Figure 1.

Regulation of oxidative stress by the CD44 variant isoform. Schematic illustration of a standard (CD44s) and variant (CD44v) isoforms of CD44. The variant region within CD44 molecule interacts with and stabilizes a subunit of a cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT), and promotes cystine uptake. Elevation of intracellular cystine level enhances the synthesis of antioxidant glutathione which detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby promotes tumor growth, metastases and chemoresistance of CD44v expressing cells.