Involvement of µ-protocadherin in colorectal carcinogenesis: a promise for clinico-pathological evaluation

• Autores: Lorena Losi, Alexis Grande
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 29, Nº. 1, 2014, págs. 11-19
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Cell-cell adhesion is a fundamental activity to allow the maintenance of epithelial integrity, and defects impairing this process promote the formation of tumors such as colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, a crucial role is played by adhesion molecules, named cadherins, which exert their function through the inhibition of the ß-catenin signaling proliferation pathway, constitutively activated in CRC. A number of reports, published over the last decade, have highlighted the existence of a novel cadherin family member, called µ-protocadherin, to underline the hybrid nature of its extra-cellular region, including both cadherin-like and mucin-like domains. Is has been shown that this protein plays an important role in inter-cellular adhesion processes, inhibits ß-catenin activity in normal colorectal mucosa, undergoes a down-regulated expression in CRC and is up-regulated upon treatment with chemo-prevention agents against this tumor.