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Involvement of COUP-TFs in Cancer Progression
Antoine Boudot1, François Le Dily, Farzad Pakdel
1Molecular and Cellular Interactions, UMR CNRS 6026, IFR 140 GFSA, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France. farzad.pakdel@univ-rennes1.fr.
Abstract:
The orphan receptors COUP-TFI and COUP-TFII are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily that play distinct and critical roles in vertebrate organogenesis, as demonstrated by loss-of-function COUP-TFI and/or COUP-TFII mutant mice. Although COUP-TFs are expressed in a wide range of tissues in adults, little is known about their functions at later stages of development or in organism homeostasis. COUP-TFs are expressed in cancer cell lines of various origins and increasing studies suggest they play roles in cell fate determination and, potentially, in cancer progression. Nevertheless, the exact roles of COUP-TFs in these processes remain unclear and even controversial. In this review, we report both in vitro and in vivo data describing known and suspected actions of COUP-TFs that suggest that these factors are involved in modification of the phenotype of cancer cells, notably of epithelial origin.
Insights
Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factors (COUP-TFs) are nuclear receptors crucial for organogenesis. This review explores their roles in cancer progression, particularly in epithelial cells, suggesting involvement in phenotype modification.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factors (COUP-TFI and COUP-TFII) are orphan nuclear receptors.
- These receptors are essential for vertebrate organogenesis, as evidenced by mutant mouse studies.
- Their functions in adult homeostasis and later developmental stages are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the known and suspected roles of COUP-TFs in cancer.
- To investigate the involvement of COUP-TFs in cell fate determination and cancer progression.
- To analyze their impact on the phenotype of cancer cells, especially those of epithelial origin.
Main Methods:
- In vitro studies examining COUP-TF functions.
- In vivo data from animal models.
- Literature review of existing research on COUP-TFs in cancer.
Main Results:
- COUP-TFs are expressed in various cancer cell lines.
- Evidence suggests COUP-TFs influence cell fate determination.
- Data indicate COUP-TFs may modify cancer cell phenotypes, particularly in epithelial cancers.
Conclusions:
- COUP-TFs play significant roles beyond organogenesis, including in cancer.
- Their involvement in cancer progression and phenotype modification warrants further investigation.
- Understanding COUP-TF functions could offer new therapeutic insights for epithelial cancers.
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