Gasdermin family: a promising therapeutic target for cancers and inflammation-driven diseases

Danbin Wu1, Yefei Chen1, Yingxin Sun1

  • 1School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.

Insights

The gasdermin family proteins are key executors of programmed cell death, releasing inflammatory cytokines. Their roles in cancer and inflammatory diseases highlight their potential as therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The gasdermin family comprises proteins involved in regulating cell death pathways.
  • These proteins are increasingly recognized for their roles in various physiological and pathological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in gasdermin family research.
  • To discuss the expression patterns and biological functions of gasdermin family members.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on gasdermin family.
  • Analysis of studies detailing gasdermin expression and function.

Main Results:

  • Gasdermin family members exhibit distinct expression patterns.
  • Most gasdermins possess pore-forming activity, mediating programmed cell death and cytokine release.
  • These proteins are implicated in the pathogenesis of cancers and inflammation-driven diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Gasdermin family members are crucial regulators of cell death and inflammation.
  • Their involvement in diseases suggests significant potential as therapeutic targets for cancer and inflammatory conditions.

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.6K
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.6K
G Protein-coupled Receptors01:15

G Protein-coupled Receptors

G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
16.1K
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors01:27

Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
3.7K
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
5.0K
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors...
10.3K