CD74 is a protein that is expressed in and on cells of the immune system, such as B lymphocytes and antigen presenting cells. This protein is known for its function in facilitating antigen presentation enabling the immune response. Additionally, Professor Shachar’s lab has previously shown that CD74 serves as a survival receptor on cells of the immune system, and that its stimulation by its natural ligand — migration inhibitory factor (MIF)- prevents apoptosis (self destruction) of these cells. It was shown that CD74 is markedly expressed on numerous tumors – hematologic as well as epithelial, and can serve as a prognostic marker. CD74’s expression and function on colon intestinal epithelial cells is controversial.
A research article to be published on July 14, 2010 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. A team of scientists headed by Professor Idit Shachar from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, has demonstrated that CD74 is expressed on colon epithelial cells. CD74 expression on these cells was shown to increase colon epithelial cells survival upon stimulation by its natural ligand MIF. These findings were further supported by their demonstration in the mouse colorectal cancer cell line, CT-26. Stimulation of CD74 expressed on these cells led to Akt phophorylation and Bcl-2 expression resulting in elevation of cell survival.These findings may open a new target in the research of colorectal cancer.
Reference: Maharshak N, Cohen S, Lantner F, Hart G, Leng L, Bucala R,
Shachar I. CD74 is a survival receptor on colon epithelial cells. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(26): 3258-3266
Correspondence to: Idit Shachar, PhD, Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. [email protected]
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About World Journal of Gastroenterology
World Journal of Gastroenterology (WJG), a leading international journal in gastroenterology and hepatology, has established a reputation for publishing first class research on esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, viral hepatitis, colorectal cancer, and H pylori infection and provides a forum for both clinicians and scientists. WJG has been indexed and abstracted in Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, Science Citation Index Expanded (also known as SciSearch) and Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition, Index Medicus, MEDLINE and PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, Abstracts Journals, Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology and Hepatology, CAB Abstracts and Global Health. ISI JCR 2009 IF: 2.092. WJG is a weekly journal published by WJG Press. The publication dates are the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day of every month. WJG is supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30224801 and No. 30424812, and was founded with the name of China National Journal of New Gastroenterology on October 1, 1995, and renamed WJG on January 25, 1998.
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