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Structure and function of plasminogen/plasmin system

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Abstract

The main physiological function of plasmin is blood clot fibrinolysis and restoration of normal blood flow. To date, however, it became apparent that in addition to thrombolysis, the plasminogen/plasmin system plays an important physiological and pathological role in a number of other essential processes: degradation of the extracellular matrix, embryogenesis, cell migration, tissue remodeling, wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tumor cell migration. This review focuses on structural features of plasminogen, regulation of its activation by physiological plasminogen activators, inhibitors of plasmin, and plasminogen activators, and the role of plasminogen binding to fibrin, cellular receptors, and extracellular ligands in various functions performed by plasmin thus formed.

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Abbreviations

PA:

plasminogen activators

6AHA:

6-aminohexanoic acid

ACE:

angiotensin-converting enzyme

α2-AP:

α2-antiplasmin

ECM:

extracellular endothelium matrix

uPA:

urokinase-type plasminogen activator

PAI-1 and PAI-2:

plasminogen activator inhibitors types 1 and 2

K:

kringle domain

LBS:

lysine-binding site

α2-MG:

α2-macroglobulin

MMPs:

matrix metalloproteinases

scuPA:

single-chain urokinase-type plasminogen activator

F:

finger-like domain

Pm:

plasmin

Pg:

plasminogen

Glu-Pg and Lys-Pg:

Glu- and Lys-forms of plasminogen

ProMMPs:

prometalloproteinases

RAS:

renin-angiotensin system

uPAR:

urokinase and pro-urokinase receptor

VEGF:

vascular endothelium growth factor

NTP:

N-terminal peptide

tPA:

tissue plasminogen activator

tAMCHA:

trans-(4-aminomethyl)cyclohexane carboxylic acid (or tranexamic acid)

PDGF:

platelet-derived growth factor

FGF:

fibroblast growth factor

EGF:

epidermal growth factor-like domain

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University, Moscow, 119992, Russia

    R. B. Aisina & L. I. Mukhametova

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Original Russian Text © R.B. Aisina, L.I. Mukhametova, 2014, published in Bioorganicheskaya Khimiya, 2014, Vol. 40, No. 6, pp. 642–657.

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Aisina, R.B., Mukhametova, L.I. Structure and function of plasminogen/plasmin system. Russ J Bioorg Chem 40, 590–605 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1068162014060028

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