Although conventionally associated with fibrin clot degradation, recent work has uncovered
new functions for the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen cascade in central
nervous system physiology and pathology. This extracellular proteolytic cascade has
been shown to have roles in learning and memory, stress, neuronal degeneration, addiction
and Alzheimer’s disease. The current review considers the different ways tPA functions
in the brain.
Keywords
Tissue-type plasminogen activator - plasminogen - central nervous system - LTP - excitotoxicity