Tenascins are extracellular matrix glycoproteins associated with cell motility, proliferation and differentiation. Tenascin-C inhibits cell spreading by binding to fibronectin; tenascin-R and tenascin-X also have anti-adhesive properties in vitro. Here we have studied the adhesion modulating properties of the most recently characterized tenascin, tenascin-W. C2C12 cells, a murine myoblast cell ...

Tenascin is a protein family in the extra cellular matrix (ECM) that consists of four members: tenascin C, tenascin R, tenascin X, and tenascin W. Among the four tenascins, tenascin-C was the first identified and have been the most studied member of the family. In 2006, a patent was registered for a formula containing tenascin C, and the formula has been claimed to be beneficial in treating and...

Different connective tissue cells secrete different types of tenascins. These glycoproteins contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and influence the physiology of the cells in contact with the tenascin containing environment. Tenascin-C expression is regulated by mechanical stress. It shows highest expression in connective tissue surrounding tumors, in wounds and in inflamed tissues...

This is the first report about human tenascin-W, the fourth and final member of the extracellular matrix protein family of tenascins. Sixty-three human breast tumor extracts were analyzed by Western blotting for the presence of tenascin-W and compared with tenascin-C, an established marker of tumor stroma. Interestingly, we found tenascin-W expression in the majority of the tumor tissues, but n...

Tenascins are a family of extracellular matrix proteins that evolved in early chordates. There are four family members: tenascin-X, tenascin-R, tenascin-W, and tenascin-C. Tenascin-X associates with type I collagen, and its absence can cause Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. In contrast, tenascin-R is concentrated in perineuronal nets. The expression of tenascin-C and tenascin-W is developmentally regula...

Tenascin-X has recently been shown to be a novel member of the tenascin family and its distribution is often reciprocal to that of tenascin-C in the developing mouse embryo. We have investigated the expression of tenascin-X in fibroblasts and carcinoma cells in culture. Tenascin-X protein was secreted in vitro in the conditioned media at an apparent molecular mass of approximately 450 kDa. In a...

The microenvironment hosting a tumor actively participates in regulating tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Among the extracellular matrix proteins enriched in the stroma of carcinomas are the tenascin family members tenascin-C and tenascin-W. Whereas tenascin-C overexpression in gliomas is known to correlate with poor prognosis, the status of tenascin-W in brain tumors has not ...

Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix protein that plays an important role in cell proliferation, migration and tumor invasion in various types of cancer. However, few reports exist on tenascin-C expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of tenascin-C in clear cell RCC. Using immunohistochemistry, 137 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissu...

To investigate the role of tenascin-R in nervous system development, we studied axon pathfinding in the developing optic system of zebrafish. Zebrafish tenascin-R has the same domain structure as tenascin-R in amniotes. Amino acid sequence identity with human tenascin-R is 60%. In 3-d-old larvae, tenascin-R mRNA is expressed in scattered cells throughout the periventricular cell layer of the di...

BACKGROUND Tenascin-X is a large extracellular matrix protein that is abundantly expressed in several connective tissues. A 140-kDa C-terminal fragment of tenascin-X is present in human serum. Complete deficiency of tenascin-X is associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and these patients show major connective tissue alterations in their skin, as well as blood vessel fragility. In this study, we...