半椎蛋白的生物学作用及其与人类疾病的关系

半椎蛋白作为一种细胞外基质蛋白质,在细胞的生长、分化、迁移以及细胞与基底膜的稳定接触中发挥非常重要的作用。线虫、小鼠等多种动物模型的研究发现:该蛋白质参与稳定细胞有丝分裂时出现的分裂沟、促进胞浆的正常分裂,并且是一种细胞黏附体系B-LINK的重要组成部分;调控新生小鼠心室心肌成纤维细胞对TGF-β信号的反应。多项研究表明,该蛋白质参与到多种人类疾病的发生发展之中,包括舍格伦综合症、年龄相关性黄斑变性、心血管疾病、肾疾病和胰岛瘤。本文主要就该胞外基质蛋白质的生物学作用,以及与人类疾病关系的相关研究进展进行综述。

Biological Function of Extracellular Matrix Protein Hemicentin and Its Relationship to Human Diseases

Hemicentin, a conserved extracellular matrix protein, plays an important role in cell growth, differentiation, migration and the stable contact between cells and basement membranes. It has been revealed in the animal models, Caenorhabditis elegans as representative, that hemicentin promotes the stability of cleavage furrow and cytokinesis during mitosis. It also plays an indispensable role in a cell-adhesive system called B LINK. It has been identified that hemicentin regulates the TGF-β responses in neonatal mouse ventricular cardiac fibroblasts. Recent studies have also revealed its relationship with several diseases, including Sjogren syndrome, age-related macular degeneration, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic nephropathy and insulinoma. This review focuses on the biological function of hemicentin and its critical role involved in human diseases.