R&D Systems Announces Recombinant Human sFRP-5 for Gastric Cancer Research

Secreted Frizzled-related protein 5 (sFRP-5) is one of five glycoproteins belonging to the secreted Frizzled-related protein family. All five sFRPs contain a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) that is homologous to the CRD found in the Frizzled family of Wnt receptors. This domain allows sFRPs to interfere with Wnt signaling by competing with Frizzled proteins for Wnt binding.

Down-regulation of sFRPs can lead to tumorigenesis as a result of aberrant activation of Wnt signaling. sFRP-5 has been found to be down-regulated in gastric cancer. In addition, it is highly expressed in retinal pigment epithelial cells and may be involved in determining the polarity of photoreceptors in the eye.