Transgelin (2A10C2)

Transgelin is a shape change sensitive 22-25 kDa actin cross-linking/gelling protein of the calponin family localized to the cell membrane and cytoplasm as a novel regulator of MMP-9 expression.1 Recent evidence suggests that transgelin may act as a tumor suppressor; for example, expression can be lost in prostate, breast and colon cancers which is consistent with suppression of the metallo matrix protease-9 (MMP-9)by transgelin, whereas MMP-9 is upregulated in these common cancers.1 This protein is ubiquitous to vascular and visceral smooth muscle and is considered an early marker of smooth muscle differentiation and may be an early and sensitive marker for the onset of transformation.2 Transgelin can be found in fibroblasts, smooth muscle and some epithelium where expression is likely driven by TGF-beta1. 3 In some cases differentiating smooth muscle within malignant lesions can be challenging, therefore use of myogenic markers such as transgelin may serve to define smooth muscle differentiation in soft tissue tumors.1-3