Nemo样激酶在肿瘤发生发展中的双重作用

Dual roles of Nemo-like kinase in tumor development and progression

Nemo样激酶(Nemo-like kinase,NLK)是一种进化上保守的促分裂原活化蛋白激酶类似的激酶,属于丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶超家族成员。NLK可以通过参与Wnt、Notch、FoxO等多条通路调节细胞增殖、分化、胚胎发育早期形态学变化和脊椎动物神经系统发育等生物过程。NLK还是肿瘤调控中的一个关键分子,在不同的肿瘤中起到不同的作用,在前列腺癌、非小细胞肺癌、卵巢癌、乳腺癌中NLK可以抑制肿瘤的发生与发展,在肝癌、口腔鳞癌、胆管癌等肿瘤中却有着相反的作用。

Nemo-like kinase （NLK） is an evolutionarily conserved mitogen activated protein kinase-like kinase, belonging to serine/threonine protein kinase superfamily. By participating in Wnt, Notch, FoxO and other pathways, NLK can regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, morphological changes, early embryonic development of vertebrate nervous system, and other biological processes. NLK is also a key malecule in tumor regulation and its roles vary in different tumors. In prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer, NLK plays an inhibitory role, while it plays opposite roles in oral squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and the bile duct tumors.