We have previously demonstrated that uPA is overexpressed in pancreatic tumors. In an attempt to diagnose these tumors earlier, we sought to determine whether uPA could be identified in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography obtained brushings in patients with malignant pancreatic and biliary strictures. Secondarily, uPA was measured in the serum of this patient population. uPA overexpression was identified in the cytologic tissue in 8 of 11 patients (72.7%). Serum analysis demonstrated a 2-fold higher concentration of uPA in the pancreaticobiliary cancer patients (1.27 versus 0.56 ng/mL; P = .0182). Also, uPA overexpression correlated with serum levels (P < .0001). This study confirms that uPA can be detected in the ERCP cytologically obtained tissue and is frequently present in a higher concentration in the serum of pancreaticobiliary cancer patients. A larger sample size will be required to address its value as a sensitive marker for the diagnosis of pancreatic or biliary cancers.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2786994 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/805971 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Urokinase Plasminogen Activation System Modulation in Transformed Cell Lines.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
The role of the plasminogen activation system is to regulate the activity of the extracellular protease plasmin. It comprises the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), a specific extracellular protease which activates plasminogen, its inhibitor PAI1, and the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor, uPAR, which localizes the urokinase activity. The plasminogen activation system is involved in tissue remodeling through extracellular matrix degradation, and therefore participates in numerous physiological and pathological processes, which make it a potential biomarker.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVitronectin regulates lung tissue remodeling and emphysema in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Mol Ther
January 2025
Immune Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute and The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia; Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute and University of Technology Sydney, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address:
Vitronectin (VTN) is an important extracellular matrix protein in tissue remodeling, but its role in COPD is unknown. We show that VTN regulates tissue remodeling through urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) signaling pathway in COPD. In human COPD airways and bronchoepithelial cells and the airways of mice with cigarette smoke (CS)-induced experimental COPD, VTN protein was not changed, but downstream uPA signaling was altered (increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, uPAR) that induced collagen and airway remodeling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHippocampal Viral-Mediated Urokinase Plasminogen Activator (uPA) Overexpression Mitigates Stress-Induced Anxiety and Depression in Rats by Increasing Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Levels.
Biomolecules
December 2024
Division of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
Emerging evidence suggests the serine protease, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), may play an important role in the modulation of mood and cognitive functions. Also, preliminary evidence indicates that uPA modulates BDNF activity that is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. However, the physiological functions of uPA in specific brain regions for mediating stress-related emotional behaviors remain to be elucidated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCold Inducible RNA-Binding Protein Promotes the Development of Alzheimer's Disease Partly by Inhibition of uPA in Astrocytes.
Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People's Republic of China.
Background: Cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) is an important danger-associated molecular pattern involved in tissue-specific and systemic inflammation related to inflammation and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the precise roles and mechanism of CIRP in the functional changes in astrocytes during the development of AD are still unknown. This study aimed to assess gene expression alterations in astrocytes after they overexpress CIRP (oe-CIRP) and to explore the relationship between abnormal CIRP expression and AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPotential Nephroprotective Effect of uPA against Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in αMUPA Mice and HEK-293 Cells.
Biomedicines
October 2024
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) has been steadily increasing. Despite its high prevalence, there is no pathogenetically rational therapy for AKI. This deficiency stems from the poor understanding of the pathogenesis of AKI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!