Aspn, also known as Asporin, is a gene with multiple functions in biological processes. In endometriosis, it is associated with immune infiltration, potentially serving as a diagnostic biomarker and immunotherapeutic target [1]. In colorectal cancer, high expression of Aspn is linked to oxaliplatin resistance, and down-regulation can reverse this resistance and promote apoptosis [2]. In gastric cancer, Aspn, along with MATN3, is upregulated, and they interact to drive cancer progression via the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway [3]. In osteoporosis, Aspn synergizes with HAPLN1 to inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells and extracellular matrix mineralization of osteoblasts and promote osteoclastogenesis [4].

Research in mouse models, such as the patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse model in colorectal cancer, has shown that suppressing Aspn expression can enhance the effectiveness of oxaliplatin treatment [2]. In the context of osteoporosis, knockdown experiments in ovariectomy-induced OP mouse models have demonstrated the role of Aspn in regulating osteogenic and osteoclastogenic processes [4].

In summary, Aspn plays crucial roles in diseases like endometriosis, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and osteoporosis. The use of mouse models, including PDX and OP-induced models, has been instrumental in revealing its functions in these disease conditions, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in these areas.

References:

1. Wang, Li, Sun, Jing. 2022. ASPN Is a Potential Biomarker and Associated with Immune Infiltration in Endometriosis. In Genes, 13, . doi:10.3390/genes13081352. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36011263/

2. Huang, Cheng-Zhi, Zhou, Yue, Tong, Qi-Song, Du, Jin-Zhi, Yao, Xue-Qing. 2022. Precision medicine-guided co-delivery of ASPN siRNA and oxaliplatin by nanoparticles to overcome chemoresistance of colorectal cancer. In Biomaterials, 290, 121827. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121827. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36228517/

3. Li, Jing, Xie, Bo, Wang, Hu, Wang, QingKang, Wu, YongYou. . Investigating MATN3 and ASPN as novel drivers of gastric cancer progression via EMT pathways. In Human molecular genetics, 33, 2035-2050. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddae129. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39301785/

4. Zhou, Guohui, Yan, Xinmin, Chen, Zhenfei, Zeng, Xing, Wu, Fangqian. 2023. ASPN Synergizes with HAPLN1 to Inhibit the Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Extracellular Matrix Mineralization of Osteoblasts. In Orthopaedic surgery, 15, 2423-2434. doi:10.1111/os.13803. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37427673/