scholarly journals Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs on Akt Signaling for Prevention of Tumorigenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navneet Kumar ◽  
Chandi C. Mandal

Cholesterol has been reported to be accumulated in cancer cells. The metabolic dysregulation of the cholesterol is associated with tumor development and progression. The cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to be involved in the prevention and treatment of various cancers. Akt, a serine/threonine kinase, can modulate the role of several downstream proteins involved in cell proliferation, migration, invasion, metabolism, and apoptosis. Since its involvement in several signaling pathways, its dysregulation is commonly reported in several cancers. Thus, targeting Akt could be an effective approach for cancer prevention and therapy. Cholesterol-lowering drugs have been found to affect the expression of Akt, and its activation in the cancer cells and thus have shown anticancer activity in different type of cancers. These drugs act on various signaling pathways such as PTEN/Akt, PI3k/Akt, Akt/NF-κB, Akt/FOXO1, Akt/mTOR, etc., which will be discussed in this article. This review article will discuss the significance of cholesterol in cancer cells, cholesterol-lowering drugs, the role of Akt in cancer cells, and the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs on Akt in the prevention of therapy resistance and metastasis.

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiwen Sang ◽  
Piaoping Kong ◽  
Shizhen Zhang ◽  
Lingyu Zhang ◽  
Ying Cao ◽  
...  

Serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 1 (SGK1) is a member of the “AGC” subfamily of protein kinases, which shares structural and functional similarities with the AKT family of kinases and displays serine/threonine kinase activity. Aberrant expression of SGK1 has profound cellular consequences and is closely correlated with human cancer. SGK1 is considered a canonical factor affecting the expression and signal transduction of multiple genes involved in the genesis and development of many human cancers. Abnormal expression of SGK1 has been found in tissue and may hopefully become a useful indicator of cancer progression. In addition, SGK1 acts as a prognostic factor for cancer patient survival. This review systematically summarizes and discusses the role of SGK1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of diverse cancer types; focuses on its essential roles and functions in tumorigenesis, cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, autophagy, metabolism, and therapy resistance and in the tumor microenvironment; and finally summarizes the current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of SGK1 at the molecular level. Taken together, this evidence highlights the crucial role of SGK1 in tumorigenesis and cancer progression, revealing why it has emerged as a potential target for cancer therapy.


Author(s):  
Md. Junaid ◽  
Yeasmin Akter ◽  
Syeda Samira Afrose ◽  
Mousumi Tania ◽  
Md. Asaduzzaman Khan

Background: AKT/PKB is an important enzyme with numerous biological functions, and its overexpression is related to the carcinogenesis. AKT stimulates different signaling pathways that are downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, hence functions as an important target for anti-cancer drugs. Objective: In this review article, we have interpreted the role of AKT signaling pathways in cancer and natural inhibitory effect of Thymoquinone (TQ) in AKT and its possible mechanism. Method: We have collected the updated information and data on AKT, their role in cancer and inhibitory effect of TQ in AKT signaling pathway from google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, Scopus and many more. Results: There are many drugs already developed, which can target AKT, but very few among them have passed clinical trials. TQ is a natural compound, mainly found in black cumin, which has been found to have potential anti-cancer activities. TQ targets numerous signaling pathways, including AKT, in different cancers. In fact, many studies revealed that AKT is one of the major targets of TQ. The preclinical success of TQ suggests its clinical studies on cancer. Conclusion: This review article summarizes the role of AKT in carcinogenesis, its potent inhibitors in clinical trials, and how TQ acts as an inhibitor of AKT and TQ’s future as a cancer therapeutic drug.


