Tenascin-C (TNC) is a large extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in tissue development, inflammation, and cancer progression. It is transiently expressed during embryogenesis but re-emerges in pathological conditions, including wound healing, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis. TNC interacts with cell surface receptors (e.g., integrins, TLR4) and other ECM components, modulating cell adhesion, migration, and signaling pathways. Its dynamic expression and structural complexity (e.g., multiple splice variants) make it a biomarker and therapeutic target.
TNC antibodies are tools to detect TNC expression in tissues or biological fluids, aiding research and clinical diagnostics. In cancer, elevated TNC correlates with metastasis, angiogenesis, and poor prognosis, driving interest in therapeutic antibodies. For example, monoclonal antibodies like F16 (targeting TNC’s A1 domain) have been explored for tumor-targeted drug delivery or radioimmunotherapy. Additionally, autoimmune responses against TNC have been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases, where autoantibodies may serve as diagnostic markers.
Challenges include TNC’s structural heterogeneity and context-dependent roles, requiring antibody specificity validation. Advances in antibody engineering (e.g., humanized or bispecific formats) aim to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Overall, TNC antibodies bridge mechanistic studies and translational applications, offering insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatment strategies.