Identification of trans-interacting receptors for CADM1

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16708
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ito Takeshi 東京大学, 医科学研究所, 助教 (20733075)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞接着

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cell adhesion molecule 1 (CADM1), which belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF), contributes to cell-cell adhesion through trans-interaction with CADM1 itself or other IgSF molecules. Ectopic expression of CADM1 in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is involved in organ infiltration of ATL cells by promoting adhesion of ATL cells to vascular endothelial cells. However, the trans-interacting receptors for CADM1 on vascular endothelial cells had not been identified. In this study, we showed that homophilic interaction of CADM1 between ATL cells and vascular endothelial cells promotes extravasation and liver infiltration of ATL cells.

Free Research Field

腫瘍生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

独自にIgSF遺伝子群をクローニングし、精製したIgSF-Fcタンパク質ライブラリーは、CADM1のみならずIgSF分子の相互作用ネットワークを解明する上で強力な技術基盤となり得る点において学術的意義がある。また、ATL細胞のCADM1を介した臓器浸潤の機序を明らかにしたことにより、中和抗体などを用いた細胞接着阻害により浸潤を抑制する新たな治療法の可能性を見出した点において社会的意義がある。