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Tenascin in tissue perturbation repair
1Laboratory of Cell Biology, RIKEN, Tsukuba Life Science Center, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Tsukuba, Japan.
Acta Pathologica Japonica
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Tenascin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, plays diverse roles in cell behavior and tissue repair. Its expression is restricted during development and inflammation, suggesting a homeostatic function in tissue perturbation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Tenascin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein composed of six subunits.
- Its gene contains regions homologous to fibrinogen and repetitive sequences found in fibronectin and epidermal growth factor genes.
- Multiple tenascin isoforms arise from alternative splicing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the molecular structure and functional roles of tenascin.
- To investigate the distribution of tenascin in various tissues.
- To explore tenascin's potential function in tissue repair.
Main Methods:
- Cloning and sequencing of tenascin cDNAs from chicken, mouse, and human.
- Molecular analysis of the tenascin gene.
- In vitro culture studies to assess tenascin functions.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of tenascin distribution in normal and abnormal tissues.
Main Results:
- The tenascin gene exhibits homology to fibrinogen and contains repetitive sequences.
- Tenascin influences cell attachment, migration, growth, and hemagglutination.
- Tenascin expression is spatially and temporally restricted, observed in embryonic and oncogenic tissues, as well as inflamed and regenerating tissues.
Conclusions:
- Tenascin exhibits diverse functions in cell biology and tissue development.
- Its characteristic distribution suggests a role in tissue homeostasis.
- Tenascin likely functions as a homeostatic factor in tissue repair processes.