Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer
Autophagy is a “self-degradation” process whereby malfunctioned cytoplasmic constituents and protein aggregates are engulfed by a vesicle called the autophagosome, and subsequently degraded by the lysosome. Autophagy plays a crucial role in sustaining protein homeostasis and can be an alternative so...
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doaj-41c2fb42d7de452c89ea266c41893f322021-03-11T00:03:41ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-03-01131211121110.3390/cancers13061211Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in CancerXin Chien Lee0Evelyn Werner1Marco Falasca2Metabolic Signalling Group, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaMetabolic Signalling Group, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaMetabolic Signalling Group, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaAutophagy is a “self-degradation” process whereby malfunctioned cytoplasmic constituents and protein aggregates are engulfed by a vesicle called the autophagosome, and subsequently degraded by the lysosome. Autophagy plays a crucial role in sustaining protein homeostasis and can be an alternative source of energy under detrimental circumstances. Studies have demonstrated a paradoxical function for autophagy in cancer, displaying both tumour suppressive and tumour promotive roles. In early phases of tumour development autophagy promotes cancer cell death. In later phases, autophagy enables cancer cells to survive and withstand therapy. Cannabinoids, which are derivatives of the <i>Cannabis sativa </i>L. plant, have shown to be associated with autophagy induction in cells. There is an emerging interest in studying the signalling pathways involved in cannabinoid-induced autophagy and their potential application in anticancer therapies. In this review, the molecular mechanisms involved in the autophagy degradation process will be discussed. This review also highlights a role for autophagy in cancer progression, with cannabinoid-induced autophagy presenting a novel strategy for anticancer therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/6/1211cannabinoidscannabinoid receptorsautophagycancer therapychemotherapy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Xin Chien Lee Evelyn Werner Marco Falasca |
spellingShingle |
Xin Chien Lee Evelyn Werner Marco Falasca Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer Cancers cannabinoids cannabinoid receptors autophagy cancer therapy chemotherapy |
author_facet |
Xin Chien Lee Evelyn Werner Marco Falasca |
author_sort |
Xin Chien Lee |
title |
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer |
title_short |
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer |
title_full |
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer |
title_fullStr |
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer |
title_full_unstemmed |
Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy and Its Regulation by Cannabinoids in Cancer |
title_sort |
molecular mechanism of autophagy and its regulation by cannabinoids in cancer |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Cancers |
issn |
2072-6694 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Autophagy is a “self-degradation” process whereby malfunctioned cytoplasmic constituents and protein aggregates are engulfed by a vesicle called the autophagosome, and subsequently degraded by the lysosome. Autophagy plays a crucial role in sustaining protein homeostasis and can be an alternative source of energy under detrimental circumstances. Studies have demonstrated a paradoxical function for autophagy in cancer, displaying both tumour suppressive and tumour promotive roles. In early phases of tumour development autophagy promotes cancer cell death. In later phases, autophagy enables cancer cells to survive and withstand therapy. Cannabinoids, which are derivatives of the <i>Cannabis sativa </i>L. plant, have shown to be associated with autophagy induction in cells. There is an emerging interest in studying the signalling pathways involved in cannabinoid-induced autophagy and their potential application in anticancer therapies. In this review, the molecular mechanisms involved in the autophagy degradation process will be discussed. This review also highlights a role for autophagy in cancer progression, with cannabinoid-induced autophagy presenting a novel strategy for anticancer therapy. |
topic |
cannabinoids cannabinoid receptors autophagy cancer therapy chemotherapy |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/6/1211 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT xinchienlee molecularmechanismofautophagyanditsregulationbycannabinoidsincancer AT evelynwerner molecularmechanismofautophagyanditsregulationbycannabinoidsincancer AT marcofalasca molecularmechanismofautophagyanditsregulationbycannabinoidsincancer |
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