Functional involvement of CD44, a family of cell adhesion molecules, in immune responses, tumour progression and haematopoiesis

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Functional involvement of CD44, a family of cell adhesion molecules, in immune responses, tumour progression and haematopoiesis
Creators Name:	Guenthert, U. and Schwaerzler, C. and Wittig, B. and Laman, J. and Ruiz, P. and Stauder, R. and Bloem, A. and Smadja-Joffe, F. and Zoeller, M. and Rolink, A.
Abstract:	Cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions play fundamental roles in many biological processes. Cells adhere to the ECM and to each other via specific cell surface receptors such as the selectins, integrins, Cadherins, members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, and of the CD44 superfamily. Surface molecules are necessary for cellular cross-talking and thus have a major impact on gene regulation, immune surveillance, immunological memory, motility, differentiation and growth control. Defined alterations in the cellular communication are features of embryonic development, immunobiology and neoplastic transformation. The model molecule and its functional analysis described here is the glycoprotein CD44 and its many isoforms. CD44 has been implicated to act in processes such as lymphocyte homing, haematopoiesis, tumour dissemination, lymphocyte activation, pattern formation in embryogenesis and inflammatory reactions. This multipurpose nature of CD44 can possibly be explained by the enormous number of isoforms. Although only encoded by one gene, CD44 represents a large family of molecules which differ in the primary structure. These differences are brought about by alternative splicing of at least ten unique exons, encoding extracellular regions. The function of the variant isoforms has been a matter of speculation for a long time, but now analysing mice which carry targeted mutations of specific exons a clearer picture is emerging.
Keywords:	Alternative Splicing, Autoimmune Diseases, CD44 Antigens, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Colitis, Cytokines, Exons, Genetic Recombination, Genetic Variation, Hematopoiesis, Inbred C57BL Mice, Inbred Strains Mice, Interferon Receptors, Knockout Mice, MHC Class II Genes, Neoplastic Cell Transformation, Protein Isoforms, Th1 Cells, Animals, Mice
Source:	Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Series Name:	Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
Title of Book:	Gene Therapy of Cancer
ISSN:	0065-2598
ISBN:	978-1-4615-5357-1
Publisher:	Springer
Volume:	451
Page Range:	43-49
Date:	1998
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5357-1_7
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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