Qian S, Wei Z, Yang W, Huang J, Yang Y, Wang J. The role of BCL-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis and cancer therapy.
Front Oncol 2022;
12:985363. [PMID:
36313628 PMCID:
PMC9597512 DOI:
10.3389/fonc.2022.985363]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis, as a very important biological process, is a response to developmental cues or cellular stress. Impaired apoptosis plays a central role in the development of cancer and also reduces the efficacy of traditional cytotoxic therapies. Members of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein family have pro- or anti-apoptotic activities and have been studied intensively over the past decade for their importance in regulating apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and cellular responses to anticancer therapy. Since the inflammatory response induced by apoptosis-induced cell death is very small, at present, the development of anticancer drugs targeting apoptosis has attracted more and more attention. Consequently, the focus of this review is to summarize the current research on the role of BCL-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis and the development of drugs targeting BCL-2 anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, the mechanism of BCL-2 family proteins in regulating apoptosis was also explored. All the findings indicate the potential of BCL-2 family proteins in the therapy of cancer.
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