Fig. 4

uPAR in degenerative nervous system disorders. a uPAR expression is practically absent in the healthy human brain. In Alzheimer’s disease uPAR expression is found on (b) cortical neurons, (c) activated microglial cells after exposure to the amyloid plaques, and (d) in the vascular wall promoting uPA activation, subsequent extracellular matrix breakdown and corresponding spontaneous hemorrhages. In multiple sclerosis, uPAR (e) is expressed on inflammatory cells and activated microglial cells promoting local damage. f Furthermore, uPAR expression on dendritic cells influences subsequent T cell differentiation. uPAR is represented by the red 3-domain structure as described in Fig. 1 on the cell membrane of uPAR expressing cells and uPA by the green structure in the extracellular matrix and bound to uPAR