Thy-1 was discovered over 50 years ago, and in that time investigators from a broad variety of fields have described numerous and heterogeneous biological functions of Thy-1 in multiple contexts. As an outwardly facing cell surface molecule, it is well positioned to receive extracellular signals; previously reviewed studies have confirmed an important role in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, cell migration, and regulation of outside-in signaling. More recent studies reviewed here expand the repertoire of Thy-1 effects on signaling pathways, and reveal novel roles in mechanotransduction, cellular differentiation, viral entry, and extracellular vesicle binding and internalization. All of these studies contribute to understanding Thy-1 as a context-dependent integrator of a diverse range of extracellular information, and provide impetus for further studies, some of which are suggested here.
Keywords: Thy-1; extracellular vesicles; mechanotransduction; signaling; stem cells; viral entry.