Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Inflammation in the Co-occurrence of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome and Lung Adenocarcinoma
10:21

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Inflammation in the Co-occurrence of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome and Lung Adenocarcinoma

Published on: September 20, 2024

643

SphK1 promotes development of non‑small cell lung cancer through activation of STAT3

Yuefeng Ma1, Xin Xing2, Ranran Kong1

  • 1Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, P.R. China.

International Journal of Molecular Medicine
|November 25, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) promotes non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by activating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Inhibiting the SphK1-STAT3 pathway may offer a new treatment strategy for NSCLC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) is an oncogenic enzyme implicated in tumor progression.
  • SphK1's role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development and its precise molecular mechanisms require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of SphK1 in NSCLC.
  • To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying SphK1's role in NSCLC progression.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of SphK1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines.
  • Assessment of SphK1 overexpression effects on NSCLC cell proliferation and migration.
  • Investigation of SphK1's impact on the expression of key genes (Bcl-2, MMP2, Cyclin D1) and STAT3 activation.
  • Utilizing a STAT3 inhibitor to determine the role of STAT3 in SphK1-mediated effects.

Main Results:

  • SphK1 expression is significantly upregulated in NSCLC.
  • SphK1 overexpression enhances NSCLC cell proliferation and migration.
  • SphK1 induces the expression of anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) and pro-migratory genes (MMP2, Cyclin D1).
  • SphK1 activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).
  • STAT3 mediates the SphK1-induced gene expression changes and cellular behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • SphK1 promotes NSCLC development through STAT3 activation.
  • The SphK1-STAT3 axis is a critical pathway in NSCLC progression.
  • Targeting the SphK1-STAT3 pathway presents a potential therapeutic strategy for NSCLC treatment.
Keywords:
non-small cell lung cancerSphK1STAT3cyclin D1MMP2Bcl-2Bcl-xl

More Related Videos

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer06:51

Utilizing 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging and Quantitative Histology to Measure Dynamic Changes in the Glucose Metabolism in Mouse Models of Lung Cancer

Published on: July 21, 2018

18.3K
Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome07:23

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome

Published on: June 15, 2016

8.7K

Related Concept Videos

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
10.6K
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a...
4.8K
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...
4.9K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.2K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
7.4K
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway02:33

Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

The Hedgehog gene (Hh) was first discovered due to its control of the growth of disorganized, hair-like bristles phenotype in Drosophila, much like hedgehog spines. Hh plays a crucial role in the development of organs and the maintenance of homeostasis in both invertebrates and vertebrates. However, while Drosophila has only one Hh protein, mammals have multiple functional Hedgehog proteins - Sonic (Shh), Desert (Dhh), and Indian Hedgehog (Ihh). All of these homologous proteins have adapted to...
9.2K