Human Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Surface Receptor / uPAR / CD87 (PLAUR) Protein

Background

The plasminogen activator, urokinase receptor (PLAUR), also known as urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), is a cell surface receptor that plays a pivotal role in modulating extracellular matrix degradation, cell adhesion, and migration. PLAUR is mainly expressed on various cell types, including immune cells (like monocytes and neutrophils), endothelial cells, and cancer cells, and it orchestrates processes crucial for tissue remodeling, inflammation, and metastasis. PLAUR facilitates these processes by binding to urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and concentrating proteolytic activity on the cell surface, contributing to localized extracellular proteolysis and influencing signal transduction pathways that mediate cell movement and adhesion. This receptor is encoded by the PLAUR gene, located on chromosome 19q13, and belongs to the Ly6/uPAR/α-neurotoxin receptor family, a superfamily of proteins involved in signal transduction.