Author(s):  
Amelia U. Schirmer ◽  
Lucy M. Driver ◽  
Megan T. Zhao ◽  
Carrow I. Wells ◽  
Julie E. Pickett ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Nadeau ◽  
Gilles Grondin ◽  
Richard Blouin

ZPK is a recently described protein serine/threonine kinase that has been originally identified from a human teratocarcinoma cell line by the polymerase chain reaction and whose function in signal transduction has not yet been elucidated. To investigate the potential role of this protein kinase in developmental processes, we have analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of the ZPK gene in mouse embryos of different gestational ages. Northern blot analysis revealed a single mRNA species of about 3.5 KB from Day 11 of gestation onwards. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated strong expression of ZPK mRNA in brain and in a variety of embryonic organs that rely on epithelio-mesenchymal interactions for their development, including skin, intestine, pancreas, and kidney. In these tissues, the ZPK mRNA was localized primarily in areas composed of specific types of differentiating cells, and this expression appeared to be upregulated at a time concomitant with the onset of terminal differentiation. Taken together, these observations raise the possibility that the ZPK gene product is involved in the establishment and/or maintenance of a fully cytodifferentiated state in a variety of cell lineages.


Author(s):  
Novriantika Lestari

Liver fibrosis is a reversible response to a wound healing with marked accumulation of extracellular matrix which caused by injury to the liver. Liver fibrosis can be caused by various factors including alcohol and non-alcohol steatohepatitis. The process of fibrosis serves to localize the inflammation during chronic exposure. The hepatic stem cell (HSC) has a key role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The HSC activation is characterized by increased profibrogenic mediators including members of the TGF-? superfamily. In order to enable signal transduction, the mediator needs to bind to its receptors. The serine/ threonine kinase receptor is a receptor that binds to the TGF-? superfamily ligand, including TGF-?, BMP, activin and other mediators. The ligand receptor-binding activity will stimulate signal transduction that will translocate into the nucleus and phosphorylate various transcription factors that play a role in cell proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis. There is currently no standard therapy for liver fibrosis. Based on the central role of the serine/ threonine kinase receptor in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, it is thought that the use of serine/ threonine kinase inhibitors is a promising therapy.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 4471
Author(s):  
Niccolò Roda ◽  
Giada Blandano ◽  
Pier Giuseppe Pelicci

Cancer cells continuously interact with the tumor microenvironment (TME), a heterogeneous milieu that surrounds the tumor mass and impinges on its phenotype. Among the components of the TME, blood vessels and peripheral nerves have been extensively studied in recent years for their prominent role in tumor development from tumor initiation. Cancer cells were shown to actively promote their own vascularization and innervation through the processes of angiogenesis and axonogenesis. Indeed, sprouting vessels and axons deliver several factors needed by cancer cells to survive and proliferate, including nutrients, oxygen, and growth signals, to the expanding tumor mass. Nerves and vessels are also fundamental for the process of metastatic spreading, as they provide both the pro-metastatic signals to the tumor and the scaffold through which cancer cells can reach distant organs. Not surprisingly, continuously growing attention is devoted to the development of therapies specifically targeting these structures, with promising initial results. In this review, we summarize the latest evidence that supports the importance of blood vessels and peripheral nerves in cancer pathogenesis, therapy resistance, and innovative treatments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anahita Rahmani ◽  
Danial Kheradmand ◽  
Peyman Keyhanvar ◽  
Alireza Shoae-Hassani ◽  
Amir Darbandi-Azar

Fluoxetine (FLX) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Its action is possibly through an increase in neural cell survival. The mechanism of improved survival rate of neurons by FLX may relate to the overexpression of some kinases such as Akt protein. Akt1 (a serine/threonine kinase) plays a key role in the modulation of cell proliferation and survival. Our study evaluated the effects of FLX on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate and Akt1 phosphorylation levels in MSCs. Evaluation tests included reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunocytochemistry assays. Nestin, MAP-2, andβ-tubulin were detected after neurogenesis as neural markers. TenμM of FLX upregulated phosphorylation of Akt1 protein in induced hEnSC significantly. Also FLX did increase viability of these MSCs. Continuous FLX treatment after neurogenesis elevated the survival rate of differentiated neural cells probably by enhanced induction of Akt1 phosphorylation. This study addresses a novel role of FLX in neurogenesis and differentiated neural cell survival that may contribute to explaining the therapeutic action of fluoxetine in regenerative pharmacology.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document