Disease relevance of EFNA4

• RESULTS: Normal bone specimens, osteosarcoma tissue specimens, and osteosarcoma cell lines expressed a distinct mRNA profile of ephrin-A1, ephrin-A4, and ephrin-B2 [1].

High impact information on EFNA4

• Blood B cells secrete ephrin-A4 (s) upon stimulation via the B-cell antigen receptor [2].
• Ephrin-A4 is a ligand for the erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph) receptor family of tyrosine kinases [2].
• We conclude that ephrin-A4 (s) may play a role in the interaction between activated B lymphocytes and dendritic cells in human tonsils [2].
• We have identified a secreted form of ephrin-A4, denoted ephrin-A4 (s), which is encoded by an alternatively spliced mRNA and is produced by in vivo activated B cells in tonsils [2].
• A subpopulation of tonsil cells in the crypts with a dendritic cell phenotype was shown to express EphA2, an Eph receptor tyrosine kinase that was found to be capable of binding an ephrin-A4 immunoglobulin chimeric protein [2].

Biological context of EFNA4

• Using Southern hybridization analysis of human x rodent somatic cell hybrid DNAs, we have assigned the genes that encode the GPI-anchored LERKs (EPLG1, EPLG3, and EPLG4) to human chromosome 1 [3].
• The importance of NF-Y binding for the ephrin-A4 promoter activity is shown by a total abrogation of promoter activity after destruction of its binding site [4].

Anatomical context of EFNA4

• A splice variant of human ephrin-A4 encodes a soluble molecule that is secreted by activated human B lymphocytes [2].
• Expression of the ephrin-A4 ligand, a family member of ligands binding the Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, is induced after an antigen-receptor stimulation of lymphocytes [4].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of EFNA4

• In addition, electrophoretic mobility-shift assay and serial-mutation analysis of the two remaining regulating regions revealed cis regulatory elements contributing to the transcription activity of the ephrin-A4 promoter [4].

References