The activity of tPA in fibrinolysis and stroke is based on its function as a protease16; however, recombinant tPA also interacts with cellular receptors such as the N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor (NMDA-R)17,18 and LDL Receptor-related Protein-1 (LRP1)19 to mediate changes in cell physiology that are independent of its protease activity and potentially relevant to the challenges of stem cell therapy. This evidence concerns the gene PLAT and stroke disorder.