Proteinase-activated receptor 2 may drive cancer progression by facilitating TGF-β signaling

Hendrik Ungefroren*, David Witte, Bernhard H. Rauch, Utz Settmacher, Hendrik Lehnert, Frank Gieseler, Roland Kaufmann

*Corresponding author for this work
3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The G protein-coupled receptor proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) has been implicated in various aspects of cellular physiology including inflammation, obesity and cancer. In cancer, it usually acts as a driver of cancer progression in various tumor types by promoting invasion and metastasis in response to activation by serine proteinases. Recently, we discovered another mode through which PAR2 may enhance tumorigenesis: crosstalk with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling to promote TGF-β1-induced cell migration/invasion and invasion-associated gene expression in ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells. In this chapter, we review what is known about the cellular TGF-β responses and signaling pathways affected by PAR2 expression, the signaling activities of PAR2 required for promoting TGF-β signaling, and the potential molecular mechanism(s) that underlie(s) the TGF-β signaling-promoting effect. Since PAR2 is activated through various serine proteinases and biased agonists, it may couple TGF-β signaling to a diverse range of other physiological processes that may or may not predispose cells to cancer development such as local inflammation, systemic coagulation and pathogen infection.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2494
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume18
Issue number11
ISSN1661-6596
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22.11.2017

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

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