Plaur

Plaur Full Name

Plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor

Plaur Introduction

The urokinase plasminogen activator surface receptor (uPAR) known as Plaur functions as a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell surface receptor which controls pericellular proteolysis. The receptor binds to urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to activate plasminogen conversion into plasmin. The receptor-ligand complex at the cell surface enables proteolytic activity which leads to tissue remodeling and cell movement and extracellular matrix breakdown. Plaur exists throughout different body tissues including immune cells and endothelial cells and epithelial cells and its levels increase during inflammatory responses and tissue damage.

Figure 1. Proposed mechanism of activation of DDR through interaction of PLAUR and TLR4.(Source: Narayanaswamy PB, et al. 2016)

Functionally, Plaur is involved in multiple cellular and physiological processes beyond proteolysis. The protein serves as a signaling mediator which controls cell adhesion and migration and proliferation through integrin and co-receptor interactions to trigger intracellular responses. Plaur enables immune cells to detect chemotactic signals which leads to their movement and triggers inflammatory reactions but it supports angiogenesis and tissue repair functions in epithelial and endothelial cells. Plaur maintains tissue homeostasis through its control of plasmin production in particular areas which allows cells to perform dynamic movement and extracellular matrix remodeling and fibrinolysis.

Plaur serves as an essential factor which enables disease progression through its role in cancer development and inflammatory responses. Plaur functions as a cancer-promoting factor which makes it useful for predicting cancer outcomes and treating cancer because tumors show increased expression of this protein. Plaur levels increase during chronic inflammatory diseases which include rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis to cause tissue damage and pathological tissue remodeling. The Plaur/uPA system dysregulation leads to multiple health issues including impaired wound healing and fibrosis and specific neurological disorders which demonstrates its wide application in medical science.

Alternate Names for Plaur

PLAUR; Plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor; Urokinase receptor; uPA receptor; uPAR; CD87; Cluster of Differentiation 87; Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor; UPAR; URKR; U-PAR

• 1.Narayanaswamy PB, et al. CHK1 and RAD51 activation after DNA damage is regulated via urokinase receptor/TLR4 signaling. Cell Death Dis. 2016, 7(9):e2383.