Abstract
Tumours progress through a cascade of events that enable the formation of metastases. Some of the components that are required for this fatal process are well established. Tetraspanins, however, have only recently received attention as both metastasis suppressors and metastasis promoters. This late appreciation is probably due to their capacity to associate with various molecules, which they recruit into special membrane microdomains, and their abundant presence in tumour-derived small vesicles that aid intercellular communication. It is reasonable to assume that differences in the membrane and vesicular web components that associate with individual tetraspanins account for their differing abilities to promote and suppress metastasis.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Antigens, CD / physiology
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Antigens, Neoplasm / physiology
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Cell Communication
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Cell Movement / physiology
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Disease Progression
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Exosomes / physiology
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Humans
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Integrins / physiology
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Kangai-1 Protein / physiology
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Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology
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Membrane Microdomains / physiology
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Membrane Microdomains / ultrastructure
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Membrane Proteins / chemistry
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Membrane Proteins / genetics
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Membrane Proteins / physiology*
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Multigene Family
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Neoplasm Metastasis / physiopathology*
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Neoplasm Proteins / chemistry
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Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
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Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
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Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology
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Protein Structure, Tertiary
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Rats
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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Tetraspanin 24
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Tetraspanin 29
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Tetraspanins
Substances
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Antigens, CD
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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CD151 protein, human
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CD9 protein, human
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Integrins
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Kangai-1 Protein
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Membrane Glycoproteins
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Membrane Proteins
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Neoplasm Proteins
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TSPAN8 protein, human
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Tetraspanin 24
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Tetraspanin 29
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Tetraspanins