THBS

THBS is an acronym that can refer to several terms across different fields. In biology, THBS most commonly denotes thrombospondins, a family of secreted extracellular matrix glycoproteins that mediate cell-to-matrix interactions. The best known members are THBS1 and THBS2, which participate in angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, wound healing, and tumor biology. Thrombospondins function by interacting with cell surface receptors such as integrins and CD36 and by modulating growth factors including transforming growth factor beta. In research literature, THBS proteins are studied for their roles in vascular biology, inflammation, and metastasis.

Outside biology, THBS is used as an acronym for various organizations, programs, or products, and there is no single dominant meaning. In these cases, the specific entity is identified by the full name that the acronym represents, or by a more precise qualifier such as THBS1 or THBS2 when referring to a gene, or by the organization’s name in institutional contexts. Because THBS is ambiguous, readers encountering the term in text typically rely on surrounding context to determine which meaning is intended.

Disambiguation and clarification are common in interdisciplinary sources. When THBS appears without additional specification, it is prudent to look for indicators such as the field of study, accompanying identifiers (for example, a gene symbol THBS1), or the full name of an organization to determine the correct reference.