Roles and regulation of Thy-1, a context-dependent modulator of cell phenotype.
Thy-1 or CD90 is a glycophosphatidylinositol-linked glycoprotein expressed on the surface of neurons, thymocytes, subsets of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, mesangial cells and some hematopoietic cells. Thy-1 is evolutionarily conserved, developmentally regulated, and often has dramatic effects on cell phenotype; however, the effects vary between and in some cases within cell types and tissues, and between similar tissues in different species, indicating that the biological role of Thy-1 is context-dependent. Thy-1 exists in soluble form in some body fluids; however, the mechanisms of its shedding are unknown. In addition, Thy-1 expression can be regulated by epigenetic silencing. Because Thy-1 modulates many basic cellular processes and is involved in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, it is important to better understand its regulation.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama-Birmingham, AL, USA.
John E
JE
Bradley
Gustavo
G
Ramirez
James S
JS
Hagood
D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D018800:Thy-1 Antigens