CD147: A novel modulator of inflammatory and immune disorders

CD147, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is expressed on all leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells. It has been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological activities through interacting with multiple partners, including cyclophilins, monocarboxylate transporters, Caveolin-1, and integrins. While CD147 is best known as a potent inducer of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (hence also called EMMPRIN), it can also function as a key mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. Increased expression of CD147 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, such as asthma-mediated lung inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. Therapeutic targeting of CD147 has yielded encouraging effects in a number of experimental models of human diseases, suggesting CD147 as an attractive target for treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Here we review the current understanding of CD147 expression and functions in inflammatory and immune responses and potential implications for treatment of inflammatory disorders.