Syndecan-1 (SDC-1), a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, supports the integrity of the epithelial compartment.
Syndecan-1 is a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan that functions as a coreceptor in cell–matrix and cell–cell interactions. It plays a key role in modulating signaling pathways through its extracellular domain, which interacts with growth factors, cytokines, and components of the extracellular matrix. Through these interactions, Syndecan-1 influences critical cellular processes such as adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation.
The expression of Syndecan-1 is often deregulated. However, its expression can be either upregulated or downregulated depending on the tumor type and its stage of progression. For example, high levels of Syndecan-1 are observed in multiple myeloma, while in other cancers, such as certain carcinomas, loss or redistribution from the cell membrane to the cytoplasm is linked with tumor progression.
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