Overexpression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in pterygia and pterygium fibroblasts

摘要

PurposeUrokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is a protease involved in tissue remodeling and cell migration. Little is known about the expression of uPA in pterygium. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of uPA mRNA and activities in various stages of surgically excised pterygia specimens and cultured pterygium fibroblasts and to compare them with normal conjunctival tissues and fibroblasts.