Analyses of cell signals provide insight into the origin of severe inflammatory symptoms that appear in various types of blood cancer and point to possible therapeutic approaches: In around one-fourth of patients suffering from juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), there is evidence of mutations in the so-called KRAS gene in the leukemia cells. Patients affected by JMML carrying these mutations suffer particularly often from signs of inflammation, such as fever, weight loss, and an abnormal enlargement of the spleen.
It was previously unknown how the sometimes severe inflammatory symptoms are connected with the cancer. A team of researchers has now demonstrated that the cancer-causing mutation in the KRAS gene is also the cause of the inflammation. The improved understanding of the symptoms will enable doctors to develop new drugs for blocking the progression of leukemia in the body.
The KRAS gene regulates the production of the K-Ras protein, which gives the cells instructions to grow or to divide. The protein ensures that cells only multiply if new cells are needed in the body. If K-Ras is excessively active in some cells due to a mutation in the genetic material, these cells divide unchecked - and cancer develops.
The team have now discovered that K-Ras also plays an important role in the immune response: Via the NLRP3 protein complex - also known as the NLRP3 inflammasome - it leads to the release of two inflammation-promoting messenger substances, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, which the researchers succeeded in detecting in cells from blood samples of leukemia patients. When the researchers inhibited the formation of the messenger substances with drugs, this treatment not only relieved the inflammatory symptoms but also slowed down tumor growth.
"This is a promising result that is also consistent with other studies demonstrating that cancer-causing mutations influence the production of interleukin messengers," explains the author. The results of the study show that the signaling pathways whose disruption leads to cancer are also directly related to the signaling processes of the immune response.
http://www.pr.uni-freiburg.de/pm-en/press-releases-2020/cancer-mutation-in-dual-role
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-15497-1
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Foncogenic-krasg12d&filter=22
KRAS mutation also causes inflammation in cancer patients
- 2,090 views
- Added
Edited
Latest News
Circadian rhythms can influ…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
With hybrid brains, these m…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Blocking activation of NF-κ…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Vitamin D regulates microbi…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Role of alternative splicin…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Other Top Stories
Implantable islet cells come with their own oxygen supply
Read more
Exercise and cold release same hormone from fat to boost metabolism
Read more
Activating melanocortin receptors to treat patients with genetic ob…
Read more
Boosting the effects of vitamin D to tackle diabetes
Read more
Hunger neuropeptide is transmitted through cerebrospinal fluid to c…
Read more
Protocols
A programmable targeted pro…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Publications
Single dose creatine improv…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Autonomous circadian rhythm…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Functional sensory circuits…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Positive selection CRISPR s…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Focal clusters of peri-syna…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar