The Role of Plasminogen Activator System in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders and ischemic conditions leading to the development of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, vascular dementia, etc. have attracted attention of many researchers studying the mechanisms of abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). The genetic predisposition for these diseases has been reported in the studies of the last few decades. Current achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology have revealed the relationships between risk factors contributing to the development of these pathologies and target proteins controlled by the genome. It has been demonstrated that polymorphisms/mutations in the genes regulating the growth of axons and blood vessels, glia formation and neuronal migration can lead to the brain malformation and its distorted function in embryogenesis and early ontogenesis. Guidance receptors regulating axon growth and establishment of neuronal circuits and cognitive functions take the central role among the molecules involved in the development of neurodegenerative conditions and pathologies, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders. Recently, an interest in the role of plasminogen activators in various physiological and pathological conditions in the CNS has noticeably increased. Our previous publications have established the role of these proteins in the regulation of growth rate, growth trajectory, and branching of axons. In this review, we summarize the published data on the mechanisms underlying the involvement of plasminogen activator system in pathological conditions in the brain with special emphasis on epilepsy.