TSG-6

TSG-6 is the protein product of Tumor necrosis factor alpha simulated gene-6 (also known as Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 6 or TNFAIP6).

TSG-6 is a 30KDa secreted protein that contains a hyaluronan-binding LINK domain a and thus is a member of the hyaluronan-binding protein family, also called hyaladherins. The hyaluronan-binding domain is known to be involved in extracellular matrix stability and cell migration. This protein has been shown to form a stable, covalent complex with inter-alpha-inhibitor (IαI), and thus enhance the serine protease inhibitory activity of IαI, which is important in the protease network associated with inflammation. The expression of this gene can be induced by a number of signalling molecules, principally tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-1. The expression can also be induced by mechanical stimuli in vascular smooth muscle cells, and is found to be correlated with proteoglycan synthesis and aggregation.

TSG-6 also interacts with a plethora of matrix associated molecules, such an Aggregcan, Versican, Thrombospondin (1&2), Pentraxin-3 and Fibronectin.