In this review, we discuss the discovery, origin, properties and regulation of PAI-1, and then speculate about its potential role in vascular disease, fibrosis, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, and cancer.
Studies with transgenic mice have revealed a functional role for PAI-1 in wound healing, atherosclerosis, metabolic disturbances such as obesity and insulin resistance, tumor angiogenesis, chronic stress, bone remodeling, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, fibrosis, glomerulonephritis and sepsis.
Most recently, it has become clear that PAI-1 also plays a pivotal role in progressive renal disease, both glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.