title: S100A8 and S100A9 in inflammation and cancer.
abstract: Calprotectin (S100A8/A9), a heterodimer of the two calcium-binding proteins S100A8 and S100A9, was originally discovered as immunogenic protein expressed and secreted by neutrophils. Subsequently, it has emerged as important pro-inflammatory mediator in acute and chronic inflammation. More recently, increased S100A8 and S100A9 levels were also detected in various human cancers, presenting abundant expression in neoplastic tumor cells as well as infiltrating immune cells. Although, many possible functions have been proposed for S100A8/A9, its biological role still remains to be defined. Altogether, its expression and potential cytokine-like function in inflammation and in cancer suggests that S100A8/A9 may play a key role in inflammation-associated cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhardt
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hess
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040501:Calgranulin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D040502:Calgranulin B / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D040501:Calgranulin A; D040502:Calgranulin B