Nectin-1

Nectin-1 is a cell adhesion molecule that mediates cell-cell contacts through homophilic and heterophilic trans-dimer formation (UniProt: Q15223). It plays important roles in nervous system development, including axon guidance, synaptogenesis, and neurite outgrowth promotion. The protein also functions as a receptor for herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, constituting the major entry pathway for HSV-1 into host cells (UniProt: Q15223).

Nectin-1 is primarily involved in developmental processes and cellular adhesion across multiple tissues. In the nervous system, it mediates contacts critical for neural circuit formation and axon guidance. Beyond neurodevelopment, it contributes to structural development in other tissues, including the auditory epithelium and dental structures (UniProt: Q15223).

Nectin-1 is relevant to Alzheimer's Disease. Analysis of post-mortem AD brain tissue versus age-matched controls using TMT-labeled proteomics across four subcellular fractions revealed that Nectin-1 is significantly down-regulated in AD (mean log2FC: −0.62) (Chaparral AD proteomics). This reduction may reflect altered cell adhesion and synaptic dysfunction characteristic of AD pathology.