2025-08-18
CD146: friend or foe of the lung?
Allergology and Immunology
By Ana Espino | Published on August 18, 2025 | 2 min read
#CD146 #Immunology #RespiratoryDisease #Immunotherapy
Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting millions of people every year and creating a substantial socio-economic burden. They encompass a wide range of pathologies of inflammatory, tumoral, or infectious origin, often with severe and rapidly evolving courses. Current therapeutic approaches remain limited, partly because they insufficiently address vascular mechanisms and angiogenesis, which play key roles in pulmonary pathophysiology.
A major challenge in these conditions lies in identifying reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets to guide diagnosis, refine prognosis, and optimize treatment strategies. Among the most promising candidates is CD146, a cell adhesion molecule mainly expressed on the surface of endothelial cells. Its soluble form, sCD146, circulates in various biological fluids and regulates key processes such as angiogenesis and inflammation.
This review aimed to analyze the role of CD146 and sCD146 across a broad spectrum of respiratory diseases, and to assess their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets for future personalized interventions.
The review examined available experimental and clinical data on CD146 and sCD146 in a wide range of respiratory diseases, from thoracic cancers to asthma, COPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, obstructive sleep apnea, interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory infections.
Findings show that CD146 is frequently overexpressed in thoracic cancers, such as NSCLC and SCLC, where it is associated with poor prognosis. It plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In T2-high asthma and COPD, CD146 contributes to inflammatory processes, airway remodeling, and infectious exacerbations.
However, in some contexts, CD146 appears to exert protective effects, as observed in systemic sclerosis with pulmonary involvement and certain fungal infections.
As for sCD146, it can be detected in various biological fluids, and its variations reflect disease activity or severity, making it a promising biomarker.
Overall, the evidence highlights a “Janus effect”: CD146 may either worsen or mitigate disease progression, depending on the pathological context and the cell type involved.
Respiratory diseases remain a major cause of global mortality, and current treatments still struggle to effectively target their underlying mechanisms. This review underscores the central role of CD146 and sCD146—both critical actors in pulmonary angiogenesis and inflammation—in these conditions. Their study paves the way for developing biomarkers capable of refining diagnosis and prognosis, and may also lead to targeted therapies, including specific antibodies, replacement treatments, or selective inhibitors. Future research should rely on large-scale multicenter clinical studies to validate these findings, clarify the role of different isoforms, and explore personalized therapies targeting CD146/sCD146.
About the author – Ana Espino
As a scientific writer, Ana is passionate about bridging the gap between research and real-world impact. With expertise in immunology, virology, oncology, and clinical studies, she makes complex science clear and accessible. Her mission: to accelerate knowledge sharing and empower evidence-based decisions through impactful communication.
#CD146 #Immunology #RespiratoryDisease #Immunotherapy
Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting millions of people every year and creating a substantial socio-economic burden. They encompass a wide range of pathologies of inflammatory, tumoral, or infectious origin, often with severe and rapidly evolving courses. Current therapeutic approaches remain limited, partly because they insufficiently address vascular mechanisms and angiogenesis, which play key roles in pulmonary pathophysiology.
A major challenge in these conditions lies in identifying reliable biomarkers and therapeutic targets to guide diagnosis, refine prognosis, and optimize treatment strategies. Among the most promising candidates is CD146, a cell adhesion molecule mainly expressed on the surface of endothelial cells. Its soluble form, sCD146, circulates in various biological fluids and regulates key processes such as angiogenesis and inflammation.
This review aimed to analyze the role of CD146 and sCD146 across a broad spectrum of respiratory diseases, and to assess their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets for future personalized interventions.
CD146: miracle biomarker or double-edged sword?
The review examined available experimental and clinical data on CD146 and sCD146 in a wide range of respiratory diseases, from thoracic cancers to asthma, COPD, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, obstructive sleep apnea, interstitial lung diseases, pulmonary hypertension, and respiratory infections.
Findings show that CD146 is frequently overexpressed in thoracic cancers, such as NSCLC and SCLC, where it is associated with poor prognosis. It plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In T2-high asthma and COPD, CD146 contributes to inflammatory processes, airway remodeling, and infectious exacerbations.
However, in some contexts, CD146 appears to exert protective effects, as observed in systemic sclerosis with pulmonary involvement and certain fungal infections.
As for sCD146, it can be detected in various biological fluids, and its variations reflect disease activity or severity, making it a promising biomarker.
Overall, the evidence highlights a “Janus effect”: CD146 may either worsen or mitigate disease progression, depending on the pathological context and the cell type involved.
CD146: key to future respiratory therapies?
Respiratory diseases remain a major cause of global mortality, and current treatments still struggle to effectively target their underlying mechanisms. This review underscores the central role of CD146 and sCD146—both critical actors in pulmonary angiogenesis and inflammation—in these conditions. Their study paves the way for developing biomarkers capable of refining diagnosis and prognosis, and may also lead to targeted therapies, including specific antibodies, replacement treatments, or selective inhibitors. Future research should rely on large-scale multicenter clinical studies to validate these findings, clarify the role of different isoforms, and explore personalized therapies targeting CD146/sCD146.
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About the author – Ana Espino
PhD in Immunology, specialized in Virology
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