The role of Pcdh10 in neurological disease and cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Protocadherin 10 (PCDH 10), a member of the superfamily of protocadherins, is a Ca2+-dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion molecule expressed on the surface of cell membranes. Protocadherin 10 plays a critical role in the central nervous system including in cell adhesion, formation and maintenance of neural circuits and synapses, regulation of actin assembly, cognitive function and tumor suppression. Additionally, Pcdh10 can serve as a non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic indicator for various cancers. Methods This paper collects and reviews relevant literature in Pubmed. Conclusion This review describes the latest research understanding the role of Pcdh10 in neurological disease and human cancer, highlighting the importance of scrutinizing its properties for the development of targeted therapies and identifying a need for further research to explore Pcdh10 functions in other pathways, cell types and human pathologies.