Oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor protein in pregnancy and cancer

Cell Mol Biol Lett. 2014 Sep;19(3):393-406. doi: 10.2478/s11658-014-0203-7. Epub 2014 Jul 31.

Abstract

The 37-kDa immature laminin receptor protein (iLRP) is a speciesconserved, universal immunogenic protein that is expressed in all thus-far examined embryonic and early fetal cells of inbred and outbred rodents. It has also been identified in human concepti. It is altered through normal maturation processes to become a non-immunogenic 67-kDa dimeric mature laminin receptor protein (mLRP) in mid-to late gestation in the mammalian fetus. This antigen ceases to be expressed as an active autoimmunogen in the full-term fetus and in the normal differentiating tissues and organs of the neonate or adult organism, apparently due to dimerization, but it is re-expressed as an immunogenic monomer in tumor cells. In this review, we highlight the known mechanisms of immune responses with particular emphasis on the possible role of the 37-kDa oncofetal antigen/immature laminin receptor (OFA/iLRP) in both pregnancy and cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Immunological
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Laminin / immunology*
  • Receptors, Laminin / metabolism
  • Ribosomal Proteins / immunology*
  • Ribosomal Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • RPSA protein, human
  • Receptors, Laminin
  • Ribosomal Proteins
  • immature laminin receptor protein, mouse