Notch信号通路在肿瘤发生发展中的作用

摘要

Notch是一类广泛存在于动物细胞表面且高度保守的受体蛋白,对细胞的生物学活性起着重要的作用,包括介导细胞与细胞之间局部信号的传递以及相应信号的级联反应,调控细胞的增殖、分化及凋亡等.目前对Notch的研究发现,Notch信号通路与肿瘤的发生发展有密切联系,在部分肿瘤中起着促癌作用,如乳腺癌、小细胞性肺癌及黑色素瘤等；而在另外一部分肿瘤中起着抑癌作用,如非小细胞性肺癌、皮肤癌等.本研究对Notch信号通路生物学特性以及其对肿瘤促癌和抑癌作用机制的研究现状作一综述.%Notch pathway is highly conservative and exists extensively in a variety of animals. It plays a crucial role in the biological activities of cells, including meditated cell-to-cell communication and reaction in relevant signaling pathway, regulation of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recent research of Notch has revealed that there is a close connection between Notch signaling and cancers. Notch signal not only plays a role in the promotion of some cancers such as breast cancer, small cell lung carcinoma and melanoma, but also in suppression of other cancers like non-small cell lung carcinoma and skin cancer. This article reviews the characterization of Notch signal, specially in its promotion and suppression effect on individual cancers.