Tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) discovered in various tumors have been widely reported. However, T-IC populations in salivary gland tumors have yet to be elucidated. Using the established Pleomorphic Adenoma Gene-1 (Plag1) transgenic mouse model of a salivary gland tumor, we identified CD44(high) (CD44(hi)) tumor cells, characterized by high levels of CD44 cell surface expression, as the T-ICs f...

CD44 is a marker of cancer stem-like cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition that is overexpressed in many cancer types, including thyroid carcinoma. At extracellular and intramembranous domains, CD44 undergoes sequential metalloprotease- and γ-secretase-mediated proteolytic cleavage, releasing the intracellular protein fragment CD44-ICD, which translocates to the nucleus and activates gene...

This study aimed to explore cell surface biomarkers related to cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their role in the tumorigenesis of colon cancer. Various colon cancer cell lines were screened for CD133 and CD44 expression. CD44(high)/CD133(high) and CD44(low)/CD133(low) cells were separately isolated by Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). The cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle ...

Inflammation under sterile conditions is a key event in autoimmunity and following trauma. Hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan released from the extracellular matrix after injury, acts as an endogenous signal of trauma and can trigger chemokine release in injured tissue. Here we investigated if NLRP3/cryopyrin, a component of the inflammasome, participates in the inflammatory response to injury or ...

A hallmark of all solid tumor malignancies is the ability to invade the surrounding tissue and/or metastasize to distant sites. Tumors cells have altered signaling pathways which that to cytoskeleton activation and migration. Myriad studies have attempted to identify specific adhesion molecule(s) expressed in solid tumor cells that correlate with tumor cell migrative and invasive behaviors. Amo...

Selectins facilitate metastasis and tumor cell arrest in the microvasculature by mediating binding of selectin-expressing host cells to ligands on tumor cells. We recently identified CD44 variant isoforms as functional P-, but not E-/L-, selectin ligands on colon carcinoma cells. Furthermore, a approximately 180-kDa sialofucosylated glycoprotein(s) mediated selectin binding in CD44-knockdown ce...

CD44 has been the subject of extensive research for more than 3 decades because of its role in breast cancer, in addition to many physiological processes, but interestingly, conflicting data implicate CD44 in both tumor suppression and tumor promotion. CD44 has been shown to promote protumorigenic signaling and advance the metastatic cascade. On the other hand, CD44 has been shown to suppress g...

CD44 transmembrane glycoprotein is involved in angiogenesis, but it is not clear whether CD44 functions as a pro­ or antiangiogenic molecule. Here, we assess the role of CD44 in angiogenesis and endothelial proliferation by using Cd44­null mice and CD44 silencing in human endothelial cells. We demonstrate that angiogenesis is increased in Cd44­null mice c...

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to cancer stem-like (CD44+) cell in the prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we found EMT contributed to metastasis in PCa patients failed in androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Castration TRAMP model also proved PCa treated with ADT promoted EMT with increased CD44+ stem-like cells. Swi...

CD44, a multi-structural and multifunctional transmembrane glycoprotein, was initially identified as a receptor for hyaluronan that participates in both physiological and pathological processes. CD44 is found to be closely linked to the development of various solid tumors. Molecular studies have revealed that high CD44 expression was correlated with the phenotypes of cancer stem cells and epith...