uPA (E2M6I) Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody #15800

uPA (PLAU, urokinase-type plasminogen activator) is a secreted serine protease that plays an important role in plasminogen activation (1). uPA exists as a secreted 50 kDa inactive zymogen. Upon binding to its high affinity serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), it is processed to two interlinked chains, 18 kDa chain A and 32 kDa chain B, and becomes activated to convert plasminogen to its active form, plasmin, in a spatially restricted manner on the cell surface (2). Plasmin then carries out its protease activity toward a wide range of substrates. uPA activity is inhibited by serpins (serine protease inhibitors), such as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) (3). uPA, uPAR, and PAI form a Urokinase Plasminogen Activation System (uPAS) (4). This system plays a key role in regulating a broad range of biological processes under normal physiological conditions, such as tissue wound healing (5), cell migration (6), fibrinolysis (7), and angiogenesis (8). The system also contributes to disease progression, such as cancer development (9), neurodegeneration disorders (10), inflammatory lung disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (11,12).