Shedding from Normal and Cancer-Cell Surfaces

Abstract

The release of products from cells is commonly called secretion. Secretion implies the release of the soluble contents of secretory vesicles by a process known as exocytosis. In recent years, however, it has become clear that exported products may be cell-surface molecules that are shed from cells. Shedding implies the release in soluble or particulate form of cell-surface constituents without an adverse effect on cell viability, and thus shedding should be distinguished from secretion.¹ Proteins, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, glycolipids, and glycosaminoglycans, either alone or in combination with other cell-membrane constituents, may be shed. Although the precise mechanism of such release is . . .