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Review
. 2021 Jan 29;11(1):26.
doi: 10.1186/s13578-021-00538-z.

Unfolded protein response in colorectal cancer

Jingjing Huang #  1 , Huayang Pan #  1 , Jinge Wang  2 , Tong Wang  1 , Xiaoyan Huo  3 , Yong Ma  1 , Zhaoyang Lu  1 , Bei Sun  1 , Hongchi Jiang  4
Affiliations
Review

Unfolded protein response in colorectal cancer

Jingjing Huang et al. Cell Biosci. .

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a gastrointestinal malignancy originating from either the colon or the rectum. A growing number of researches prove that the unfolded protein response (UPR) is closely related to the occurrence and progression of colorectal cancer. The UPR has three canonical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein sensors: inositol requiring kinase 1 (IRE1), pancreatic ER eIF2α kinase (PERK), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Each of the three pathways is closely associated with CRC development. The three pathways are relatively independent as well as interrelated. Under ER stress, the activated UPR boosts the protein folding capacity to maximize cell adaptation and survival, whereas sustained or excessive ER triggers cell apoptosis conversely. The UPR involves different stages of CRC pathogenesis, promotes or hinders the progression of CRC, and will pave the way for novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Meanwhile, the correlation between different signal branches in UPR and the switch between the adaptation and apoptosis pathways still need to be further investigated in the future.

Keywords: Activating transcription factor 6; Colorectal cancer; Inositol requiring kinase 1; Pancreatic ER eIF2α kinase; Unfolded protein response.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest/competing to disclose.

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Schematic representation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways
Fig.2
Fig.2
Other significant pathways and regulatory factors in UPR
Fig.3
Fig.3
Schematic representation of how the drugs affect UPR in colorectal cancer (CRC)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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