Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Division of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran.
Curr Med Chem. 2024;31(19):2706-2731. doi: 10.2174/0929867330666230404124229.
Tenascin-C (TNC) is a multimodular extracellular matrix (ECM) protein hexameric with several molecular forms (180-250 kDa) produced by alternative splicing at the pre-mRNA level and protein modifications. The molecular phylogeny indicates that the amino acid sequence of TNC is a well-conserved protein among vertebrates. TNC has binding partners, including fibronectin, collagen, fibrillin-2, periostin, proteoglycans, and pathogens. Various transcription factors and intracellular regulators tightly regulate TNC expression. TNC plays an essential role in cell proliferation and migration. Unlike embryonic tissues, TNC protein is distributed over a few tissues in adults. However, higher TNC expression is observed in inflammation, wound healing, cancer, and other pathological conditions. It is widely expressed in a variety of human malignancies and is recognized as a pivotal factor in cancer progression and metastasis. Moreover, TNC increases both pro-and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. It has been identified as an essential factor in tissue injuries such as damaged skeletal muscle, heart disease, and kidney fibrosis. This multimodular hexameric glycoprotein modulates both innate and adaptive immune responses regulating the expression of numerous cytokines. Moreover, TNC is an important regulatory molecule that affects the onset and progression of neuronal disorders through many signaling pathways. We provide a comprehensive overview of the structural and expression properties of TNC and its potential functions in physiological and pathological conditions.
纤连蛋白 C(TNC)是一种六聚体的多模块细胞外基质(ECM)蛋白,通过前体 mRNA 水平的选择性剪接和蛋白质修饰产生多种分子形式(180-250 kDa)。分子系统发育表明,TNC 的氨基酸序列是脊椎动物中一种高度保守的蛋白质。TNC 具有结合伴侣,包括纤维连接蛋白、胶原蛋白、原纤维蛋白-2、periostin、蛋白聚糖和病原体。各种转录因子和细胞内调节剂严格调节 TNC 的表达。TNC 在细胞增殖和迁移中发挥重要作用。与胚胎组织不同,TNC 蛋白在成人中分布于少数组织中。然而,在炎症、伤口愈合、癌症和其他病理条件下观察到 TNC 表达增加。它广泛表达于多种人类恶性肿瘤中,被认为是癌症进展和转移的关键因素。此外,TNC 增加了促炎和抗炎信号通路。它已被确定为损伤的骨骼肌、心脏病和肾脏纤维化等组织损伤的重要因素。这种多模块六聚体糖蛋白调节固有和适应性免疫反应,调节许多细胞因子的表达。此外,TNC 是一种重要的调节分子,通过许多信号通路影响神经元疾病的发生和发展。我们提供了 TNC 的结构和表达特性及其在生理和病理条件下的潜在功能的全面概述。