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. 1997 Dec;56(12):705–706. doi: 10.1136/ard.56.12.705

Urokinase in rheumatoid arthritis: causal or coincidental?

N BUSSO 1, A SO 1
PMCID: PMC1752300  PMID: 9496148

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Figure 1  .

Figure 1  

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Schematic representation of the uPA mediated plasminogen activation within the RA joint. Secreted pro-uPA, as well as active uPA, bind, through the aminoterminal non-catalytic portion, in an autocrine or paracrine way, to uPAR bearing cells. Upon uPAR occupancy, signal transduction may occur, leading to different plasmin independent effects. Alternatively, uPA converts plasminogen into plasmin, which has various different substrates. Plasminogen and plasmin bind to cell surface receptors, through lysine binding sites located in their non-catalytic domain. Active enzymes are indicated by bold style. R= receptor, Pln= plasminogen, MMP= matrix metalloprotease, PN-1= protease nexin 1, PAI= plasminogen activator inhibitor.    

Selected References

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