Osteopontin―a molecule for all seasons

摘要

OPN is an impressively multifunctional molecule (Figure 5). Although non-manipulated OPN knockout mice exhibit a normal phenotype, they exhibit markedly abnormal responses to a variety of injurious stimuli, revealing much about the biological role of OPN in vivo. Further work is required to determine the full role of OPN in human disease. However, it is envisaged that the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the myriad actions of OPN will allow the development of novel therapeutic agents designed to modulate the action of OPN for patient benefit in a broad range of diseases, including renal stone disease, inflammation and cancer.