CD44 molecule variant 6 mRNA (CD44v6 mRNA) (CD44v6 mRNA)

CD44v6-containing CD44 mRNA is a specific splice variant of the CD44 gene transcript that includes the variant exon 6 (v6). This mRNA isoform serves as the template for the translation of the CD44v6 protein, a transmembrane glycoprotein involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions through its binding to ligands like hyaluronan and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In normal physiology, CD44v6 expression is limited to a subset of epithelial tissues, but it is frequently overexpressed in various malignancies, including colorectal, pancreatic, and head and neck cancers. In these contexts, the encoded protein acts as a co-receptor for receptor tyrosine kinases such as c-Met and VEGFR2, promoting tumor progression, metastasis, and the maintenance of cancer stem cell properties. The CD44v6-containing mRNA is a target for therapeutic intervention using RNA interference (RNAi) technologies, such as siRNAs and shRNAs, which aim to silence the gene by inducing mRNA degradation. By reducing the levels of the CD44v6 protein, these agents can inhibit oncogenic signaling and sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy. However, therapeutic development faces significant challenges, including the risk of severe skin toxicity due to CD44v6 expression in normal keratinocytes and the technical hurdles of delivering nucleic acid-based drugs effectively to tumor sites.

Other names

CD44 variant 6 mRNACD44 exon v6-containing transcriptCD44v6 transcriptCD44 molecule variant 6 mRNA

RNA interference (RNAi) mediated degradation of the target mRNA, leading to the silencing of CD44v6 protein expression and inhibition of downstream oncogenic signaling pathways.