Cd24a, encoding the mucin-like GPI-linked membrane protein CD24, is involved in multiple biological processes. It has been implicated in regulating immune responses, cell-cell interactions, and may be associated with various signaling pathways. CD24 is also known to play a role in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in cancer-related contexts, and its dysregulation can contribute to disease development. Genetic models, such as gene knockout mouse models, are valuable for studying its functions.

In AKI murine models, AKI induced proximal tubule dedifferentiation with a pronounced nephrogenic signature represented by Cd24a, indicating its role in kidney injury response [1]. In Cd24-deficient mice, they exhibit increased susceptibility to danger-but not pathogen-associated molecular patterns, suggesting CD24's role in discriminating between them and protecting against lethal responses to pathological cell death [2]. In the context of urothelial carcinoma, Cd24a-deficient male mice developed fewer bladder tumors and metastases compared to wild-type counterparts, showing its importance in male urothelial tumorigenesis and metastasis [3].

In conclusion, Cd24a is involved in immune response regulation, kidney injury response, and male urothelial tumorigenesis. The use of KO mouse models has been crucial in revealing these functions, contributing to our understanding of its role in specific disease areas such as acute kidney injury and urothelial carcinoma.

References:

1. Rudman-Melnick, Valeria, Adam, Mike, Potter, Andrew, Devarajan, Prasad, Potter, S Steven. 2020. Single-Cell Profiling of AKI in a Murine Model Reveals Novel Transcriptional Signatures, Profibrotic Phenotype, and Epithelial-to-Stromal Crosstalk. In Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN, 31, 2793-2814. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020010052. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33115917/

2. Chen, Guo-Yun, Tang, Jie, Zheng, Pan, Liu, Yang. 2009. CD24 and Siglec-10 selectively repress tissue damage-induced immune responses. In Science (New York, N.Y.), 323, 1722-5. doi:10.1126/science.1168988. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19264983/

3. Overdevest, Jonathan B, Knubel, Kristina H, Duex, Jason E, Conaway, Mark, Theodorescu, Dan. 2012. CD24 expression is important in male urothelial tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice and is androgen regulated. In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109, E3588-96. doi:10.1073/pnas.1113960109. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23012401/