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Review
. 2022 Mar 3:10:866200.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.866200. eCollection 2022.

Potential Therapeutic Applications of N-Cadherin Antagonists and Agonists

Orest W Blaschuk  1
Affiliations
Review

Potential Therapeutic Applications of N-Cadherin Antagonists and Agonists

Orest W Blaschuk. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

This review focuses on the cell adhesion molecule (CAM), known as neural (N)-cadherin (CDH2). The molecular basis of N-cadherin-mediated intercellular adhesion is discussed, as well as the intracellular signaling pathways regulated by this CAM. N-cadherin antagonists and agonists are then described, and several potential therapeutic applications of these intercellular adhesion modulators are considered. The usefulness of N-cadherin antagonists in treating fibrotic diseases and cancer, as well as manipulating vascular function are emphasized. Biomaterials incorporating N-cadherin modulators for tissue regeneration are also presented. N-cadherin antagonists and agonists have potential for broad utility in the treatment of numerous maladies.

Keywords: ADH-1; N-cadherin; adherens junctions; biomaterials; cancer; fibrosis; tissue regeneration; vasculature.

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Conflict of interest statement

OB have equity in Zonula Inc. This company owns the patent on “compound 15”.

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