Basigin (EMMPRIN, CD147) is a type I integral membrane receptor protein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. Basigin is a glycosylated protein with four known isoforms, of which isoform 2 is the most abundantly expressed. Multiple functions have been ascribed to Basigin; foremost among these is stimulating the secretion of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases by adjacent fibroblasts, a function which has been implicated in promoting tumor progression. Research studies have shown that Basigin is overexpressed by many tumor cells, and its expression level may correlate with tumor malignancy. A recent study identified the BASIGIN gene as a regulatory target of Slug, suggesting a role for Basigin in the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Basigin has also been identified as a marker for a subset of highly suppressive regulatory T cells, and as an obligate receptor for the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum on human erythrocytes.
