Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) has been recognized for its intracellular functions, mainly via its phosphatase activity, such as maintenance of genomic stability, migration, proliferation, cell survival, and metabolism. PTEN is also a potent tumor suppressor and its loss of function is frequently observed in cancers. PTEN activities independent from phosphatase also contribute to its tumor suppressive function, although its mechanism is still unclear.
In a recent paper published in the journal Developmental Cell by the lab of Prof. Shen Shao-Ming (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China), it is reported that PTEN is not only intracellular but can be secreted via the transmembrane emp24 domain-containing protein 10 (TMED10). Extracellular PTEN interacts with plexin domain-containing protein 2 (PLXDC2) expressed at the surface of macrophages, which triggers the JAK2-STAT1 signaling cascade. This interaction shifts tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from the immunosuppressive phenotype to the inflammatory status, leading to antitumor immunity by activating natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. This unexpected role of PTEN as a cytokine could promote this protein as a new target/drug to improve anti-tumor immunity.
AdipoGen Life Sciences provides a selection of PTEN/PLXDC2 reagents that can be used to study this new role of PTEN.
- PLXDC2 (mouse):Fc (LALA-PG)-KIH (human) (rec.) (Prod. No. AG-40B-0270)
- PLXDC2 (mouse) (His) (rec.) (Prod. No. AG-40B-0271)
- PTEN (human/mouse) (rec.) (untagged) Coming Soon
- anti-PTEN (human), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM265) (Prod. No. REV-31-1147-00)
- anti-PTEN (human), Rabbit Monoclonal (RM511) (Prod. No. REV-31-1403-00)
- Selected bpV Compounds (PTEN Inhibitors)
LIT:
Secreted PTEN binds PLXDC2 on macrophages to drive antitumor immunity and tumor suppression: C. Zhang, et al.; Develop. Cell 59, 3072 (2025)