EFNB3expressing

EFNB3-expressing is a term used to describe cells or tissues in which the EFNB3 gene is actively transcribed and the ephrin-B3 protein is present on the cell surface. The EFNB3 gene encodes ephrin-B3, a membrane-bound ligand of the ephrin family that participates in bidirectional signaling with Eph receptor tyrosine kinases.

Bidirectional signaling means that signaling can proceed through the Eph receptors on neighboring cells (forward signaling) and through the ephrin-B3 ligand in the expressing cell (reverse signaling). This signaling modulates cell adhesion, repulsion, migration, and boundary formation, and plays a key role in neural development and synaptic organization.

Expression patterns of EFNB3 are developmentally regulated and can be dynamic across brain regions, spinal cord, and peripheral tissues. In the nervous system, EFNB3-expressing cells contribute to axon guidance and patterning of neural circuits, and may influence synapse formation and plasticity. Outside the nervous system, EFNB3 has been detected in various tissues, indicating broader roles.

Research on EFNB3-expressing cells uses molecular and cellular techniques such as in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, RT-qPCR, and RNA sequencing, as well as genetic models that alter EFNB3 expression. Clinically, variations in EFNB3 expression or signaling have been investigated in relation to developmental disorders, neural injury responses, and certain cancers, though the functional significance can be context-dependent and is the focus of ongoing study.

Confounding details include potential redundancy among ephrin-B family members and the complexity of bidirectional signaling, which can complicate interpretation of EFNB3-specific effects.