Growing evidence demonstrates that Asporin is involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Its expression is markedly increased in OA cartilage as compared with normal cartilage. Although the precise mechanism of OA induction by Asporin is not known yet, the inhibition of TGF-β1, a regulator of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis in articular cartilage and subchondral bone, my be the primary way of OA induction by Asporin
Asporin and Osteoarthritis
Xu et a., Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Volume 23, Issue 6, June 2015, Pages 933-939
Replication of association of the D-repeat polymorphism in asporin with osteoarthristis
Ikegawa et al., Arthritis Res Ther. 2006; 8(4): 403.t has been shown that Asporin expression in vertebral discs increases with age and degeneration The mechanisms of cartilage degeneration may be similar to those found in the pathogenesis of OA. Comparative analyses of asporin levels in OA and LDD or any other degenerative cartilage diseases may help in developing new therapeutic and preventative treatments.
Cartilage Intermediate Layer Protein and Asporin Polymorphisms Are Independent Risk Factors of Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Male Collegiate Athletes
Seok-Ki et al.,- Cartilage. 2014 Jan; 5(1): 37–42.
Asporin, a susceptibility gene in osteoarthritis, is expressed at higher levels in the more degenerate human intervertebral disc
Gruber et al., Arthritis Res Ther. 2009; 11(2): R47. TGF-β1 is well known to be secreted by cancer cells to modify their microenvironment and promoting invasive tumor growth. It has been demonstrated that high expression of Asporin is associated with less aggressive tumors and better prognosis. Thus, Asporin could be diagnostic and prognostic marker, having the potential to stratify cancer patients and identify those who are in need for more clinical attention.
The dual role of asporin in breast cancer progression.
Simkova et al., Oncotarget. 2016 Aug 9; 7(32): 52045–52060.
Asporin is a stromally expressed marker associated with prostate cancer progression
Rochette et al. Br J Cancer. 2017 Mar 14; 116(6): 775–784.
Asporin Is a Fibroblast-Derived TGF-β1 Inhibitor and a Tumor Suppressor Associated with Good Prognosis in Breast Cancer.
Maris et al., PLoS Med. 2015 Sep 1;12(9)