JAM-C protein is expected to become a new target for lymphoma therapy

Lymphocytes are the key components of immune system, and they can remove invading pathogens or cancer cells and other "apostate". However, like other cells, they themselves may become cancer cells due to a genetic mutation, causing lymphomas. On the other hand, although largely existing in the blood, only transferring out of blood and entering into lymphatic system (i.e. homing) can lymphoma cells really become dangerous. Scientists made use of various kinds of recombinant proteins such as recombinant dog proteins and recombinant rat proteins to study it.

"Because lymphoma cells can't survive in blood for a long time, these must find a more suitable living environment - such as the lymphatic system - and continue to amplify. While we need to limit them in the blood to prevent them to cause harm," said Professor Thomas Matthes at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

The key lies in a junctional adhesion molecule JAM-C. This protein is expressed on the surface of a variety of cells in the human body, including normal B lymphocytes and some B-cell lymphoma cell subtypes, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (MCL). Furthermore, JAM-C protein is also expressed on the surface of endothelial cells so that JAM-C protein on the lymphoma cell can conduct it affinity recognition, thus allowing the above-described cell lymphoma to freely get through the vessel wall and transfer to adjacent lymphatic system.

Professor Thomas Matthes team developed a monoclonal antibody H225 of JAM-C protein. In the mouse model of lymphoma, they found that H225 can effectively curb the homing process of JAM-C-positive lymphoma cells to reduce the incidence of the latter by half. The results were published recently in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.

Moreover, even after transferring to the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, liver and other organs, the amplification of JAM-C-positive lymphoma cells is still suppressed by H225. In mice research, H225 almost completely cleared tumor cells of the above organs. Further research found that H225 inhibits the phosphorylation of ERK1 / 2 kinase in JAM-C-positive B cells and MAPK signaling pathway which belongs to it without affecting other signaling pathways. This is the first time to discover in JAM-C-positive B cells that MAPK signaling pathway can be activated by JAM-C. Thus, the role of H225 is likely not limited to preventing lymphoma cell form homing.

Currently, researchers are working hard to develop this discovery into lymphoma therapy which can be used in clinic. JAM-C is expected to become a new target for lymphoma therapy to achieve inhibition of lymphoma cell expansion and create a tumor microenvironment which is beneficial to the treatment. Flarebio offers superior recombinant proteins including recombinant CDH2 at good prices.