| 摘要 |
By clarifying the mechanism of the acquisition of cell mobility, it is intended to provide a means of estimating the migration, infiltration, wandering and/or metastasis of cells relating to pathological conditions (for example, cancer cell metastasis, blood cell infiltration) or possibility of the same and suppressing and/or inhibiting these phenomena involving the pathological conditions. It is found out that shedding of CD44 with MMPs (in particular membrane-attached MMP involving MT1-MMP) triggers morphological and functional changes of cells. Based on this finding, it is possible to provide a means of estimating pathological conditions such as cancer cell metastasis and blood cell infiltration by assaying CD44 fragments formed by the shedding and reagents such as monoclonal antibodies useful therein. Moreover, use of mutant CD44 proteins resistant to the above shedding, MMP inhibitors, anti-MMP antibodies, etc. contributes to the prevention and treatment of disorders, abnormalities and/or diseases in association with the shedding of CD44. |
