CKLF like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing 7 (i.e. CMTM7), previously termed chemokine-like factor superfamily 7 (i.e. CKLFSF7), is aprotein that in humans is encoded by theCMTM7gene. This gene, which is located in band 22 on the short (i.e. "p") arm ofchromosome 3, and the protein that it encodes belong to theCKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family. Through the process ofalternative splicing, theCMTM7 gene encodes twoisoforms, CMTM7-v1 and CMTM7-v2, with CMTM7-v1 being the main form expressed and studied. CMTM7 proteins are widely expressed in normal human tissues.[5][6]
CMTM7 protein levels are low in the malignant tissues of various cancers such as those of esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung,cervix,[5] and breast.[7] as compared with its expression in the normal tissues of these organs.[5][7] Furthermore, the forced overexpression of CMTM7 protein in various cancerimmortalized cell lines inhibit their proliferation and motility in culture as well as their ability to form tumors in anude mouse experimental model of cancer.[8] These findings suggest that the CMTM7 protein acts to inhibit the development and/or progression of these cancers and therefore that theCMTM7 gene acts astumor suppressor in these cancers.[5] However, further studies are needed to support these suggestion and determine if expression of theCMTM7 can be used as a clinical marker of these cancers severity/prognosis and/or astherapeutic targets for treating them.[5][9]
Han W, Ding P, Xu M, Wang L, Rui M, Shi S, Liu Y, Zheng Y, Chen Y, Yang T, Ma D (2003). "Identification of eight genes encoding chemokine-like factor superfamily members 1-8 (CKLFSF1-8) by in silico cloning and experimental validation".Genomics.81 (6):609–17.doi:10.1016/s0888-7543(03)00095-8.PMID12782130.
