肝素结合表皮生长因子及其在恶性血液细胞中的表达与作用

The HB-EGF and Its Expression and Function in the Malignant Blood Cells

肝素结合表皮生长因子(HB-EGF)是EGF家族的成员之一,可以在多种组织和细胞中表达,参与多种病理生理过程。不管是它的前体蛋白(proHB-EGF)还是剪切后的形成的sHB-EGF和HB-EGF-C都对细胞的生长和迁移具有重要的影响。但由于HB-EGF及其受体在血液系统肿瘤细胞中表达水平并不高,所以相关报道并不多见。随着相关研究的深入,HB-EGF在骨髓瘤和白血病细胞中的表达得到证实,而且对上述两种细胞具有诱导增殖的潜力,但具体机制大多仍未澄清。相信伴随着对这些机制的认识,会为骨髓瘤和白血病的治疗提供新的思路。

HB-EGF is a member of EGF family, which is expressed in various tissues and cells, and involves in many pathologic and physiological processes. ProHB-EGF and its products of cleavage including sHB-EGF and HB-EGF-C play roles in the proliferation and migration. However, there have been few reports about the relationship between the HB-EGF and malignant blood cells because of the low levels expressions of HB-EGF and its receptors. Recent studies have confirmed the expression of HB-EGF in myeloma and leukemia cells. HB-EGF has the potency of inducing these cells to proliferate, but unfortunately, the mechanisms are unclear. Understanding of these mechanisms is essential in order to develop new methods to treat leukemia and myeloma.