis on regulation of its gene expression.