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Impedance-based Real-time Measurement of Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion
09:23

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The sigma-1 receptor: a regulator of cancer cell electrical plasticity?

David Crottès1, Hélène Guizouarn, Patrick Martin

  • 1Université de Nice, UMR 7277 Nice, France ; Institut de Biologie de Valrose, CNRS UMR 7277, INSERM U1091, Université de Nice Nice, France.

Frontiers in Physiology
|July 25, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R) acts as a stress-activated chaperone regulating cell survival. This review suggests Sig1R influences cancer cell electrical properties, offering a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R), initially misidentified, is a vital membrane protein involved in numerous cellular functions.
  • Recent research highlights Sig1R's role as a stress-activated chaperone at the ER-mitochondria interface, crucial for cell survival via calcium homeostasis regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of the sigma-1 receptor's function.
  • To explore Sig1R's potential role in cancer cell electrophysiology and its implications for cancer therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on Sig1R function and its involvement in cellular processes.
  • Analysis of Sig1R's interaction with ion channels and its impact on cell signaling.

Main Results:

  • Sig1R regulates ion channels across various families, influencing neuronal plasticity and CNS disorders.
  • Sig1R is frequently overexpressed in tumors, suggesting a role in cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Sig1R modulates cancer cell electrical characteristics in response to environmental cues.
  • Targeting Sig1R could offer a novel therapeutic strategy to inhibit pro-invasive ion channel functions in cancer.
Keywords:
cancerchaperonesion channels modulationphysiologicalsigma-1 receptorstress

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