The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye
Dysregulation of vascular networks is characteristic of eye diseases associated with retinal cell degeneration and visual loss. Visual impairment is also the consequence of photoreceptor degeneration in inherited eye diseases with a major inflammatory component, but without angiogenic profile. Among...
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Cells |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/8/925 |
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| author | Maurizio Cammalleri Massimo Dal Monte Vincenzo Pavone Mario De Rosa Dario Rusciano Paola Bagnoli |
| author_facet | Maurizio Cammalleri Massimo Dal Monte Vincenzo Pavone Mario De Rosa Dario Rusciano Paola Bagnoli |
| author_sort | Maurizio Cammalleri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dysregulation of vascular networks is characteristic of eye diseases associated with retinal cell degeneration and visual loss. Visual impairment is also the consequence of photoreceptor degeneration in inherited eye diseases with a major inflammatory component, but without angiogenic profile. Among the pathways with high impact on vascular/degenerative diseases of the eye, a central role is played by a system formed by the ligand urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor uPAR. The uPAR system, although extensively investigated in tumors, still remains a key issue in vascular diseases of the eye and even less studied in inherited retinal pathologies such as retinitis pigmantosa (RP). Its spectrum of action has been extended far beyond a classical pro-angiogenic function and has emerged as a central actor in inflammation. Preclinical studies in more prevalent eye diseases characterized by neovascular formation, as in retinopathy of prematurity, wet macular degeneration and rubeosis iridis or vasopermeability excess as in diabetic retinopathy, suggest a critical role of increased uPAR signaling indicating the potentiality of its modulation to counteract neovessel formation and microvascular dysfunction. The additional observation that the uPAR system plays a major role in RP by limiting the inflammatory cascade triggered by rod degeneration rises further questions about its role in the diseased eye. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:42:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce52f946b5134901929235dc67e350a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:42:04Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce52f946b5134901929235dc67e350a92023-09-02T08:04:33ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092019-08-018892510.3390/cells8080925cells8080925The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased EyeMaurizio Cammalleri0Massimo Dal Monte1Vincenzo Pavone2Mario De Rosa3Dario Rusciano4Paola Bagnoli5Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80126 Napoli, ItalyDipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università della Campania, 80138 Napoli, ItalySooft Italia SpA, Contrada Molino 17, 63833 Montegiorgio (FM), ItalyDipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, 56127 Pisa, ItalyDysregulation of vascular networks is characteristic of eye diseases associated with retinal cell degeneration and visual loss. Visual impairment is also the consequence of photoreceptor degeneration in inherited eye diseases with a major inflammatory component, but without angiogenic profile. Among the pathways with high impact on vascular/degenerative diseases of the eye, a central role is played by a system formed by the ligand urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor uPAR. The uPAR system, although extensively investigated in tumors, still remains a key issue in vascular diseases of the eye and even less studied in inherited retinal pathologies such as retinitis pigmantosa (RP). Its spectrum of action has been extended far beyond a classical pro-angiogenic function and has emerged as a central actor in inflammation. Preclinical studies in more prevalent eye diseases characterized by neovascular formation, as in retinopathy of prematurity, wet macular degeneration and rubeosis iridis or vasopermeability excess as in diabetic retinopathy, suggest a critical role of increased uPAR signaling indicating the potentiality of its modulation to counteract neovessel formation and microvascular dysfunction. The additional observation that the uPAR system plays a major role in RP by limiting the inflammatory cascade triggered by rod degeneration rises further questions about its role in the diseased eye.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/8/925ocular diseasesanimal modelsangiogenesisinflammationvascular leakagephotoreceptor degenerationretinal functionco-receptor signalinguPAR system blockade |
| spellingShingle | Maurizio Cammalleri Massimo Dal Monte Vincenzo Pavone Mario De Rosa Dario Rusciano Paola Bagnoli The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye Cells ocular diseases animal models angiogenesis inflammation vascular leakage photoreceptor degeneration retinal function co-receptor signaling uPAR system blockade |
| title | The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye |
| title_full | The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye |
| title_fullStr | The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye |
| title_full_unstemmed | The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye |
| title_short | The uPAR System as a Potential Therapeutic Target in the Diseased Eye |
| title_sort | upar system as a potential therapeutic target in the diseased eye |
| topic | ocular diseases animal models angiogenesis inflammation vascular leakage photoreceptor degeneration retinal function co-receptor signaling uPAR system blockade |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/8/8/925 |
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