The Role of Podoplanin in the Immune System and Inflammation

Abstract

Podoplanin is a small cell-surface mucin-like glycoprotein that participates in multiple physiological and pathological processes. Podoplanin exerts an important function in the immune response and is upregulated in fibroblasts, macrophages, T helper cells, and epithelial cells during inflammation. Herein, we summarize the latest knowledge on the functional expression of podoplanin in the immune system and review the contribution of podoplanin to several inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, we discuss podoplanin as a novel therapeutic target for various inflammatory diseases.

Keywords:

• podoplanin
• immune system
• inflammation

Abbreviations

PDPN, podoplanin; CLEC-2, C-type lectin-like receptor 2; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; APC, antigen-presenting cell; LEC, lymphatic endothelial cell; FRC, fibroblast-like reticular cell; BMDM, bone marrow-derived macrophage; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; TLR, Toll-like receptor; CLP, cecal ligation and puncture; Th17 cell, interleukin 17-producing helper T cell; ITAM, immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif; DC, dendritic cell; BMP, bone morphogenetic protein; NTN, nephrotoxic serum nephritis; Hb, hemoglobin; BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; iAM, inflammatory alveolar macrophage; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; IRI, ischemia-reperfusion injury; MCAO, middle cerebral artery occlusion; MS, multiple sclerosis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell; HEV, high endothelial venules; EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; FLS, fibroblast-like synoviocyte; VEGFR, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor; Treg, regulatory T cell.

Disclosure

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest in relation to this work.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant numbers: 81871601 and 82170107] and the Foundation of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (19ZR1443000).