Vascular Biology Unit, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville QLD 4811, Australia.
Cardiovasc Res. 2011 Oct 1;92(1):19-28. doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvr183. Epub 2011 Jun 28.
The extracellular matrix protein tenascin C (TnC) is expressed in a variety of embryonic tissues, but its expression in adult arteries is co-incident with sites of vascular disease. TnC expression has been linked to the development and complications of intimal hyperplasia, pulmonary artery hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. This review identifies the growing collection of evidence linking TnC with cardiovascular disease development. The transient upregulation of this extracellular matrix protein at sites of vascular disease could provide a means to target TnC in the development of diagnostics and new therapies. Studies in TnC-deficient mice have implicated this protein in the development of intimal hyperplasia. Further animal and human studies are required to thoroughly assess the role of TnC in some of the other pathologies it has been linked with, such as atherosclerosis and pulmonary hypertension. Large population studies are also warranted to clarify the diagnostic value of this extracellular matrix protein in cardiovascular disease, for example by targeting its expression using radiolabelled antibodies or measuring circulating concentrations of TnC.
细胞外基质蛋白 tenascin C（TnC）在多种胚胎组织中表达，但在成人动脉中与血管疾病部位同时表达。TnC 的表达与内膜增生、肺动脉高压、动脉粥样硬化、心肌梗死和心力衰竭的发展和并发症有关。本综述确定了越来越多的证据将 TnC 与心血管疾病的发展联系起来。这种细胞外基质蛋白在血管疾病部位的短暂上调可能为在诊断和新疗法的开发中靶向 TnC 提供了一种手段。TnC 缺陷小鼠的研究表明，该蛋白在内膜增生的发展中起作用。需要进一步的动物和人体研究来彻底评估 TnC 在与其他一些已关联疾病（如动脉粥样硬化和肺动脉高压）中的作用。还需要进行大规模的人群研究来阐明这种细胞外基质蛋白在心血管疾病中的诊断价值，例如通过使用放射性标记的抗体靶向其表达或测量 TnC 的循环浓度。
