Osteopontin is a single-chain polypeptide with a molecular weight of ~35kD.
It is a glycoprotein first identified in osteoblasts.
It is biosynthesized by a variety of tissue types including preosteoblasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, extraosseous cells in the inner ear, brain, kidney, deciduum, placenta, odontoblasts, some bone marrow cells, hypertrophic chondrocytes, macrophages, smooth muscle, and endothelial cells.
Osteopontin is overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, ovarian cancer, melanoma and mesothelioma.
It may contribute to kidney stone formation and both glomerulonephritis and tubulointerstitial nephritis and is also found in atheromatous plaques within arteries.
Research has implicated osteopontin in excessive scar-forming and a gel has been developed to inhibit its effect.
Applications:Suitable for use in ELISA and Western Blot.