β-catenin在乳腺发育及乳腺癌中的研究进展

Role of β-catenin in mammary development and breast carcinoma progression

关键词:  β-连环蛋白  Wnt信号通路  乳腺发育  乳腺癌

Key words:  β-catenin  Wnt signaling pathway  mammary development  breast cancer

摘要:

β-catenin是存在于细胞膜表面和细胞质的一种多功能蛋白。在乳腺发育和肿瘤发生过程中，β-catenin通过细胞粘附、信号转导和对细胞内特定基因的表达调控来发挥重要作用。近年来研究表明，β-catenin在乳腺发育的多个阶段对干细胞的生物学特性起关键调控作用；而β-catenin信号的异常活化、聚集，将导致细胞生长、分化、代谢及生物学行为异常，诱导肿瘤发生。本文就β-catenin的相关信号通路及其在乳腺发育和乳腺癌发生发展中的作用作一综述。

Abstract:

β-catenin is a multifunctional protein on cell membrane and in cytoplasm. β-catenin plays important roles in mammary development and tumorigenesis through its functions in cell adhesion, signal transduction and regulation of cell-context-specific gene expression. Recent studies indicate critical role of β-catenin signaling in stem cell biology at multiple stages of mammary development, and aberrant activation and accumulation of β-catenin, resulting in the abnormal cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and biological behavior, are related to tumorigenesis. This review summarizes the signal pathways of β-catenin and its roles in mammary development and breast carcinoma.