secreted frizzled-related protein 4; sFRP-4; Frizzled protein, human endometrium; FrpHE (SFRP4, FRPHE)

Function

• soluble frizzled-related proteins (sFRPS) function as modulators of Wnt signaling through direct interaction with Wnts
• they have a role in regulating cell growth & differentiation in specific cell types
• SFRP4 may act as a regulator of adult uterine morphology & function
• increases apoptosis during ovulation possibly through modulation of FZ1/FZ4/WNT4 signaling
• has phosphaturic effects by specifically inhibiting Na+-dependent phosphate uptake

Structure

• the FZ domain is involved in binding with Wnt ligands
• belongs to the secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) family
• contains 1 FZ (frizzled) domain
• contains 1 NTR domain

Compartment

• secreted
• cytoplasmic in ovarian tumorcells

Expression

• expressed in mesenchymal cells
• highly expressed in the stroma of proliferative endometrium
• expressed in cardiomyocytes

Pathology

• moderate to strong expression in ovarian tumors with expression increasing as the tumor stage increases
• in ovarian tumors, expression levels are inversely correlated with expression of CTNNB1 (at protein level)
• increased levels in failing myocardium
• up-regulated in several tumor types including ostomalacia- associated tumors, endometrial cancer & breast cancer

More general terms

• secreted frizzled-related protein (sFRP) family

Database

• Entrez gene: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=gene&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=Graphics&list_uids=6424
• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:6424
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/606570
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q6FHJ7.html