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Functional Aspects:
Osteonectin, also referred to as BM-40 or SPARC, is a glycoprotein involved with tissue mineralization and extracellular matrix modeling. It is found in developing teeth and bone as well as steroid-producing cells of the adrenal glands, suprabasal layers of the epidermis, glomeruli of the kidney, bronchi of the lung, megakaryocytes and large vessels. Osteonectin has been reported in malignancies such as osteosarcomas, meningiomas and thin cutaneous malignant melanoma. It has not been detected however in a number of different sarcomas, including chondrosarcoma. |