The Expression and Possible Functions of Tenascin-W During Development and Disease

Abstract

Tenascins are a family of multifunctional glycoproteins found in the extracellular matrix of chordates. Two of the tenascins, tenascin-C and tenascin-W, form hexabrachions. In this review, we describe the discovery and domain architecture of tenascin-W, its evolution and patterns of expression during embryogenesis and in tumors, and its effects on cells in culture. In avian and mammalian embryos tenascin-W is primarily expressed at sites of osteogenesis, and in the adult tenascin-W is abundant in certain stem cell niches. In primary cultures of osteoblasts tenascin-W promotes cell migration, the formation of mineralized foci and increases alkaline phosphatase activity. Tenascin-W is also prominent in many solid tumors, yet it is missing from the extracellular matrix of most adult tissues. This makes it a potential candidate for use as a marker of tumor stroma and a target for anti-cancer therapies.

Loss of Tenascin-X expression during tumor progression: A new pan-cancer marker

“…Furthermore, its re-expression is correlated with poor prognosis in melanoma, colorectal, breast, oesophageal, prostate and gastric cancers [ 17 , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] ]. In mammalian embryos, TNW is primarily expressed at sites of osteogenesis, whereas in adults, TNW is completely absent except in certain stem cell niches [ 31 ]. Interestingly, analyses of human biopsies revealed a prominent de novo expression in all tumors investigated.…”

“…Interestingly, analyses of human biopsies revealed a prominent de novo expression in all tumors investigated. TNW is thus overexpressed in the tumor stroma of breast, colorectal, brain (oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma and glioblastoma), kidney (clear cell carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, chromophobe renal carcinoma, and oncocytoma), ovarian, prostate, pancreas, and lung cancers as well as in melanomas [ [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] ]. TNR expression pattern is almost exclusively located to the central nervous system but transiently appears also in Schwann cells during peripheral nerve development [ [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] ].…”

Mapping the Inorganic and Proteomic Differences among Different Types of Human Teeth: A Preliminary Compositional Insight

“…In addition to collagens, several non-collagenous proteins like Versican, Vitronectin, Hyaluronan, and proteoglycan link protein were also found in these protein extracts. Several other proteins reported to have a role in tooth development and odontogenesis were also enriched in our list, these include Tenascin [ 44 , 45 ], Thrombospondin-1 [ 46 ], Laminins [ 47 , 48 ], Fibronectin [ 49 ], Dickkopf related-protein 3 [ 50 ], and Vitronectin [ 51 ]. Furthermore, proteins like antileukoproteinase, lactotransferrin, and serotransferrin which are detected in our extracts are known to be present in saliva and which are adsorbed in the associated enamel pellicle.…”

Emerging Roles of Matricellular Proteins in Systemic Sclerosis

“…The conserved structure of tenascins includes N-terminal heptad repeats, EGF-like domains, and a series of fibronectin type-III domains that are important for the interaction between cell surface proteins and soluble factors in the ECM [ 125 ]. Tenascins are multifunctional MCPs that have been shown to mediate processes of cell adhesion, migration, matrix assembly, profibrotic cytokine upregulation, and myofibroblast differentiation [ 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 ]. In SSc research, the primary focus has been on TN-C because its translatable research from related fibrotic pathologies has provided a framework for study, whereas the other family members still remain undercharacterized.…”