Macrophage-stimulating protein
Macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MST1 gene. MSP is a plasminogen-related serine protease that is expressed in the liver and secreted into the bloodstream. It is involved in various biological processes, including immune response, cell growth, and cell differentiation.
Function[edit | edit source]
MSP plays a crucial role in the immune system. It stimulates the macrophages, a type of white blood cell, to move towards sites of inflammation or infection. This process, known as chemotaxis, is essential for the body's defense against pathogens. MSP also promotes the phagocytosis of bacteria and apoptotic cells, further enhancing the immune response.
In addition to its role in the immune system, MSP is involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. It can stimulate the growth of certain types of cells, while inhibiting the growth of others. This dual function makes MSP an important regulator of tissue homeostasis.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Alterations in the MSP pathway have been implicated in several diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and chronic inflammatory diseases. In cancer, overexpression of MSP has been associated with increased tumor growth and metastasis. Conversely, loss of MSP function has been linked to autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
 | This protein-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
