孤儿核受体RORs的病理生理作用及其调控机制

摘要

核受体是一类配体依赖的转录因子超家族.视黄酸相关孤儿受体(retinoid-related orphan receptors,RORs),又称为NF1R,因在基因序列上与视黄酸受体和视黄酸X受体类似而得名.RORs亚家族主要包括RORα、RORβ和RORγ等三个成员.作为核受体家族的一个重要成员,RORs通过调控相关基因表达,在机体发育、免疫反应、生物节律以及细胞代谢等多种生理过程中发挥重要作用.新近研究发现,RORs表达或功能异常还影响诸多病理过程,主要包括肿瘤、免疫炎症性疾病、动脉粥样硬化等心血管疾病.关于RORs的大量研究拓宽了我们对核受体家族生物学特征及其病理生理作用的认识及理解.本综述主要讨论RORs亚家族各成员的生物学特征及其在机体内的病理生理作用及机制.%Nuclear receptors are a large superfamily of transcription factors that regulate genes important to physiological functions. Retinoid-related orphan receptors ( RORs ), also known as NF1R, are so named because its gene sequence is similar to retinoid acid receptor and retinoid X receptor. RORs subfamily consists of three members: RORα, RORβ, and RORγ. Previous studies have established key roles for the RORs in physiological development, cytogenesis and differentiation of immune cells, circadi-an rhythm, and metabolism, through the regulation of gene expression. Besides, RORs also involve in many pathological process. Recent studies indicated that the abnormal expression of RORs is related to the development of tumor, immune inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. RORs are thought to be the one of the key transcription factors which regulate the gene expression of these diseases. This review discusses the biological characteristics and pathophysiological roles of RORs subfamily.