Open AccessThe role of tenascin‐C in tissue injury and tumorigenesis
Author(s) -
Midwood Kim S.,
Orend Gertraud
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of cell communication and signaling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1873-961X
pISSN - 1873-9601
DOI - 10.1007/s12079-009-0075-1
Subject(s) - tenascin c , tenascin , extracellular matrix , inflammation , microbiology and biotechnology , carcinogenesis , cancer , cancer research , biology , medicine , immunology , fibronectin
The extracellular matrix molecule tenascin‐C is highly expressed during embryonic development, tissue repair and in pathological situations such as chronic inflammation and cancer. Tenascin‐C interacts with several other extracellular matrix molecules and cell‐surface receptors, thus affecting tissue architecture, tissue resilience and cell responses. Tenascin‐C modulates cell migration, proliferation and cellular signaling through induction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and oncogenic signaling molecules amongst other mechanisms. Given the causal role of inflammation in cancer progression, common mechanisms might be controlled by tenascin‐C during both events. Drugs targeting the expression or function of tenascin‐C or the tenascin‐C protein itself are currently being developed and some drugs have already reached advanced clinical trials. This generates hope that increased knowledge about tenascin‐C will further improve management of diseases with high tenascin‐C expression such as chronic inflammation, heart failure, artheriosclerosis and cancer.