The Absence of uPAR Is Associated with the Progression of Dermal Fibrosis

The fibrinolytic system is considered to play an important role in the degradation of extracellular matrices (ECM). However, the detailed mechanism regarding how this system affects fibrosis remains unclear. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) not only functions as a proteinase rece...

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Published inJournal of investigative dermatology Vol. 128; no. 12; pp. 2792 - 2797
Main Authors Kanno, Yosuke, Kaneiwa, Aki, Minamida, Misato, Kanno, Miho, Tomogane, Kanji, Takeuchi, Koji, Okada, Kiyotaka, Ueshima, Shigeru, Matsuo, Osamu, Matsuno, Hiroyuki
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.12.2008
Nature Publishing Group
Elsevier Limited
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Summary:The fibrinolytic system is considered to play an important role in the degradation of extracellular matrices (ECM). However, the detailed mechanism regarding how this system affects fibrosis remains unclear. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) not only functions as a proteinase receptor but also plays a role in cellular adhesion, differentiation, proliferation, and migration through intracellular signaling. To investigate the effect of uPAR on dermal fibrosis, the skin of wild-type mice was compared with uPAR-deficient (uPAR−/−) mice. The results showed that the absence of uPAR increases dermal thickness. In addition, collagen synthesis as well as the number of myofibroblasts was greater in the skin of uPAR−/− mice than in the skin of uPAR+/+ mice. Moreover, we showed that the absence of uPAR attenuates the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, 9 in the skin. In conclusion, this study suggests that the absence of uPAR not only regulates fibrosis-related gene expression and MMP activity but also results in ECM deposition. Therefore, the absence of uPAR induces dermal fibrosis. These findings provide new insights into the role of uPAR on dermal fibrosis.
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ISSN:0022-202X
1523-1747
DOI:10.1038/jid.2008.157