Role of urokinase type plasminogen (uPA) in pulmonary vascular remodeling in a murine model of hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension

Background: uPA is a serine proteinase involved in intravascular as well as extravascular proteolytic processes. Among the plasminogen activator inhibitors (PAIs), PAI-1 is the principle physiological inhibitor. A balance between fibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic pathways is essential for vascular physiology and alterations of the fibrinolytic system have been reported in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Similarly, intravascular thrombosis and induction of PAI-1 have been described in hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension in mice. However, the precise role of uPA in vascular remodeling is sti…