Description
THSD7A was first identified as an endothelial protein that is expressed in the vascularsystem of the placenta (1). It is expressed by cells of endothelial and neuronal lineage. The soluble form of THSD7A promotes endothelial cell migration and filopodia formation during angiogenesis via a FAK-dependent mechanism (2). This protein may be involved in cytoskeletal organization. Variations in this gene may be associated with low bone mineraldensity in osteoporosis.
THSD7A is expressed on podocytes and is responsible for 2-5% of patients with idiopathicmembranous nephropathy (3, 4, 5)