Targeting the Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (uPAR) in Human Diseases With a View to Non-invasive Imaging and Therapeutic Intervention

Julie Maja Leth, Michael Ploug*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftReviewForskningpeer review

22 Citationer (Scopus)
20 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The interaction between the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and its glycolipid-anchored receptor (uPAR) focalizes plasminogen activation to cell surfaces, thereby regulating extravascular fibrinolysis, cell adhesion, and migration. uPAR belongs to the Ly6/uPAR (LU) gene superfamily and the high-affinity binding site for uPA is assembled by a dynamic association of its three consecutive LU domains. In most human solid cancers, uPAR is expressed at the invasive areas of the tumor-stromal microenvironment. High levels of uPAR in resected tumors or shed to the plasma of cancer patients are robustly associated with poor prognosis and increased risk of relapse and metastasis. Over the years, a plethora of different strategies to inhibit uPA and uPAR function have been designed and investigated in vitro and in vivo in mouse models, but so far none have been implemented in the clinics. In recent years, uPAR-targeting with the intent of cytotoxic eradication of uPAR-expressing cells have nonetheless gained increasing momentum. Another avenue that is currently being explored is non-invasive imaging with specific uPAR-targeted reporter-molecules containing positron emitting radionuclides or near-infrared (NIR) florescence probes with the overarching aim of being able to: (i) localize disease dissemination using positron emission tomography (PET) and (ii) assist fluorescence guided surgery using optical imaging. In this review, we will discuss these advancements with special emphasis on applications using a small 9-mer peptide antagonist that targets uPAR with high affinity.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer732015
TidsskriftFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Vol/bind9
Antal sider20
ISSN2296-634X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Research in the authors’ laboratories that was instrumental for writing this review was supported by grants from The John and Birthe Meyer Foundation and the Innovation Fund Denmark.

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Leth and Ploug.

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