Review: Lutheran/B-CAM: a laminin receptor on red blood cells and in various tissues.
The Lutheran blood group glycoprotein (Lu), also known as basal cell adhesion molecule (B-CAM), is a transmembrane receptor with five immunoglobulin-like domains in its extracellular region; it is therefore classified as a member of the immunoglobulin (Ig) gene family. Lu/B-CAM is observed not only on red blood cells, but also on a subset of muscle and epithelial cells in various tissues. Recently, several groups have reported that Lu/B-CAM is a novel receptor for laminin a5. The laminin a5 chain is a component of the laminin-511 (alpha 5 beta 1 gamma 1), -521 (alpha 5 beta 2 gamma 1), and -523 (alpha 5 beta 2 gamma 3) heterotrimers and is expressed throughout the mammalian body. We also have shown that Lu/B-CAM is co-localized with laminin alpha 5 in various tissues. Although the biological role of Lu/B-CAM remains unclear, the specific binding of Lu/B-CAM to laminin alpha 5 suggests that it plays an important role in developmental and physiological processes. It also is necessary to investigate further the interaction between Lu/B-CAM and laminin a5 in pathological processes, including sickle cell disease and cancer.
Kikkawa
Yamato
Y
Department of Pathophysiology, Cancer Research Institute, Sapparo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapparo, Japan. kikkawa@ps.toyako.ac.jp
Miner
Jeffrey H
JH
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System; D032342:Muscle Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D017474:Receptors, Laminin / Q000378:metabolism*
C090228:BCAM protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007797:Laminin; D008188:Lutheran Blood-Group System; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D017474:Receptors, Laminin; C097043:laminin alpha5