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Background
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Ecto-5nucleotidase (NT5E, also called CD73) is a 70 kDa glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane-bound glycoprotein that catalyzes the hydrolysis of extracellular nucleoside monophosphates into bioactive nucleoside. NT5E catalyzes the terminal step of extracellular adenosine formation from adenosine-monophosphate, therefore driving the regulation of extracellular adenosine levels and the downstream activation of the four G protein-coupled adenosine receptors. Binding of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) to the NT5E gene promotor leads to upregulation of NT5E during hypoxia. NT5E biological roles span from lymphocyte adhesion, to fibrosis, to regulation of nociception.
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