Neuropilin 1

Neuropilin-1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NRP1 gene. In humans, the neuropilin 11 gene is located at 10p11.22. This is one of two human neuropilins.

Function

NRP1 is a membrane-bound coreceptor to a tyrosine kinase receptor for both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; MIM 192240) and semaphorin (see SEMA3A; MIM 603961) family members. NRP1 plays versatile roles in angiogenesis, axon guidance, cell survival, migration, and invasion.[supplied by OMIM]

Interactions

Neuropilin 1 has been shown to interact with Vascular endothelial growth factor A.

Implication in cancer

Neuropilin 1 has been implicated in the vascularization and progression of cancers. In vitro and in vivo mouse studies have shown membrane bound NRP1 to be proangiogenic and promotes the vascularization of prostate tumors. NRP1 expression levels have been shown to be elevated in a number of human patient tumor samples, including brain, prostate, breast, colon, and lung cancers and is associated with metastasis. Elevated NRP1 expression is also correlated with the invasiveness of non-small cell lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo.