J Cancer 2016; 7(13):1888-1891. doi:10.7150/jca.15693 This issue Cite
Review
1. School of Nursing, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, P. R. China;
2. Institute of Lung and Molecular Therapy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, P. R. China;
3. Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA;
4. Texas Lung Injury Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, USA;
5. Center for Cancer Research, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan Province, P. R. China;
6. Department Gastroenterology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Henan Province, P. R. China.
* These authors contributed equally to this work.
The epithelial Na+ channel/degenerin (ENaC/DEG) superfamily, including the acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), is characterized by a high degree of similarity in structure but highly diverse in physiological functions. These ion channels have been shown to be important in several physiological functions of normal epithelial cells, including salt homeostasis, fluid transportation and cell mobility. There is increasing evidence suggesting that ENaC/DEG channels are critically engaged in cancer cell biology, such as proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, playing a role in tumor development and progression. In this review, we will discuss recent studies showing the role of ENaC and ASIC channels in epithelial cells and its relationship to the oncogenesis.
Keywords: ENaC, ASIC, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, cancer cells.