Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Associates with Granulin-Epithelin Precursor (GEP) and Potentiates GEP-stimulated Chondrocyte Proliferation

ADAMTS-12 associates with and degrades cartilage oligomeric matrix protein.

Loss of articular cartilage because of extracellular matrix breakdown is the hallmark of arthritis. Degradative fragments of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), a prominent noncollagenous matrix component in articular cartilage, have been observed in the cartilage, synovial fluid, and serum of arthritis patients. The molecular mechanism of COMP degradation and the enzyme(s) responsible ...

XBP1S, a BMP2-inducible transcription factor, accelerates endochondral bone growth by activating GEP growth factor

We previously reported that transcription factor XBP1S binds to RUNX2 and enhances chondrocyte hypertrophy through acting as a cofactor of RUNX2. Herein, we report that XBP1S is a key downstream molecule of BMP2 and is required for BMP2-mediated chondrocyte differentiation. XBP1S is up-regulated during chondrocyte differentiation and demonstrates the temporal and spatial expression pattern duri...

Identification and Characterization of Tropomyosin 3 Associated with Granulin-Epithelin Precursor in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP) has previously been reported to control cancer growth, invasion, chemo-resistance, and served as novel therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, the nature and characteristics of GEP interacting partner remain unclear. The present study aims to identify and characterize the novel predominant interacting partner of GEP using co-immuno...

Granulin-Epithelin Precursor Is an Oncofetal Protein Defining Hepatic Cancer Stem Cells

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Increasing evidence has suggested that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) might originate from a distinct subpopulation called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for the limited efficacy of conventional therapies. We have previously demonstrated that granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP), a pluripotent growth factor, is upregulated in HCC but not in the adjacent non-tu...

Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in systemic sclerosis.