The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer
Cellular prion protein (PrP<sup>C</sup>) is seminal to modulate a variety of baseline cell functions to grant homeostasis. The classic role of such a protein was defined as a chaperone-like molecule being able to rescue cell survival. Nonetheless, PrP<sup>C</sup> also represe...
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doaj-57b29b6f6c5b4604a34fffd6490d4c182021-01-07T00:02:44ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-01-011317017010.3390/cancers13020170The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in CancerLarisa Ryskalin0Francesca Biagioni1Carla L. Busceti2Maria A. Giambelluca3Luca Morelli4Alessandro Frati5Francesco Fornai6Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, ItalyIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, ItalyIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, ItalyDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, ItalyGeneral Surgery Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIstituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (I.R.C.C.S.) Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Pozzilli, ItalyDepartment of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, ItalyCellular prion protein (PrP<sup>C</sup>) is seminal to modulate a variety of baseline cell functions to grant homeostasis. The classic role of such a protein was defined as a chaperone-like molecule being able to rescue cell survival. Nonetheless, PrP<sup>C</sup> also represents the precursor of the deleterious misfolded variant known as scrapie prion protein (PrP<sup>Sc</sup>). This variant is detrimental in a variety of prion disorders. This multi-faceted role of PrP is greatly increased by recent findings showing how PrP<sup>C</sup> in its folded conformation may foster tumor progression by acting at multiple levels. The present review focuses on such a cancer-promoting effect. The manuscript analyzes recent findings on the occurrence of PrP<sup>C</sup> in various cancers and discusses the multiple effects, which sustain cancer progression. Within this frame, the effects of PrP<sup>C</sup> on stemness and differentiation are discussed. A special emphasis is provided on the spreading of PrP<sup>C</sup> and the epigenetic effects, which are induced in neighboring cells to activate cancer-related genes. These detrimental effects are further discussed in relation to the aberrancy of its physiological and beneficial role on cell homeostasis. A specific paragraph is dedicated to the role of PrP<sup>C</sup> beyond its effects in the biology of cancer to represent a potential biomarker in the follow up of patients following surgical resection.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/2/170cellular prion proteincancer stem cellsbrain tumorsperipheral tumorstumorigenesisself-renewal |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Larisa Ryskalin Francesca Biagioni Carla L. Busceti Maria A. Giambelluca Luca Morelli Alessandro Frati Francesco Fornai |
spellingShingle |
Larisa Ryskalin Francesca Biagioni Carla L. Busceti Maria A. Giambelluca Luca Morelli Alessandro Frati Francesco Fornai The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer Cancers cellular prion protein cancer stem cells brain tumors peripheral tumors tumorigenesis self-renewal |
author_facet |
Larisa Ryskalin Francesca Biagioni Carla L. Busceti Maria A. Giambelluca Luca Morelli Alessandro Frati Francesco Fornai |
author_sort |
Larisa Ryskalin |
title |
The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer |
title_short |
The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer |
title_full |
The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer |
title_fullStr |
The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Role of Cellular Prion Protein in Promoting Stemness and Differentiation in Cancer |
title_sort |
role of cellular prion protein in promoting stemness and differentiation in cancer |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Cancers |
issn |
2072-6694 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Cellular prion protein (PrP<sup>C</sup>) is seminal to modulate a variety of baseline cell functions to grant homeostasis. The classic role of such a protein was defined as a chaperone-like molecule being able to rescue cell survival. Nonetheless, PrP<sup>C</sup> also represents the precursor of the deleterious misfolded variant known as scrapie prion protein (PrP<sup>Sc</sup>). This variant is detrimental in a variety of prion disorders. This multi-faceted role of PrP is greatly increased by recent findings showing how PrP<sup>C</sup> in its folded conformation may foster tumor progression by acting at multiple levels. The present review focuses on such a cancer-promoting effect. The manuscript analyzes recent findings on the occurrence of PrP<sup>C</sup> in various cancers and discusses the multiple effects, which sustain cancer progression. Within this frame, the effects of PrP<sup>C</sup> on stemness and differentiation are discussed. A special emphasis is provided on the spreading of PrP<sup>C</sup> and the epigenetic effects, which are induced in neighboring cells to activate cancer-related genes. These detrimental effects are further discussed in relation to the aberrancy of its physiological and beneficial role on cell homeostasis. A specific paragraph is dedicated to the role of PrP<sup>C</sup> beyond its effects in the biology of cancer to represent a potential biomarker in the follow up of patients following surgical resection. |
topic |
cellular prion protein cancer stem cells brain tumors peripheral tumors tumorigenesis self-renewal |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/2/170 |
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