DEP-1/CD148

CD148, better known as DEP-1 or the PTPRJ phosphatase, is a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase whose extracellular segment carries multiple fibronectin type III repeats and whose abundance rises with cell density. This density dependence underlies its role as a brake on endothelial and epithelial growth: DEP-1 dephosphorylates receptor tyrosine kinases such as VEGFR2, restraining angiogenic and mitogenic signaling. In platelets, the enzyme modulates adhesive signaling through partners including PECAM-1. Loss of heterozygosity and allelic variants of PTPRJ on chromosome 11p11 have been linked to colorectal and breast cancer susceptibility, establishing CD148 as a candidate tumor suppressor. Recombinant CD148 serves phosphatase and vascular signaling studies.