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Dependence receptors - the dark side awakens

Ana-Maria Negulescu1, Patrick Mehlen1

  • 1Apoptosis, Cancer and Development Laboratory - Equipe labelisée "La Ligue", LabEx DEVweCAN, INSERM U1052 - CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Cancérologie de Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1, Université de Lyon, France.

The FEBS Journal
|May 19, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Dependence receptors (DRs) are a unique class of transmembrane receptors that trigger cell death when unbound. This review explores their role in tissue homeostasis and potential as cancer therapeutics.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Transmembrane receptors traditionally function as binary on/off switches.
  • Emerging evidence suggests some receptors exhibit dual activity, dependent on ligand presence.
  • Dependence receptors (DRs) are a distinct class of receptors with unique signaling properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the functional family of dependence receptors (DRs).
  • To elucidate the mechanisms underlying DRs' dual activity.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of DRs in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on dependence receptors.
  • Analysis of signaling pathways associated with DRs.
  • Examination of DRs' role in tissue homeostasis and cancer.

Main Results:

  • DRs actively trigger cell death when unbound by their ligands.
  • DRs function as crucial regulators of tissue homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of DRs is implicated in pathological conditions like cancer.

Conclusions:

  • DRs represent a novel class of receptors with context-dependent activity.
  • DRs act as tumor suppressors, offering a new avenue for cancer therapy.
  • Targeting DRs holds promise for developing novel cancer treatments.
Keywords:
apoptosiscaspasedependence receptorstargeted therapytumorigenesis

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