Regulation of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation by APRIL

Breast cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer among women. “A proliferation-inducing ligand” (APRIL) is seen in the stroma of approximately 38% of breast cancer patients. APRIL is a tumor necrosis factor superfamily member that is implicated in lymphoid cell survival, proliferation and apoptosis. APRIL studies initially focused on lymphoid cells as known APRIL receptors are exclusive to these cells. However, I found that APRIL promotes breast cancer cell proliferation, and an APRIL-specific blocking peptide inhibits APRIL-induced proliferation. Therefore, I sought to identify APRIL targets in breast cancer cells. Among those identified, colony-stimulating factor 2 receptor beta (CSF2RB) is interesting. CSF2RB-APRIL interaction is direct, and the CSF2RB ligand, CSF2, has 41% amino acid sequence similarity to APRIL. CSF2RB-linked Akt and STAT3 signaling are activated in APRIL-mediated breast cancer cell proliferation. Thus, my findings raise the possibility that CSF2RB is a novel APRIL receptor in non-lymphoid cells.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medical Science

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Matook, Wejdan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lee, Ki-Young

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Riabowol, Karl
• Brockton, Nigel

• Oncology

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27583

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/3081