Virus-derived anti-inflammatory proteins: Potential therapeutics for cancer

Donghang Zheng, Hao Chen, Mee Y. Bartee, Jennifer Williams, Jennifer A. Davids, Emina Huang, Jan Moreb, Alexandra Lucas

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inflammatory responses now have a defined central role in cancer cell growth, invasion, and metastases. Anti-inflammatory proteins from viruses target key stages in immune response pathways and have potential as novel therapeutics for cancer, including highly potent virus-derived inhibitors of protease, chemokine, cytokine, and apoptotic cascades that have been identified. Serine proteases, in addition to their conventional roles in thrombosis, thrombolysis, and apoptotic pathways, are essential regulators of inflammation and are associated with developing cancers. Chemokines drive other inflammatory response pathways with central roles in cell invasion and activation as well as establishing the microenvironment of tumors, modulating immune cell infiltration, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. This review focuses on the mechanisms of action and potential for application of viral immunomodulatory proteins as anticancer therapeutics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)304-310
Number of pages7
JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine
Volume18
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cancer therapy
  • Chemokine-binding proteins
  • Inflammation
  • M-T1
  • M-T7
  • Serp-1
  • Viral serpins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology

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