Life, Vol. 16, Pages 104: The Roles of the Membrane-Anchored Glycoprotein RECK in Animal Development, Tumor Suppression, and Beyond

Life doi: 10.3390/life16010104

Authors:
Makoto Noda
David Alexander
Tomoko Matsuzaki

RECK was first reported as a transformation suppressor gene in 1998 and gradually gained attention as evidence indicating its reduced expression in a wide variety of human cancers accumulated. RECK encodes a membrane-anchored glycoprotein exhibiting protease inhibitor activity against matrix metalloproteases. Restored expression of RECK in cancer xenograft models suggests it suppresses tumor growth and/or metastasis. RECK was also found to be essential for mammalian embryogenesis, especially in the maintenance of tissue integrity as well as the development of neural and vascular systems. Due to its functional versatility during animal development, we only recently began to obtain formal experimental evidence that RECK is a bona fide tumor suppressor. In the meantime, mechanisms by which RECK expression is reduced in cancer cells have been explored. Various stimuli that alter RECK expression have also been described. Furthermore, recent findings in the clinic as well as in animal studies indicate the involvement of RECK in disorders other than cancer. The aim of this article is to summarize our current knowledge of RECK and assist future efforts to understand its nature and functions and to develop useful applications.

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Makoto Noda www.mdpi.com