The distribution of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and urokinase (u-PA) was investigated
immunohistochemically in squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix, in normal and
dysplastic conditions as well as in preinvasive and invasive carcinomas. Normal epithelium
showed presence of both t PA and u-PA immunoreactivity only in the superficial cellular
layer, whereas in preinvasive lesions they were present in all layers. In sections
of normal specimens as well as preinvasive lesions the UK immunoreactivity was weaker
compared to that of t-PA. Tnvnsivc lesions showed a patchy distribution of t-PA and
u-PA immunoreactivity. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that stromal cells close
to the infiltrating malignant squamous epithelium contained t-PA immunoreactivity
and also u-PA immunoreactivity. Further immunohistochemical studies disclosed that
these cells were macrophages.
Keywords
Plasminogen activator - Urokinase - Dysplasia - Fibrinolysis - Cervical carcinoma