Hyaluronan, CD44 and its variant exons in human trophoblast invasion and placental angiogenesis.

The predominant CD44 splice variant in prostate cancer binds fibronectin, and calcitonin stimulates its expression.

BACKGROUND Prostate cancer (PC) consistently overexpresses variant the (v) isoform of the cell adhesion protein CD44, and loses expression of the standard (s) isoform. MATERIALS AND METHODS We re-expressed CD44 full-length (exons 1-20) or standard (exons 1-5 + 16-20) or enforced stable RNAi against CD44v, and the examined functional effects on PC. The effect of stable knockout of calcitonin, ...

EFFECTS OF INFLAMMATION AND H. PYLORI INFECTION ON EXPRESSION OF CD44 VARIANT EXONS IN GASTRIC TISSUE

CD44 and the adhesion of neoplastic cells.

CD44 is a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that act mainly as a receptor for hyaluronan. It can also bind some other extracellular matrix ligands (chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate, fibronectin, serglycin, osteopontin) with lower affinity. CD44 is encoded by a single gene containing 20 exons, 10 of which (v1-v10) are variant exons inserted by alternative splicing. The standard, ubiqui...

CD44: A Multifunctional Cell Surface Adhesion Receptor Is a Regulator of Progression and Metastasis of Cancer Cells

CD44 is a cell surface adhesion receptor that is highly expressed in many cancers and regulates metastasis via recruitment of CD44 to the cell surface. Its interaction with appropriate extracellular matrix ligands promotes the migration and invasion processes involved in metastases. It was originally identified as a receptor for hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid and later to several other ligands i...

A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12 (ADAM12) localizes to invasive trophoblast, promotes cell invasion and directs column outgrowth in early placental development.

During pregnancy, stromal- and vascular-remodeling trophoblasts serve critical roles in directing placental development acquiring pro-invasive characteristics. The A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase (ADAM) family of multifunctional proteins direct cellular processes across multiple organ systems via their intrinsic catalytic, cell adhesive and intracellular signaling properties. ADAM12, existi...