Abstract
CD44 is the major surface hyaluronan (HA) receptor implicated in intercellular and cell-matrix adhesion, cell migration and signaling. It is a transmembrane, highly glycosylated protein with several isoforms resulting from alternative gene splicing. The CD44 molecule consists of several domains serving different functions: the N-terminal extracellular domain, the stem region, the transmembrane domain and the C-terminal tail. In the nervous system, CD44 expression occurs in both glial and neuronal cells. The role of CD44 in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system is not entirely understood, however, there exists evidence suggesting it might be involved in the axon guidance, cytoplasmic Ca2+ clearance, dendritic arborization, synaptic transmission, epileptogenesis, oligodendrocyte and astrocyte differentiation, post-traumatic brain repair and brain tumour development.
Highlights
CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein mediating cell responses to the extracellular microenvironment
The present review summarizes the current knowledge on CD44 expression and function in the nervous system
The predominant CD44 isoform expressed in the nervous system is the standard form (Sretavan et al, 1994; Jones et al, 2000; Bouvier-Labit et al, 2002), the presence of CD44 splice variants has been demonstrated in normal human brain tissue (Kaaijk et al, 1997), as well as in certain primary tumours of the brain and peripheral nerve (Kaaijk et al, 1995; Sherman et al, 1997; Resnick et al, 1999)
Summary
CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein mediating cell responses to the extracellular microenvironment. CD44 is being described as an adhesion molecule expressed in various cell types, and an important participant in a number of signaling pathways. The cytoplasmic tail of CD44 may be cleaved off by γ-secretase and translocated to the cell nucleus, where it acts as a transcriptional regulator (Nagano and Saya, 2004). The predominant CD44 isoform expressed in the nervous system is the standard form (Sretavan et al, 1994; Jones et al, 2000; Bouvier-Labit et al, 2002), the presence of CD44 splice variants has been demonstrated in normal human brain tissue (Kaaijk et al, 1997), as well as in certain primary tumours of the brain and peripheral nerve (Kaaijk et al, 1995; Sherman et al, 1997; Resnick et al, 1999)
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