About LRG1 / Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1:
LRG1 (leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1) is a protein that is encoded by the gene LRG1. Proteins in the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family, including LRG1, involve protein-protein interaction, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and development. During granulocyte differentiation, LRG1 is expressed.
LRG1 Function
LRG1 has been shown to promote neovascularization (new blood vessel growth) in endothelial cells by causing a switch in transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signalling. LRG1 binds to the endoglin accessory receptor and promotes signalling through the ALK1-Smad1/5/8 pathway.
Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein 1 Mechanism
Proteins in the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family, including LRG1, involve protein-protein interaction, signal transduction, cell adhesion, and development. During granulocyte differentiation, LRG1 is expressed.
O'Donnell et al. (2002) observed expression of mouse Lrg1 during G CSF-induced granulocytic differentiation of 32DCL3G cells as early as 16 hours after GCSF induction, with expression increasing 80-fold in 5 days. When the time course of Lrg1 induction was compared to that of other genes upregulated during neutrophilic granulocyte differentiation, it was discovered that Lrg1 expression occurs early in the process.
The upregulation of LRG1 expression was associated with DMSO-induced granulocytic differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Increased LRG1 expression was also found in G CSF-treated human cells derived from a myeloproliferative disorder patient. In contrast, LRG1 expression was found to be lower after PMA treatment and the induction of monocytic differentiation in HL-60 cells.
LRG1 Diagnostic aid
Because LRG protein levels are markedly elevated in acute appendicitis, it could be used as a diagnostic aid. LRG1 could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of diseases characterized by abnormal neovascularization.