Weighting the potential of using tenascin C in diagnosis and therapy of atherosclerosis.

Tenascin is a protein family in the extra cellular matrix (ECM) that consists of four members: tenascin C, tenascin R, tenascin X, and tenascin W. Among the four tenascins, tenascin-C was the first identified and have been the most studied member of the family. In 2006, a patent was registered for a formula containing tenascin C, and the formula has been claimed to be beneficial in treating and preventing vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Therefore, this review discusses the structure of tenascin C molecule, its various functions, the possibility of imaging tenascin C expression for diagnosis, the prospect of tenascin C in the therapy of atherosclerosis, and suggestions for further research. This review discusses the structure of tenascin C molecule, its various functions, the potential of imaging tenascin C expression for diagnosis, weighing the prospect of using tenascin C in the therapy of atherosclerosis, and future research suggestions.