Description
Members of the immunoglobulin superfamily often play key roles in intercellular adhesion. IGSF4 is a novel immunoglobulin (Ig)-like intercellular adhesion molecule. Three Ig-like domains are included in the extracellular domain of IGSF4 and mediate homophilic or heterophilic interactions independently of Ca2+. The cytoplasmic domain of IGSF4 contains the binding motifs that connect to actin fibers. Since IGSF4 has been characterized by several independent research groups, this molecule is called by three names, TSLC1, SgIGSF and SynCAM. IGSF4 was first characterized as a tumor suppressor of non-small cell lung cancer and termed TSLC1. It is a single-pass type I membrane protein which belongs to the nectin family, which may be involved in neuronal migration, axon growth, pathfinding, and fasciculation on the axons of differentiating neurons. In addition, CADM1 may play diverse roles in the spermatogenesis including in the adhesion of spermatocytes and spermatids to Sertoli cells and for their normal differentiation into mature spermatozoa. In neuroblastoma, loss of CADM1 expression has recently been found in disseminated tumours with adverse outcome, prompting us to investigate its role in neuroblastoma tumour progression. The downregulation of CADM1 tumour suppressor gene expression is a critical event in neuroblastoma pathogenesis resulting in tumour progression