GPNMB is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with homology to the PMEL17 precursor, a melanocyte-specific protein. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms exist.GPNMB is expressed in minimally (but not highly) metastatic human melanoma cell lines and xenografts and may be involved in the delay and reduction of metastatic potential and growth. GPNMB appears to promote migration, invasion, and metastasis of a wide array of tumor cells and is therefore a promising and emerging target for drug development. Fiorentini’s group in the University of Brescia recently published that GPNMB acts on several prostate cancer cell lines by upregulating the metalloproteinases MMP2 and MMP91. It was originally discovered in bone cells and also appears to be linked to eye syndromes such as iris disease. A review of eye disorders such as pigment dispersion and disease can be found from Lascaratos et al 2. Recent research implicates GPNMB in a variety of cell types and tissues, as reviewed by Singh’s group3. In addition to covering the role of GPNMB in normal and disease states, they discuss its potential in treating cancer and bone diseases. Zhou et al at the Second Xiangya Hospital in China review the strengths of GPNMB as a cancer immunotherapeutic target for those cancers expressing high levels of GPNMB4.
Novus Biologicals offers Osteoactivin/GPNMB reagents for your research needs including:
PMIDs
