Emerging roles of spliceosome in cancer and immunity

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Genetics
• Oncology

Background:

• The spliceosome is a crucial ribonucleoprotein complex responsible for precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing.
• While considered housekeeping machinery, mutations in spliceosome components are linked to specific diseases and phenotypes.
• Aberrant splicing due to spliceosome mutations is increasingly recognized in human cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the connection between spliceosome mutations, aberrant splicing, and human cancers.
• To discuss the efficacy of spliceosome-targeted therapies (STTs) in treating cancers with splicing defects.
• To explore the interplay between the spliceosome and immune signaling, including immune dysregulation and splicing-independent functions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on spliceosome mutations, cancer, and immune signaling.
• Analysis of research linking aberrant splicing to cancer development and progression.
• Examination of recent findings on spliceosome gene mutations and their impact on immune function.

Main Results:

• Spliceosome mutations are frequently observed in various human cancers, leading to aberrant splicing.
• Spliceosome-targeted therapies (STTs) demonstrate significant efficacy in treating cancers characterized by splicing defects.
• Spliceosome gene mutations can cause immune dysregulation through mis-splicing of immune-related genes.
• Core spliceosome components possess splicing-independent immune functions.

Conclusions:

• The spliceosome plays a critical role in both cancer development and immune regulation.
• Targeting the spliceosome offers a promising therapeutic avenue for specific cancer types.
• Further research into the spliceosome's dual role in splicing and immunity is warranted.