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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Visualization of Endoplasmic Reticulum Subdomains in Cultured Cells
Published on: February 18, 2014
Calreticulin: non-endoplasmic reticulum functions in physiology and disease
Leslie I Gold1, Paul Eggleton, Mariya T Sweetwyne
1Departments of Medicine and Pathology, New York, University School of Medicine, 550 First Ave., NB16S13 New York, NY 10016 USA. leslie.gold@nyumc.org
Calreticulin (CRT) functions beyond the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), impacting cell adhesion, migration, and immune responses. Extracellular CRT also enhances wound healing, revealing its broader physiological roles.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Calreticulin (CRT) is primarily known for its roles within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), including protein folding and calcium homeostasis.
- Emerging evidence highlights significant functions of CRT outside the ER, such as on the cell surface, in the cytosol, and within the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the diverse non-endoplasmic reticulum functions of Calreticulin (CRT).
- To investigate the role of extracellular CRT in physiological and pathological processes, including wound healing.
Main Methods:
- Review of accumulating evidence on extracellular CRT localization and functions.
- Analysis of studies demonstrating the effects of exogenous CRT application on cellular functions and wound healing models.
Main Results:
- Extracellular CRT influences cell adhesion, migration, phagocytosis, and immune regulation.
- Topical application of CRT significantly enhances cutaneous wound healing in animal models.
- CRT is identified as a multicompartmental protein with roles in various cellular responses.
Conclusions:
- Calreticulin (CRT) possesses critical extracellular bioactivities that extend beyond its classical ER functions.
- Understanding the non-ER roles of CRT provides new insights into its involvement in wound healing, immune responses, fibrosis, and cancer.
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